...but indirectly - thru my car dealer (fowrarded him the letter - and he told me that he forwarded it to teh appropiate decision-making persons in MINI USA. I don't have an email contact/address to do it directly - and whatever can be forwarded from the miniusa.com goes... nowhere (there is a Flash form with a small text box. Do you (or anyone else) have an email or snail mail address for MINI USA customer service? Again - my dealer dealt quite politely with the issue - but it is obviously above his head whatever is next.

MMM

 

MMM,

Not trying to split hairs or anything of the sort. I agree - if this isn't across the board, why can't they just "fix" the software in the cars with problems?

I've sent in comments via the text boxes and got a response from an actual person before, it might work if you first try it that way?

 

According to a friend who has owned several BMWs, they are notorious for being slow to fix software problems. It seems that some hardware companies just aren't good at handling software development. Nikon is the same way.

 

My engine light came on tonight and I have only 670 miles on it. It's an automatic - but a Cooper S. I'm going to call service in my area tomorrow and see what they have to say. I've only filled up once since picking it up less than 3 weeks ago and have a little less than half a tank right now. I'll keep you posted on what their response is. I thought it was just my imagination or me not used to driving the car when I thought it was running a little rough on a cold start, but I'm sure going to be paying closer attention now.

 

My wifes mini came on today 641miles runs fine. I turned te car off and restart it an d the light came off. She said it been on for two days now. At the moment it off. 2007 mini S 6 speed

 

Took it in to the dealer and they said that it threw a one time code that the fuel was running a little lean. They said the light probably would have gone out by itself in a few days because it only detected it that one time. Couldn't really give me an explanation except maybe I received some low quality gas (used the superior grade, Chevron/Shell only). Not really sure what to think except it's out now and car seems to be running fine. Side note - he said it was definately not related to the software update (or lack thereof).

 

Okay we must be/could be talking about different sets of problems. "Check Engine" lights are coming on for many Coopers, but few seem to be sputtering at all...car runs great.

Anyway, my SA told me today they'd have a fix for the "check engine" light thing and it's about two weeks away. Not sure how this relates to sputtering though.

 

07 Cooper had the engine light turn on. 1 month old. My dealer here in Virginia said there is a software issue and BMW is putting out a recall within the next few weeks (it is June 14th now) for this software upgrade. No actual engine problems noticed, just the check engine light.

07 Mini Cooper, Auto trans + DSC.

 

Mine's not sputtering either, runs like a dream, just the minor annoyance of the light coming on.

Just patiently waiting for the recall!

 

So - a new attempt to correct the check engine light. Computer sent to main MINI engineering center (NJ?). Return computer short-circuits or has a bad firmware flashing (!).

Car non-operational for more than 30 days in the last 3 months.

You all know what that means, no?

MMM

 

Hello -
This is my first post here, I actually found these forums while looking to see if other people are having this same problem. My wife and I just had a VERY strenuous Mini buying experience, which maybe I will detail in another thread. But at any rate, we ended up buying a 2007 Mini Cooper (Non-S). I think this is the model you are referring to as R56?

My wife was driving the car to work on the first day we had it, and the check engine light came on, though no other symptoms were had. Our car has about 230 miles. Here is the specs on our car:

2007 Chili Red Mini Cooper (Non-S)
Piano Black Interior Trim
Automatic Transmission
Cold weather package
Premium package
Sport Seats
Driving Lights

She called our Mini dealership (Mini of Towson, in Maryland), and told them about the CEL. They said they have been getting constant complaints of CELs on 2007 automatic Mini's, and to ignore it. There will be a new software update to fix it in early June.

I hope this report helps out somewhat. She says the car still drives fine, and we're not going to take it into the dealership until this Saturday. We love our Mini so far (I'm jealous since its "her" car, I drive a WRX), and I really look forward to learning a lot from these forums.

 

As you might find out - it happens _almost exclusively_ on MINI non-S/Automatic.

Now - ye s- I was told about the same thing (my car was the first 2007 MC non-S in the area) and the CEL popped up 3 days after I bought it (i.e. in mid-February). I have lots of "next software will fix it" problems. And no - the car - if youare careful - does not drive "perfectly". There is a slow "getting into gear" feeling in the mornings and at slow speeds. car drives beautifully on the highways, speedy and so one. But downshift from the third to the second gear and listen to the engine, and driv ethe car _slowly_ and see if you like it.

And the "software issue" is ... vague. Why not all the MCs experience it. We drive in pretty much the same conditions with pretty much same gas and pretty much the same city driving - and just a subset of the cars - again - non-S autos are the most frequent) experiences it.

