I need some input and help please.

I made an appointment to get the recall fix re: the fuel tank emissions. The appt was made for 2 weeks away, but then suddenly the next day my "service engine soon" light came on and the car was running a little sluggishly and the rpms would drop while idling at a light. So I took the car in without the appt. Fortunately they took it in and looked at it for me.

I got a call that the car was ready later in the afternoon. While waiting for them to bring the car around I looked over the paperwork...recall item fixed and a part ordered for a malfunctioning fuel guage, but...regarding sluggish and idling low they typed in:
"Faults PO420 Cat. Converter bank 1 efficiency below threshold. Has aftermarket header pipes, muffler, spark plug wires and air intake system"

Once the car was brought around I jumped in and cranked her up. Service engine light still on. My service advisor had already gone home for the day and I didn't want to get anybody else involved until I spoke to him. So I took the car home and I have to contact them today.

Does anybody have any ideas what my tack should be? I've had all of the above mentioned mods for a year now with no problems whatsoever (apparently they either didn't spot the pulley or decided they didn't need to mention it). I had been thinking they would simply install v39 or whatever is available these days and the problems would be fixed (I currently have v36), but it looks like they're refusing to work on it due to the mods and/or are saying that they can't fix it due to the mods.

Any help on this will certainly be appreciated.

Ken

 

I have all the mods you can get on my car.... never EVER had a SES light until they insisted on installing the new software on my car... my car doesnt run anywhere near what it did with the 02 software

got another SES light yesterday... first one I had was engine too rich... can't wait to see what this one is

also in for a steering problem... clunk cluck clunk
brought them 15pages of complaints off the net with me to staple to my work order to show them this is a major problem on the 02s

good luck

 

You should not have any problem convincing them that the steering is a problem, a couple of months ago we had the steering rack and column replaced because of the clunking, and the steering wheel since it was peeling. All parts were in dealer stock.

 

It seems rather weird that you arent the only case since Diablito had the same problem. I wonder if the new emmisions program dealt with how rich/lean the engine runs and thus interferes with the mods you both have?

I'm getting mine done soon, but my car isnt as modded as yours, i still havent put a header on yet. Would be interesting to see how many people have this new check engine ligth emerge

 

man, I hope you are right...


was getting a ride home on the shuttle and the guy next to me was a neighbor... had his 5 series in for brakes... asked him how much

$1200 for rotors and pads.... I said WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATTTTTTTT


holy batcrap.... I called steve and asked.... $500 total

he was dialing as fast as he could to tell them to stop...

 

Some times when people change out their exhaust systems the O2 oxygen sensor wires might get nicked or cut and cause the SES light to come on. From the mods that you have I do not see any reason why they wouldn't work on your car.

 

I have since spoken to the advisor. He didn't sound as friendly on the phone as he was in person yesterday. He confirms that they are of the opinion that my after market exhaust is causing the problem. Said exhaust has been there for a year and a half and I have never had the light come on before. So I ask him if they can get the SES light to go off, and he says they won't work on the car due to the mods. He says that whoever installed the exhaust should also be able to get the light to turn off. This was said in the finest sarcastic voice he could muster up.

erm...just for the record I installed the Magnaflow myself and no, I do not have the ability to turn off SES lights. A year and a half after installation, this light is not on due to my Magnaflow. Is it?

Ken

 

any chance you will share who your dealer is?

 

I also have the Magmaflow exhaust. And yes I did install it myself. My dealer has no problems with the after market items on my car. But of course it is out of warranty. So I have to pay for any repairs.

 

No problem with that. Glad somebody asked.

LONG BEACH MINI.


Ken

 

Could it be the program update #39? The team leader at my dealer says that this has been causing many weird problems that come up just after #39 is installed.


Dave

 

Never had a light in mine until V39 was installed so I would guess it is the problem

 

A while back BMW told all their mechanics to make note
of ANY modifications on cars that came in for service.(and report it)
It is my opinion that they requested this info. so that
they would be able to deny claims for warranty service.
They are in business to make money and then to keep
as much of it as they can. IMHO you are SOL.
I have owned four MINIs but I don't think I will be buying
anything else from BMW, except for motorcycles, and even
those are becoming more troublesome.
dpilgrim...how are you? Your mileage now is????

 

Just to clarify...

I did not have any SES lights on when I called to make the appt for the emissions recall but it did go on before my appt date. The light was still on when I arrived at the dealer and was still on after I left. That first part of my original thread might have been a bit confusing.


Ken

 

I still have V31 on my heavily modified MCS. Even though I received the recall notice about the V39 upgrade, I've been wary about upsetting my current performance levels and all around balance by having it installed (even for free, under the recall campaign). This thread confirms my suspicions. Looks like I'll be a happy camper with my V31 for a while longer. No stumble, no yo-yo just pure accelerated fun.

 

DON"T GO IN...... NO FREAKING WAY would I ever do it again...

 

I'd replace the Oxygen sensors myself in that case. They do go bad after a few years anyway.

 

I'm doing just fine Mike. How are things out West? Mileage is now over 113,000 miles.

 

Man that was a great idea by MINI. Make a software update that is incompatible with aftermarket available. It throws lights that need to be fixed and you end up going to the dealership and a lot of people will pay for the dealer fixes. Also, it gives you the ability to deny work under warranty.

Very interesting business model!

 

I just checked in with my SA and shee said that if the technician did not undo the battery cable correctly before loading the new software you will get a SEL within hours (same day). I plan on holding off on this since my 02 MCS is modded and running great at this time. Hope this helps.

Dan

 

dan, could you please give us details (dealer/phone/name). i don't want to take mine in until this is worked out....thanks

 

you know what guys i might just be a statistic here but my queschin is i was one of the first produced mcs in the states and i had the first program that the cars came with no yoyo or stumble and never a cold start issue, then after the upgrades all hell broke loose and i got the yoyo and the cold start the yoyo came in right after the 50 thousand mile barrier, how strange since then the yoyo has worked itself out and is nolonger their.

i wonder if bmw should just bring out the origanal program again!!!! its just every one ive talked to that has run with and stayed with the origanal software is still with zero problems. im not shure but who knowa

 

I just moved to Albuquerque from Florida and my 04
S has cold start problems. I bought an '04 BMW
K1200GT that has cold start problems. Perhaps
the climate in Germany has changed???? Of interest,
though, is the fact that on the K1200 GT BMW is replacing
ECUs not doing software upgrades. Another interesting
thing is with the K12GT there was no recall....you have
to ask for a new ECU and if you don't before the end of
December you are SOL.

BTW Doug things are great...can't wait for the snow in the
mountains so I can strap a board on my feet!

 

I'd like to find a dealer that's willing to load CD31, or whatever the 1st '01-02 MINI software was, back on their GT1 and load it on my car - I bet it'd run better than all the revisions they've done to date...just like 4GAZM's theory.

I've heard a mixed bag about V39 - from SES lights to it's-the-best-ever. Quite the polarization...any ideas why the huge delta?

 

latest from dealer.....

said steering column is being replaced
SES light says nitrous.... you think that computer knows nitrous?
never even used it in over a week and..... the SES light came on when I started it... go figure