OK I have a new mini cooper cvt, it past teh break in point, and I had noticed a stall/hesitattion/lurch whatever, so I take it in finally after consulting people on mco!.. well it a week later and it seems to not only come back but it seems to be worse now,,, though maybe i'm jsut frustrated... then this morning.. the engine drop revs a stutter in the enginr the service light came on.. and then it went back to normal.. talk about freaky... I drive a lot of stop and go traffic, but even then this shouldn't be happening, and it shouldn't have copme back... my question is? what should I tell the dealer when I go in, what should I expect to get from them? they reflashed he computer before, but it obviosuly doesn't keep it form happening again, my guess it has something to do with the adaptive driving thingy.. can this be turned off? what can I get mini todo. I hate driving a 100 miles to go getit fixed. oh and theres a whistle in the air conditioning, anybody else go that, it annoying when the fan real high.. Help.. comments question need answer to this, becasue I love my mini!

 

HELP MCO!

 

Ahhh chollomo, still haven't made peace with English language punctuation, no?

Did you specifically get the car's software upgraded to CD 32? Supposedly, that helps with CVT lurching and shuddering problems. You should probably check to see that service did this (you don't say WHEN you had the computer reflashed, and what it was reflashed with). If not, that could be the solution.

I understand some people get the "whistling" when their AC recirculation is on. Try running it with the recirculation turned off, and see if the whistling goes away.

 

How will I know if it get upgraded.. They made it seem that he guy did it all by hand and that it wasn't just an upgrade to the computer, seems the guy was doing something manually in the computer.. I don't know if thats true. but I'll ask to see which version of the software I'm runnning, the girl at tate seemed to be very sure that it wouldn't comeback , so now that it has i'm a little worried.. anybody know anythign else? any mini technitions in here?

 

So you DID get the CD fix and it didn't work? That's strange. The only suggestion that I would have been able to give you would be to get the upgrade...but if you already did.....well anyone else know?

I haven't gotten my upgrade yet. But I will not go to Tate.

 

i've got the same problem with my cvt lurching.
as far as the whistling, turn off the circulate button. that will cure it!

 

do you nto like tate.. i'm only taking it back there because I bought the car there. I live closer to the one in sterling. If I take it to another mini dealer adn they look at will I still be subgect to md's lemon law ( ita 3 strike law) nto that I think the car is a lemon at all.. but damn it this is at teh very least unhealthy for the car.

 

What on earth are they trying to say? :evil:

 

wow, it took some effort to read your post chollomo!
luckily i have spell check as i type!

 

sorry bout the bad typing. Well, I ask do you all upgrade the system,, they told me that they were going to reprogram the computer, that they had had this problem before and knew how to fix it. They have a lounge that over looks the work area the guy plugged in underneath the dash and had a computer of sometype that he was working with.. I've been very happy with tate customer service so far. They treated me very well at the dealership. I will however be much more stern with them when I go in this time. I must have this problem fixed, becuase it is becoming difficult to drive in traffic, or at the very least a pain in the rear with all the jerking its doing.. Besides the computer could anything else be causing the problem.. like the idle being too high, or airflow blockage?

 

Still sounds like a computer update problem so two options:
Take it back to Tate and tell them the problem is definitely NOT FIXED. Then they will have to check out and test drive the car instead of thinking that the problem is fixed- it's not and it's dangerous.
Or take it to sterling and tell them that you tried the latest computer update and it is NOT FIXED. Let them take a look at it. Don't give up. You can try the turn off re circulate button trick but sounds like it is more trouble than that.
Get Tate to give you a loaner car if they need to keep the car longer than you can afford to wait around for the repair.
Good luck. Makes me want to not get a CVT for my next mini- the convertible one - of course.

 

I have an April 02 build CVT that had the lurching/stuttering problem... 3 times my delivering dealer tried to fix it but to no avail (remember tho, I've had my MINI a year, so they didn't know then what they know now). I was tolerant. They were working on it... then my service advisor left to work for Porsche; from that point I had a difficult time working with the staff that remained, etc etc...

It got to the point recently that my MINI would stall every morning after I started her. And the lurching at a stop was not just annoying and unsafe but embarassing!

Then, a local dealer here, Lauderdale MINI, sponsored a 'Tech Session" a few Sundays back. While there, the service advisor (of his own free will and in no way representing BMW/MINIUSA) asked what type of gas I use - I said "usually Amoco Ulitmate" - he suggested that I try Mobil gas. Skeptical, on my next fill up I used Mobil. Now, it didn't fix all the issues, but after filling up with Mobil Annie didn't stall the whole next week. I don't work for Mobil, or any gas company - I just feel that it really did help with the way my MINI was running...

Then I took her to Lauderdale MINI for the CVT software fix (32.2??). The software fix has cured the lurching and stalling issue. She still runs a bit oddly, power still seems a bit low when at low speeds, but overall the engine is so much better... ask your dealer what version of the software they loaded to correct the problem. I had it done 3 times that made no difference. Only this last one fixed it.

I actually drove 50 miles to this dealer to get my MINI fixed (instead of 5 to the dealer where i bought her) - so I suggest you go where they will treat you well. Where ever you take your MINI, don't be irate. You catch more flies with honey and all...

Sorry for long wordy post!

Good luck and don't give up :smile:
Cathy

 

hmmmm.
i use mobil fuel.
i guess i'm gonna have to try the latest dme update.
i wish there was more solid evidence that this is the cure!

 

>>>>
>>What on earth are they trying to say? :evil:


After the software is upgraded, the technician does need to drive the car and "teach" the computer about the transmission again. It is actually somewhat involved - and "manual." As a matter of fact, if you find that the "manual" portion of the update is not being completed, that is when you need to be concerned.

I have spent some time in a 5-speed as of late, and notice that at low creeping-traffic speeds you can achieve a similar lurching as I have with the CVT. Obviously though, with the 5-speed you just have to press in the clutch!