2200 miles and 2 months into ownership...

welp, I was getting on the highway today...fully warm, etc.....

the car bogged bad when I went I gave it the gas.... and the Service Engine Soon light came on... did it 2 more times before I got home 4 miles away...almost like it stalled, but it was still running...

Going in tomorrow to Mini Service for a check-up... was just in there last week for a window motor to be replaced.

 

So sorry to hear about your latest trouble. My '05 MCSm has been absolutely flawless and problem free in nearly 10 months of ownership. Not a single trip back to the dealership for ANYTHING.

 

I had a similar issue with my April 05 build, MCSa. It turned out to be the supercharger bypass valve, got stuck open and thought I was trying to overthrottle the car and kept pulling back on the power, hence the low power, but not complete stalling. Good Luck!

 

Supercharger Bypass Valve.

Known problem. The valve gets stuck open, and the Mini thinks it's in a 'runaway' condition, and pretty much shuts down the car.

If you stay under ~ 3200 RPM with slow accelleration, you should be fine until you get it to the dealer. Over ~ 3500+ RPM, the valve actuates and gives you supercharger boost. If you avoid this, you can motor around, just slow/gimped. I had to do this for a week before mine was fixed.

 

Update from Mini of Hawaii....

SES Fault code pointed to the MAP sensor.... MoH said it was out of specs and they are replacing it and going to do a 10 miles test drive.... If the problem re-appears during that, they will do the bypass valve...

I told them to beat on it... redline... juice the engine... I wanna make sure it is good to go.

 

SES code was P1688.... Mini of Hawaii replaced 2 sensors....says if does it again, recommend a reprogramming and bypass replacement.

picked up the car this evening.... driving home it did it again twice... will be back down tomorrow morning at 7:30 for round 2...

 

Man, that's terrible. We were in the same build group, so I'll start paying attention to this. Good luck, man.

 

In for round 2, going to re-program the DME and replace the bypass.... I hope this works...

I don't wanna start thinking about the whole lemon law thingy.... it is kinda mutiny... I'd get an RX-8 next...

 

Well, got it back today.... the tech at Mini of Hawaii, John, replaced the supercharger bypass and reflashed the DME to v44.0 from 43.0 (don't quote me on that). Seems they sent in a PUMA also since they have another 06 with the same situation and this is my second visit on this issues..

On the other 06, they changed the bypass valve on and came back for round 2 with the same situation....

They wanted to give me a loaner for the 3 day weekend... however, the tech tested it with no issues another tech tested it with no issues...and then I test drove it with the tech in the car... I gave it a good beating that surely would of failed if the issue was still around... it took it and keep on going.... the issue seems to be gone...

I need to commend Jenny, the SA, and John, the Tech, on their persistance, speed and caring on this issue....

of course, I will be beating on the car some more this weekend and hopefully, this will be the end of this issue....