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Required
Premium Unleaded Gasoline,
Minimum Octane Rating: 91.
Minimum Octane Rating corresponds to
the Anti Knock Index (AKI) and is determined
according to the so-called (R+M)/2
method.
Required
Premium Unleaded Gasoline,
Minimum Octane Rating: 91.
Minimum Octane Rating corresponds to
the Anti Knock Index (AKI) and is determined
according to the so-called (R+M)/2
method.
Yea basically means put in 93("Premium") if possible but it will run on 91 if needed because 93 isn't availible. Isn't it true that 93 is difficult to find in Cali?
I use only 93 Octane in my Feb 04 build MCS. Until recently, the only problem I had was the same with a warm or cold engine; on occasion first gear seemed so tall that I wondered if I really had been driving sticks for thrity years. It would not stall, but it would sometimes really make me work to get rolling. Once rolling, all was fine.
A few months ago I got the software upgrade (39, 40, whatever) called for by the emissions recall. At the Dragon, I got a 15% reduction pulley. The first gear problem is now 100% gone, whether the engine is warm or cold. I have never had a yoyo, and am not sure if my previous problem qualifies as a stumble or not.
I now have the cold start problem, however. The first time I turn the key on a cold engine, I have little more than a 20% chance the engine will start. Revving the engine when I turn the key helps a little, not a lot.
If I turn the key off and back on again, the engine always starts as it should, and does not require a foot on the gas to do so. Once started, all is fine. I thought this problem would go away when the summer fuel met warmer weather, but that does not seem to be happening yet.
__________________
It was a beautiful day.
The sun beat down.
I had the radio on.
I was driving.
You guys are misinterpreting the sentance. Read it this way: Required Premium Unleaded Gasoline, Minimum Octane Rating: 91.
91 IS premium. So is 92,93,94,95. ANY premium is what it needs, premium being a MINIMUM of 91.
Was this happening last summer to the 02-04 Mini's as well? Or is it only happening this year and our short memories have faded beyond remembering it....?
__________________
Steve, 2005 MCS, CR/CR
Weekend Warrior: '99 Supercharged Mustang GT
640 hp at the wheels...
rearseatdelete.com
My 2003 Cooper was doing it prior to the recall fix. It did it all last year. It did not do it for a couple months when it was new. It is odd. Everytime they update my ECU, it cures it for several weeks. But it always returns again... I also had very bad engine lag while running the A/C. Again, ECU update cured that for several weeks last year (July), but it seems to be returning.
2 issues here, which a couple of posters have repeatedly tried to reconfirm- one, that the thread was to concern "stumble," not starting problems, and two, that there are concerns about the misunderstanding of "minimum" and "recommended" (I would read as "mandatory") octane levels for gas. That being said, I was never able to resolve this problem, very severe, with my '03, despite 93 (never below) octane gas. Gas aside, this is a software issue, which BMW has had long enough to resolve. I've done pretty well with my '05 and am happy with it. If gas is interpreted to be a significant factor, (again-- for me, only 93 and never an "off brand"), then BMW should issue some aggressively worded guidance. To own a British car, (I won't bore anyone on that issue!), I would endure quite a bit, labeled as "quirks." But I think when it broaches becoming a safety issue, which it can in urban/suburban environment, that's a real problem-- and I could no longer tolerate that with my '03. I love this car, and am thankful that my '05 is not suffering from it, so far. Question is- why can't this just be resolved, once and for all??? Good luck to everyone...
Was this happening last summer to the 02-04 Mini's as well? Or is it only happening this year and our short memories have faded beyond remembering it....?
I’ve had my MCS almost 3 years now. August 02 build and have never had one problem with it. No yo-yo, no stumble, no anything. I have posted many times over the last 3 years that I have one of the most reliable MINI’s that has ever been built. I even have stone chips in my windshield the size of a nickel and the windshield won’t break. Other than on road trips about 3 times a year, I buy my 93 octane gas at the same station every week. In the history of owning my MCS I have never had a stalling problem. Other than the oil being changed, I’ve never had one thing changed or go wrong with my MINI
A little over a month ago I had my 02 MCS in to the dealer for the emissions recall update. Until then I had the original v32 programmed in to the car. I had never upgraded once. The philosophy, if it’s not broke, don’t fix it.
The dealer installed the newest update at the time, v40 I believe it was and my MCS has had nothing but stalling problems since.
Now it’s very hard to start in the morning, I can’t even pull out of my flat driveway without stalling and it’s getting worse daily. I’ll sit at a stop light and hear the engine sputter, choke and even die now and then. It runs and idles rough. Pickup off the line is terrible. None of this has ever happened – ever to my MCS with v32.
It has nothing to do with the gas a certain time of the year, the outside temperature or wet/cold/hot conditions. It is the ECU program alone and my indestructible MCS has been ruined because of it.
The dealer installed the newest update at the time, v40 I believe it was and my MCS has had nothing but stalling problems since.
It has nothing to do with the gas a certain time of the year, the outside temperature or wet/cold/hot conditions. It is the ECU program alone and my indestructible MCS has been ruined because of it.
Thank you Sndwave, for bringing this back on topic, and for clarifying the issue as one concerning the ECU program alone. This is the point other posters have been making. And as I have mentioned earlier, BMW has had several years to work on this issue, and I can't understand why it has not yet been resolved.
I've had my '05 MCS since May 31st. It starts the first time, everytime, with no rough idle that I can discern... However, sometimes - not always - upon starting out in either first or even trying to accelerate out of second gear there will be some hesitation - scary amounts of hesitation - but then once I get going she screams...
