I think I can tell you exactly what this is - same deal, MoP *almost* fixed it.
Inside the tailgate, there is a small, plastic covered push-on connector that's dangling on the end of a wire harness - just under the window, and maybe 3/4 of the way towards the driver's side. I think it connects to the in-window FM antenna that's only used on cars with the NAV system. Anyway, it's quite loud when it rattles against the sheet metal.

I fixed it in 1/2 a lunch hour by cable tying it back on itself with several cable ties, and covering the whole mess with electrical tape for good measure. Most of the time requirement is prying out the numerous clips that still hold the trim piece in, even after you remove all the screws. The wire connecting the wiper motor doesn't help either. If you have trouble, PM me & I can Email a pdf page from the TIS manual showing the screw & clip locations. Good luck!

Back on topic - Have I missed a thumbs up/down "voting page" on V38.x? - The V36 update definitely got rid of the "one big stumble", but the Yo-Yo and general jerkiness aren't getting any better. The 02-04 MCS will probably always be a tricky car to launch smoothly, just due to zero torque at <3,000 RPM and the relatively tall 1st gear. Gary at MoP is probably wise with "the jury's out" attitude - everything else seems to get worse as the long-term fuel trims tweak everything for the sake of the EPA. I'm thinking I'll probably wait 'till the spring & see what's the latest. That only holds if I get to store the MINI again & my POS winter car holds up.

Back to motoring...

 

You obviously don't drive your MINI hard enough. The Trim is definintely reactive to how you drive! Drive it like you stole it, and it'll give you more power. Drive it like grandma, and it won't! ...but don't think driving it like grandma will help your economy, it won't! Lose/lose? Nope, you'll just have to drive it harder, hee hee.

 

Hmmm - maybe it's back to the EVO autocross school with 23 runs in a day... All I can say is I'm bound to get arrested soon, I always hit 90mph uphill every day (hey, it's Masachusetts) & I get yelled at by the wife on a regular basis. At least I drive fast enough to miss the Azenis every time I put the runflats back on...

I do seem to get about 23mpg no matter what, and it does feel slightly zippier after a day of WOT at an autocross (you usually get 8 runs at the BMWCCA events). Anyway, nothing seems to change the fact that it will Yo-Yo very reliably in several spots, including the hill on the way to my house. It always used to Yo-Yo with V32 as well, maybe it's just more irritating once the stumble isn't distracting me. I think cars always get a little worse when all the bushings, u-joints, gears, etc. get broken in, i.e. looser/sloppier. Only 15K miles, but quite noticable (very crappy roads around here).

So whaddya think - am I a prime V38 candidate? I'd try a Ryephix, but so far I'm **** about keeping it SCCA stock legal.

BTW - Thanks for all your tireless work on this subject...

 

For those that don't watch MINI2 ... note this post by "here2help" who was (is?) a tech within the MINI organization - I think maybe connected with the factory ...

I Have it on good authority that there will be no more updates for this engine in the future and CD Version 38 (not 38.1) was the cure for all the running faults on mini's.

Hesitation/bog/yo-yo etc.

 

For what it's worth, I have V39 installed. I can't be objective as to its possible effect because I had the bypass valve and engine harness replaced at the same time. This much I know, it does not fix the rough idle. My tach seems to act more responsive though.

 

Is there a definite way for a non-dealer to tell what version of code is running on the ECU?

 

dude, alll this stuff happining about the yoyo and the rough idle , im planning on getting a mini cooper S but with all this in mind , im starting to doubt it because of all these problems , how can mini or bmw not get on this , after us spending 24k dollars on a car and yet put so many problems , specially bmw being a well known brand ....disapointed .

cheers juan.

 

--->dotBob; doesn't seem there is a concrete way to know.

--->MINIminiacS; nothing is perfect. After all, the MINI is British!

 

I agree with Ryan, no car is perfect. The reality of this community is that we all like to share our thoughts and ideas and experiences with our MINI's. As human nature would have it, we're a bit more prone to discussing our little problems than we our the regular daily driving pleasure our MINI's give us.

MINIManiacS, don't let these discussions dissuade you from buying a MINI. The car is a great daily driver, with lots of pep, and gobs of cache.

BB

 

I can identify v36 and v38.

 

How?

