Don't know if this ihas been posted yet, but I found out from our SA today that V.37 is supposed to fix the hard starting when cold problem that some MINIs have. We've had the code in our car for several days and my wife (who drives it in the am) says there is a noticeable improvement in how the car starts. FWIW.

 

Thanks for sharing. I have V36 but still have the cold start problem plus, what I call, hot start problem as well.

_________________

 

I've had V 37 in my 03 MCS for about a month now. Only performance mod is a Magnaflow. Takes 2 tries to start cold every time. Thinking about disconnecting the battery for a while and letting everything reset and see what happens.

Rats.

Rob

 

This is in conflict with what MINIUSA told me; that CD37 includes NO updates for the MINI, but another BMW product.

 

>>I've had V 37 in my 03 MCS for about a month now. Only performance mod is a Magnaflow. Takes 2 tries to start cold every time. Thinking about disconnecting the battery for a while and letting everything reset and see what happens.
>>
>>Rats.
>>
>>Rob

I have just had the "second" version of v37 installed. They said that some numbers in the software were newer/higher than my previous v37. I have had cold start problems since getting v36 and then 37. Well, it has started without a problem the last 2 mornings. I must say it sure does feel like the S has lost some pop with this update. Is that possible?

 

As far as I know, I have the same code in my car as when I took delivery last July. However, after the dealer recently replaced my head with a Webb Motorsports modified head and cam, I now have the cold start problem. On most mornings it takes two attempts to start the car.

 

I have V36 installed in my '04 MCS (It originally came with V35 from the factory) for about 4K miles and haven't had any cold/hot start related issues. In fact the car has been running wonderful in these days of high's in the 80's and high humidity as well.

I suspect that this is a gas related problem, specially for folks that live out north (I am in Florida). It seems to me that V36 worked fine with "Winter Gas" and once stations began switching to "summer Gas" blends the problems started to appear.

I onlu use Exxon/Mobil and Chevron fuels and have had no issues to date.


It appears to V37 and V38 rob the car power so I am going to hold on to V36 a little while longer.

No yo-yo or stumble either. My MCS is a 9/2003 build.

 

I agree with Cooper4us about the summer gas.
I don't commute in my car, and I only have to fill up about once a month. I had winter gas in my tank a lot longer than many others. Many posters started reporting hard start problems in my area, but at the time I had no problem with starting. As soon as I filled up, my car wouldn't start the next morning.

 

>>I have V36 installed in my '04 MCS (It originally came with V35 from the factory) for about 4K miles and haven't had any cold/hot start related issues. In fact the car has been running wonderful in these days of high's in the 80's and high humidity as well.
>>
>>I suspect that this is a gas related problem, specially for folks that live out north (I am in Florida). It seems to me that V36 worked fine with "Winter Gas" and once stations began switching to "summer Gas" blends the problems started to appear.
>>
>>I onlu use Exxon/Mobil and Chevron fuels and have had no issues to date.
>>
>>
>>It appears to V37 and V38 rob the car power so I am going to hold on to V36 a little while longer.
>>
>>No yo-yo or stumble either. My MCS is a 9/2003 build.

Who else has stated that v 37 and or 38 rob power?

 

>>>>I have V36 installed in my '04 MCS (It originally came with V35 from the factory) for about 4K miles and haven't had any cold/hot start related issues. In fact the car has been running wonderful in these days of high's in the 80's and high humidity as well.
>>>>
>>>>I suspect that this is a gas related problem, specially for folks that live out north (I am in Florida). It seems to me that V36 worked fine with "Winter Gas" and once stations began switching to "summer Gas" blends the problems started to appear.
>>>>
>>>>I onlu use Exxon/Mobil and Chevron fuels and have had no issues to date.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>It appears to V37 and V38 rob the car power so I am going to hold on to V36 a little while longer.
>>>>
>>>>No yo-yo or stumble either. My MCS is a 9/2003 build.
>>
>>Who else has stated that v 37 and or 38 rob power?
>>I read elsewhere (maybe MINI2.com) that V37 and V38 seems to take away a bit of power out of the car. I was just repeating what I have read and interpreted.

Am i wrong?

 

I was just wondering who besides me felt that it robbed power.
Man, I wish I would have read that before I got it... :???:

 

>>I was just wondering who besides me felt that it robbed power.
>>Man, I wish I would have read that before I got it... :???:


At what instance do you actually feel the lessened amount of power?

 

My MCS has a build date of 1/02. The cold start problem was fixed early on, way before v36 or37. I don't think those upgrades are necessary for that particular problem.
MB

 

>>It appears to V37 and V38 rob the car power so I am going to hold on to V36 a little while longer.
>>

I have been running on v.38 for about 900 miles after my ECU was sent in to MINIUSA in NJ for a special v.38 update. This was done on 5/12.

