do i have to wait til it's time for my mini to go in for service in order to get the computer updated to V 38 or can i get it updated anytime i want? are they going to charge money for this? thanks

 

take it in , say it's got a bit of a stumble...no charge

 

My dealer told me that if you have no problems and want just the update then they will do it and charge you $150. You have about nine installs for ECU updates so don't use them up too fast.

If you have stumble, hesitation, stalling or yo-yo then complain and maybe they will think of updating the ECU software to try to fix this problem and cover the cost. Do not block the access to the battery. In the case of an MCS it is in the rear boot floor so if you have a subwoofer there, take it out before you take your MINI in or you may be charged for moving it.

 

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Why do you want an upgrade? The DME isn't exactly like your PC's OS...upgrades are issued to fix particular problems that impact particular cars. If you aren't experiencing the problems, there's no point in changing the software. Point is, many people have had their cars come out worse after an "update". Even more have noticed no change at all.

 

I wish I could take my updates back. I had a small stumble prior to the first "update" (v36). Now I have many more issues.

 

ABSOFUKINLUTELY!

The v38 got rid of my yo-yo (of which I could care less about to start with).

1)My STUMBLE is still bad as ever...

2)I now have this really shitty idle on cold start up.

In essence, I'M worse off now than before.

I've made a conscious decision at this point to sell the car. The initial hesitation I have on take-off is a MAJOR safety factor in pulling out into traffic from a standstill. It's only a matter of time before I'm dead in traffic, literally....

I get very picky about certain issues with cars. My stumble issue has become a MAJOR thorn in my side. Apparently it's only going away when the car does....

jerij

 

^ Right. On the other hand, I (July 02 MCS) never had yo-yo, had cold start issues, and a moderately bad stumble. After several software upgrades that cured the cold start but made the stumble much worse, I wound up with CD 36 software (December 2003) and that cured my stumble completely as well as tamed the over-aggressive traction control. Cold start reappeard as a problem with the last upgrade I got (it stalls once, then fires up on the second try). At that point though, I figured that I'd stick with what I had, count my blessings, and live happily ever after (stumble and lurch free).

Once again, the moral of the story is to stop while you're ahead.

 

Jerij and others,

Am sorry to hear about your major stumble problems and how it has spoiled your experience with your MINI. I haven't been following the "stumble" threads in any detail, but I'd like to offer some advice that might save the day. Not sure.
I wonder if your stumble symptoms, off idle and at slow speeds, is a symptom of an ignition problem. Could be. Off idle hesitation and near stall, ("stumble" ?), has been a classic symptom of inadequate ignition for 100 years. Why any MINI should have an ignition problem surprises me, but a poppy ignition system is possible and a problem that can be repaired.
If you want to explore an ignition solution a simple experiment would be to substitute a set of inexpensive spark plugs for the stock MINI spark plugs. Gap the new spark plugs at a relatively narrow gap and drive the car. The reduced spark plug gap will not seriously impair the engine performance in the short term but will significantly reduce the voltage required to fire the spark plugs. If the stumble immediately goes away, then you have isolated the problem to an ignition related issue. Try using the non precious metal NGK BKR7E, stock number 6067, spark plugs gapped at about 0.036" instead of the stock 0.065" gap. Reducing the spark plug gap from 0.065" down to about 0.036" will reduce the required ignition voltage in the combustion chamber about 33%.
Maybe others have tried this experiment and have found it unsuccessful. However, in the opposite direction, I have tried pushing the gap in my MINI spark plugs out to 0.080", and beyond. As a result I started to experience annoying stumble as those spark plugs misfired at take off and slow speeds.

Let me know how it goes,
John Petrich in Seattle

 

John,

Thanks for your post and suggestion.

I saw from another post that V.38 worked great for another owner yet some of you with v.38 updates are saying it doesn't help and/or causes other problems.

So let's hear if from anyone that have V.38 installed and what kind of MINI do you have? MC 5 speed or CVT or MCS.

So much for V.38!

 

Aloha Brad, (a.k.a. minihune),

Do you ever sleep? Always have your eye on the Forums, it seems.

Yes, I have read the same and hope that the software update works for people. I am always saddened when someone expresses defeat from a problem experienced with another wise wonderful car like the MINI.

However, because a software update helps the problem for some, it doesn't follow that the stumble problem has the same etiology for everyone or that a significant causal factor cannot be ignition related. I know that we are not disagreeing, but my discussing this point now may help others who are reading this thread.

I remember, from my classic British car days, stumble was always a recurrent issue. The cause was from a weak Lucas ignition system or worn spark plugs Yet in that context, judicious "tuning" of the SU carbs, optimization of the A/F ratio, could temporarily "fix" the stumble up to a point. So, a lot of car owners believed the carbs were "going out of tune." What was really happening was that the ignition system was getting progressively less adequate and the successive optimizations of the A/F ratio by carb adjustments would "cover up" the underlying ignition problem. That is, until the whole system collapsed and the car wouldn't start anymore.

Maybe some people's stumble is symptomatic of a fundamental engine management system problem, hence a cure with software upgrades. Maybe some people's stumble is symptomatic of other causes. Will be interesting to hear more on this issue unless it has been beaten to death in another thread.

Aloha,
John Petrich in Seattle

 

wow thanks for the imputs u guys. i'm gonna have to think twice about upgrading my ECU. btw i have a 2004 CVT. it does stumble once in a while at low rpm giving me a feeling that i'm driving a manual.