I first thought it to be my clutching abilities but I now know it to likely be this ECU issue. I sort of avoid the hesitation now by giving a bit more gas and letting out on the clutch a little more slowly (almost to the point of squealing the tires).
I think this may be more attributed to a "cold" engine than one at temperature... who knows... Anyway I still ABOSLUTELY LOVE MY MCS!!!
HBB w/ black bonnet stripes
sunroof
6 spd
17" s-lites
black n blue leather seats
auto ac
rear fog
chromed and body color dash w/ big speedo in the middle
AUX for XM
center armrest
big smiles
I've had my '05 MCS since May 31st. It starts the first time, everytime, with no rough idle that I can discern... However, sometimes - not always - upon starting out in either first or even trying to accelerate out of second gear there will be some hesitation - scary amounts of hesitation - but then once I get going she screams...
Turn your DSC off and see if it still hesitates. This sounds like classic DCS kicking in.
Just thought I'd mention that I'm having this same problem now. Car always started up vigorously, quickly and without a hitch, but since around early May it now stalls after the first morning start. Second start is perfect.
I use 93 all the time and have recently been using 100 at the track. This does not make it any better. This is all too weird.
Don't like it as to me if my car is suffering this problem then it may not be running at 100% when I push it on the track.
Wonder if this will all just go away or if in fact there will be a fix. I'm not crazy about being reflashed by the dealer...
i took my car a '04 JCW equipped car to ft lauderdale Mini, last saturday to fix a leak they left when I went in for my first oil change a month earlier, and the fu...rs upgraded my software and now my car stalls at starting, like when it seats for long time and sometimes when just moving a few feet. I totally forgot to tell them not to flash the ecu and they went ahead and did....I never had any of the problems you guys have, and now i'm screwed..........
1. Rough Idle at start - Have 250 miles on car and last 3 mornings after parking overnight for 13 hrs in the garage. Start car, idle is rough, it stumbles and then picks up the RPM and goes on fine.
2. Weird stumble/hesitation in Second gear - The YOYO I guess.
3. Grey door panels cracking inside the car - saw this within 3 hrs of pick up. They will replace when they put the roof rack on Monday morning.
sndwave, thanks. You just said what I was going to say. I have an August 02 MCS also and it was always great, now after the "upgrade" it has been more problems than ever before. When I asked the SM which version of software was installed he could not or would not tell me. Whatever it was I want my v32 back!!!!!!!!
Besides the cold start problem I now have a problem with acceleration from a standstill. I push down on the accelerator pedal and .... like nothing happens .. not a linear response. The cars starts to move very slowly, feed more gas, nothing .... back off on the pedal and then it will take off. Very annoying and very dangerous when trying to merge with moving traffic.
Quote:
Originally Posted by sndwave
I’ve had my MCS almost 3 years now. August 02 build and have never had one problem with it. No yo-yo, no stumble, no anything. I have posted many times over the last 3 years that I have one of the most reliable MINI’s that has ever been built. I even have stone chips in my windshield the size of a nickel and the windshield won’t break. Other than on road trips about 3 times a year, I buy my 93 octane gas at the same station every week. In the history of owning my MCS I have never had a stalling problem. Other than the oil being changed, I’ve never had one thing changed or go wrong with my MINI
A little over a month ago I had my 02 MCS in to the dealer for the emissions recall update. Until then I had the original v32 programmed in to the car. I had never upgraded once. The philosophy, if it’s not broke, don’t fix it.
The dealer installed the newest update at the time, v40 I believe it was and my MCS has had nothing but stalling problems since.
Now it’s very hard to start in the morning, I can’t even pull out of my flat driveway without stalling and it’s getting worse daily. I’ll sit at a stop light and hear the engine sputter, choke and even die now and then. It runs and idles rough. Pickup off the line is terrible. None of this has ever happened – ever to my MCS with v32.
It has nothing to do with the gas a certain time of the year, the outside temperature or wet/cold/hot conditions. It is the ECU program alone and my indestructible MCS has been ruined because of it.
Recently, before starting the car, I have done the following:
1) Turn key to ON position for 10 seconds but don't try to start the car
2) Turn key to OFF position
3) Turn key to ON position and start the car
Since the problems only seem to manifest themselves in the morning on the first start of the day, it'll take some time to find out if this really works. But, the past 3 starts have been smooth and successful when done in this manner.
__________________ http://www.ross-tech.net/andy/frink.gif
"Well, sure, the Frinkiac-7 looks impressive, don't touch it, but I predict that within 100 years, computers will be twice as powerful, 10,000 times larger, and so expensive that only the five richest kings of Europe will own them."
Just an update. This method has had a 100% success rate for me during the past week. Next week, I will alternate between the fire-it-right-up method and this, to make sure it's repeatable.
Quote:
Originally Posted by andy@ross-tech.com
Recently, before starting the car, I have done the following:
1) Turn key to ON position for 10 seconds but don't try to start the car
2) Turn key to OFF position
3) Turn key to ON position and start the car
Since the problems only seem to manifest themselves in the morning on the first start of the day, it'll take some time to find out if this really works. But, the past 3 starts have been smooth and successful when done in this manner.
__________________ http://www.ross-tech.net/andy/frink.gif
"Well, sure, the Frinkiac-7 looks impressive, don't touch it, but I predict that within 100 years, computers will be twice as powerful, 10,000 times larger, and so expensive that only the five richest kings of Europe will own them."
I also had very bad engine lag while running the A/C. Again, ECU update cured that for several weeks last year (July), but it seems to be returning.
April
Hybrid Mode
