But since upgraded to 33.2 (upgraded is a relative term, I should probably say "traded one quirk for another&quot, my exhaust sound is deeper and more throaty.

Am I having auditory hallucinations?

 

Probably, and so am I ) I think my exhaust note changed with the software upgrade. But I think it got LESS deep and LESS throaty. Who knows?

What could have changed in the software that would be responsible for changning the exhaust note? I know that there's an answer to that question, I'm just not technical enough to guess at it myself.

 

I had new software installed 2 weeks ago (they don't know what version they used). I don't know about the exhaust -- I can barely hear it over the screetching tires. Somehow, it seems, the new software made my traction control much more lenient. Woohoo!

 

^ Arghhhh! See, this is what drives me friggin' mad about this software thing...YOU get out feeling that the traction control is more forgiving. I WANT THAT TOO...but mine is just as balky as ever. :evil: :evil:

 

^ Do you think that it could be more of a sensor calibration rather than a software thing?

 

Whoa jsun! Don't jump to conclusions. My S is just as balky as the next guy's. I can just burn a little rubber along the way.

Dominiicicmicicmicmi: You may well be on the right track. Engine management software was entirely perfected 60 years ago so there's no reason for MINI to keep taking shots in the dark like this. Of course a sensor is easy to diagnose and replace/recalibrate, but there could be some aspect of the engine design or sensor positioning that inhibits consistent readings and they're trying to work around it with complex software algorithms rather than say, replacing 100,000 intake manifolds.

 

>>Whoa jsun! Don't jump to conclusions. My S is just as balky as the next guy's. I can just burn a little rubber along the way.

>> You may well be on the right track. Engine management software was entirely perfected 60 years ago so there's no reason for MINI to keep taking shots in the dark like this. Of course a sensor is easy to diagnose and replace/recalibrate,

I used to work in electronics for 10 years. Sensor calibration can be the most frustrating part of electro-mechanical system maintenance.

>>but there could be some aspect of the engine design or sensor positioning that inhibits consistent readings and they're trying to work around it with complex software algorithms rather than say, replacing 100,000 intake manifolds.

Ahhh! That's something that might take the thinking to the next level. Thanks for the input!