Test drove an R56 MCS

*Plaz* · 01-03-2008, 05:23 PM

'07 MCS 6-speed with no sport package or LSD.

It's a little BMW, and feels like it. I was expecting horrific torque steer, but it was totally tolerable. It's there, but practically negligible. I bet with the LSD, sport suspension and some stickier tires (215/45/17 summers instead of 195/xx/16 all seasons?) it would have been mitigated even further.

Clutch was predictable, if a little numb. Shifter was typical BMW stock -- a tiny bit rubbery, with a slightly longer throw than I'd prefer, but a totally livable and satisfying rowing experience.

Steering was excellent, despite the electric boost... in sport mode. With the sport button off, it felt 10x more loosey-goosey... I can tell that button would always be pressed were I to own one.

Given that it's got just a little 1.6L blown 4-banger, it felt surprisingly peppy and torquey... minimal low-rev turbo lag, plenty of twist off the line and at low revs, without feeling like it runs out of steam too early in higher revs. Nice, smooth, consistent power... I like this engine a lot.

Overboost comes on at WOT for an extra kick in the pants... you can feel it, but it comes on smoothly. I was half-expecting a kickdown switch on the accelerator like a slushie E46, and a sudden torque-steery burst of go, but instead it was a gentle surge -- a composed effort of the engine to just do as directed. Very nice. Not gimmicky -- just useful.

I've never driven an R53, but I can't imagine the much praised s/c whine and exhaust burble from that Chrysler powerplant being more attractive than the ample torque and silky delivery this turbocharged BMW mill delivers. I don't understand the 1st generation purists on this issue.

The interior design, on the other hand, is extremely gimmicky. I imagine there are tons of ergonomic no-nos, though I can't detail any at present. I must admit I like the toggles, even though they don't really make sense... but they feel like quality switchgear. The climate controls are a little cheap feeling, but not horrible. Better than a Civic, not quite as nice as the E46.

The whole package is solid and tight feeling, though, like a teeny BMW should feel. It's really everything I like in a car, FWD excepted. But the test drive makes me think I could live with that, much to my surprise.

It really seems like the perfect car for fun street driving. I'm sure my RX-8 would be much more satisfying on the track, where its balance and handling elegance can shine. But I think the tight solidity, quicker steering, lightness, greater low end grunt, and overall German/BMW feel of the R56 probably give it an edge on the day-to-day street funometer. Not to even mention the fact that it drinks half as much.

I think I want one.

lemming · 01-03-2008, 05:35 PM

w o w.

that's quite the review.

to address some of your points:

1. the 195/55/16s are tolerable, but they're grand touring tires. cheap for runflats, but they don't have much grip --no doubt unloading the runflats would make a huge difference.

2. the torque steer. it's definitely there. i'm not sure if the limited slip unit exacerbates it or ameliorates it, though. i think i sensed it also in the nonLSD demo i drove.

3. the engine. it's a marvel of an engine. super-kudos to BMW for creating, with peugeot, a phenomenal powerplant. in cold weather, just an FYI, it sputters upon cold start and you can feel the heat soak if you're caning the car on wickedly hot humid summer days. those R53 people are still insane because that powerplant is intolerable to me.

4. i generally hate the interior but i've come to grips with it.

5. it's very do-able for a daily driver. now that we're in the cold weather, either because of the cold grease on the bearings plus the change in gas formulation, the mpgs have dropped in city driving to 29mpg from 31mpg --or maybe i'm gunning it more?

6. i miss RWD a lot and that'll for sure be the next car, but i'm really enjoying this particular BMW product a lot. how they manage the steering feel is a mystery to me, but they do.

Sharp11 · 01-03-2008, 11:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lemming

i miss RWD a lot and that'll for sure be the next car, but i'm really enjoying this particular BMW product a lot. how they manage the steering feel is a mystery to me, but they do.

I didn't know you'd gotten a Mini - convertible?

Ed

IndyMike · 01-04-2008, 12:37 AM

+1

If so it explains a lot though. No wonder the lemm-ster's been throwing that Edmunds article around so stoicly. If the R32 had punked the MCS I'm sure suddenly the Edmunds writer would be a non-driving nematode and a douche bag.

lemming · 01-04-2008, 07:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IndyMike

+1

If so it explains a lot though. No wonder the lemm-ster's been throwing that Edmunds article around so stoicly. If the R32 had punked the MCS I'm sure suddenly the Edmunds writer would be a non-driving nematode and a douche bag.

i don't really get the jist of the R32 v MCS comparison, personally, as an objective exercise. i thought it was more useful to bring up shortcomings, of which there are plenty to be had, in the MCS, which, by and large that edmunds blog is pretty fair.

basically the r32 entirely stands for everything that the MINI does not. grand touring. really nice interior. i think that plays through in the writeup, too. i just want Ponderosa Plaz to know that there are plenty of downsides (objectively writing) to the MCS that come up over time after the initial test drive.

