Yes, I have a 2004 MCS (build 9/03) and it just started stalling on startup after a long overnight.

Hope this helps,

Thanks,

Frank

 

My '03 did this beginning about a year or so back and then about 6 months ago or so (around the end of last summer) it mysteriously stopped and hasn't returned . Not sure exactly when so I don't know if any circumstances changed. Had not been to dealer for anything and made no mods during that period. Maybe a change in fuel additives by refineries that got reversed?

 

Mine seems to be doing it every day now, even though temperatures only seem to get down to around 70F every night. It's quite annoying.

 

my car sat for over a week. started up fine yesterday morning. I went out this morning and it didn't. I even turned the key and waited for fuel pressure, just like every other day. There's no rhyme or reason to this it seems.

 

Our 04 MCS does the same thing.. we purchased it & drove it off the lot about 2 weeks ago & then all of the sudden...studder & stumble upon restart...

I'll have to check the flash on the computer
Joe

 

I live in San Antonio Texas and I have notice that my cold start issues actually come and go with the warm/humid weather of the spring/summer.

I usually only have issues after the car has been sitting overnight. When winter rolls around and the air drys out, it seems to be less of an issue if not non-existant.

When I lived in Colorado (very dry air) this was very rarely an issue no matter what season or what temperature.

My theory is that over the course of the night there is a build up of moist/less-dense air in the intake path and intercooler. Just a theory.

Sean

 

Adding to the pile..........

I recently bought an 03 MCS works, and when it's 50* or colder, it does this. Starts, stalls, restarts and runs fine. I have an appt at the dealer tomorrow to check it out. This thread was started over 2 years ago, and I didn't read every post, but has there really been no firm resolution for this yet?

It doesn't seem to cause a real problem for me since it does it in the driveway rather than on the road, but I can't believe it's still out there after 2 years.............

 

I haven't read all of the posts, but there has been new OEM software out for all of the S models since mid 05. It has taken care of most of the software related issues that I have seen.....Good luck

Chad

 

I'd better remind you that I'm from Perth, Australia, so that the following makes sense to you

We're in our Winter now (temps 5-10 degrees Celius night, ~20C day). That's 40-50 & 70 in Farenheit.

I have noticed that my 02 MCS starts first time on the cold mornings (temp about 10C or lower). (50F)

In summertime early morning temp can be as low as 15C and I experience the 2-start problem.


Dave

 

Another data point to blow away the humidity theories.
I live in New Mexico. The car will sometimes require a 2nd start to stay running. The dewpoint here is often single-digits and the air dry enough to give you nosebleeds. The stalling problem, at least for my 2005 MCS, doesn't seem to correlate with humidity. The problem happened both before and after I put on a 16% pulley, CAI, and one-ball / exhaust mod.
I'd really like to get this fixed before the warranty runs out in about 5K miles. Guess I'll plead for a ECU update at the last warranty service and cross my fingers.
-B

 

2003 MCS and I have never had a stalling issue or a stumble. In warm weather the car will sometimes have a rougher idle when sitting at stop lights but nothing that makes the car feel like it will stall. I have read that its just because they run so rich.

I have once or twice started the car and it turned over and almost ran but quit. After turning the key a second time it started just fine and ran. I have had other cars do this before and I do not think its a problem.

I have a CAI and 15% pulley.

 

I just started having this issue again, about a month before the dragon. I start it once and it stalls. The second start attempt works every time. I had this issue for a last year and then it went away for a while. I don't remember if the dealer flashed the ECU or not, but it did go away for a while. Maybe i need to try the fuel system cleaner.

 

I have a Nov 06 build MCS and I've recently experienced the start-up stuttering after 1.5 mos of ownership. After turning the key it will sputter a bit sounding like it will stall but then light up and run. Weather readings at about 50f. Will contact dealer to see if re-flash is necessary.

 

Aw man, I was hoping this was just an issue on older cars, but new ones are doing this as well?

 

Snore. Try my suggestion. Then let's talk.

 

Sorry, I should have mentioned that I have tried this, or at least an equivalent product available in Australia. It made no difference.

