Hi,

We have a 2005 MCSA. This has just gotten a software upgrade from the dealer today ( Towed there DOA yesterday, so the turnaround is pretty good ). I'll let everyone know how it turns out.

Randall

 

Hi, We got it back last night ( very quick turnaround ). The ecu was flashed with version 42 of software. So far, so good.

Randall

 

I wonder if v.42 will fix the problems on the manual MCS?

I never should have let them do the "EPA upgrade" that was the beginning of the end. It ruined a perfectly good car. Now the service people tell me that they can't re-install v.32 that worked soo well for 30,000 miles.

Live and learn. Should have left it undone until I traded it in, then it would have been someone elses problem. Sorry!

 

I was having the cold start stumble and rough idle at stoplights/signs. I had the dealer install V42 and since Friday the car has been running great- no more stumbles. It might be my imagination but the car feels stronger, seems to pull harder now. I have the 6-speed. Hope this helps and good luck to all those having problems.

 

Hate to be a buzzkill, but my 3 week old 2005 MCS has been doing it since I got it. Every single cold start, and the problem is exacerbated with the A/C on. Dealer says no fix.

It's ridiculous for OEM programming to behave as such. GHETTO GHETTO GHETTO.

 

I had my '05 MCS reflashed at MINI of Nashville one week ago today. My cold start stumble was reduced, at first. Now it is back and really no different than before. Same drivability issues. BMW sucks. I wish Honda would have bought MINI. I don't understand why they can't or won't fix the problem. BMW, get your head out of your *** and fix our cars!

 

When I got my 03 MCS I noticed the stumbling idle. I just got the pilo ignition pack and some 9mm wires. Made it much smoother and never feels like it's gonna die when stopped.

 

I disconnected the battery and reset the ECU when I was at the Dragon two weeks ago and then drove the cr@p out of it for about 5 miles and it seems to have done the trick for the stalling problem. It still lacks the off the line power the v32 gave me, but I’ll live with this until I get a pulley and chip in a few more months.

 

I just had my April '05 build MCS in yesterday for a couple of issues, the near-stall immediately after starting, a couple of rattles, and generally-poor performance between 2.5-3.5k RPM. They flashed the ECU (DME) with V42.something and reset "all adaptations". The stumble still manifested itself this morning, just like always. I do think the car feels a little smoother all around, however.

I'm planning on doing the MTH software in the not too distant future, and I'm hoping that will improve things.

I really am shocked that BMW has let this go on for three years, now. That's completely unacceptable. But short of returning my car or going through the Lemon Law rigamarole (which wouldn't be hard; four times in the shop for the same issue? no problem!) what can I do? I like the car, aside from that...

 

Nope, unfortunately MTH doesn't cure the morning stumbles. I thought it did when I first flashed, but it came back soon enough. It was just coincidence.

 

My MINI wakes up just like I do: I'm bit shaky at first, but after a little stumble, I'm off and running. So far (~9K) he has stalled only twice, which better than some others I guess. My wife thinks there's something wrong with him. I just think he's not a morning person.

Quote:

BMW sucks. I wish Honda would have bought MINI. I don't understand why they can't or won't fix the problem.

Do I wish this behavior was no present? Yes. Do I wish Honda bought MINI? Uh.... No. If I wanted a Honda, I could have bought a Honda. I understand the frustration, but you gotta look at the big picture.

 

Until large amounts of people from this board and other MINI owners start actually forcing the lemon law on MINI for this problem then they really won't rush to get it fixed. Sad but true, because thats business.

My car actually stalled TWICE the other day while trying to get it started. Also has anybody else tried revving the engine during this start up period? I tried the other day to take it up to about 3k rpm and a huge cloud of black smoke came out the exhuast. My fiance actually yelled for me to stop while i was pulling out of the driveway doing this because she thought something was seriously wrong with the car. After some more testing i found out it will do it if i rev any time during start up (yes i know not good for engine, i just did it this one time).

