I just took my MINI in this morning for its 10K oil change (made it to 11K...lots of highway driving). I had had the car in for the stumble problem (along with coolant tank, etc.) previously with no luck. Well, when I dropped it off this morning, the Service Manager told me they received Version 35 of the engine management software on Friday, and could load it, if I wanted. I wanted!

Well, I just drove the first few miles back to work from the dealership. Certainly, that's not long enough to really determine if the stumble/yo-yo are gone forever, but I can give you all my first impressions. I didn't feel the stumble, although (as those of you know, who have it) you don't necessarily feel it all the time anyway. I'll report back on this in a few days. The yo-yo, however, which I feel often was greatly reduced. Not gone, mind you, but lots of cars I've driven have a mild case of yo-yo. The yo-yoing that my MINI had been doing is quite a bit less than I had experienced previously.

So, short story long...I'm hopeful that Version 35 holds some improvements for me. I'll let you all know how things are after a few more miles, and I'm sure that some of the more knowledgeable folks on MCO (you know who you are) can give more info on Version 35 than I can. I won't hold my breath that this is the end of stumble, but I'll let you all know...

 

Please please PLEASE keep us posted every couple of days. I think I speak for many people when I say that I worry that the ECU will re-learn the stumble over the course of time, but I'm hoping for the best!

Thanks for the info so far!

 

That's my fear too (after reading about the "battery disconnect" issue). I also doubt this is the so-called "December fix" that's supposedly been undergoing testing in the SouthWest...near Area 51, probably. Too soon for that fix to be public, I'm guessing.

But I'm the optimist. I'll let you all know.

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<IMG SRC="https://www.northamericanmotoring.co....jpg"> BLK MCS All 3 packages...I call him...Buster.

 

It seems rather quick... and MINIUSA DID say we'd be notified (not that I believe them)... I'm inclined to be skeptical, overall. But if you're feeling good about it preliminarily, then I, too, will pray to the Gods and Goddesses of Stumble that you really have received AT LEAST something that makes the problem manageable until this supposed total fix is released.

Here's to optimism and maybe a little customer service

 

OMToast ......amen, brotherman. I hope they fix this soon and would like if they truly would followup by notifying us when they're trying whatever form of juju they think will work this week. I mean (not to hijack your thread cause I'm very interested in updates on v.35) I am so confident /sarcasm in their ability to keep on top of things especially since I JUST received my "welcome DVD and coffemug" two weeks ago. Oh...did I fail to mention I purchased the car on Nov 30, 2002.

Good luck ~Scooper~

 

I think you mean, "amen, sisterwoman."

See ya,
JS

 

I just called my service dept. (naperville, IL) and they do not have it yet, but he did tell me straight out that it is being tested in floridia and should be out very soon.

Not that i didnt already know that from MCO, but hey, at least the stories jive! :smile: :smile:

 

I must say, I picked up my MCS last Friday and so far no stumbles or yo-yos(knocking on wood). I've driven some that clearly do so I am a believer. Can I tell without visiting the dealer what version of the software I have? If no problems develop I'd be hesitant about changing software versions.

CTA

 

<<<I think you mean, "amen, sisterwoman." >>>

True dat, JS


So now I'm confused... Chandler, your service dept. says it's still being tested, but Scoopers's dept. has it available? Are we talkin' 2 different software versions?

 

OK, the 20-hour update...
--Shifts seem smoother too. I've driven standard shift for 11 years, and never had such ragged shifts. They seem better now, and don't think that I improved yesterday morning...

So that's my 20-hour run-down. I'll let you all know how things are going in a day or two...

 

Not that you'd notice yet--but just to nag you to death .... noticing any change in fuel economy?

_________________

 

its nice to hear some positive news here... bridger and mini2 have just discarded the possiblity that this is it because one or two dudes "got it" like last month before it could have possibly been finished.... just make sure to keep posting...give us like one/two week updates... I think that will be the deciding factor as many people have claimed correction only to have it hit them again in 3 or 4 days :smile:

hoping

 

OmToast: Good question. Fuel economy "seems" as good or better. The way I was driving (hard, and mixed city/highway/traffic) I don't think I should be getting as good fuel economy as I seem to be. I reset the computer fuel economy when I picked up the car, but I don't trust that one completely. I'll let you all know once I can fill up and do my own calculations. My impression is that it might be slightly better, but I haven't driving enough miles to say that with confidence.

jmusicman: I agree with you...I doubt this is "The Fix" we've been hearing about...but things seem better than with v.34. I'm hoping they stay that way. I'll post here and let you all know in a few days...

Hoping too!

 

>>I just called my service dept. (naperville, IL) and they do not have it yet, but he did tell me straight out that it is being tested in floridia and should be out very soon.
>>
>>Not that i didnt already know that from MCO, but hey, at least the stories jive! :smile: :smile:

Did you actually mean "jibe", as in agree, or "jive", as in deceive?

...or both?
_________________

 

OK...a couple hundred miles under my belt now...time for another report.

Again, these are both highway and city miles...city being the important ones in this case. The results, so far?
1) Let me start by saying that things are better. The car runs smoother most of the time, idles higher when cold, generally picks up shifts smoother, and "seems" to have marginally better gas mileage. I'll reserve my verdict on that last one until I have run through a tank or two.
2) The stumble is NOT gone. It's greatly reduced. I've only felt it a couple of times, and only one really bad stumble. So the situation has improved, but is not fixed.
3) The yo-yo is still around, although also reduced. I've been getting stuck in traffic around here (DC...who doesn't get stuck in traffic?) and the yo-yo is still there, but not as bad.

Long story short...I still don't think this is "The Fix" folks have reported hearing about on the "Stumble" thread. It'd better not be. But it is an improvement over v.34, so it may be worthwhile, if you're in for service anyway, to get it loaded. This doesn't mean we have a fix, but it's something...

 

Thanks for the update Scooper. I have to take my car in next month, so I may have them load CD35 as a stopgap until the real fix is out.

 

OK...one more update.

I just got a call from a rep at the MINI dealership who installed v.35 for me on Tuesday (he didn't say whether he was customer service or service dept.).

I told him that while stumble was reduced with v.35, it wasn't gone. He stated what I had already suspected...that v.35 what just an interim fix, and that "The Fix" that has been discussed on the "Stumble" thread is real, and is coming out "in a few weeks." He wouldn't elaborate on this, but did imply it was around the corner, and would "fix the stumble."

If you're interested in v.35 as a stop-gap until the real fix arrives, go for it. If you can't easily get to a dealership, you may want to wait for "The Fix." Whether "a few weeks" means weeks or months, I can't say, but it appears v.35 is only an interim fix.

 

Scooper, this is super!

I thought initially that I'd wait for awhile (like Jsun) to make sure all was well with the fixes (both interim and permanent) but I'm presently taking the naieve route and I think I just may go for it, under the assumption that they couldn't possibly make things worse...



Well... maybe I'll give it another week...

 

I wonder if the 04 MCS with a build date of 9/10/03 will have v.35 already installed. My baby is due in NY on 9/30. Perhaps the folks at the VDC will up-grade the ECU to v.35 if its not already there......Nah!!!! That would make too much sense.