Hope you figure what is wrong with your car.

 

Mine is also considered a factory 2009 JCW. But as you can tell the build dates are different. I think 8C would come after 86 if you think in hexadecimal terms.
Maybe if everyone with the symptoms post their software version, we can pin-point from which version it started happening.

 

Got curious and did the tach thing on mine.
Production: 11-17-2008
SW:86-51
My car is mostly unmolested by the MINI dealer, just the first oil service.

 

here are my numbers~
09 factory jcw
production: 06-20-2008
sw: 86.51.00

i had the window issue problem too and got it fixed by the dealer. my sa mentioned that they might not have to do a reflash for it. funny thing is once it started pouring cats n dogs i had the window issue all over again, but it strangely fixed itself ? lol. btw, my car has been to the dealer many times since i've had her.

 

CAR: 2009 Factory JCW
Dealer re-flash? : Twice for window rolldown issues and the footwell module replaced
SW: 8C.50.00 current
Prod: 23.06.2008
Boost: 16.0psi per SGII

My first flash was 1 month after car was delivered. I did not have a SGII after the first flash and was taking it easy for the first couple months to break in the engine.

Note: the window dipper issue is back again...4th time so far.

Waiting for this issue to resolve and to purchase the Dimsport module to save ECU mapping before going back to the dealer.

 

2009 Factory JCW
Dealer reflashed when I had the timing chain tensioner replaced
SW: 8C.50.00
Prod. 20.06.08

I have an appointment booked for this friday to have them check on the car again. I do not like the power loss and the popping/backfire sound is gone.

Gary

 

OP again.

I met with the regional BMW engineer and the service dept. manager at my dealer. We had a calm discussion. The engineer said the 15lbs of boost is normal for the JCW. I told him that I disagreed, all over the online forums and in magazine articles, it is listed as 18-20lbs. We came up with several possibilities. He was very nice and assured me they werent leaving me high and dry just because I use a SGII. He is looking into it further.

1.) I purchased the car used from a different dealer. It is possible that the car had a custom tune that I didnt know about. Likelyhood? I dont know

2.) The new program lowers the boost because of some new DOT? EPA? regulation. If this is the case we will have to live with it. They should definately take the advertised 208HP off of all their window stickers and advertising then.

3.) The new program has a glitch in it that lowers boost without throwing a CEL. Which is what Im saying the problem is.

Please, if you are driving a FACTORY JCW, 09 or newer, and are having this issue. Let your dealer know. Tell them there is an open PUMA case for this. The more cars that get involved the more likelihood that MINI will find a solution in a timely manner. I understand that other models, years, and/or JCW engine kits may be having the same issue but this PUMA case is specifically for the factory 09 JCW.

 

What is a 'PUMA' case?

 

Does anyone care to comment on the difficulty of install a boost gauge? It seems like a worthwhile expenditure...

 

a PUMA case is an internal investigation by MINI/BMW corporate. When a service dept runs across a problem they havent seen they call corporate. If corporate cant solve it they open a PUMA case and unleash the engineers. Thats the gist of it. It may not be exactly how it works but its pretty close.

The mini boost gauge isnt too expensive by itself but I was told that the plumbing/installation is extensive and takes 3-5hrs. Thats expensive with labor around $100+/- an hr. I was told $500-$600 would be the cost of getting one installed from the dealer. Someone with actual experience might know better.

 

Not saying this is total balderdash, but would be the first case ever I've heard of. They're saying that their cars passed/were approved by EPA and that now the cars aren't passing? Never heard of this on any other car before. There was a rather infamous case when the Mazda RX8 first came into the US. After questioning by several journalistic sources, it was found that last minute software changes resulted in the rotary engine making less horsepower than advertized, and Mazda had to change the Moroney and make amends to those who had already bought one. BUT, it was not something retroactive that the gubment ordered, it was their own faulty test procedures. I find it very hard to believe that the EPA would tell MINI, hey you have to bring these cars in, one by one, without a formal announcement, and detune them. Not buying that. Keep us updated.

 

Just got a call from my dealer. They checked on my car, all the programming and everything is loaded correctly. I asked them what was updated on the new programming, they say they don't really know. But it was related to emissions, so I guess they really detuned it for new emission standards?

