I just had a follow up phone conversation with MINI and they said that the update should be out within 30 days as it takes time to burn all the CD's, prep the instructions, and do the mailing and all that...

 

I just had the strangest dream...


It's October 31st, 2003

I open my mailbox and contained inside is a postcard from MINIUSA. The picture on the postcard is an all black MCS. The MINI is surrounded by candles. The remains of a jack-o-lantern look to have been spewed out of the bonnet scoop. Bits and pieces of pumpkin and sticky, stringy goo cover the grill and front bumper and large pieces of pumpkin lay on the ground.

On the backside, the postcard reads:

Does your MINI run like h*ll? Let's cast a spell.
Let's exorcize the poltergeists.
Let's have a frightfully good drive!

Your MINI dealer has a treat for your possessed MINI. Happy Halloween.



See ya,
JS

 

>>I just had a follow up phone conversation with MINI and they said that the update should be out within 30 days as it takes time to burn all the CD's, prep the instructions, and do the mailing and all that...


Does anybody else get the feeling that this another "string them along" type of post? I do.

I could have come on here 3 or 4 months ago and told everybody "I" had the fix but it was so new that the rest of you would have to wait because Mini weren't quite ready to release it yet. But what's the point and why be so sad.

If I read this right, there are hundreds, thousands of us with this problem but only 1 has THE fix.

Somebody wake me when it's over.

Sorry to be so cynical but I've had it up to here with all of this.

Remind me not to check another Stumble thread.

Ken

 

efc,

Don't check another Stumble thread!!!



Out Motoring,

Congrats, and thanks for the post. I've already forwarded this to my MA at Bill Jacobs. Can't wait to get the fix!

 

Why not call 1-866-ASK-MINI and ask for confirmation. If the fix is definite and being loaded onto CDs, they will be able to officially confirm it.

See ya,
JS

 

>>Why not call 1-866-ASK-MINI and ask for confirmation. If the fix is definite and being loaded onto CDs, they will be able to officially confirm it.
>>

Half the time they (ASK-MINI) can't confirm their @ss from their elbow, how are they going to confirm this???

 

That's my point. If the fix really is coming and CD's really are being created, MINIUSA will have a unified and consistent message, because it will be in their script database. Otherwise, I guess we all have to proceed with lemon law to get a beta-release...or an alpha release...what would you call it, since we all seem to have beta-release software, now.

See ya,
JS

 

This sounds very fishy to me - this is the first time I've heard that they had to burn CD's to send to the dealers. My service advisor and ASKMINI have both told me in the past that once the software is done, that they can get it immediately to the dealers electronically. Now, all of a sudden they have to burn CD's - what happened to downloading it from their dealer network.

Sounds like MINI and BMW is making up more excuses to buy time.

Karl

 

How many dealers are there!? 70 or so, right?
How long do you think it takes an intern to burn 70 CDs?

 

>>How many dealers are there!? 70 or so, right?
>>How long do you think it takes an intern to burn 70 CDs?


I'll give a real conservative guess and say a couple of hours - but, I imagine that they can do it in a lot less time. I hope someone from MINIUSA calls me on Monday to say my car is in line to get the fix.

 

Here is the response Mini USA provided last week when questioned about the stumble:

Your dealer "stated that there will be a fix shortly for the transmission hesitation that you are referring to. The dealer will also contact you when that fix arrives and will schedule an appointment for the repair at that time. "

Doesn't seem to indicate very much knowledge regarding the supposed solution.

 

I have a call into my dealer for this new version #36. Can't wait to here what there story is. I don't know about the rest of you but im getting tired of the run around. If they can't fix my stumble, yo,yo and cold start problem soon, i will be forced to lemon law. This MOTORING trip is getting old very fast.

 

I dropped off my car at the dealer this morning (Long Beach Mini if you're interested) for a few problems. I of course asked about the fix for the stumble but was told that they don't have it yet and know nothing about it arriving any time soon. They say that BMW is working on it but have no details on when it will be ready.

Today's list of things to fix...
1. Replace cluster that intermittently shuts off or lights stay on
2. Vibrating shifter ****
3. Rattling driver's window
4. Hose in engine that makes sucking and vibrating noises
5. Fix stumble


I have a feeling I'll probably have to settle for 40% success rate.

Ken

 

Happy, happy, happy. Still no stumble!!

 

Well the dealer still has my car. I will not be able to pick it up till friday since I am going out of town on business for a few days.

Can't wait to get it back and check out the new fix.

 

Earlier today I wrote:

>>Today's list of things to fix...
>>1. Replace cluster that intermittently shuts off or lights stay on
>>2. Vibrating shifter ****
>>3. Rattling driver's window
>>4. Hose in engine that makes sucking and vibrating noises
>>5. Fix stumble
>>
>>
>>I have a feeling I'll probably have to settle for 40% success rate.
>>

Would you believe 20%?!

They replaced the cluster. They say the vibrating shifter **** is caused by my after market exhaust. They say the driver's window doesn't rattle. They have to order the replacement for the noisy hose. Oh, and no Stumble fix is out yet.

A 20% success rate. I despair, I really do.

Ken

 

OutMotoring,

Great to hear your stumbleless car is still stumbleless!

Just wondering if you still get the stumble on first start of the day?

