Help Please! New to the forum, hello everyone and thank you! 2011 Mini S Cooper Works Conv. I will try and make this as brief as I can. The Mini sat for a few months and when I went to start it the battery was dead. Put trickle charger on it overnight and started up OK. While driving the radio stopped playing; strong electrical smell. I could still see the radio display, but no volume. I checked all fuses, everything was OK (now understanding that it probably is the amp). Before knowing that I took I removed the speedo radio assembly hoping to find a fried wire or something. No obvious problem. I reassembled everything and bam, major problems. Hardly anything was working, AC, lights, turn signals, windows, hazards, etc. Thanks to your forum I believed it to be the Footwell Module. I removed and shipped to the gentlemen on eBay that does the FRM module repair (coding). Got it back a few days later and installed. Everything now works except climate control and windows. (windows, AC, defrost, rear defrost), basically everything in that lower dash area. I noticed battery was being sluggish again, so replaced battery hoping that would fix it. Nope! I took apart the dash assembly again just to make sure the wires were plugged in OK. All were fine, besides there are about 3 or 4 different wiring harnesses go to that area, don't think I could plug them all in wrong. I have tested every fuse, all are fine. I can put convertible top up and down and windows move with top, just not with switches. I have seen similar post about same problem but no clear explanation on how to fix or what is going on. Is there a relay that connect these items? Any help is appreciated. Local dealer can't serve until July! :( Thanks in advance.

 

Your footwell module is most likely the issue ........once these get corrupted, you'll experience some issues like that....

 

Thanks for quick reply. I guess I am sending it back to get recoded again.

 

Where are you located.....

 

North Georgia area

 

@AJBreezer ,

When you send it back to have it recoded, grab a brand new battery and you must register your new battery by using your OBDII scan tool.

 

Thanks for the help. I purchased a new battery last week. Sending off the FRM model today. My mini battery setup is not an IBS model. Is there still something I need to do? THXS

 

@AJBreezer ,

ok, so you don’t have have that small square box hooked up to the positive? When you pulled out the FRM module, did you notice any corrosions on the terminal. Do you have a sunroof on your car? Minis are notorious when it comes to corrosions on the footwell modules.

 

Yes, correct. Just a regular negative cable. Mine is a convertible model, but there does not appear to be any water damage or issues. Module is clean, wiring harnesses also, no signs of moisture in and around the footwell area.

 

What codes are stored in the computers?
Not sure if it makes sense to try the power window initialization procedure:

 

Thanks. Might have to do this eventually, but right now the windows don't move at all.

 

Did retrieve any fault codes with a scan tool?

 

Only codes I am showing are ongoing off and on codes I have had for a while, vacuum leak and idle air control. Nothing related to FRM module or electrical

 

That's odd and may indicate that the FRM and climate modules are not communicating with the CAN bus network.

Do you have a generic code reader or one that talks BMW?

 

Hi, I'm having the same issue did you ever figure out the problem?

 

Do you have the Mini of a lift icon in the tach display?
If a R57, can you roll the rear windows down with the 'all' windows switch? Radio would be a separate issue, but the FRM fault on mine would kill the cluster lights [speedo & tach], no door windows, no blinker indication nor self cancel [but they still work] and no reverse lights.

Magically, my FRM hasn't given any issues in about a week and a half. Scared to operate the windows or top & have it fault & get stuck unable to close the windows/top.