I have only owned my MCS 02 since December 06 (summertime in Australia) where day/night temperature range 40/20 degrees Celsius (105/70 Fahrenheit)). I consistently had the "two attempts" starting problem. I was using BP 98 octane 90% of the time but tried Shell 95 and Caltex/Texaco 95 octane occasionally. There was no difference to the staring problem.

We are now in winter where night time temperatures can be as low as 5 C (40 F). I have noticed that if the temperature is below 10 C (50 F) that it starts first time. So on these colder days, it starts first time in the morning, but 8 or 9 hours later (after work) when the temperature is about 20 C (70 F) I'm back to the "two attempts" starting problem.

Software problem (temperature sensor not operating "choke" correctly - too rich in summer, OK for cold mornings) ????

Fuel volatility issues ?????

Who knows, but it definitely seems to be temperature related.

BTW, where I live in Australia (Perth) we have very low humidity (even in summertime).


Cheers,

Dave

 

My 05 MCS is doing this same thing. I also have a motorcycle (triumph) that does this too. Its the gas. In the winter, things ran fine (car and bike) then when we switched to the summer formulation of gas, both my bike and the car have a hard time starting. I believe its the ethanol they add to the gas.

I know this is common in the east coast. Wish there was a fix. I'll try the techron stuff, and see what happens.

-Jay

 

In the past 2 months I also noticed that my 06 MINI stutters upon starting, almost as though it's going to stall but it doesn't. This only happens first thing in the morning.

Taking this thread's advice about the gas, I went to a different gas station. Since then, there haven't been any problems.

I'm going to have to remember this and monitor the gasoline source to see which one causes the stutters.

 

I have this problem too - just started a month ago, on my 2006 MCSCa with 3000 miles on it. From Nov-April it started smooth and beautifully, but this last month it struggles to start. It sounds like there is no answer for this from BMW, so I guess I'll just experiment with different fuels. I'd love to find someplace nearby that didn't put that damn ethanol in the mixture.

 

One more to add to the pile - is this going to MINIUSA?

My 06 MC always has a slight flutter in the rpms at idle, but recently it got really bad. I filled up with shell gas (the first time in a long time) before the memorial day weekend and it was like night and day. All of a sudden i was having trouble starting, stalling out right after starting, and the car bucking like a jack rabbit for the first 5 minutes of driving. I'm not blaming shell at all...but it's info to add to the bucket.

I hope we get an answer soon becuase this doesn't make me feel comfortable driving a 'new' car that stutters and dies regularly and having the dealership tell me it's 'normal'. Normal? Does the BMW 3 series run the same way? Is that normal? I thought the partnership would bring some good engineering to the table.

 

My '03 MCS always does this the first coldstart in the morning. I crank it up, it sputters a little & nothing...but it'll crank right up into action the second time I do it. I don't think it's gas or anything, because it's been doing this for quite some time. The car runs great though, it's just the coldstarts that are problematic.

 

I have this same issue and have had it since a few months after it was new. It's an '05 MCSa. Recently over the last couple months I was trying to give it a slight bit of gas on the first start to keep it running, but this caused three SES lights to appear. I brought it in to service for these SES lights and was told nothing is wrong, just use certain gas companies or use a fuel cleaner additive per a BMW/MINI bulletin about this problem. Also, the bulletin stated that problems caused from fuel are not covered under warranty.

 

I concur with it being ethanol in the gas. My friends civic and my MCS both almost stall on a cold start. I just hold my rpm's at 3 or 4k for a few, let it off and its good again. It happened to me alot when I lived in Delaware but not so much in NY. Been happening again lately, i noticed the gas i was getting was mixed with ethanol...Switched gas and it seems good. Ive been having this problem for months now. I just deal with it.

 

I was having this problem a couple weeks ago. I had to take my car in to get the steering rack replaced and told them about the issue, they loaded the latest software and it has been working fine since. 03 mcs

 

The last time a software update was available, they told me it couldn't be performed on mine since it's got a chip upgrade. :(