Unfortunately - this is why my second Mini is gone

I have been told over and over that Mini USA is interested in my issues and they will get back with me! Hasn't happened yet and its been promised at least 4-5 times during my Mini ownership.....

I enjoyed driving my Mini, but they are not committed to making things right (IMHO). I will still enjoy my '79 RHD Austin Mini 1000 as my Mini fix. However in my book the worst thing to happen to Mini's was the customer commitment of BMW!

For those without issues - keep on motorin'

For those with issues - good luck!!

 

My 04 MCS had the common problem of starting then dying and then starting up for real...

The weather has turned colder in the am and now the past few days it just starts right up...1st try!

This is my first year with it (bought it in July and it was reflashed just before I got it for the emissions thing, so I have no reference. I also aways turn the key for a few seconds before starting, but it made no difference this summer when i got the Mini. Now it is about 10-15 degrees colder and she just starts normally (am temps were about 65 in the am....now about 45-50....

Possessed or more than likely, the computer now knows to put it into Cold start (choke) mode? And our winterized fuel does not begin for another 2 weeks or so.

 

Haah! MINI still at dealer, they need to keep it until at least monday. SA said they need to talk to MINI engineer and see if they should replace the engine wiring harness...of course they did that like two years ago... so I doubt that is the problem...

 

Got my car back from the dealer last nite for my 10k oil change. They claim since they can't replicate the problem when they had it.. they couldnt do anything.

My car stalls EVERY time i start it. And I sometimes stall at in neutral at stop signs. So there is definitely a problem.

Dealer says I have the latest software so that isnt the fix. My car is a 12/06 S with JCW injectors.

 

Can someone start a poll here so we can get some real numbers of how many MINI's are affected?

 

Same problem here 2003 MCS.

Frank

 

I have the same problem.
I had a cold start issue where it wouldn't start the first time. I took it to the dealer, they said an ECU reflash would fix it. Now, it barely starts the 1st time, and sometimes I get a complete lack of power for a few seconds before full power comes around.

 

How to 'fix' the problem.

Get in car, turn key to start, but dont crank the engine. Wait for "ding ding" chime sound of "key inserted", turn key and start car.

Its a fuel pump issue im betting. No fuel (or weak fuel) is being delieverd to the car at start up. By waiting for the chime, you are giving time for the fuel pump to engage.

This works for me, everytime. Otherwise, it stalls out everytime.

 

Interesting. I'll have to try that one.

 

Although I'm sure the problem isn't the same for all cars, I bet the problem stems from the fuel being used. BMW tsb's call for "Top Tier Detergent" gas, which is only available from certified gas distributors and, in many parts of the US is not even available. As the tsb link below states, BMW "recommends" that if you can't get top tier fuel, you should use their new fuel system cleaner. The cleaner cost $12 per bottle, is not covered under warranty, and should be used once every 3000 miles. Of course, using it in two consecutive tanks would be beneficial at first. This all makes me so pissed!

http://www.alldata.com/tsb/BMW/11570...6/1302061.html

 

BTW, my dealer won't ship the fuel cleaner b/c it is classified as hazardous. I would have to drive there (60 miles) to pick it up. So I called the BMW dealer in town. They don't carry it but will do a special order, which requires that you buy a case of 6 bottles. Apparently they prefer a different brand of fuel system cleaner.

So....I called BMW NA. My complaints are simple:

1) If BMW knows that we should use top tier fuel or a fuel system cleaner, why wasn't this communicated to me? Shouldn't this have been included in / added to the owner's manual?

2) Why didn't the dealer inform me about this when I told them about my cold start and misfire problems and asked if it could have anything to do with the fuel quality? I was simply told to bring the car for service, service that they know will not be covered under warranty if it does relate to fuel quality issues?

 

I had the same stalling issue begin about a week ago after a fill-up at Marathon. Every morning after, the MINI would stall right after firing up. I went to Sunoco and filled up with their 94 octane and the problem has gone away. Go figure.

 

Nope, tried that and it didn't work. Also, I tried holding the starter a little longer and it made it even worst. The car shook violently and sounded like the engine was going to fall out.

 

My car has been stalling for a few months now. I have just gotten used to having to start it twice in the AM. I use Shell 93 octane gas for just about every tank. THe funny thing is that the other day, my wife and I had somewhere to go after work so I dropped my car at her building and them we rode in together the next morning. My car sat for about the same amount of time and at the same temperature as ever other day recently (it was not the coldest day of the year) and it started right up on the first try! The next morning at home, back to the same old thing. When it happend last year, the waiting to start thign seemed to help, but not now.

 

Getting the latest ECU software from the dealer seemed to help that problem in my car a bit. But it still has a few problems. My dealer just told me that the car runs rich. It's possible MINI will come up with a new software solution in the future but don't count on it.

 

I was told to run regular gas in my MINI by my SA to solve this problem. I never tried it...too scared! MyMC pings on 89 octane, I'm not about to try 87!

 

Guess it's a tradeoff?
I'd keep the high-grade stuff in it myself.

 

I am due to go in for service as I am coming up on 3 years. I am on Version 38 or 39 of the SW IIRC. I am also afraid to go to lower octane as I have a pulley.

 

my SA told me the same thing. i told him he was insane. he then proceeded to tell me that he uses regular in his mcs w/19% pulley. i don't want to put regular in; the one time the gas station attendant accidentally filled mine with regular, all i heard were pings (even under normal acceleration). my SA printed out a tech document from mini about the mixtures of gas for me...

lame.

 

You've got to be kidding me. We need the opposite of lower octane fuel. We need higher octane fuel with less addatives like ethanol.

 

And if have any issues even the least bit related to using lower octane fuel, don't count on warranty coverage.

 

GIAC got rid of most of it . but i recently switched to mobil 93 for about 3 tanks worth now. my restarts are way down. harly davidson did extensive testing on northamerican fuels because of so many complaints and concluded that mobil wasthe best ethanol blend .

 

But then your supporting Mobil ... not good. By not buying their gas, we put pressure on them to lower their prices. This only matters because of their size.

 

Unbelievable, I just read 15 pages of this problem, thinking that by page 10 or so we would have some solution. I even got a little excited when I read about the "new" 21.02 / v44 ECU reflash from MINI USA that seemed to be helping some people. Apparently not all have been fixed by it.

I'm really on the fence about this, I have had the stumbles on and off since new, mostly on the first start of the day and have only stalled once or twice, and that was about a year ago.

(When I went to pick up the car new, the MA told me that this was normal due to the supercharger starting up , that one's for another thread, back on topic...)

I'm not really that annoyed by it, but it is definitely not normal. I have an 01/05 build with no reflashes done. I have service scheduled soon and I really don't know if I should ask for the ECU update, it seems that it just might make things worse. Any positive experiences from the latest ECU update???

 

Thanks for reading all pages! I am just starting to have this problem of having to do a double start and I was cringing at having to read through the whole thread! So, no solution yet, eh?