in "D" (Normal mode drive)and the A/C is on, but also the car lurches without the A/C running.


Problem does not happen all the time, but lately it has become more frequent. The CVT tranny tries to lurch forward even if I am applying full pressure to the brake pedal...very unerving feeling to say the least.


The car bucks and jerks severely while stopped in "D" gear and drivers around you may think that your car is a manual stick shift and that you are releasing the clutch pedal too fast causing the car to jump like a rodeo cow....


Next traffic stoplight....it doesn't happen.


I am VERY MAD about this nonsense!!!!!! Any other CVT owners experiencing CVT lurching while stopped in traffic lights?


I am going to have a nice little chat with SAM at MINIUSA tomorrow morning. I want my car fixed, no more excuses and delays!!!

 

Considering the excellent advice you gave me (Poor Sick Mini threads) there is not much I can offer that you don't already know.

My CVT Mini also lurches & bucks as if it was a manual driven by a 1st time stick shift driver, but not when stopped at a light. Only happens when speeding up or slowing down.

I'm curious to see if your dealer tries to palm off a software upgrade on you.

If so, a question comes to mind:
QUESTION: Imagine 100 computers all running the same software. Ninty-nine are OK but one keeps crashing. Would you try new s/w on the manfunctioning machine or look for hardware trouble?

Why would most Minis run OK on the original s/w but some need an "improved" version??? It defies logic.

 

the CVT should NOT do this. we have it and it does not.

you are right, no more excuses from the dealer, they need to take a look at it as a hardware problem. don't see HOW this could be software at all. i'm sure the CVT will not be cheap or easy to fix though, hence the dealer reluctance...

good luck,

curt

 

i've got the same thing going on. anyone got the direct phone number for sam at miniusa?
i think we should all hit him with phone calls tomorrow. he'll freak if we all call at once!
on another related note we should make a cvt owner list so we can update everyone at once of any fixes!

 

Hi!

I read a while back the MINI is recalling all MINI CVTs built between August and November 2002 to replace the transmission fluid. What reportedly happened was that the wrong transmission fluid was placed in to the vehicles built during this period. I would check with MINIUSA or your local dealer.

Hope this helps.

Regards,

MINIGreatness

 

thanks minigreatness,
but this is a totally different issue that needs to be fixed with a software upgrade.

 

I was wondering what happend to your car, did the cvt get fixed?

 

>>the CVT should NOT do this. we have it and it does not.
>>
>>you are right, no more excuses from the dealer, they need to take a look at it as a hardware problem. don't see HOW this could be software at all. i'm sure the CVT will not be cheap or easy to fix though, hence the dealer reluctance...
>>
>>good luck,
>>
>>curt


I agree 100%

However, this is not a mechanical problem with the CVT itself, because my car runs like a champ at normal driving speeds and does so reliably, smoothly and efficiently. When you have a broken transmission, your car is basically useless, period.

The lurching does not happen everyday either. For instance my car did not do the lurching while stopped in traffic lights yesterday, yet it did it twice on sunday, but not the 5 days prior to that. The inconsistency of the problem and all the engine software calibration problems reported in the Cooper and MCS, lead me to believe that this is a problem with the "Adaptive" or learning nature of the Siemens DME controlling programming in these cars.

Fact is, BMW released a half baked engine software calibration and hence this has caused much grief to MINI owners that have had to come once, twice or three times to have their DME's reflashed witht he latest and greatest engine calibration software programming. Face it, we are all Beta testers for BMW, pretty much in the same fashion when Microsoft releases a 1.0 beta version of one of their newest software products.

I have an appt for next monday morning as MINIUSA is currently distributing CD update #33 this week to all its 70 dealers in the US, in hopes of remeding all these previously reported (ad naseum) CVT related problems with engine idle quality and tranny lurching in stop lights. Until then, I will let everyone know on the outcome of this newest "fix".

Sam can be reached at 1-866-ASK-MINI. He is a fantastic guy, so please, please go easy on him, OK? But yes call him...the more calls he gets the more pressure we can all excercise on BMW/MINI to get these wrinkles ironed once and for all.

 

thanks!!!!
please keep us updated!

 

Originally I was having a lurching problem....it wasn't very very serious and it seems to have corrected itself. But Cooper4us....when you talk to the dealer can you let me know what kind of answers you get? I haven't experienced the problem in awhile, but I am still keeping an eye out for it to make sure it doesn't redevelop.

Danke schon, my friend!

L.

 

Two days ago I was stopped for a light at 4 PM. I experienced what could only be called a mini-lurch, which stopped when I braked harder. The light changed, I accelerated, the trans gave 3 or 4 shudders and then DIED!
Roadside assistance came in 55 minutes, and my MINI DISAPPEARED into the local BMW service department. (I went to work.) The next day: no calls all day. I called around 4, got voice mail and left a message. Next day, no calls. I went to MINI, looked up the Service Manager. Yes, he got my message, he was busy, he was going to reply soon.
They are going to replace what they called a flawed transmission. I begged them to please don't be like Detroit and just replace the part. Find out what went wrong, and make sure the new trans doesn't have the same problem. I got blank stares.
I've had my MINI for 10 days; it's been flawless, better than expected, until now. Believe it or not, I sort of thought that the CVT would be the weak link, but I got it for wifey... I just hope the Service Department performs better than they have so far... I really love my MINI; it's too soon for a divorce.
:???:

 

any updates on the fix really being available?
i'm trying to be patient!
my mini has stalled on me a few times today alone!
i know this must be fixable!!!!
if it isn't, i guess i'll have to
go the route of that guy who wants a new one
because his stalled 5 times!

 

You may wanna have 'em check the engine wiring harness.

I had similar CVT troubles with a Mini I got on Oct 29th, and after bringing car back three times for a total of almost TWO MONTHS in the dealer's shop they're claiming this was the trouble all along.

Of course, even if this is true, the car was delivered with a shipload of defects including incorrect low-viscosity tranny oil, malfunctioning computer DME, bad software, misaligned streering wheel. And more that I can't recall (don't have paperwork here now).

I want 'em to do now, what they should've done in mid-November: replace the car.

It finally is looking like they're gonna do the right thing. I'll keep you(z) posted. BB

 

I have been having the intermittant lurching problem with my cvt also. I have had the dealer check it 2 different times, but they can never get it to fail...hmmmm probably because it only does it randomly. Sometimes once a month sometimes 5 times in the same day. My car is the april 02 build so it does not have the recall. Anyone heard of a software update yet???

 

>>I have been having the intermittant lurching problem with my cvt also. I have had the dealer check it 2 different times, but they can never get it to fail...hmmmm probably because it only does it randomly. Sometimes once a month sometimes 5 times in the same day. My car is the april 02 build so it does not have the recall. Anyone heard of a software update yet???

I got the software upgrade done today. It seems to have fixed the lurching, slow speed shudder and just generally has better pick-up. Unfortunately, on the way to the dealer, my car was hit from behind. HARMINI will be getting a whole new bumper next week. Since they will have lots of Silk Green paint on hand, I asked the body shop to paint the ring that is needed for the Cooper S gas cap at the same time. Now I'm heading over to the Moss site to go order the cap kit.

 

has anybody exeprienced thsi on a brand new 2003 casue I think I jsut did.. I'd be very surprised if the newest of the new doesn't coem with teh newest software upgrade then again... maybe one came out durign the shipping over here... ai dunno I'm jsut a little worried abtouteh kurching,, it does it on my cvt in traffic inthe morning.. nto allt eh tiem jsut soem of it.. di you software fixes fix it for you .. what the newset software upgrade out there??