Stock Problems/Issues Discussions related to warranty related issues and repairs, or other problems with the OEM parts and software for MINI Cooper (R50), Cabrio (R52), and Cooper S (R53) MINIs.

gas mileage, i'm averaging 18.9-19.1 ALL the time, and have

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  #1  
Old 02-09-2004 | 05:48 PM
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I'd like to know if anybody else has a pig for a mini cooper. i have an a/f gauge and a ptrometer, and gezz, its rich ALL the time, except when cruzing (it goes crazy), and when downshifting. Is there a way to reset the gas mileage counter on the car?
 
  #2  
Old 02-09-2004 | 06:00 PM
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its rich ALL the time
DUH - get yer foot off the throttle. Seriously though, the MINI DME has some serious consumption issues, even when feathering the throttle it likes to drink heavily. I keep hearing about '02 MCS's that suddenly develop a newfound thirst, but you're saying your milage has sucked since day 1, hmmm. Mileage is mostly dependant on two things - commute (traffic/highway/distance/temps?) and driving style (GAASSSSS, featherfoot, keeping w/ traffic?)

$0.02
 
  #3  
Old 02-09-2004 | 06:12 PM
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From: Cooper City, Fl
Like Ryan said you need to back off a bit to get better MPG. A hard thing to do in this car I know but I have done it both ways and it does improve allot if you just drive like an old lady ,but thats no fun so keep the mileage under 20 and enjoy.
 
  #4  
Old 02-09-2004 | 06:14 PM
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fuzzyface
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I aver 22-23 with a heavy foot and 10-35 degree temp. Mostly in town with about 20% highway. I was getting 25 city and 32 hwy before cold weather set in. I have an '04 with 4,500 miles on it. And yup, its STILL stock, but don't know how much longer i can hold out!!! Tim
 
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Old 02-09-2004 | 06:25 PM
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From: Livermore, CA.
I got 26-27 during break in, normal driving average around 24.5. On the canyon run to Mt Hamilton I got 22 and lots of flies in my teeth . Have you tried different brands of gas? I've used all kinds from name brand to Costco and my mileage didn't vary much.
 
  #6  
Old 02-09-2004 | 08:25 PM
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Herby74
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From: Lower Merion, PA (Philly)
I have pretty consistently gotten 18-19 mpg on my Sept. '02 MCS.....I know I tend to be a bit heavy on the pedal. On the PA Turnpike it goes up to 32-34, but that's not where I drive daily. I'm always blown away when I hear about folks getting an
average of 20+ and better. I try to use Mobile and if not, Sunoco....93 octane.

However, I have long since decided that I got this car mainly for enjoyment and not
for the gas mileage.....and I'm not going to change my driving habits to accomplish the latter. It would be a hollow victory. Don't worry.......be happy!
 
  #7  
Old 02-09-2004 | 08:30 PM
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i was amazed when th eOBC kept reading 24.7 city and freeway, backroad carving, then one day after
carving with my 95 Supra friend I did the math at the pump .. 21.3 mpg. not back considering.... I guess.
back in the day in a V8 that much fun would have cost ya 12 mpg.


04 MCS JCW
 
  #8  
Old 02-09-2004 | 08:55 PM
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>> Is there a way to reset the gas mileage counter on the car?

Yes, press the OBC button until you get to "average fuel consumption".
When you get there, press the button down for a few seconds.
The computer will reset itself.
 
  #9  
Old 02-09-2004 | 09:32 PM
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02/02 build MINI Cooper 5-speed MPG. Average = 28.5 MPG

 
  #10  
Old 02-09-2004 | 09:35 PM
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With my 19% pulley on my MCS, I avg 26mph (driving it hard). Crusing on the highway I get about 33 mpg.

RaceCarDriver

 
  #11  
Old 02-09-2004 | 09:38 PM
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what RPM are you guys crusing at? i can easily get 28.5-31mpg commuting
and some sprited runs here and there. i don't drive my mcs 'slow' either.
hummmm... :???:
 
  #12  
Old 02-09-2004 | 09:47 PM
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I am getting between 24-26MPG in the city. '04 MCS with 4,520 miles.
 
  #13  
Old 02-09-2004 | 10:13 PM
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I can't get higher than 20 mpg in real CITY driving with my 5-speed Cooper. I tend to get in the mid to upper twenties for mixed driving (at least half highway cruising at 70). If I average 80 on the highway, my fuel economy drops into the upper twenties. This is far worse than previous cars of mine with similar weight/power.

Fuel economy has been my number one disappointment with the Cooper. The MINIs' fuel economy seems to vary widely, and mine is definitely toward the rear of the pack.

The EPA rating is laughably impossible in my car.
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  #14  
Old 02-09-2004 | 10:32 PM
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From: Wenatchee WA
I hate to see grownups cry, but intown I get about 34. On the hiway, anywhere from 39-42. This is in a very stock Cooper with a 5-speed. I know you all are talking about "the S", so I guess there are good things to be said about showing up a bit later than the rest, unless they have to stop and fill up where I might be there first.

Motor on!

