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After several days without any cold start problems it did it again this morning as I was headed out for some serious motoring. While out motoring I stopped for about 15 - 20 minutes, when re-starting it turned over a few extra times before starting.
Ever since the v39 install my cold start and throttle response have gotten terrible.
I've tried the different gas route, changing stations and grades. So far no help.
Update on Brutus too...
I have not experienced the hard morning start for over a year now, maybe 2, don't remember.
A 4 second pause before starting has been the cure for our 02 MCS, be sure to give that method a try.
Good luck all
Yeah, but switching to midgrade gas may not be good for the engine in the long haul.
But, it is the dealers service department that is making the recomendation so they assume responsibility, right???
Actually, with all of the modern electronics in place to stop "knock" I am reasonably sure that no damage will be done. A reduction in preformance for sure, but no damage.
I have been alternating between fuel grades, it seems to help, but not completely fix the cold start issue. Before any serious motoring I always fill with premium
But, it is the dealers service department that is making the recomendation so they assume responsibility, right???
Actually, with all of the modern electronics in place to stop "knock" I am reasonably sure that no damage will be done. A reduction in preformance for sure, but no damage.
I have been alternating between fuel grades, it seems to help, but not completely fix the cold start issue. Before any serious motoring I always fill with premium
^^^ you said an oxymoron (dealer service department coupled with "responsibility") .
The weather has turned very hot here of late. My 'stalling when starting' problem seems to have completely gone away.
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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!)
I have very similar situation and Sndwave described my problem identically.
'03 MCS with ECU emmisions update a couple of months ago.
Today was the worst for stumble. 75 degrees and humid this morning, A/C on at start... severe stumble when trying pull out from driveway onto road with car coming down the road (usually a safe distance, but with stumble it was a little uncomfortable) Tell me that isn't safety issue.
Has anyone else received update and had problem fixed like Tarzan?
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.
I’m not a happy camper.
__________________ Mini03Tiger84
Apex, NC '03 MCS LY/Bk Stripes, 113000+ original owner miles
Helix 19% Pulley & Short Shifter, Alta CAI, Koni Struts, HSport Springs, 22mm Alta anti-sway bar, Auto-Up, Whalen Shift Knob
I would also like to point out other than a Milltek cat-back exhaust I’m running stock. No pulley, not injectors, sway bars (like that would do it), No MTH upgrade, NOTHING and never have other than the new v40 ECU program.
I repeat if you missed it the first, second and now third time. The v40 ECU upgrade runied my fantastic never had a problem once never to the shop for any reason problem free 02 MCS.
My only mod is a 15% reduction pulley, and the v40 software messed me up as well. With the hot weather, however, the problem has disappeared. Dunno why.
__________________
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!)
Obviously I will avoid the ECU update for as long as possible. Our 05 MCS has stumbled a time or two after start-up, but after backing down the driveway it never reoccurs
I have 2004 S pre owned, bought it with 4500 miles, have put on 3000 miles
in 4 months using the car at least 4 days a week, and have not had a problem with starting, even if left 4-5 days she starts with 1 turn of the key.
I think this problem could be related to the MCSa going into a limp/safe mode on cold starts. It does the same thing when you pull out and it starts stumbling and sounds like it's going to stall, but then the computer intervenes and shuts everything down. It doesn't stall but the engine runs rough and sputters. It's happening with all MCSa in hot, humid areas. If you restart it again afterwards then everything runs fine. MINIUSA has many unhappy customers with this problem right now. At least in the manual you can force it to continue driving, but in the auto it only lets you go 5mph after it happens.
We have a 2005 MCSA. This has just gotten a software upgrade from the dealer today ( Towed there DOA yesterday, so the turnaround is pretty good ). I'll let everyone know how it turns out.
I wonder if v.42 will fix the problems on the manual MCS?
I never should have let them do the "EPA upgrade" that was the beginning of the end. It ruined a perfectly good car. Now the service people tell me that they can't re-install v.32 that worked soo well for 30,000 miles.
Live and learn. Should have left it undone until I traded it in, then it would have been someone elses problem. Sorry!
I was having the cold start stumble and rough idle at stoplights/signs. I had the dealer install V42 and since Friday the car has been running great- no more stumbles. It might be my imagination but the car feels stronger, seems to pull harder now. I have the 6-speed. Hope this helps and good luck to all those having problems.
