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yeah, I'm hoping it's not dealer BS. However, the service dept. almost cut me off before I could spit the rest of it out, so it's obvious there are a lot of MINI owners that have asked about it. He seemed to almost know exactly where the problem was and when they were going to get the fix. He didn't give me a specific date, but I get to go in by the end of this week to get my minor warranty issue fixed. When I do, I will be digging a little deeper to get a solid date as to when they will have all the recall stuff ready to fix a long overdue problem with thousands of MINI's.
It's nice to see that MINIUSA has responded to this and is releasing a fix. Now, what I'd like to really see if a fix that impacts more than 1% of the MINI population, I suspect the 05 MCS + JCW is a pretty small subset of your customers. Finally, I just hope this "fix" doesn't introduce 3 new problems.
Actually, I think MINI should release specifics of errata for each version of the S/W so the customer can understand the tradeoffs. This happened for Intel with their processors, they now release all the data, and everyone is happy. For instance, it appears the emissions problem fix introduced the rough idle and the SAFETY ISSUE on hesitation. There are also reports of better gas mileage on the higway -- this is something I called my dealer about it as it was so pronounced for me, more than 5 MPG delta!
Let's hope the fix for the rest of us is in the pipeline and will be released soon, before someone gets hurt in one of these cars.
This isn't a JCW problem, I don't know what you mean by 1% effected?
Yeah what Kaelaria said. The MINIUSA post definitely says their fix is for '05s with JCW - I *sighed" when I read that, because I am guessing that most owners who posted here are not running the JCW upgrade. What does "with JCW" mean anymore, anyhow ?
One gets the feeling one's expectations are again being managed.
I wonder what percentage of the MINI car population the 2005 + JCW option is? I suspect it's less than 1% (probably closer to .1 or .01%), that's where my number came from.
Most of us are part of the other 99%, 99.9%, 99.99%.
MINIUSA - Please provide a fix for the rest of us.
On cold starts my MCS runs smooth for about 5 seconds then idles very rough for about 10 seconds and then smooths out again. It's never stalled on me but I am quite annoyed each and every morning when I start the car.
BMW sucks for not doing anything about it. I will never buy another BMW product. Does someone have to get killed before they fix it? Could it take more than one afternoon for a couple of engineers to come up with a fix?
For instance, it appears the emissions problem fix introduced the rough idle and the SAFETY ISSUE on hesitation. There are also reports of better gas mileage on the higway -- this is something I called my dealer about it as it was so pronounced for me, more than 5 MPG delta!
Does your 5MPG delta come from the indash readout, or do you 'do the math' when you fill your tank? I filled mine today, and the dash said 29.6 MPG, while doing the math yielded a little under 24MPG.
The dash readout has always been high, but it is my impression that the software update just might have increased that gap, too. That does not make sense, but what part of this problem does?
__________________
It was a beautiful day.
The sun beat down.
I had the radio on.
I was driving.
'10 MCS Mayfair - HC/B
'04 MCS - BRG/W (174,000 miles!)
Both my 05 MCS and my co-workers 05 MCS have the stumble first thing in the morning. Mine has never died, but it stumbles, recovers, and is fine from that point on.
I have an appointment at the dealership to leave it overnight so their tech can experience it in the morning.
I too thought it might be the initial strain of the a/c kicking in (although it doesn't affect the car during restarts throughout the day) so I experimented by shutting the a/c off the night before. Sure enough, the following morning I STILL had the stumble.
Both our cars have the JCW packages, and from what I am told, the JCW ecu upgrades are on a different version number sequence. Doesn't matter--I still get the stumble.
I'll post to let you know what Hendrick MINI suggests after they check over my car...
Tarzan, did you ever take yours in? What was the dealer response?
Don't bother taking it to the dealer, they will just flash the car with the same program that still doesn't work.
...
Pretty pathetic that with four years under their belt they still can't get this fixed.
That's been my point. Over the course of 2-1/2 yrs., and 7 repair attempts on my '03-- seemed that was, under any circumstances, enough is enough. The question still has not been answered...
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."
Andy, is that supposed to prime the fuel pump or something? What effect is that having? A computer training method maybe?
On a side note:
I did try my own method the other morning. I gently got in, sweet talked to her, petted the dash, and told her it was going to be alright. I turned the key and whispered sweet nothings into the air vent, and she responded by almost stalling again.