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  #15  
Old 02-10-2004 | 07:26 AM
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Our '02 Cooper CVT consistently delivers between 28-30 MPG in the city and 37+MPG in the highway.

Chris, there is something definetely wrong with your car or driving style. Have you noticed any fuel consumption improvements since getting the new transmission?
 
  #16  
Old 02-10-2004 | 12:11 PM
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the engine runs way rich until operating temperature, similar to a gas bong
 
  #17  
Old 02-10-2004 | 12:34 PM
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From: Boston, MA
>>Our '02 Cooper CVT consistently delivers between 28-30 MPG in the city and 37+MPG in the highway.
>>
>>Chris, there is something definetely wrong with your car or driving style. Have you noticed any fuel consumption improvements since getting the new transmission?<<

Nope, no improvements at all with the new transmission. By city driving, I mean lights, stop and go traffic, occasional hills... It takes me around 25 minutes to drive the 7.5 miles to work (I can bike it easily in 40, but that's beside the point). I only get 37+ on the highway if I stay below 70 miles an hour and the road is flat.

I have to take my car to the dealer AGAIN anyway (airbag light, overtightened drain plug, cold weather stall), so I guess I'll mention this as well. They'll have to update my software for the stall fix, so hopefully that will help.
 
  #18  
Old 02-11-2004 | 01:10 AM
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From: Honolulu, Hawaii
Poor gas mileage is my middle name. I get about 200 miles to my tank. I've got an MC CVT with no mods. I drive in light traffic to and from work daily and do some light driving on the weekend. I fill up once a week and it sucks, since gas in Hawaii is about $2.19/gal right now for Premium. Eeek! I tried taking it in for servicing, but no ones gotten it to get better. I hope one day I can at least get about 20 miles/gal.
 
  #19  
Old 02-11-2004 | 10:38 PM
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For the first couple of tanks I got 26-28 MPG in my 04 Cooper. Now, about 2 months later, I get 30 to 31 MPG. 90% of my driving is city stop and go. I drive a little harder now that I am through the break-in, but I guess I still drive like someone's grandmother...
 
  #20  
Old 02-12-2004 | 11:22 PM
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I don't think I drive all that aggressively, but I still don't get great mileage. ~30 mpg on the highway (as long as I stay under 80 mph...), and in the mid to high teens when I'm doing city driving. I usually cruise at around 2500 rpm and shift at 4000 (depending...). So I end up averaging in the low 20s, which isn't great.

I think the MCs do much better with fuel economy. I had an MC loaner that had gone over 200 miles and still had half a tank left. I've noticed that gravity affects the fuel level indicator, though, so who knows what the range would have been... :smile:

Lest anyone think I'm complaing, I wouldn't trade my MCS for anything! It's well worth the extra gas!

P.S. FWIW, I've driven both manual and CVT Coopers, and the manuals do much better in the mileage department.

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  #21  
Old 02-14-2004 | 10:39 AM
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I work in metric, but I can tell you that the main thing is the speed and the rpm you shift at. I spent one tank experimenting, where I never went over 3000 RPM. It was a week from hell, but I wanted to see what kind of mileage I could get by granny-driving.

I got an extra 120km to my tank. But it really sucked.
 
  #22  
Old 02-16-2004 | 01:21 PM
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Its official, there HAS to be something wrong with my car. I have been granny shifting for the last 5 days with my gf in the car and still havn't been able to get better than 18.8 mpg!!! this REALLY sucks! I'm going ot the dealer 2morrow. Ohh and one question, if anybody has an a/f gauge. What does your gauge read upon start up, before the sensor warms up? Mine reads FULL rich, the last led lights up....ohh and it sounds like crap for the first 3 seconds...
 
  #23  
Old 02-16-2004 | 01:50 PM
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>>Its official, there HAS to be something wrong with my car. I have been granny shifting for the last 5 days with my gf in the car and still havn't been able to get better than 18.8 mpg!!! this REALLY sucks! I'm going ot the dealer 2morrow. Ohh and one question, if anybody has an a/f gauge. What does your gauge read upon start up, before the sensor warms up? Mine reads FULL rich, the last led lights up....ohh and it sounds like crap for the first 3 seconds...


Did you get software update version 36? If you haven't done so, have your dealer perform the update while you car is being serviced under warranty.

Good luck man.
 
  #24  
Old 02-16-2004 | 01:51 PM
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Is the A/F guage self-installed? Does it have a vacuum line attached to it? Was it installed when you took delivery of the car or soon afterwards?

It sounds like you have a vacuum leak. which can lead to the ECU richening up the fuel supply to the engine. What does the deal say about this issue?
 
  #25  
Old 02-17-2004 | 10:28 AM
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These are shocking numbers. 7500 miles on, I'm getting a steady 28.5 mpg in city/arterial driving. I expect 360-380 miles from a tank of gas and usually fill up at the 330 mark.

I'm not driving like a nut or a parade float -- this is standard commuter pacing. As for highway, I nursed it along granny style (well, a 75-mph granny) for 175 miles a couple of months ago and got back 36 mpg.

You guys hovering around 20 should be raising h*ll.
 



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