Quick question --

Does the dealership upgrade to the latest ECU revision for free, or do they charge a nominal amount?

Thanks BB

 

i belive free updates for life

 

yep, free factory updates for life.

 

Most Excellent !

Thanks Guys,
BB

 

I've had mine flashed at no-charge; however, I have heard some dealers do charge. Ask your dealer before you drop the car off.

Motor on

 

Free, but some dealers are better about it that others. Flow MINI in Winston-Salem, NC seems to think that v361 (what?) is the latest version.

 

For what it's worth, I have seen absolutely nothing to support the "free updates for life" position.

Arguably, they should update the software for free during warranty. I say arguably, since some have reported that their dealers have charged for this update when it was requested and not based on a BMW-issued service bulletin. But beyond warranty, and without a factory directive, I definitely wouldn't think that you can count on free updates upon request.

But let's get real...there's no reason why the manufacturer will tweek your car FOR FREE forever.

 

Brutus was built 7/02 and has never had any ECU upgrades done to my knowledge. Do these different versions offer some kind of perf. gain. I was under the impression that they are all just attemps to fix problems that a car might have. Anyone?

 

You need to give them a reason....idle quirky, stumble, etc, etc. They will go by the old saying "if it ain't broke, don't mess with it"---unless you want to pay me to mess with it. :smile:

 

so the upgrades are simply attempts at fixing problems.?

 

Is there a "secret" sequence of buttons to press to show which version is installed?

 

DME "upgrades" (more properly known as "upDATES&quot that are created and supplied by BMW are intended to fix operational problems with the car. Some may indeed provide performance improvement, but that's simply a side effect of fixing something that's otherwise not correct. Examples include stalling, shuddering with CVT transmissions, cold starting problems, the infamous MCS stumble, etc.

If you want software with the express purpose of improving the car's performance, there are a growing number of aftermarket solutions....which a number of vendors would be glad to SELL you. These are a whole different story than the BMW-supplied service upgrades.

Hope this helps clear the confusion.

ps -- No Nick, there's no secret combination of buttons. The DME software version is only discernable to those with the BMW maintenance computer....i.e., dealers.

 

thanks jsun. I'll be getting one of Vendor version upgrades soon.

 

I take my car to Mini of Hartford for service, that is also where I purchased the car. When I brought it in for its first scheduled oil change (I also did an oil change at 3,000 miles) I requested them to do a software upgrade because I did have the stumble. The software upgrade fixed the stumble which was very nice. However, it took an additional 30 minutes to do the entire software upgrade. As such I was charged for the shop time prorated on a $92.00/hour rate the upgrade cost $46 + 1.47 for some type of shop supply which was not identified, total job including tax was $50.32.

 

>>I take my car to Mini of Hartford for service, that is also where I purchased the car. When I brought it in for its first scheduled oil change (I also did an oil change at 3,000 miles) I requested them to do a software upgrade because I did have the stumble. The software upgrade fixed the stumble which was very nice. However, it took an additional 30 minutes to do the entire software upgrade. As such I was charged for the shop time prorated on a $92.00/hour rate the upgrade cost $46 + 1.47 for some type of shop supply which was not identified, total job including tax was $50.32.


That's not right. You should not have been charged if they were only fixing the stumble. That bill should have been eaten by MINI. My dealer even offered to include other programmable options at no charge.

 

Thanks Bisch, I will bring it up the next time I go up there. It seemed a bit over the top at the time.

 

I had my 10K service in March at Century in Greenville SC and was upgraded to V36 for no charge. I did identify to them that I had the "Stumble" and I considered it a warranty item. They did also. During the same visit, they activated the rear fog lamps and charged $44 for .5 hours to update the options software. I understand these to be two different computers and software. Both are expected to work, but the option to turn something on or off is configurable and thus not under warranty unless it doesn't work as programmed.

You should get your money back for your engine management software upgrade.....

 

The charge for ECU software updates will vary from dealer to dealer.

At my dealer if you have a problem with hesitation or yo-yo they will test drive the car and establish a problem then they can install the latest update covered under warranty but in my case they refused to evaluate my car with any ignition upgrades- plasma booster or pilo ignition kit- that all had to be returned to stock or disabled and I got charged for moving my JL stealthbox sub in the boot that was blocking access to the battery.

If there is no problem leading to wanting the software update my dealer charges $150 for the install. There are no free upgrades unless there is a reason to do so.

 

Interesting Minihune, but I haven't done any of that non-authorized Mini stuff to my car except for the wheels, tires and gauge pod which either do not interfere with the warranty. I will protest the billing during my next visit which should be in about two weeks.