IndyMike · 01-04-2008, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lemming

i don't really get the jist of the R32 v MCS comparison, personally, as an objective exercise. i thought it was more useful to bring up shortcomings, of which there are plenty to be had, in the MCS, which, by and large that edmunds blog is pretty fair.

basically the r32 entirely stands for everything that the MINI does not. grand touring. really nice interior. i think that plays through in the writeup, too. i just want Ponderosa Plaz to know that there are plenty of downsides (objectively writing) to the MCS that come up over time after the initial test drive.

I'm hyp.

I like the Mini and obviously since many enthusiast folks here currently have one (or had one previously) there must be something to them.

But regarding the R56 it just seems that I read and hear a lot of sound bites like the below which I copped from the recent MT COTY edition on-line.

"The second generation is more evolutionary than revolutionary. And in the time following the Mini's arrival, the GTI has arguably become king of this category, one we're not sure the new Mini can dethrone. Many judges also feel ergonomics have taken a step back: neither the center-stack controls nor the Mini's version of iDrive are intuitive. Offering go-kart fun in an incredibly charming package isn't enough for the Mini to earn the title of Car of the Year, especially when some aspects of the car aren't as good as those of the one it's replaced."

I think Plaz should also take the GTI for a spin for a good comparison.

Afterwards he may discover that the MCS only offers him a Plazebo effect.

*Plaz* · 01-04-2008, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lemming

Ponderosa Plaz

ZBB · 01-03-2008, 05:35 PM

We had an R53... I rarely noticed the s/c whine, and the exhaust was enjoyable... But it did need to be rev'ed to ~2500-3000 before having ample torque.

I haven't yet driven an R56... But we sat in one recently. You can tell certain parts of the interior are a huge improvement over the R53. It has the same general design, but the R56 felt more gimmicky -- almost cartoonish.

I'm sure you'll enjoy one if you get it...

SARAFIL · 01-03-2008, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZBB

You can tell certain parts of the interior are a huge improvement over the R53. It has the same general design, but the R56 felt more gimmicky -- almost cartoonish.

I really like the interior of the R56 but certainly agree with this comment. I think the door panels look better, the dashboard shape looks better, the center console is a better design, I actually like the larger speedometer, and I like the changes to the glovebox and the addition of the "secret compartment". I like the integration of the latest features (comfort access, bluetooth, Sirius, HD radio, ipod/USB, etc.). The climate control is easy to operate.

So what do I have to complain about? While the climate control is easy to operate, I think the fan speed and temperature controls look a bit goofy and are not as smooth to operate on all cars as they should be. And the radio? Yes, I think that is a mess. The power/volume knob that is lost all by itself? The radio display/controls in the bottom portion of the speedometer? I wish that they would have used the space on the speedometer for guages like they did on the R50/R53, and that they had put a more conventional looking radio headunit/faceplate on the center stack above the climate control switches. If they were to make those changes to the climate control and radio controls, then I think the complaints about the interior would be greatly eliminated since the rest of the interior is very nice.

JST · 01-03-2008, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SARAFIL

I really like the interior of the R56 but certainly agree with this comment. I think the door panels look better, the dashboard shape looks better, the center console is a better design, I actually like the larger speedometer, and I like the changes to the glovebox and the addition of the "secret compartment". I like the integration of the latest features (comfort access, bluetooth, Sirius, HD radio, ipod/USB, etc.). The climate control is easy to operate.

So what do I have to complain about? While the climate control is easy to operate, I think the fan speed and temperature controls look a bit goofy and are not as smooth to operate on all cars as they should be. And the radio? Yes, I think that is a mess. The power/volume knob that is lost all by itself? The radio display/controls in the bottom portion of the speedometer? I wish that they would have used the space on the speedometer for guages like they did on the R50/R53, and that they had put a more conventional looking radio headunit/faceplate on the center stack above the climate control switches. If they were to make those changes to the climate control and radio controls, then I think the complaints about the interior would be greatly eliminated since the rest of the interior is very nice.

I agree with all of this. The fact that the CC only moves in 2 degree increments is a bit cheesy, too, as is the lack of variable speed on the intermittent wipers (if you don't get the auto wipers). I'd really like one-touch close for the windows and sunroof, and I'd really, really like a real sunshade for the roof (I think this will be a particularly acute need as summer rolls around).

On the plus side, the voice recognition for the Bluetooth works well.