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04 Black MCS, 17s, 15%; lightened crank pulley; ALTA exhaust, clear side reflectors, RDR control arms, iPod adapter, glove box organizer, blk beltline, black side vents/lights, H&R coilovers...
Hate to be a buzzkill, but my 3 week old 2005 MCS has been doing it since I got it. Every single cold start, and the problem is exacerbated with the A/C on. Dealer says no fix.
It's ridiculous for OEM programming to behave as such. GHETTO GHETTO GHETTO.
I had my '05 MCS reflashed at MINI of Nashville one week ago today. My cold start stumble was reduced, at first. Now it is back and really no different than before. Same drivability issues. BMW sucks. I wish Honda would have bought MINI. I don't understand why they can't or won't fix the problem. BMW, get your head out of your ass and fix our cars!
When I got my 03 MCS I noticed the stumbling idle. I just got the pilo ignition pack and some 9mm wires. Made it much smoother and never feels like it's gonna die when stopped.
I wonder if v.42 will fix the problems on the manual MCS?
I never should have let them do the "EPA upgrade" that was the beginning of the end. It ruined a perfectly good car. Now the service people tell me that they can't re-install v.32 that worked soo well for 30,000 miles.
Live and learn. Should have left it undone until I traded it in, then it would have been someone elses problem. Sorry!
I disconnected the battery and reset the ECU when I was at the Dragon two weeks ago and then drove the cr@p out of it for about 5 miles and it seems to have done the trick for the stalling problem. It still lacks the off the line power the v32 gave me, but I’ll live with this until I get a pulley and chip in a few more months.
I just had my April '05 build MCS in yesterday for a couple of issues, the near-stall immediately after starting, a couple of rattles, and generally-poor performance between 2.5-3.5k RPM. They flashed the ECU (DME) with V42.something and reset "all adaptations". The stumble still manifested itself this morning, just like always. I do think the car feels a little smoother all around, however.
I'm planning on doing the MTH software in the not too distant future, and I'm hoping that will improve things.
I really am shocked that BMW has let this go on for three years, now. That's completely unacceptable. But short of returning my car or going through the Lemon Law rigamarole (which wouldn't be hard; four times in the shop for the same issue? no problem!) what can I do? I like the car, aside from that...
Nope, unfortunately MTH doesn't cure the morning stumbles. I thought it did when I first flashed, but it came back soon enough. It was just coincidence.
My MINI wakes up just like I do: I'm bit shaky at first, but after a little stumble, I'm off and running. So far (~9K) he has stalled only twice, which better than some others I guess. My wife thinks there's something wrong with him. I just think he's not a morning person.
Quote:
BMW sucks. I wish Honda would have bought MINI. I don't understand why they can't or won't fix the problem.
Do I wish this behavior was no present? Yes. Do I wish Honda bought MINI? Uh.... No. If I wanted a Honda, I could have bought a Honda. I understand the frustration, but you gotta look at the big picture.
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eMINI
'05 MCS DS/B w/ Aero, M7 Pulley, IK22, JCW 380's, A'PEXi AFC2, H-Sport, SSR Comp's, Goodyear GSD3's, LSD, Sport/Premium/Cold Packs, Anthracite Headliner & Trim, Chromeline Interior, Black Leather w/ Red Cloth, HK Audio, UltraShield, Zaino, Huper Optik
I really am shocked that BMW has let this go on for three years, now. That's completely unacceptable. But short of returning my car or going through the Lemon Law rigamarole (which wouldn't be hard; four times in the shop for the same issue? no problem!) what can I do? I like the car, aside from that...
Until large amounts of people from this board and other MINI owners start actually forcing the lemon law on MINI for this problem then they really won't rush to get it fixed. Sad but true, because thats business.
My car actually stalled TWICE the other day while trying to get it started. Also has anybody else tried revving the engine during this start up period? I tried the other day to take it up to about 3k rpm and a huge cloud of black smoke came out the exhuast. My fiance actually yelled for me to stop while i was pulling out of the driveway doing this because she thought something was seriously wrong with the car. After some more testing i found out it will do it if i rev any time during start up (yes i know not good for engine, i just did it this one time).
.
it was a little uncomfortable) Tell me that isn't safety issue.
So far (~9K) he has stalled only twice, which better than some others I guess. My wife thinks there's something wrong with him. I just think he's not a morning person.
