Ok, you all know how much I LOVE my MINI, but I've had so many problems I'm beginning to think I may have a lemon on my hands. Here's the lowdown:

Some of you may remember that I had problems in the first month with my electronics. MINI had to completely replace my body control module because my electronics bascially went haywire. Well, here are the current problems now after four months and about 7,000 miles:

1. Cold start (ok, everyone in the cold climates has been experiencing this one.)

2. Stalls (This often happens after I've been driving for a half hour or so-like on the highway on the way to work!) and she will completely stall...ps-it's not a standard transmission so I know it's not me!

3. Check engine light comes on periodically and then goes off. This happens for a few days at a time.

4. EMP and EP lights come on periodically.

5. She won't accelerate! This has only happened a few times, but she will esentially get stuck in first gear. I will have my foot to the floor and she won't go faster than 10-20MPH and the RPMs won't go over 1,000. I have to pump the gas hard a few times and then she'll pick up speed.

I have an appointment tomorrow morning at my dealer to have her checked out and I will be stranded without a car. They said the best they can do is give me a shuttle ride downtown to my office. ...great.

Does this sound normal? I know I have an early production model (ordered in June) so I expect a few bugs, but I've had problem after problem! Do I have a lemon?!

 

Sounds like you do not have the proper software upgrades

 

you've got mail.

 

Ordered in June? Early production model? June 2001?

These problems all sound fixable to me...I think you should wait til your dealer has addressed all of these issues. Good luck and post updates. :smile:

 

Sorry to inform you you are far from a Lemon...especially with BMW

Lemon law in areas differ, but just having 5 random problems does nothing. BMW has upto and sometime over 3 chances to fix the vehicle with the same problems before Lemon might even begin. Also there is a 30 days or more (non-consecutive) in which your vehicle was in the shop being repaired (weekends do count), in the first year of ownership.

**Again this may be different in your area**

 

I think my MINI may be a lemon.

1st) Is it yellow ?
2nd) Does it smell like dish detergent ?
3rd) Does your tongue curl up if you lick the interior ?

Just kidding.

Check the Lemon Laws for your state. If you're in Florida you have some of the best consumer friendly lemon laws in the country.

Kesh

 

You are probably far from being able to legally qualify for lemon law action, but clearly there are problems with your car. I don't track the CVT stuff all that well, but it does seem that many of your problems have been reported by others at one time or another. Several (cold start and stalling for two) are indeed computer-related.

It doesn't sound like you have what might be considered a wonderful relationship with your dealer. It also doesn't sound (from reading the Dealer Ratings) like others have fared well there either. So, I'd suggest that you try to get your car to another MINI service location...maybe some other PA/NJ folks on this board can help with suggestions.

The point is, the problems CAN be fixed -- even if they end up giving you a new tranny and/or ECU (I'm not saying that this is absolutely necessary, but just using that as an example!) -- BUT how easily the fixing goes has a lot to do with the competence and helpfulness of the service department. So rather than mess with a crappy service dept and end up getting really sour on the car, take the extra effort to go to a highly recommended one and hopefully you'll get your MINI fixed once and for all! :smile:

 

Don Rosen here in Bala Cynwood (just outside Philadelphia) has a pretty good reputation for service (so far). From Johnstown it will probably be about 250 miles or so :???: Let me know if you would need direction to the dealer.

 

Thanks. I've had sort of a love/hate relationship with my dealer. Sometimes they are top notch....the absolute best! Other times, they cause a thousand headaches.
I think I will give them one more shot...I'll let you know how it goes.

 

This is a CVT problem. Get ahold of MiniUSA by phone or email and they will help you out. Remember, dealers are there for the money, not to help you out after you've bought the car. The CVT problem has been identified as a problem. I do not know if BMW has issued a recall yet, but check into it. Don't rely on the dealer to give you all the answers. Do some checking yourself. This is what all us Mini owners are here for. You are doing the right thing, but do some research yourself.

 

I have an appointment tomorrow morning at my dealer to have her checked out and I will be stranded without a car. They said the best they can do is give me a shuttle ride downtown to my office. ...great.

That's BS....my MCS has been in the shop at least a dozen times...at first they gave me free Toyotas to drive...then I insisted they give me bimmers to drive..they relented and the last loaner was a 330....hard to give it back, what a car....

 

..they relented and the last loaner was a 330....hard to give it back, what a car....

mmmm....330.......

 

>>2. Stalls (This often happens after I've been driving for a half hour or so-like on the highway on the way to work!) and she will completely stall...ps-it's not a standard transmission so I know it's not me!
>>
>>3. Check engine light comes on periodically and then goes off. This happens for a few days at a time.
>>
>>4. EMP and EP lights come on periodically.

Stalling is a CVT known issue. A check engine, EMP and EP combination indicates something is wrong with the ECU (Engine control computer). Would explain all your problems, actually.

 

I'm surprised since I had a new control module installed in Sept. Of coarse...the first control module blew after a month so I guess I'm not that surprised! I have to say though....I'm still head over heels in love with my MINI!!!

 

KPiglet: If I recall (argh! I'm spending too much time on MCO ), your first big problem was water in your ECU...and this was a result of bad seals around the computer -- a known problem with early builds. It seems to me that what happened is that your dealer either didn't replace/repair the ECU properly and/or didn't reflash it (software) properly after servicing it. 'cause, virtually all of your problems can be traced back to the computer.

When your car died back in the fall due to the computer, what exactly did the service folks do to get you back on the road? Did they install a new computer, or did they maybe just dry off the old one and send you back on the road? Knowing what they did back then may help you in demanding that they fully repair the car this time around.

 

In the fall they told me they completely replaced the body control module. I had to wait a week to get the part from MINI since they custom build the body control module for each VIN number. It is in the shop right now so I'm anxious to hear what they say. I spoke to a MINI tech last night who said all the problems I am experiencing, other people have had as well. He said it's a result of bugs in the system they are working out.

 

>>>He said it's a result of bugs in the system they are working out.

Hmmmmm. I thought that was always done pre-release. The car was available
for six months before it came here so I don't understand why all the problems.
Loaners should be automatic until they work out the 'bugs.' :evil:

 

Sounds suspiciously like a variation on the classic "They all do that" line. Which of course is nonsense. Well, you know better... Good luck and let us know!