01-03-2008, 05:23 PM	#1
Plaz ••••••• Join Date: Oct 2003 Carmudgeonly Ride: '11 1M Location: Churzee Posts: 17,741	Test drove an R56 MCS '07 MCS 6-speed with no sport package or LSD. It's a little BMW, and feels like it. I was expecting horrific torque steer, but it was totally tolerable. It's there, but practically negligible. I bet with the LSD, sport suspension and some stickier tires (215/45/17 summers instead of 195/xx/16 all seasons?) it would have been mitigated even further. Clutch was predictable, if a little numb. Shifter was typical BMW stock -- a tiny bit rubbery, with a slightly longer throw than I'd prefer, but a totally livable and satisfying rowing experience. Steering was excellent, despite the electric boost... in sport mode. With the sport button off, it felt 10x more loosey-goosey... I can tell that button would always be pressed were I to own one. Given that it's got just a little 1.6L blown 4-banger, it felt surprisingly peppy and torquey... minimal low-rev turbo lag, plenty of twist off the line and at low revs, without feeling like it runs out of steam too early in higher revs. Nice, smooth, consistent power... I like this engine a lot. Overboost comes on at WOT for an extra kick in the pants... you can feel it, but it comes on smoothly. I was half-expecting a kickdown switch on the accelerator like a slushie E46, and a sudden torque-steery burst of go, but instead it was a gentle surge -- a composed effort of the engine to just do as directed. Very nice. Not gimmicky -- just useful. I've never driven an R53, but I can't imagine the much praised s/c whine and exhaust burble from that Chrysler powerplant being more attractive than the ample torque and silky delivery this turbocharged BMW mill delivers. I don't understand the 1st generation purists on this issue. The interior design, on the other hand, is extremely gimmicky. I imagine there are tons of ergonomic no-nos, though I can't detail any at present. I must admit I like the toggles, even though they don't really make sense... but they feel like quality switchgear. The climate controls are a little cheap feeling, but not horrible. Better than a Civic, not quite as nice as the E46. The whole package is solid and tight feeling, though, like a teeny BMW should feel. It's really everything I like in a car, FWD excepted. But the test drive makes me think I could live with that, much to my surprise. It really seems like the perfect car for fun street driving. I'm sure my RX-8 would be much more satisfying on the track, where its balance and handling elegance can shine. But I think the tight solidity, quicker steering, lightness, greater low end grunt, and overall German/BMW feel of the R56 probably give it an edge on the day-to-day street funometer. Not to even mention the fact that it drinks half as much. I think I want one. __________________ 2011 1M

01-03-2008, 05:35 PM	#2
lemming Western Anomaly Join Date: Oct 2003 Carmudgeonly Ride: White Orca Posts: 16,611	w o w. that's quite the review. to address some of your points: 1. the 195/55/16s are tolerable, but they're grand touring tires. cheap for runflats, but they don't have much grip --no doubt unloading the runflats would make a huge difference. 2. the torque steer. it's definitely there. i'm not sure if the limited slip unit exacerbates it or ameliorates it, though. i think i sensed it also in the nonLSD demo i drove. 3. the engine. it's a marvel of an engine. super-kudos to BMW for creating, with peugeot, a phenomenal powerplant. in cold weather, just an FYI, it sputters upon cold start and you can feel the heat soak if you're caning the car on wickedly hot humid summer days. those R53 people are still insane because that powerplant is intolerable to me. 4. i generally hate the interior but i've come to grips with it. 5. it's very do-able for a daily driver. now that we're in the cold weather, either because of the cold grease on the bearings plus the change in gas formulation, the mpgs have dropped in city driving to 29mpg from 31mpg --or maybe i'm gunning it more? 6. i miss RWD a lot and that'll for sure be the next car, but i'm really enjoying this particular BMW product a lot. how they manage the steering feel is a mystery to me, but they do. __________________

01-03-2008, 05:35 PM	#8
ZBB Relic Join Date: Oct 2003 Carmudgeonly Ride: A very fast golf cart Location: The Valley of the Sun Posts: 12,821	We had an R53... I rarely noticed the s/c whine, and the exhaust was enjoyable... But it did need to be rev'ed to ~2500-3000 before having ample torque. I haven't yet driven an R56... But we sat in one recently. You can tell certain parts of the interior are a huge improvement over the R53. It has the same general design, but the R56 felt more gimmicky -- almost cartoonish. I'm sure you'll enjoy one if you get it... __________________ ZBB

01-04-2008, 12:37 AM	#4
IndyMike Elected by grace Join Date: Feb 2006 Carmudgeonly Ride: 11 1 M; 11 328iT; 22 M240ix Location: Brickyard Posts: 1,962	+1 If so it explains a lot though. No wonder the lemm-ster's been throwing that Edmunds article around so stoicly. If the R32 had punked the MCS I'm sure suddenly the Edmunds writer would be a non-driving nematode and a douche bag.