I can state first hand that v.38 DOES NOT rob power. Also, I don't belive that anyone has provided sufficient information to support the contention that v.37x robs power either. If so, please provide links/quotes.

It's so difficult to keep the pros/cons of these updates straight!

Theo

 

>>>>I was just wondering who besides me felt that it robbed power.
>>>>Man, I wish I would have read that before I got it... :???:
>>
>>
>>At what instance do you actually feel the lessened amount of power?
All gears, 1st is most noticable. It is much smoother but the upper range has what feels like a dead spot almost like peak power comes on earlier than before.

 

sorry if this question is obvious, but what exactly do people mean by cold start issues? I am asking because I have noticed two distinct behaviors with my v36 software.

1) Starts normally but requires slightly longer in crank. Normal flare and settle into high idle (3 to 5 second delay).

2) A couple times it doesn't want to start easily but sputters a little then seems to run and stalls. Starts fine on the second try with no delay.

They may be related and case 1 I don't care about. Case 2, on the other hand, makes be feel like I'm trying to start a POS and embarrassed that my 6 month old car won't start. So which of these cases do people mean by "cold start issues"?

 

>>sorry if this question is obvious, but what exactly do people mean by cold start issues? I am asking because I have noticed two distinct behaviors with my v36 software.
>>
>>1) Starts normally but requires slightly longer in crank. Normal flare and settle into high idle (3 to 5 second delay).
>>
>>2) A couple times it doesn't want to start easily but sputters a little then seems to run and stalls. Starts fine on the second try with no delay.
>>
>>They may be related and case 1 I don't care about. Case 2, on the other hand, makes be feel like I'm trying to start a POS and embarrassed that my 6 month old car won't start. So which of these cases do people mean by "cold start issues"?
>>

#2 is the one I am having.
Update: with "newer" version of v37 my car has stalled 3 mornings in a row

 

For the cold start issue...

This is not a "fix" but has worked on my MCS:

Turn the ignition to position 2 so that all the electrics fire-up. Wait about 5 seconds or so. Then try to start the MINI.

Let me know if this helps.

Theo

 

>>For the cold start issue...
>>
>>This is not a "fix" but has worked on my MCS:
>>
>>Turn the ignition to position 2 so that all the electrics fire-up. Wait about 5 seconds or so. Then try to start the MINI.
>>
>>Let me know if this helps.
>>
>>Theo
Theo,
Thanks for the help but, I have tried that and it does not work for me. :???:

 

Just wanted to pass on that my mcs04 started stalling first thing in the morning in early May when the weather warmed up. Brought it into the dealer this week for v.38 upgrade and it's fully recovered. And I sense no loss in power at all.

 

clatrell,
Sadly whenever the MINI is re-programmed, all its learned data is erased. This will almost always result in at least a temporary fix of the cold start issue.
The test is - will your cold start issue come back (a) in a week or so, or (b) when the weather cools down again?

My experience and guess is that it seems the MINI software learns what to do when it is first (re)programmed, then the cold start issue comes when the environment / temperature / etc is different. So maybe if you re-program in the summer, you will be OK till the cooler weather in the fall & winter ...

 

>>clatrell,
>>Sadly whenever the MINI is re-programmed, all its learned data is erased. This will almost always result in at least a temporary fix of the cold start issue.
>>The test is - will your cold start issue come back (a) in a week or so, or (b) when the weather cools down again?
>>
>>My experience and guess is that it seems the MINI software learns what to do when it is first (re)programmed, then the cold start issue comes when the environment / temperature / etc is different. So maybe if you re-program in the summer, you will be OK till the cooler weather in the fall & winter ...
>>

Well I've had updates in the past without any sort of backsliding, so I'm guessing that this update will function the same way; i.e., that it won't "forget" everything it's learned. I'll certainly let you know if it starts stalling again, but I'm quite certain it won't.

 

When Nittany was at the dealer on Sat, they told Jerseygirl V38 was coming soon and is supposed to fix some problems... I guess we shall see...

 

does this affect the CVT in anyway... I've been less happy with v.37.. but it could just be my mind playing tricks on me. I'll grab the x.38 ina few hundred miels when my second oil change comes up.. this should be interesting.. this is th efirst car I've ever had tat dealer oil changes. and I'm comming up on my 25k filler up.. I haven't had any other oil changes in between. for one I just want to see whats it's like and 2 I haven't heard convincing evidence of a better synthetic oil then the one actually being put in the mini... If I coudl get my hands on the exact same blen than I might do it.. but I've seen people say on here that the manual does tell you the exact saem type the car actually uses

 

I bought the MINI synthetic oil at my dealer for $4.00/qt., which is actually cheaper than the Castrol synthetic that it actually is. Embossed on the plastic cover of my MC engine are these words, "use Castrol Synthetic". As far as other oils being better, some probably are but it's hard to know for sure....and the Castrol synthetic is plenty good enought.

R.E.