And about a software that has to be updated and that is only 4 months after the car was released... Please. We have different tollerance to the CEL issue - I have less and less. For me it means one thing. Check Engine because something is wrong. Is it a dependable car? Nope. The engine has problems. That is what it tells me. The engine has problems - and not a trim is rattling. Do I have the confidence that the car will start at the next key? Nope. I need a car that is trustworthy. I don't care how it looks (almost) or even the gas mileage - all I care in the first place is a car that 100% starts and 100% is driveable at any moment of the day or night. Simple as that. For me CEL means... it is not. It might drie - it might not. It might start but it might not.

I bought a BMW car and I paid a premium for reliablity - not for some fancy stripes on the bonnet. CEL = engine has problems - i.e. not reliable.

Let me ask you (oe anyone else) - ok - you drive with CEL on - and that is fine. What if something happens to the engine - don't know - something just breaks - and you DON'T have the CEL warning - because it is always on?

It's easy to say - live with it - and we'll fix it sometime at our convenience. And most of us do accept that. Well - I decided not to accept it anymore - for the reasons mentioned above.

New car = drives me where I have to be 100% of the time. BMW/MINI = premium price for that reliability. CEL = NOT reliable.

Simple as that.

MMM

 

MMM. The CEL is an emissions light. That is all. If any serious emmission problems arise that could cause internal engine or catalytic converter damage,the CEL will flash(at which point , you should stop the car). As the dealer stated, there is no harm being done to the car with the light on. Hope this puts you at ease until they remedy the problem.

http://www.carcare.org/Emission_Cont...ne_light.shtml

 

Yes, and let us not forget the dreaded R53 MCS stumble and yo-yo, not to mention idle problems for R50 Coopers....all (or mostly) software related. This will be sorted out...and soon I think. This is far less annoying than the issues w/ R50/53.

 

Snkbite,

Yep - thanks for the info. It is teh same as in the manual and I understand the reasonable explanations that I was given. On the other side - there is much more to the story than already told. I'm in the process of settling the issue (and not in the way I would have preferred) and I'll write a longer response at that time. Suffice to say - there is a RANDOM problem with the CAR ENGINE. And - the car does NOT drive properly (mainly at lower speeds). There is a problem with the gas mixing ("the engine runs too clean" is the dealer's response - in fact there is a mismatch between the air / gas ratios at lower speeds as I was told).

Not all the cars experience it (in the same conditions).

No solution exists as of yet - and we have to wait 4 months for one.

It is a problem to an essential component - engine (of debateable importance - I agree).

New cars experience it (i.e. made in April and shipped in May).

There is unclear understanding WHY does it happen.

There are too many variables, and the end point is an UNRELIABLE car. And don't get me wrong. Not that the car is not driveable - but that the car MIGHT BECOME UNRELIABLE AT ANY TIME.

Do I miss something? Do I ask for too much? A car that starts FOR SURE. It is not the damn' light that bothers me - it is the whole - we have no clue what and why it happens, but wait and we'll find a solution. That is bothersome.

MMM

 

MMM...if this is the case, then this is an entirely different scenario to the one I am most familar with...and I can see where this would be far more troubling. Best of luck in solving the matter to your satisfaction!!

 

MMM I understand your position 100%. To have this problem arise 3 days after you bought your car,and now are expected to wait another 4 months...not an answer any of us would like to hear. Good luck with settling this issue,once and for all.

 

Hmmmm, after reading this thread I am a little concerened for my MC , auto tran,at the factory, that was painted today, 5-14-07, and yes NFR.
MMM I think there must be some room for a few glitches in the car, remember that this is one of the most advanced cars being produced, tons of very sofisicated eletronics involved to achieve the intigration of all the technology. ie. Rocket Science... I can imagine how you feel, I would be upset also, but if dependable transporation is your most important requirment then why would'nt you have bought a japenise car.

 

My wife bought a 2007 automatic, non-S, with performance, convenience & sport packages in mid-April. The first day the CEL came on. Had roadside assistance tow it to dealer. (We live 60 miles away.) Dealer said was software error & kept car for about three days - "cleared" program and re-installed. Three days later - about 150 miles - CEL re-appeared. This time dealer kept car about two weeks. Not only was software error, but dealer replaced mass airflow sensor and serviced VANOS variable cam. The dealer offered to "take the car back" if we had any more issues with the CEL. After we received the car back, we took a weekend trip - about 200 miles. CEL came back. We took the car back to the dealer, and they gave us back our money.

Dealer performance was exemplary; our initial exposure to Mini was less than satisfying. We loved the car, and if the issues not been just software only, we probably would have ridden out the software upgrade. When they started changing engine parts, we decided to cut our losses.

