Hey gang I have 2 problems with the engine on my 2004 non-S Mini.

1. It doesn't want to idle, it wants to quit. If I hold the gas down it runs smooth at 1000 rpms and higher.

2. When it hits 2000 RPMS exactly, it acts like its hitting a rev limiter.

This car has sit for several months after being involved in a crash. It has a new ECU which was programmed by BMW. There are no fault codes, and no vacuum leaks, no check engine light.

I'm hoping part of the problem is maybe bad gas. The 2000 RPM issue has me stumped though. I thought I read that in park or neutral, the rev limiter is at 4000 RPM. This is at 2000 on the nose.

Any ideas?
BTW thanks to all who responded about my ECU programming problem. It turned out it wasn't a problem at all with my elec system, it was with BMW's software.

 

Are the SES or EML lights on? Sounds like you're in limp-home mode.

 

what the heck is limp home mode? I didn't see any lights lit up at all, but i'll double check.

 

It goes on when you redline the car. The car will then go into "limp" mode, which does just that, limps home! You cannot go fast...so it's basically like a safety for the car, so the engine, etc. won't get messed up, blow up, etc.

Try changing out the gas, checking the spark plugs, and try reseting the ECU if you can (unhook the battery for a night?) and start it up a couple of times. If that doesn't work....I'm clueless, take it to the dealer.

-Cody

 

Yeah, limp home mode basically lets the engine rev to just over 2k rpm. Ours went into it when the wiring harness went faulty. Its weird that there weren't any warning lights.

 

try getting a new coil pack... had a car with a screaming demon doing the same thing... put a new stock one on and it was fine... wierd I know ...but what can ya do...

 

I can't see the car till later today (3pm or so east coast time). When I do, I'll double check for those lights (SES or EML).

I don't know if it was redlined, since I bought the car just after it had been wrecked, and needed front end repair, and it got a new ECU from BMW.

I wonder if during the collision it somehow got redlined. Nonetheless, the dealer ran the diagnostic on the computer, and there were no faults. I'm sure they know what limp home mode is, and would have checked it for that.

I'll try the different things you guys mentioned and report back later today.
Tim

 

Here's what I found. No SES or EML lights on. When put in gear, the RPMs are not limited to 2000. Only when in park or neutral.

The car still runs a little rough but is improving.
It will idle as long as you ease off the throttle slowly. It seems like I need to give it gas while starting.

I'll take it for a short drive when i get back to the car again on Thursday. Hopefully I'll have good news.

 

Did you unhook the battery and let the ECU reset like I suggested? Maybe that'll fix it?

-Cody