Any JCW owners had their ECU's re-programmed with v 36 software?
What is the impact of this "fix" for stumble on the changes made to the ECU when the JCW Kit is installed?
Is there JCW programming within version 36 that doesn't wipe out the earlier changes?

Any information would be appreciated, especially from those who have had the upgrade. Thanks

Charlie

 

I'm getting mine done this Wednesday 1/7, so I will post then. My car doesn't have the stumble or yo-yo....we'll see if it makes any difference.

 

Let us know if there is any change in the car.I'm wondering if there is a special version for JCW cars only.

 

CC, thanks for the PM! Yes I picked up my car last night with the new software installed (from Crown MINI of Richmond). To make a long story short, my car was damaged after Hurricane Isabel and the SES light kept coming on even after the original ECU (water-logged) was replaced. They ordered a new one (2nd replacement) containing the updated software and it was installed Wednesday.

Short version: the dealer normally downloads the new software to your ECU and I was told there is only one version regardless if you have the JCW kit or not.

OK, from what I can tell my engine idles more smoothly now (not really a problem before) and it runs better in cold weather/cold starts for sure. We've had cold temps and some snow today and after sitting overnight in front of my house the car fired right up this morning whereas there was perhaps a second or two of hesitation prior to the update. It just drives better when you start and drive it when cold....not that I punch it right away....I always warm up the car before I drive anywhere and definitely before putting down the hammer. It feels smoother with a tad more torque (maybe) in the lower end (say 0 to 2000 rpm) than before.

I don't know if the updates are designed to yield better gas mileage or not, but hopefully my gas mileage will improve as I feel it could be better. We'll see after the first tank with the new software. I can't say I feel any other differences.......yet. :smile:_________________
'03 Cooper S JCW Pure Silver/Black - PP, CWP, Space Cloth, Fogs, 16" R90s, K&N, 35% tint


'02 S2000 Spa Yellow/Black - HKS exhaust, OEM hardtop, Infinity rears

 

Thanks Mike.

One qustion: Does the MINI tech tell the ECU that the car is JCW Equipped? Or do they just download it---as you said, one version, that's it. Kind of makes you wonder if all 3.6 version cars now have the JCW parameters in their programs; or the JCW ones are now stuck with more mild programming like everyone else.

MINIUSA, are you listening? Can you answer this question?

Charlie

 

Charlie, I don't know the answer to your question but I did ask and they said there was just one version of the software upgrade. It must update only the parts that need upgrading and leave the rest intact.

 

>>Any JCW owners had their ECU's re-programmed with v 36 software?
>>What is the impact of this "fix" for stumble on the changes made to the ECU when the JCW Kit is installed?
>>Is there JCW programming within version 36 that doesn't wipe out the earlier changes?
>>
>>Any information would be appreciated, especially from those who have had the upgrade. Thanks
>>
>>Charlie


Charlie: My MA told me their technician upgraded my '04 with v36 after installing the JCW kit and before delivering my car. The tech told the MA he'd never driven a smoother MCS than mine with the ECU upgrade and the JCW kit installed.

Since taking delivery two weeks ago the car has performed flawlessly and very powerfully even though I have to work to keep the rpm's under 4,500. I couldn't be happier !!!

Joe

 

This is a very interesting question. I will have to take it to my service dept and I suggest that others do the same.
IF there is only one version of v.36 ECU software upgrade for stock MCS and JCW kit cars and if the JCW kit ECU upgrade doesn't need to be reinstalled manually after the v.36 flash is done then there is little going on with the JCW kit ECU upgrade.

The v.36 software upgrade will wipe out any ECU upgrade that pre-existed, if there is no reflash of the JCW kit ECU software then all you have left is the stock v.36 software (used for all versions of the MCS!)

Now if the service dept says they flash v.36 first then they install the JCW kit ECU upgrade over it then that would be the best news for JCW kit owners but if they are not then something smells very fishy to me. Anyone else getting suspicious?

 

My point exactly Minihune! Hey MINI, what's your answer?

 

>>My point exactly Minihune! Hey MINI, what's your answer?
I'm headed to the dealership right now to track down the answer.-might take a few days since the service dept is closed today.

 

This thread might be of some interest....

http://www.mini2.com/forum/showthread.php?t=48217

 

I guess based on the reply by JCG (John Cooper Garage)-
The Works ECU remap is not affected by the V.36 ECU software update.
That is good news. I hope the info is correct.
Thanks to LMB for sharing the reply.

 

>>I guess based on the reply by JCG (John Cooper Garage)-
>>The Works ECU remap is not affected by the V.36 ECU software update.
>>That is good news. I hope the info is correct.
>>Thanks to LMB for sharing the reply.
Hi Minihune,

It was a reply a Mini2 member received - I just thought I'd share it.

Here's another responce from JCG's that MINAC (another Mini2 member) received today:

My car went in today to get the stumble looked at and my dealership have decided to take the stance of uploading the V36 software then reloading the Works Software. I asked if they could contact JCG's just to confer, but they said they couldn't just contact them only send a request. I have no idea why. :rolleyes:

Anyway....I'll report my findings.

 

>>uploading the V36 software then reloading the Works Software.

This seems a prudent thing to do and doesn't do any harm. It may be an extra step (reloading the Works softeware)
but if the dealer is willing to do it then fine. Better to be safe.

Did I read that other reply right? The v.36 software has works callibration in mind? As in there are no conflicts with the software to the Works mapping? This would imply that v.36 software would be friendly to other ECU upgrades as well- not guaranteed because we do not know what is done in the JCW ECU upgrade. Just a thought.
It wouth=2e nice if it were true.

 

Ahh, resurecting a long dead thread....

:smile:

Okay, was told in another thread that they had heard that the JCW software actually LOWERS HP in relation to what the standard software would do. Has anyone heard this before?

Now that there is a Dinan software upgrade it makes me wonder.... I am fairly certain that the Dinan software does things the JCW software does not, including raising the redline cutout.... a buddy's Dinan Stage1 MCS has a higher redline than my Works MCS. What else is different I don't know.