Engine or Transmission / 1.5L not as smooth as 2.0L

As impressive as the 1.5-3 cylinder engine is I would expect the 2.0 to be quieter and more refined. They're part of the same engine family and 3 cylinder set ups are traditionally louder with greater vibrations transferred to the cabin. You could also argue that the 1.5 has more character!

The sound is a little rough and throaty at times. This is due to the odd number of cylinders being less tuneful, I think.

However, I have never felt any vibration. I think the new 3 cylinder engine is fantastic.

I have had two three cylinder engined cars, both Toyotas, prior to my 1.5 Cooper and I find the Cooper engine is the smoothest of them.

Even with the balancer shaft I doubt if it will match the smoothness of a 4 cylinder though.

I also think the 1.5 sounds great!

The 2.0 has 2 counter balance shafts, so it's going to be quieter, and also it has the 4 cylinders rather than 3

Give me the sound of the 3 cylinder any day. Far far more character than a4 pot!

jeremybingham said:

Give me the sound of the 3 cylinder any day. Far far more character than a4 pot!

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Laverda Jota, anyone?

I love the sound of the 3-cylinder once you get some revs on it, but at low rpms it does sound rather rattly, and I could feel some vibration at idle. The 4-cylinder B48 on the other hand, sounded good all through the rev band, though it didn't have the character of the 3-cylinder B38 at high revs.

Regardless, they're both great engines. I really was very impressed with the power and torque of both of them, but if I had to choose it would be the 4-cylinder.

As a reference, I currently drive a 328i with the N26 4-cylinder turbo. The B48 4-cylinder in the Mini is much smoother.

Angib said:

Laverda Jota, anyone?

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In orange yes please!

Washy said:

In orange yes please!

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Actually, don't - it would disappoint you terribly. A long time ago I went with a group of middle-aged friends to the TT and one of the group had a beautifully-restored late-model 120-degree Jota. Anyone here thinking about 'bi-modal' exhausts for F56s should have heard its exhaust: a UK-only factory special, it was just a shell of a silencer with nothing at all inside it - revving the engine in front of a metal up and over door, you could actually see the door vibrate!

The disappointment was that I went on my ST1100 Pan-European old man's touring bike and it turned out that the Pan did everything, including handling, better than the Jota, as well as leaving it for dead in a straight line. I felt really bad about showing up the Jota (my adolescent dream too) like that, but it just confirms that you can't successfully turn the clock back.

I know what you mean about turning the clock back. My first big bike was a Yamaha FZR600. I loved it at the time, anyhow got the chance to ride one again recently and it was awful narrow tyres peaky engine and rubbish suspension compared to the modern stuff

Back on topic I haven't driven a 1.5 F56, but did have a listen to one at the dealers and I thought it had a lot of character.

The auto box is mapped differently from the cooper to the s as well. From what you describe it confirms what ive read that its not as well suited to the cooper engine

hi

just checking do you think my 5 door copper 1.5L sounds normal.

http://youtu.be/j-PE2xhXKCA

thanks
andy

Very true that progress is amazing and perhaps sometimes we are disappointed with things we might have covetted . I like your bike knowledge angib and washy. Sold my triumph Daytona,now that's a nice 955cc triple, for a ktm 990 smt, twin. Sounds good too but even less refined. I bought my f56cooper because of that 3 cylinder noise. Good job were all different!
PS the triumph had a race can. At night you could see a faint flame from it and the pops on the over run. Wow!

Andy hi I think it's louder than mine I think you need a trip to the dealer. Test drive one of there s and get them out with you for a listen . Hard to tell on a recording. Same ish noise as mine but definitely on tickover sounds a fair bit louder. People have commented on how quiet my f56 cooper is.

Hi have checked with the dealer they say is normal but I am not really happy with the noise.

Have you driven another. Direct comparison yourself is probably the truest way?