Dealers have received software upgrade fix from MINI USA for those experienceing the engine stumbling just before idle when A/C is on in unusually hot weather or for those experiencing it without these type of conditions.

Call your dealer for an appointment. You should do this fix even if you are not experiencing at the moment since the problem may appear after several thousand miles as mine did or becomes worse over time if the situation exists for you now. If you are not experiencing it, you may in the future if the conditions aforementioned present themself...........

Your dealer will probably not call you......FYI......I have been on top of this since when first spotted in June.....dealer had software for 2 weeks and did not call me............maybe others will have better luck..............Andrew

 

Is this a "Cooper only" problem or are the "S" effectied also? I've had my "S" for two weeks now with no problems.

_________________
Electric Blue "S" Black Roof and Caps....Prem/Sport Packages...
Black Bonnett ...17's.. Lapis Blue Leather... One Bad Lookin MINI :evil:

 

Is it safe to assume that cars currently under production are having this software installed at the factory?

 

>>Dealers have received software upgrade fix from MINI USA for those experienceing the engine stumbling just before idle when A/C is on in unusually hot weather or for those experiencing it without these type of conditions.
>>
>>Call your dealer for an appointment. You should do this fix even if you are not experiencing at the moment since the problem may appear after several thousand miles as mine did or becomes worse over time if the situation exists for you now. If you are not experiencing it, you may in the future if the conditions aforementioned present themself...........
>>
>>Your dealer will probably not call you......FYI......I have been on top of this since when first spotted in June.....dealer had software for 2 weeks and did not call me............maybe others will have better luck..............Andrew

Andrew:

Thanks for the heads up. I still have 2 questions...does cars built on or after August 2002, already have the ECU software update? And number two, is this a Cooper 'S' problem only or it also affects "Regular" Coopers?

I have not been able to get a straight answer on these questions.

My dealer's policy, at this time, in dealing with this ECU update is:

1) If your car does not yet exhibit any of the symptoms described above (Hard cold starts, hesitation or hot/cold engine near stalls with the A/C on) they will not perform the update even if you requested. If it is not broken yet, no need to fix it. However, if you have one of these issues come up at any time, you are more than welcome to take the car in to get it done.

2) The ECU software update is being dealt on a "Case-by-case" basis meaning that MINI will not be issuing a wide scale recall but provide the fix only to those customers that have experienced any of these known issues and have already requested it.

3) My dealer also recommended using high quality Premium Gasoline from known brands such as Mobil, Chevron and Amoco. These cars appear to be very sensitive to contaminated or poor quality fuel. See Page #8 of your owner's manual "For your safety" section, where MINI warns of the possibility of starting, driveability and stalling problems due to poor quality fuels. Also consider this factor is you ever encounter engine performance problems that might not be ECU software related.

 

Hey thanks for this info.....I have been having this problem myself and was going to call this week about cold starts anyway.....
I am now awaiting the dealership to call me back......

 

The dealership in Denver is taking a different stance, as of la they have not received the software but they do keep calling BMW trying to find out where it is at. One scenerio they are thinking of doing is contacting all the MINI owners that they sold to and those of us they know of that bought from out of State and basically having a MINI production line party. They figure the upgrade will take about 15 to 20 minutes per car.

I know the Denver dealership really wants to get this update done as quickly as possible, thus they calls to BMW asking where is the software.

 

>>The dealership in Denver is taking a different stance, as of la they have not received the software but they do keep calling BMW trying to find out where it is at. One scenerio they are thinking of doing is contacting all the MINI owners that they sold to and those of us they know of that bought from out of State and basically having a MINI production line party. They figure the upgrade will take about 15 to 20 minutes per car.
>>
>>I know the Denver dealership really wants to get this update done as quickly as possible, thus they calls to BMW asking where is the software.

One more reason I wish I was in Colorado ... oh the agony!!!

 

How about this:

Based on your VIN number, can the dealer determine whether you need or not the ECU software upgrade??

I tend to think that MINI has already issued a technical service bulletin that covers a specific VIN range (Like they did with the shift cable recall on the 5 speed Coopers) for those cars that require the software upgrade downloaded into their ECU's.

If MINI does not have a VIN range for this fix, then it will mean that ALL cars in customer hands today (With the exception of those with 9/2002 build dates) will at some point need to have the update performed.

Has anyone tried to contact their dealer with your VIN number to see if your car falls within the VIN range that requires the software update??

 

Cooper4us, the tech from Denver was on a tour with us last Sunday. He has a MCS. At the meet he was telling a group of us that it would be best if all owners came in and had the upgrade done. Seems this is also effecting MC drivers as well. Thats why he was thinking it would take a Saturday, 20 minutes each (approx) and that we should make it an event for MINI owners at the dealership. This way he can punch this out for all of us.

 

Does anyone know if this software fix is also on the " CD #31 " that the "cold start" fix etc is supposedly on?

When you go to visit your Service dept, it really helps if you know exactly what to ask for...