So much for that trick.
__________________
'07 MCS, Astro Blk, Rota RB wheels Hyper Black, Shrader Rear Seat Delete
'05 MCS, Chili Red (SOLD)
Weekend Warrior: '99 supercharged Mustang
815 hp at the wheels...
I really don't know why the problem is happening to begin with, but mine pretty consistently failed to start on the first try. On the second try, it fired right up. So, I figured, why bother cranking at all of the first try if it's not going to start anyway. Now, I just turn the key on, turn it off, turn it on, and start it.
I tried the sweet talking too, but mine didn't respond either.
__________________ 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."
On a side note:
I did try my own method the other morning. I gently got in, sweet talked to her, petted the dash, and told her it was going to be alright. I turned the key and whispered sweet nothings into the air vent, and she responded by almost stalling again. So much for that trick.
Quote:
Originally Posted by andy@ross-tech.com
I tried the sweet talking too, but mine didn't respond either.
Tatt's Analysis (based on empirical evidence, gathered from 13+ years of marriage... errr, I meant to say experience:
The failure of sweet-talk is a major indicator of the "gender" of your MINIs. Another indication is the general (and loveable) unfathomable nature of this issue. I'll let it go at that, and dust off my asbestos overcoat...
Solution (also based on experience):
Throw some cash at the issue, (and clean the garage/attic/kitchen). Try to look at it like an "opportunity" instead of a "problem".
That was hilarious about whispering in the air vents .
I have 1800 miles on mine and it just started to stumble in the morning. Same thing. Doesn't die just stumble.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tarzan
Both my 05 MCS and my co-workers 05 MCS have the stumble first thing in the morning. Mine has never died, but it stumbles, recovers, and is fine from that point on.
I have an appointment at the dealership to leave it overnight so their tech can experience it in the morning.
I too thought it might be the initial strain of the a/c kicking in (although it doesn't affect the car during restarts throughout the day) so I experimented by shutting the a/c off the night before. Sure enough, the following morning I STILL had the stumble.
Both our cars have the JCW packages, and from what I am told, the JCW ecu upgrades are on a different version number sequence. Doesn't matter--I still get the stumble.
I'll post to let you know what Hendrick MINI suggests after they check over my car...
I think I'm going to turn off my subscription to this thread, since (don't hit me) my '05 doesn't have the symptom and I don't want to jinx m'self...
But -
Can't you imagine the guys (& gals) with the '02s/'03s (and all that they had to endure with Stumbles & Yo-Yos and etc's) reading this thread and once again believing that there is justice in this world...?
Chicago will have perfect motoring weather this weekend - I'll be giving MCS Rides to visiting family from out of town.
I have had my 05 since August 04. I started noticing this just after getting past 4,500 miles about a month ago. A solution: let the car idle all night long--no morning stumble. . Tis amazing BMW hasn't figured it out. But GM had 7 yrs to work out the steering column lock out on C5 Corvettes--still a problem. But hey, GM not BMW!
Bought 2005 MCS "BUD" 8/04. Sold 5/09.
Bought 2009 BMW 135i 6spd. "The Red Baron" 5/09. Sold 6/11.
Ordered 2011 JCW "BUDacious" 5/9. PW/Chili top and mirrors. Delivery 6/13.
I had to reschedule my appointment. I'll post when they get a chance to flash me with this latest update to let everyone know how it goes...
Hendrick MINI updated my car's software to the new released patch, and I seem to be cured (2 days since the upgrade, and no rough idle after start either day). This was 100% failure rate prior to the update...
Mine is a JCW equipped car. The service advisor at Hendrick advised me that they just got the patch, but did not have any description of what exactly it changed or fixed. Otherwise, the car behaves flawlessly, and exactly as before--less the rpm dip at initial start-up.
My early production '05 MCS does this too ... but only sporadically. I recently changed where I buy gas and it "seems" to be happening less. Also, a BMW tech I know suggested trying a mid-level octane gas to cure it.
?
SHAME ON YOU BMW. 
. Tis amazing BMW hasn't figured it out. But GM had 7 yrs to work out the steering column lock out on C5 Corvettes--still a problem. But hey, GM not BMW!