 

My 03 MCS with 9600 miles, sets parked for days at a time. If it sets say for more than six or seven days, I get the stumble but it starts just fine.

If I drive the car within two or three days of last driving it, I don't seem to have any problems with the stumble.

It appears that after the motor warms up for about 30 seconds or so, the car runs fine.

 

I HAVE A MCS! BOUGHT NEW! IT NEARLY STALLS EVERY MORNING, IT HAS TERRIBLE THROTTLE RESPONSE AND RATTLES FROM ONE END TO THE OTHER! THE ONLY TIME IT SEEMS TO RUN CORRECTLY IS AT WOT! THE DEALER CAN'T FIX IT! THE MANUFACTUER WON'T FIX IT!

THAT IS THE BIG PICTURE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!

 

Keep taking it back.... on your third time contact a lemon law lawyer and have it lemoned......

Thats a bigger picture, on top of that you can probably get a replacement car or your money back.

 

Sounds like a bad apple. My car's symptoms pale in comparison. Mine's basically as enjoyable as yours is frustrating. If they can't fix it, the Lemon laws will force them to buy it back.

If you 've lost faith in MINI due to this experience, you could get something else. I hope it all works out for you.

 

I guess I should also mention that the car is brand new and had less than 500k on it. I just picked it up last Saturday. Once I tried to restart it after it died it started just fine. Also, I must complain about the crazy throttle response. I can put the pedle to the floor then read a novel. After I put the book away the car launches like a rocket. It's real nice in heavy traffic. I can't believe that after all this time that BMW has known about this that they are still alllowing it, even on cars built in July! C'mon people you can do better than that! Lookn how long they've had!!

 

I could be misunderstanding your post, but try launching with a few more revs. My MCS is very rpm-sensitive at the point the clutch engages. At 1100 rpm it's a dog. At 1500 rpm it's quite capable. At much more than 2000, it can easily activate the DSC or spin the tires.

Throttle position after the clutch engages makes little difference if the revs are too low, because it's a tiny engine with low compression that's entirely dependent on boost to make any real torque. It's not bad, it just takes some getting used to.

 

I just took my car to the dealer for this problem and of course they flashed it to the latest ECU which i think is V42.

First morning i go to start her up and she stuttered three times in 45 seconds.....

Last night though when i was leaving work it didn't stutter...

I guess i just test it for a few days and see....

Now here's for the weird, every since the flash the brakes feel ALOT firmer

 

Does the flash affect EBD? Maybe they bled your brakes while they had it.

 

I can imagine the computer can control ABS and EBD but they didn't have time to bleed the brakes when it was in unless they have some super bleeder system that can do it in a few minutes.

 

Im sure its been noted already in this post somewhere.......There is a new ecu version id recommend getting......If you still have any problems after......We do have problems accuring with the by-pass valve not working properly. The dealers are aware of this problem ( i hope ) if it hasnt been done yet.

 

Sometimes on a cold start it doesnt turn over or stalls... Usually on second try it runs roughly but eventually warms up fine.

Dealer updated ecu when car was in for service. 19 days without mini since they were waiting for replacement nut or bolt for nav antenna. At least they gave me a rental car and changed oil and rotated tires for free.

 

SUBJECT:
Rough idle, check engine light on.

MODEL:
2005 model year Cooper S and all with the W11 engine

COMPLAINT:
Service engine soon /eml light on. Fault code p1498 unmetered air after compressor, is stored.

CAUSE:
The plastic inlet duct at the supercharger has seperated and the plastic weld point is leaking.

MEASURE:
Replace the inlet assembly P/N 17-51-1-524-439. Measures to improve the quility of the plastic weld have been implemented.


This might not be the fix but is the only thing i found in my bulletins with what your stating. The new program version is a plus to have right off the bat.

 

That's not even the problem we are talking about. I'll make a video tomorrow morning so everyone can be clear.