 

Binary comparissons of downloaded original ECU mappings using Cartune from MTH

 

...but you haven't found a way for US to differentiate between Versions

 

Yeah you would have to download your unmodified ECU using cartune, and email it to me, or I could email a v36 or v38 org file for comparisson. :smile:

 

I'm fortunate in many ways but the fact that my mcs doesn't yoyo makes me very happy. I know v36 was loaded on my car and possibly v38 at a time my car went for service. I mentioned to the service manager that some times the first start of the day the car would need turning the key twice to get it running. They said they had new software that should fix it, I don't care one way or the other now. I'm running mth software and it's amazing. I don't mean to hijack this thread. Don't let this thread be the reason you don't buy a mini, there is much more to it. I just wanted to share that, thank you.
27,000 miles, all the way.

 

Well I had my software upgraded to git rid of the cold start problem. it ran great for a week. then the cold start was back and the Yo Yo started at around 3000~4000 rpm. The addition of the higher rate spring is interesting. but if it is an osolation problem what if the valve was dampened with say some linckage and a Rc car shock? externally? humm. when I get my car back from the dealer as they are updating my cooling fan circuitry. I am putting on the Hot air intake and I will test this theory out. also if linckage was made externally with a rc gar shock you could use the shock with a spring or without and adjust the prelode. the K value of the stock spring in the valve and the K value of the shock spring would be added together to equal a higher K. but if it is true osolation seems a damper could help and keep fuel economy up. I use my car to commute 100 miles every day. I don't wish to loose my economy. but I do wish to loose the Yo Yo.

 

Hi PatW, I had the same grief with my S (YoYo) from new, updated to v38 and installed MTH, no more YoYo very different car now maybe i'll keep it.

Do you have the intermittent idle that so many people have complained about? Mine has had that problem as well as the YoYo since day one.

 

Well guys , its to early to tell for sure. I had V39 installed and it looks like a nice increase in MPG!! The highest i had show on the 'puter was 35.5 on the highway in 14,000 miles. But, after the upgrade it showed 38.8 MPG. And so far(about 150 miles) no rough idle.:smile: It was off by about 2 MPG before, for my actual milage. I will keep tabs on it and let you all know if it definetly is better, Tim

 

Hi fuzzyface, did the nice people at the dealership tell you what v39 was specifically supposed to address?

I am assuming by your post that you had the rough idle problem before, have you had it since day one of ownership?

 

Minitaur, yes it was for an emissions recall campaign 04-a01. the s/m told me specifically what it was, but i forgot!! sorry, Tim

 

Had my 2nd scheduled maintanence on Oct 6. Only took 2 hours instead of the 3-4 hours they estimated. They said they applied an update to the ECU (assuming it's the EPA thing mentioned on this page or the previous one). When I asked if that meant I got v38 I was told yes. v38 was the latest and it was loaded with the update.

I can confirm that my cruise control is much better (+ or - 1 MPH now instead of 3-5). But I still have some occassional trouble starting the car. Clutch in, key turned, nothing. Take out key, clutch out, key in, clutch in, turn... nothing. This is after driving for several hours and stopping at a gas station. Very strange, and very intermittent.

MPG seems better, but hard to tell. They did reset the ECU after loading the new software, so all of my observations are during my re-training period. I might have to re-reset the ECU as well. Went up the the Dragon 2 days after the computer was reset.

Edit:
Oh, forgot to mention that they "fixed" my rattling boot. They said there was a recall on it. I never heard it rattle, so never bothered me and the fix seems to work. But if it wasn't rattling before.... :smile:

 

6. Be careful of the mental parts when dissemble the yo yo.

Clover

 

Thanks, haa haa. I was wondering why I kept poking my eye everytime I looked under the bonnet

 

3 weeks no yo-yo, thought the dealer had it licked! BUT, since the cooler weather has been around, now I have the cold start problem and the yo-yo is worse than ever. V38 Back to the shop I go.......

 

Haven't looked in here for quite some time - it's disapointing to see that BMW still have no clue or couldn't care less about those owners with yoyo. Glad I Lemoned mine while I had the chance or I'd still be listening to the BS BMW would conjure up every time I asked them to fix the car.
To those who say no car is perfect - I say nonsense - I have a first year build FX 35 and it is bullet proof.

Sorry that you folks have had to put up with the BMW deception while so may other owners don't have yoyo.

Shame on BMW for dangling carrots in front of mini owners all this time.