Mini Cooper Rpm Up & Down 3 Times When Starting

[omri617 18]

Hi there.

I have this odd thing in my 2002 Mini Cooper .

When I start it , doesn't matter the weather , It turns ok , after 2 seconds Rpm drops to 600 , car kind of chokes and rattles for 2 seconds, then up to 1100 , then drops back to 600 the same you know , car almost shuts down ! it was like this for long time but now it's getting worse.

The same happens when I put on D gear .

Can anyone think what is causing that?

Thanks a lot , really..

[dcc 855]

the engine is causing it. or the electrics. or the lack of oxygen in your country. try a mini cooper forum.

[omri617 18]

the engine is causing it. or the electrics. or the lack of oxygen in your country. try a mini cooper forum.

 

What are you talking about?!!! ​

Edited April 7, 2013 by omri617

[TooMany2cvs 65]

Do you know how the idle speed's controlled? It'll either be a control valve with a solenoid in it or a stepper motor. Whichever, that might be getting sticky. Dismantle it, give it a good clean with spray carb cleaner, put it back together.

[welshpug 1,626]

Likely to be fly by wire and controlled by throttle plate not an icv, so may require new throttle body, get diagnostic check carried out.

[chris-gti 14]

Yeah it's all fly-by-wire under there. just been to look at the missus' cooper, my advice would be pop to a diagnostics specialist. There is what looks like an ICV near where the airbox pipe goes into the throttle body but knowing BMW it could be anything.

 

We have had a few problem with starting. its never failed but sometimes it'll sit at 1300 rpm until warm, other times it ticks over normally with no issues. every now and again it'll have a spell of being down on power then all of a sudden it's fine again. in my opinion BMW made a right hash up of what could have been a really good little car.

[omri617 18]

Should I check this ICV and give it a good clean?

[chris-gti 14]

Its worth a go if it is an ICV, worth whipping the whole throttle body off and cleaning it all out, not an easy job from the looks of it though.

[Tom Fenton 1,526]

in my opinion BMW made a right hash up of what could have been a really good little car.

See I'd say the opposite. My girlfriend has got a 54 reg Cooper S (late Supercharged) and its a great little car, its totally standard right down to the Pirelli run flats and handling wise it would run rings round a standard 205 GTI, its also been (touch wood) totally reliable, the only work I've done is servicing and discs/pads. My only major gripe is that it suffers badly from brake fade quite quickly as the brakes aren't really up to the power/weight of the car if you are really giving it some bastard round the lanes, more minor gripe is that it could do with an LSD, but for her to ride about in its fine.

[welshpug 1,626]

I'd imagine you're thinking of the Later BMW-PSA 16v Prince engine Chris? Not the earlier Chrysler derived 8 valve lump, not as efficient but more reliable it seems, I know pug dealer techs curse "that bloody BMW engine"

[Tom Fenton 1,526]

There is no 8v engine. They are all 16v, the early ones are single cam 16v.

[welshpug 1,626]

ahhhh! like suzukis!

[chris-gti 14]

To be honest i've not got a lot against the engine, it goes quite well and is very smooth but the modern electronics are like all modern cars, a total pain in the arse but i can't really fault BMW for that. I just think the build quality overall is poor, you buy german and you expect german quality, nearly all the interior trim rattles, the seats when folded down end up with the seat belt socket imprinted on them (and you need to fold the seats down if you want to get anything larger than a pair of shoes in the boot), the trim clips on the outside are incredibly flimsy and the door handles on the inside are scratched up quite badly from someone with a ring closing the door. Surely it would have made sense to use a rubber/soft colored plastic rather than paint?

rear brake calipers seem to be a corrosion magnet, causing the rubber guides to go tight on the steel slides, the fronts have to be serviced regularly or they squeal.

 

I can't seem to change gear smoothly in the damn thing, it's slight throttle lag takes some getting used to, although i'm not used to fly-by-wire stuff as my cars have always had a nice cable between the pedal and the lump. Handling is very good, i'll give it that. Although ours does eat lower control arm bushes (poly bushes waiting to go on next time). and its a very firm ride for what is essentially a hairdressers supermarket derby car.

 

I wanted my missus to go for the S but that didn't happen

 

Looks pretty though and does go/stop/corner well and i did for a short time consider having one myself. I just wish they had finished it a little better.

 

EDIT:
oops, seems i went on a bit of a rant there. forgot to mention fuel economy on a run isn't bad.

Edited April 8, 2013 by chris-gti

[omri617 18]

Mine is ONE , base model with only 90HP . Wish i had the S.

Another bad issue with the car (all mini's from 2001-2005 ) is the electric steering pump. BMW want 800 GBP for it..

CVT is another PITA . it fails after 200,000 KM and refurbishing where I live is ---------------------------------- > 2500 GBP!!!!!