Well, I got El Kabong back home tonight. 4 days was a LONG time!
All seems to be fixed, I'll dig out the paperwork and see what the exact fix was.
1. For Tire Light, ABS and DSC light-
Left rear wheel speed sensor faulty, replace and clear fault memory

2. For windows not going back up when doors are closed
Could not duplicate.


While I enjoyed the MC cabrio, I am REALLY glad I have a tintop MCS. My kids said the backseat was cramped, and I could see that there was a big bumpout on each side in the back, I'm guessing for the mechanism and top storage. I also could not deal with the visibility thing, even with the PDC I felt like I was backing up blind! Also, the noise factor was bothersome, I kept checking to see if I'd left a window cracked but realized it was just the way a convertible sounds. On the plus side, the 5spd shifter was very nice, it may just be that it was broken in. Also, the fact that it did not have runflats made the ride much smoother, so I'm going ahead with my plans to
change mine out, probably to Yokohamas.
Like I told my brother, if I'd gotten the convertible I would have loved it just as much, but driving it for 4 days made me see that I made the exact right choice for me with my 06 PW/B MCS.
Annette

 

Glad you are reunited with 'Kabong... 4 DAYS, wow!

Last week I had the "opportunity" to drive a loaner '06 MCc with CVT. It was fun since it was appointed very similarly to my MCS, CR/B, black leatherette, MFSW, with HK and chili red interior. Loaner had like 462 miles on the clock! Smelled Yummy!

That reminds me, I saw the "sticker" in the glove box and it listed "Interior in Body Color" as a $200 option. I would have sworn that that was a no-cost option, when I ordered my '05.

The "visibility thing" - I agree with you, it's rotten. If it was gonna be "just for me" then I could live with it, but if Mrs. Tatt ever got behind the wheel she would strongly "question" it .

The interior lighting is different (not IMO better than my '05 just different). I didn't check to see if this is a cabrio thing or an '06 thing though - specifically i'm talking about the light(s) nearest the rearview mirror.

I had no issue with the noise level, but I too am convinced I made the right choice getting a "tintop" (with the sunroof of course). I remember agonizing over options, trying to keep costs contained... I continue to believe I made all of the "right for me" choices back in November of '04 .

edit: I also often haul 2 kids ages 8 and 11 in the backseat, so we would have had to deal with that space issue you mentioned, as well...

Good Luck to you and Motor On,
Tatt

 

Charging for "interior in body color" is new for '06.
Seems a regular habit with MINI - if an option proves popular, make more money on it. Originally the anthracite interior was a no-cost option, then it was $200. The body color interior was also free but now costs $200.
Way back when I ordered GBMINI#2, the rain sensing wipers and dimming rear view mirror together cost $140.
Now rain sensing is $200 (with dimming headlights) and the dimming mirror is $200.

 

Wow, Nearly a 200% price increase for smart wipers and automatic mirror! Figures! I guess current owners get to feel good about their "wise" (got it while it was cheap or free) choices .

Several of my posts over the last year mention my long-time suspicion that MINI is expertly managing our expectations (not just our wallets lol).

GBMINI, thanks for the feedback.
Tatt

 

My ABS and tire pressure lights keep coming on over the last couple weeks. Solid, not blinking.
Sometimes at random and sometimes going up a hill or hitting a bump.
Shutting the car off and restarting it and driving a few feet puts the lights out, only to
come on again in the future. Tire pressures are fine.
Tried checking the ABS sensor connections, looking at the wiring, giving the cables a wiggle,
pulling out and cleaning the sensors, but still no better, in fact, getting more often.
The past few days, a big bump would consistently put the light on, and now, they
go on after very little driving. The ABS works when the lights are out, and the brakes
seem to work fine all the time.

Guess it's time to go to the dealer and get it sorted out. It'll be at least a week or two
before I can find the time to do that.
I don't have DSC, so it can't be the steering wheel angle sensor, so it
sounds like one of the ABS sensors or the wiring to one of them has gone bad.
Hope it's nothing more complicated than that.

 

Common problem....Its either the front left wheel sensor (ABS ) or the steering wheel angle sensor went bad or timed out and needs to be recoded. I get this issue all the time at my dealer and its an easy fix.

 

Good, I like easy fixes, but two questions.

Why the front left sensor as opposed to one of the other three?

Does a car without DSC even have a steering wheel angle sensor?

 

Well, the left front sensor is being replaced today at the dealer (actually, it's 7:30 pm so it should be done by now.)

