I have found several threads on this, but all for the first generation cars with a real key. Can you reset the ECU on the 2009 and if so how? Nobody seems to think the "disconnect the battery" thing actually works.

Jim

 

That's the only way I've heard of. Let it sit an hour disconnected.

 

Why would you want to reset the ECU??

 

Car is running a bit sluggish, throttle responce is not as sharp, trimmer or buzzing coming through the pedel when under load. Noe of this was there before. In the threads that are out there on the ECU reset, it sovled these very problems. For the 1st generation cars there is series of steps to do this.

Jim

 

I haven't seen anything definitive on this from any official sources, but I've heard from a number of folks that the ECU learns how you drive (not just the Mini's, but other makes as well). No idea what it learns or what it does different once it learns it, but maybe in the OP's case it picked up a bad habit and needs some sense knocked into it. Like a couple of teenagers that I know. That live in my house. They need their ECU's reset badly.

 

Somewhat related question....if you have the Stage 1 JCW kit, would you lose the tune if you do a reset. I would think not, but was wondering if someone more knowledgable on the subject could give their thoughts.

 

Wouldn't that info live in the key fob? Different drivers in the same household, different driving styles... Perhaps the key fob needs to be zeroed. Not sure whether removing the battery will accomplish that or not.

I don't think so. From everything I've heard about ECU burning, it is firmware (not reliant on having power).

 

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ml#post2914450

This guy's dealer said disconnecting the battery resets the ECU.

 

Thank you. Maybe it does work on the 2009 and up.

Jim

 

The ECU does adapt to your driving style. If you've been driving timidly it will default to those trends. Drive it like you stole it for a full day and see how it responds. This has always worked for me.

 

I guess it does keep adjusting all the time so that is worth a try.

Thanks,

Jim

 

Sorry for posting in a really old thread, but I was getting these weird U3FFF check engine lights, car was running very strange, and it had some weird WOT behaviour...

I disconnected the battery for an hour about two months ago. I haven't experienced any of these issues since then. The only CEL I get now is the P04xx exhaust light and that only occurred once.

Is this a strange coincidence or is it that the reset ECU is "learning" again? I used to get one or two of those U3FFF lights per drive. Not one in two months now.

 

Try using the other fob and see if there is a difference. I know that each fob can save several different pieces of data so try it and note the change in response (if any).

 

I ended up disconnecting the battery for a coupkle of hours and hooked it back up. It seemed to help.

Jim

 

The ECU (engine control unit) data is not saved in the key fob only setting for radio, wipers, turn signals and a few other operator controls.

 

Any new ECU reset tricks for the R56 cars in the 18 months since this last post?

 

I'd be curious how much long-term "learning" is actually going on in the ECU. True, the MINI ECU is an "adaptive" system, but that just means that it can adjust things like fuel mixture and timing based on the *current* conditions and inputs from things like the knock sensor and the O2 sensor. As such, there's no reason for it to "remember" anything older than a few minutes or hours.

Specifically, in the first-gen cars, the ECU stores short-term and long-term "fuel trims", which are adjustments to the base fuel map based on current conditions. The short-term trim adjusts itself almost instantly, and even the "long-term" trim adjusts itself in a matter of minutes. So no matter how the car has been driven in the past or what the conditions where, the ECU will re-train itself in a few minutes to provide the optimum settings for the current conditions.

One note - I have seen *automatic transmissions* that "learned" their driver's habits and made adjustments to the shift points accordingly, but that's a different animal.

One last thing - on the first-gen MINIs at least, disconnecting the battery didn't even reset the fuel trims.

 

No, you *need* to use BMW's tools. INPA, DIS or ISTA software (with a proper vehicle connection) is required to reset the adaptation values stored in the DME (motor module). Same goes for the auto tranny's module.

The adaptation values stored for both the motor and transmission are pretty extensive, meaning there quite a few things get adjusted by the computer.

 

I know that you spend a lot of time elbow-deep in the MINI's software and are very knowledgable, so I just want to confirm that I'm understanding your post correctly. Are you saying that simply disconnecting the battery won't reset the stored adaptation values? That's what I've always understood as well, but there are frequently members here reporting that disconnecting/reconnecting the battery does everything from fixing an engine stumble to curing their sciatica.

Also, you mentioned that there are quite a few engine adaptations stored in the ECU. Do you know if there are any that take longer than a few minutes to adjust to their new values when conditions change? In other words, if I bought a MINI that had been driven very differently than the manner in which I planned to drive it, do I really need to reset the ECU, or would it adapt to the new driving style over the course of a single long drive?

 

From what I understand, that is correct. Battery disconnect does not clear the adaptation values.


Sorry, I really don't know how the values are set.

 

^This.

 

2005, Automatic (previously owned) MINI Cooper, here. Have been using a new key for a few weeks, now. It is driven by a spirited husband, very high spirited grandson and myself.
Our driving styles vary. The new key is working properly, the car has remained in excellent running condition, since putting plugs-wires etc. etc. in, a year ago.
I'd also read here, that the ECU adjusts to different driving. So, between my grandson, who at first was very slow and overly hesitant when learning, then a husband who likes to point out the rapid acceleration and back again to my grandsons new methods to get the "real feel", there's my own leisurely, "All the time in the world", style of driving.
In the beginning, I'd have sleepless nights imagining the previous owners driving.
Not having any education in MINI electronics, I can only speak from my own experiences and after two years of varied drivers and who knows who or how, before I bought it, it is a consisted little gem and has no change of attitude as far as the transmission shift points or other related "learned" habits, from any previous drivers.

 

Hi
I just bought an ecu off ebay, and would somebody please tell me how to program it using inpa etc? or how to make my key to start the car again?
thanks

 

Hi
Please need help!
This is what i have done so far:
I bought an ECU from ebay and installed in my car, now the VIN number in UIF (DME) is not like my car (i was expecting that) but its also not the one that appear on NCS expert after reading the Ecu.
I tried using Winkfp confortmode, but even if i put the ZB numbers it give me an error about the code not been recognized.
I will post a picture later, but please if somebody can help me out. Also Can it be possible that this used ECU was reprogrammed to another vin?
thanks

 

Is there at least a way to clear the Error Codes so I can make the Check Engine light go away? The previous owner had killed all the valves, and now that I've repaired the car, I'd really like to reset the CEL. Do I have to go to the dealer? Can I do it at autozone or with some other generic OBDII tool?