A few weeks back my battery died and I took the car to the dealer and it was replaced. While the car was there the dealer said there was a software update and it was completed. Since then my gas milage has noticeably increased. I was getting between 36-37 mpg on the computer which was about 33-34 mpg actual and lately I am seeing between 40-41 mpg on the computer and 36-37 mpg actual. Same drive and same gas I've always run. Only change is slightly cooler weather.

Car is a 2019 4 door hardtop S with JCW Pro Tune and exhaust. 6 Speed manual.

Has anyone else had this recent software update and seen similar results? Is there any other explanation I'm not thinking of?

 

I had my software updated about 2 weeks ago (2017 2 door hardtop S) but am going through battery drama so not “normal” enough yet to tell whether my fuel economy has changed.

BUT…

Post-update (prior software was a 2017 rev, new is 2022) the car runs perceptively smoother. I thought it might be optimistic imagination on my part, but then my most regular passenger piped up the same observation — without driving the car even — on their own. So something in how that baby is running has changed for sure.

 

I've been tracking my MPG since I bought my 2019 MCS, at best, it's been 32.2 MPG based on what the onboard computer says. (As low as 24.7 MPG but mainly ~30 MPG.) I do commute in traffic (non-crazy, but definitely not open roads). (If anyone is interested, I can share a table of dates, miles, MPG, and MPH. )

Also, does anyone know more about this software update? The last time I brought my Mini to the dealership was Jun this year for a close-out service (end of my free 3 years). Would it have been out then, or should I schedule something? I don't expect to go to the dealership much since I do much of my own maintenance.

 

You "could" call the service department and ask if you VIN has a software update pending...

 

This update is pretty new. If you haven't had your car updated in the last 2-3 months you don't have it. It was not out in July when I had my JCW kit installed. Then was in October when my battery died.

 

A couple of years ago, with help from folks here, I collected 16 value pairs (life to date average speed, and life to date average mileage) as reported by each car.

Here's the data....


Here's the scatter chart....




Cheers,

Charlie

 

Thanks, I guess I'll call the dealership then =P

 

I guess I will just take this as a bonus of whatever this update was intended to accomplish. On my 4th tank post update and still getting 36-37 mpg actual.

On a side note, anyone that trusts the internal mpg computer.....DON'T!!! Mine is consistently 3.5-4 mpg above the actual when you do the math. Right now mine reads 41.9 mpg. But when filled up and calculated manually its right about 37 mpg. The computer is VERY optimistic!!