So I took the All4 into the local dealer to get a wonky power window fixed. They warned me the job would take over 4 hrs since it involved a re-programming of the on-board computer. Really?? For a mechanical issue like a window?

Well, after several hours I get call...there was a problem with the re-programming process, the computer crashed and managed to bring down the radio/nav system. They will be replacing the radio system tomorrow.

Seemingly unrelated, they also were replacing the fuel rail as they claimed that expalined my reported stumble on hard acceleration (not a software fix as others on this site advised me to bring to their attention). I suspect the fuel rail issues likely needed some kind of computer re-flash or re-calibrate that lead to the locked up system...

Comments?
Mike.

 

They did the same to mine when they went to program the ECU for the new clutch. The one upside to that was Sirius gave me a whole nother year free with the new radio. I had just renewed my after the first free year expired, so they said they would just tack that onto the end of the free year.

 

Programming required for a new CLUTCH? Is that right?

 

BMW/MINI, same difference. Reprograming is required for anything and everything and I've seen it take several tries and several days. They shut down my nav the day before a trip (also for a window problem) and forgot to reactivate it. Finally sent me the code when I was on my way back home. BMW has a slavish addiction to over-engineered technology. But does not have the skill to maintain it.

 

Consider it to be a software update....kinda like updating firmware...
They want the newest software on the car...
Some changes/tweaks they do can help lower warrenty expenses.... Such as returning to get a bug , which is a known issue fixed....

 

Imagine if you had the Ford Mytouch system...that needs updates and has a learning curve too. It's not just BMW/MINI.

 

Had same thing happen to mine. My whole dash stopped working and they found it shorted out somehow (and on a side note, I think it's on it's way to doing it again) and after fixing it they went to reprogramming and it screwed everything up and it then took them 3 days to get it re-programmed because the radio wouldn't pick up the Sirius radio.

 

It seems these vehicles are in the wild & wooly days of bespoke computerized systems. No standard OS and reliable update processes. Why wouldn't they just subcontract this stuff out to a proper computer company (RedHat, QNX, etc.)?

 

I read this thread title as "they stole my wheels and I found my car on bricks"

 

Those would be the run flats. A whole nuther subject for discussion.

 

OMG that's the funniest thing I've seen all day!!!

 

Had a shocking call from the guy actually working on my car for the past 3 days (usually I get calls from the counter staff and never get the real technical details). The mechanic was apologetic, but he stated they have never had this crash issue happen on a mini and he did not have the training needed to restore all the Nav system software. He said he had discs for the procedure but had never needed to use them since getting them years ago. He went over the procedure with the main Mini Canada service tech group and was hopeful it would go smoothly.

Well, sure enough, it all worked....just lost my saved addresses and option settings on the NAV system.
I'm kinda stunned the techs don't have the full training needed to perform these duties on the cars sold by Mini. If a mechanical issue with a window system requires a reloading of vehicle software, seems prudent all shop workers get certified in the process.

 

I'm sure they had training... a long time ago. The thing is, if they never had to encounter it, then it's probably gonna be forgotten. I'm not defending them, just saying that I agree with you that cars these days are getting more and more complicated.