Tommorow am I'll pick the car up and drive it back to Pennsylvania.

It's also getting its driver seat rail replaced since the seat rocks a bit due to
the height adjuster getting a bit soft introducing some play on taking off and braking.
Nice when these things happen a few months before the warranty runs out
instead of the other way around.

 

Ok, so it sounds like I have this problem... (The ABS and DSC and Tire Pressure lights all came on, then the Tire Pressure light went off and when I went to drive again about an hour later, the other two were on for only like 30 seconds then off.) The difference I'm incountering is that when I went to drive, right away I got the horrible clicking sound and when I went to brake the ABS was ingaged, meaning the brake pads were being pumped on the discs even though I coming to a very simple slow stop. I'm sure it's the same problem, maybe mine just came loose or something... It sucks though because I'm not sure I can drive this baby to Mini from tucson. (2 hour) I'm still covered just barely and I would love my life if I they loaned me another ride in the mean time. But I'll be outta state (in another car) for a quick vaca. Should I just do the free aaa thing and pick it up when I get back from vaca? Would they care if I wasn't able to pick it up once it's done right away?
Thanks for the time guys.
Spade

 

I see more LF wheel speed sensors go bad statistically as well...

 

I have the same problem ('05 MCS) ABS light, DSC light, and Tire light on all the time. Every once in a while they'll shut off for 30 seconds or so until I hit a bump then they instantly come back on when I hit the bump.

Is there a way I can retrieve the code myself? Or a way to test the wheel speed sensors?

For those of you MINI dealer techs (I'm a Honda dealer tech by the way) does the "hitting a bump" senario usually mean a wheel speed sensor or the steering angle sensor based on your experince?

 

For the record, the light has never come on again since the dealer replaced
the front abs wheel sensors last October (both replaced under warranty,
although only the left one was said to be bad.)

 

Ok guys, here's my scenario. The TPMS, ABS and DSC lights came on a week or so ago and stayed on since then. After reading the numerous posts about it, I replaced the front left wheel speed sensor (hoping that was the one that's bad). Now what happens is when I begin driving after turning the car on the TPMS, ABS and DSC lights stay on for a couple seconds, then all go out. However until about 15mph or so I hear a clicking sound from inside the car (I'm assuming the steering angle sensor on the steering column timing out) then as soon as the clicking stops the three lights come back on.

Does this mean the steering angle sensor is probably bad as well? Why would it do this after I replace the wheel speed sensor? Do I have to reset anything after changing the wheel speed sensor? Thanks in advance for any help

 

Bump for any help.

 

steebo777, is your MINI not under warranty anymore? This is a warranty issue from what I understand. At least is was for me.
Annette

 

Nope, I'm at 54k, so I'm just out of warranty :(

 

dealers are empowered (or at least they were) to perform one out of warrentee repair as an act of good will. Print out this thread and the TSB and throw yourself on the service manager's mercy and see if you can get them to cut you some slack. When my steering column developed the "dreaded steering column click" I printed out the 26 page thread on motoringfile and got it replaced at about the same mileage as you've got now, good luck.PS you get more bees with honey than with vinager.....

 

That's highly doubtful for Motor City MINI.

I'm thinking it's a faulty steering wheel angle sensor or it needs to be recoded. If it does need to be recoded, can I do this on my own at all?

 

They called and said it is nothing to do with the steering angle sensor, but that they would need to do a 'couple more hours of labor' to figure out what's wrong. I told them I'll just pick it up instead of blowing a few more hundred dollars right now. It sucks that I spent $115 and my time to drive up there for them to spend an hour to see it's not the steering angle sensor. It seems like they should've been able to read this fairly quickly.

Sorry for venting I've just never had good luck at MCM.

 

How can they charge you if they can't tell you what's wrong? I've been a tech at a Honda dealer for the past 11 years and that would NEVER fly. What exactly are you paying for? If they make you pay file a claim with the Bureau of Automotive Repair.

 

Just as a heads up to anyone else that may encounter this, here was the solution. Apart from the front left wheel speed sensor being busted, the actual metal ring inside of the wheel hub was corroded and chipped up. So after replacing that as well, all is good for my dummy lights that were on. Even though it cost way more money than it should've, it's good to go now

 

i still dont get why the shop charged you for something they couldnt figure out. Diag charges means they should give you an answer to the COF ( cause of failure ). If they cant figure it out there shouldnt be a charge to you. I would never charge a customer diag until we figured out the issue. But im glad your car is now fixed.