 

Just got off the phone w/ MINI of Peabody, MA. They told me the fix should hit their shop in about two weeks after undergoing final testing. I'm on a list for them to notify me when it arrives.

 

>>>>How many dealers are there!? 70 or so, right?
>>>>How long do you think it takes an intern to burn 70 CDs?
>>
>>
>>I'll give a real conservative guess and say a couple of hours - but, I imagine that they can do it in a lot less time. I hope someone from MINIUSA calls me on Monday to say my car is in line to get the fix.

I don't think a CD release from BMW is simply putting one program on a CD. The CD is for all BMW cars, not just MINIs. I'm sure its just like preparing for a major software release in any company, there are a thousand tiny details that have to be done before the CD comes out. That said I also have heard that the dealers have the ability to download updates via the internet, but think about this, i'm sure there are very few dealers that bother to do this kind of stuff, it sounds like its almost getting to the point where a service center would have to have a fulltime IT person just to handle keeping things straight.

 

>>after market exhaust. They say the driver's window doesn't rattle. They have to >>order the replacement for the noisy hose. Oh, and no Stumble fix is out yet.
>>
>>A 20% success rate. I despair, I really do.
>>
>>Ken
>>
>>

Reference your window rattle. Is it a sort of bumping noise at the top of the window near the B pillar? I have a rattle with both windows, it comes from the window slightly shifting and hitting the hard rubber gaskets. If you lower the windows a fraction (by hitting the down switch twice in a row, just so the window isn't pushed up against the strip) the window doesn't rattle. If what you have is what I describe there is a new (about 2 weeks old) service bulletin that says it is caused by a bad (or missing??) regulator buffer (i.e. clamp) the part number is BM51-33-7-132-223. I don't know what the service bullet number is. My "clamps" just came in and will be installed next week.

 

<<If what you have is what I describe there is a new (about 2 weeks old) service bulletin that says it is caused by a bad (or missing??) regulator buffer (i.e. clamp) the part number is BM51-33-7-132-223. I don't know what the service bullet number is. My "clamps" just came in and will be installed next week.>>

Thanks shenry318. It'll be nice to be armed with the part number when I go back in to see them. I wish I could some feedback on some other stuff I've posted on here but it seems like everybody has gone away for a few weeks.

Ken

 

I can vouch for OutMotoring.

I actually called my dealer, made an appointment and went to drop of
my MINI on Monday.
When I got there, they told me an engineer wanted to talk to me.
Hmmmmm......Odd!

He in fact did. He came out to talk to me about my stumble.

Here is the deal.

First he asked if I read about the fix on the internet. I said yes.
He then said that it was just a rumor. They thought they fixed it, but it didn;t keep. It worked at first, then over-rode the software and didn't work.
I told him I did read about it on the internet, but I wanted my ECU taken out, shipped back east, and reflashed. What was his reply?

O, you know about that??? Yep, I sure do.
I asked him if that would fix the stumble. He said "Yes, it does fix it".
Then why all the questions and secrets?

The reason is that MINI was unsure if this would be a warranty issue because it might be a non needed fix because the software is comming.
It takes about a week to take out the ECU, ship it to jersey, reflash it, ship it back, then reinstall it. MINI is worried about the amount of owners comming in to get this fixed at the same time. Then they were worried about the loaner car thing. MINI wasn't sure if this was going to covered as a Warranty issue, thus the loaners might not be covered.

I can understand his point. Could you imagine how many people would come in and want this done.

So what next? He asked if I noticed that the stumble seemd to be a little better lately. In fact, I have. I even posted about it here about a week ago. The Stumble is Heat related. That is why the engineers were testing here in the 116 degree Phoenix area. It has been in the 90s for a couple weeks now. And yes, it seems a little better.

He said that the software will be available in 2 or 3 weeks. But it could be faster than that. Some if not all MINI dealerships are set up on a network. The software fix might be available over the network and each dealer will need to go download it.

He said if that is the case, we could be looking at a week. He will have a better idea on Monday, because he talkes to Corporate on Monday mornings.

So I didn't have my ECU shipped back east. Instead, he took my name and number and put me down as a priority to call when the software arives. All I will do then is drive in, they will upload the new software fixing the stumble, and I can leave. Simple as that. So I kept my car for this week and will gladly wait another couple weeks.

So people can be excited or believe it when they see it. But eitherway, it will be here by Halloween!
Trick or Treat!

 

I bet you a bag of candy corn that the fix won't be here by Halloween.


(and this is one bet I'd LOVE to lose)

See ya,
JS

 

MiniMac... So the "thought it was a fix, but it wasn't" software was the il-fated v.35? And the brand-spankin-new-as-yet-unnumbered-but-it'll-be-here-in-time-for-Halloween-praise-goddess is the REAL fix? And it really works?

I went through about 30 different facial expressions as I read your post:
"We had a fix" Yaaaaaaaay! :smile:
"But we were wrong" Boooooooo! :smile:
"But we don't want to" Boooooooooo!

 

So are you saying that if a fix is covered under warranty you get a loaner? I had to beg and plead for a loaner when I had warranty-covered issues.
No freakin' wonder my dealer said the fix is coming in December! If it is heat related then I wouldn't be able to notice the stumble if it wasn't fixed only for it to return when the weather warms up. Sorry, I am a little frustrated. Congrats on getting the ball rolling on your fix.