He also said that the E46 M3's back then, they had the same problem after the update as it reduced power as well. So I guess we are out of luck as they couldn't revert back to the old programming.

 

I'm calling partial balderdash on your dealer. I believe them when they say your new programming is in correctly, also believe them when they say they really don't know what it did. I am calling total BS on the "reduced emissions" thing. EPA has never to my knowledge enacted new standards that include going back and redoing previously sold cars.
And WTF are they talking about on E46 M3's? I had one and followed all the forums of the day and there was never any mention of a mysterious power-robbing software update. I currently own a MZ4 Coupe with the same S54 engine and again, no forum mentions of a software update to avoid. Your dealer simply did his job, doesn't really know what that job did, and is just making up stories now.

 

I'm hoping my ride does not go in for service.

 

I just picked up my car from the dealer for the tensioner. BOOST is way down, burp GONE, car SLOW!!!!!!!! I am SO MAD I didn't see this post before. I don't know what to do now?????? Going to the dealer on Monday, this is RIDICULOUS.

 

Just called, they said they didn't flash the ECU. I wonder if the timing is off now. I have to check my HW number in the dash now. In regular mode, the car seems the same, but when I put it in SPORT mode it doesn't really change much. The pickup in the revs is just like regular mode, the exhaust note (burp) doesn't come in like it used to in SPORT mode. I sat in my driveway revving and can't notice ANY difference in SPORT vs regular. I'm bringing it in on Monday, hopefully they will be able to fix something, although I have a feeling that I will get nowhere.

 

Sport mode doesn't change the engine tune in any way I am aware of. It only advances the electronic throttle and maybe tightens the steering. So revving it wouldn't change the exhaust note by switching to sport mode.

 

The ABF/MINIUSA drive event passed through town this weekend. Spoke to Mike from ABF who individually tunes cars a la Jan about the alleged JCW "detune" and he had this to say: The MINI software update is pretty archaic. Lots of ongoing small changes are made along the way, and the dealer doesn't get to handpick which changes they want to download, the only way it happens is to connect to the BMW/MINI mainframe and wait while your car goes through the entire cycle. The idea that JCW's are getting the S software update is a possibility although me telling him about this was the first he'd heard of it.

BTW, they had a factory JCW as one of their drive cars. He had gone through their whole fleet and done his tunes on them. Said the average S was making about 150hp at the wheels and could easily be tuned to around 170. The JCW started out with about 190 and while it didn't see as dramatic of a gain, could be tuned to about 202 whp with everything else stock.

 

I've got this same issue after picking my car up from the timing chain tensioner fix (or the 30k service although the work order for the timing chain lists the DME specifically).

2009 JCW (Factory)
Prod: 27.08.2008
Current SW: 8C.50.00
Previous: 86.51.00

I emailed Cincinnati Mini tonight. I will call and !@#$ tomorrow if I don't receive a call back... Might also look into a lawyer... We'll see...

 

i brought my jcw in for fuel induction service and the engine clatter problem so they ended up replacing the timing chain tensioner. seems as though they didn't mess with the sw because it's still 86.51.00.

 

When did you have the tensioner replaced jezter?

 

got it replaced on march 20, 2010. i live in san diego, ca ~ so i take her to brecht mini in escondido.

 

Just to make things weirder, our local club treasurer had the window-dipping problem on his factory '09 JCW and it was also due for its first oil service. I warned him about the anecdotes on this thread so he expressed his concerns to the dealer when he took it in. His software upgrade went off without a hitch, car's power and burble still healthy, and his windows fixed. The dealer told him that a JCW Stage I kit usually had to be "reloaded" after a general software upgrade, but they'd had no issues with the factory cars. Big dealer too.

 

So here is the link to the software database thread:

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...-versions.html

I noticed that many MCS models had the same software version as many of us JCW owners. 8C.50.00 ...especially after the re-flash. Does that mean that our JCWs are tuned exactly to the same specs as the MCS? ...or that we are de-tuned to the MCS? Can you have the same tune and expect different performance just because of the JCW turbo, heads and pistons?

 

My software version is 8C.50.00
production date: 1/22/2009
and my car is loud as hell (burble, pop, etc.)

I love it

Only been to the dealer once for the first oil change, and no problems with my car whatsoever. I'm gonna make sure the dealer does not reflash when I take it in at 30k