Anybody had this problem? Went on the freeway, wanted to pass somebody...floored it...sputter...sputter..lights go on..EML check engine..pulled over.after turning off and one again.. stopped sputtering but I can only baby it up through the gears...

Service adviser said it was the super charger bypass valve. I though it was the tranny again..

Hopefully when I pick it up today it will be fixed.

 

The occasinal bypass valve going bad is normal on the MCS. Its not totally related to the MCSa

 

Mark,

I posted to the thread discussing the VGS mod. It basically changes the source of vacuum for the bypass valve from before the supercharger to after. It supposedly smooths out throttle response. Wondering if it had been attempted on an MCSa. Have you heard of this?

 

I have heard of the VGS mod but not attempted it. If someone locally could understand it I am up for trying it.

 

My concern, as we all know, the plumbing of the automatic is different and I didn't want to muck with it until I got a definitive answer. Still waiting...

 

I have a 2005 MCSa, but no letter. Hm. I'll ask my dealer

 

I only knew when I took my car into the dealership January 4, 2006. It came up, and was fixed. Never received the letter, which makes me wonder:

If BMW/MINI knew I had it fixed, that's great, but if they didn't know, where's the letter?

 

There seems to be a computer system that keeps track of all service campaigns that have been performed on the car. When I brought my 2005 MCSa in for the last maintenance, the SA inserted the key into a reader and was able to bring up all service campaigns that had been performed on the car. It would seem that with the computerized approach, a letter is something of a formality. It may have been lost in the pony express's system?

 

I assumed they would harvest that information at the dealership level. I know that my previous jobs were brought up, so that wasn't a concern at all.

Anyway, it's done and over with. Next up is Service # 1, SPA treatment and getting my front valence fixed up.

 

I think the information is available at least nation-wide (in the U.S.). I bought my car from a dealer that was not the one that I took the car to for the service. It seems that all they need is either the key or the VIN to pull up all service campaigns that have been performed on the car. The key is much more convenient (you don't have to enter the long VIN and check to confirm that no mistakes were made while typing it in).