 

Appears to be Cooper only problem. I assume all cars manufactured at present have the fix. MINI USA may be able to help.....I will be going to dealer on Monday for the fix..........

 

That would be my guess......

 

Cooper only on thgis specific fix, although I have heard of S's stumbling between gears and may require something else.......

 

Glad I could help Lauren. Sorry that I can not make the 10/26 event......work calls.....thanks again for organizing everything for the club !!!!!! Andrew B. I go in to fix mine on Monday......I'll keep you posted on result.....I am also going in to do page 41 manual upgrades. i.e. sunroof opening remotely, running lights activated, etc.......Have a great weekend !!!

 

I am going in for fix on Monday and will ask for VIN if available........

 

Don't know if addresses this issue, since mine is starting okay......

 

>>Dealers have received software upgrade fix from MINI USA for those experienceing the engine stumbling just before idle when A/C is on in unusually hot weather or for those experiencing it without these type of conditions.
>>
>>Call your dealer for an appointment. You should do this fix even if you are not experiencing at the moment since the problem may appear after several thousand miles as mine did or becomes worse over time if the situation exists for you now. If you are not experiencing it, you may in the future if the conditions aforementioned present themself...........
>>
>>Your dealer will probably not call you......FYI......I have been on top of this since when first spotted in June.....dealer had software for 2 weeks and did not call me............maybe others will have better luck..............Andrew


SEE LATER POSTS>>>>ANSWERED ALL QUESTIONS TO DATE 10/4

 

>>Hey thanks for this info.....I have been having this problem myself and was going to call this week about cold starts anyway.....
>>I am now awaiting the dealership to call me back......

Glad I could help.......I am going in Monday......Thanks again for organizing the club in Mid-Atl.........Have great weekend, Andrew B.....

 

>>Is this a "Cooper only" problem or are the "S" effectied also? I've had my "S" for two weeks now with no problems.
>>
>>_________________
>>Electric Blue "S" Black Roof and Caps....Prem/Sport Packages...
>>Black Bonnett ...17's.. Lapis Blue Leather... One Bad Lookin MINI :evil:


Cooper only...

 

>>Is it safe to assume that cars currently under production are having this software installed at the factory?

Good assumption.......

 

>>>>Dealers have received software upgrade fix from MINI USA for those experienceing the engine stumbling just before idle when A/C is on in unusually hot weather or for those experiencing it without these type of conditions.
>>>>
>>>>Call your dealer for an appointment. You should do this fix even if you are not experiencing at the moment since the problem may appear after several thousand miles as mine did or becomes worse over time if the situation exists for you now. If you are not experiencing it, you may in the future if the conditions aforementioned present themself...........
>>>>
>>>>Your dealer will probably not call you......FYI......I have been on top of this since when first spotted in June.....dealer had software for 2 weeks and did not call me............maybe others will have better luck..............Andrew
>>
>>Andrew:


Cooper only and do not know which VINs or factory start date on new software, call MINI USA for additional info....
>>
>>Thanks for the heads up. I still have 2 questions...does cars built on or after August 2002, already have the ECU software update? And number two, is this a Cooper 'S' problem only or it also affects "Regular" Coopers?
>>
>>I have not been able to get a straight answer on these questions.
>>
>>My dealer's policy, at this time, in dealing with this ECU update is:
>>
>>1) If your car does not yet exhibit any of the symptoms described above (Hard cold starts, hesitation or hot/cold engine near stalls with the A/C on) they will not perform the update even if you requested. If it is not broken yet, no need to fix it. However, if you have one of these issues come up at any time, you are more than welcome to take the car in to get it done.
>>
>>2) The ECU software update is being dealt on a "Case-by-case" basis meaning that MINI will not be issuing a wide scale recall but provide the fix only to those customers that have experienced any of these known issues and have already requested it.
>>
>>3) My dealer also recommended using high quality Premium Gasoline from known brands such as Mobil, Chevron and Amoco. These cars appear to be very sensitive to contaminated or poor quality fuel. See Page #8 of your owner's manual "For your safety" section, where MINI warns of the possibility of starting, driveability and stalling problems due to poor quality fuels. Also consider this factor is you ever encounter engine performance problems that might not be ECU software related.
>>
>>

 

>>Does anyone know if this software fix is also on the " CD #31 " that the "cold start" fix etc is supposedly on?
>>
>>When you go to visit your Service dept, it really helps if you know exactly what to ask for...

Do not know about this since mine diod not exhibit trouble starting

 

Yes,

I have been told since then that all of the current fixes for the MC and MCS are on version #31 CD.

This is the one that has been used to program all MC's and MCS's since end of August (and build date range to-date).

 

>>Yes,
>>
>>I have been told since then that all of the current fixes for the MC and MCS are on version #31 CD.
>>
>>This is the one that has been used to program all MC's and MCS's since end of August (and build date range to-date).

This means that cars with an early august build date (Mine was finished on 8/7/2002) need to receive the CD #31 software update??

 

Don't know...

The standard answer from the Service dept is :
"If you have the problem, bring your MINI in for the fix, otherwise don't worry about it..."