 

...I was shopping for one. My older car died on a Sunday (the Superbowl Sunday) when I was working and on Monday I went to purchase a new car (i.e. a Camry). Alas - I couldn't fit in one (no headroom - Camry has 37.3 in of headroom with sunroof and 38.1 without sunroof). I can fit in a car that should have more than 39 in of headroom (I'm 6'7").

All the "modern" cars have less headroom because of the new trend in rounding the roof (and almost all the American-made or American-imported cars have sunroofs - that take almost 2 in off the headroom. So - there are only 7 cars in which I can fit - and that is how i got to MINI.

So - I fully understand your question. I would have gone for a Camry - hands down. So - I bought a MINI based on a car in which I can fit and it is of reputable brand.

Yeah - the fact that is fun to drive comes second.

(And about being the most advanced car on the marketr blah-blah-blah - I certainly doubt it. Any newly redesigned car has more or less the same basic computing - the gizmos on top are ... well... gadgets. Prius. Lexus, Accuras habve equal or if not more electronic complexity. And again - I don't care about a non-functioning bluetooth gizmo - I care about the engine integration. I would have bought a Lexus or a Toyota - but at the less-than-30k price point - I bought a BMW. Hoping to be equally reliable and/or have the same service. And all this with the glorious reviews and the preserved value advertising etc etc. I really hope all of you will enjoy your MINIs and that - ultimately - I'll do the same with mine. One thing is sure - my next car will not be a BMW anymore. Weird - already thinking at a new car at less than 3 months since I bought one...)

MMM

 

Well, I understand your predicament, I had a carpenter that worked for me back in 2003, and he was all go go about getting a mini because he was 6-7", Yea I thought he was crazy but he said it was quite comfortable. Well good luck on the software update, I hope by the time mine is delivered, mid June, they have it worked out. I really hope so.
Dean

 

My engine lite came on 2 days ago with 800 miles on the car. Stopped by the dealer and he said it was disturbing to him it was on, but go the weekend and see if its on still tuesday. If so give a ring and he'll look at it. Mini maintenance at it best.

 

Dude ... you sound very unhappy

I empathize with you. I happen to agree with you.

Best of luck

 

MY CEL has been on since I got back from a recent trip to Grand Rapids. I noticed a "flatness" in perf but NO CEL...until I drove home which was about 170 miles and the next day after getting home. The car had about 2200 miles on it, give or take. The computer was scanned at a local Autozone and it read two codes:

-2187 "system too lean at idle"
-0301 "cylinder number 1 misfire"

Also these two were found by Ryan using a more advanced scanner:

-B2AOO
-B2AAA

You can not only feel the stumble but you can hear it in my car because I've got an exhaust. Inbetween shifts and small, quick "jabs" of the throttle net the "stumblin'" sound. I will update the findings when I take the car into the dealership this Wednesday, its the soonest they were able to get me in as they only have ONE tech trained to work on the R56 I just want my car back, its not even close to what it was before

 

The P2188 (or its cousin 2187) were thought to be more frequent in MC non-S engines. At least my dealer had two non-S with the problem (and no solution yet). When my ordeal will be over (my car is completely non-functioning - long story) I'll share it with the forum.

The disappointing thing is that... my next MINI is a MCS (and will be delivered hopefully this week). And I choose the MCS (not the MC/A that I traded it back) just because I was hoping that the MCS-es don't experience this problem. Anyway...

So - the thing is - as of May 15, 2007: there is no clear fix for this problem, it is said to be "benign" although you described precisely how the symptoms are, and it doesn't seem to be benign. There is a decrease in the overall engine performance (the flatness of the engine) that precedes the CEL light-up, and tehre are some "jabs" of the throttle mainly at lower gears and rpms.

It is said that there is a problem with the timing and the gas/air mixing - or at least that I was told - and that would be fixed by software. I had the "beta" installed on my car - with disastruous results - and no fix - CEL popped up again. As an advice - please ask if they are experienced in fixing R56 problems (most of them are not). They will replace (usually) the O2 sensor (that is a non-issue as I was told). Ask them how many cars experience this problem. Another advice - they will try to send the CCC to New Jersey for "fixing". I am aware of at least two cars that "burnt" their CCC after reprogramming.

(All these pieces were put together fro MC non-S cars though). On one side - I would hope you have a different problem (albeit the symptoms are the same), for two reasons: one that the car would be fixed sooner (otherwise they will "release" the updated sofwtare in 1-2 months) and on the other side I would be less distressed that the issue appears on the MCS-es (as my new car will be).

Keep us in the loop, please.

MMM