although I started this thread questioning the clutch, I am now leaning towards the computer. I discovered that when taking up drive if I don't let up on the throttle there is no stumble. If you give it too much gas then it will still bog a little, but commit to moderate throttle and it's fine. seems like the drive by wire can't deal with small modulations.

wow,
was your problem like mine where it only occured while engaging the clutch? Did you have any kind of bog after your foot was back on the foot rest? Mine doesn't. I'm not clear if everyone answering my post is having the same problem as us. I don't want to insult anyone, but the loss of power and then a surge sounds a lot like how the traction control reacts. Is it possible this is thier problem? BTW how did you convince mini to replace the clutch?

Well my dealer just accepted it but I am going to have to take it back because I feel as if the clutch is slipping. I LIED yesterday i took my mini out of my garage and went for a drive. As i left the first sets of robots the stumble returned. Therefore my theorie that it was the clutch is out the window. The temp outside was 30 degrees celcius very hot for me an my mini.

wow,
was your problem like mine where it only occured while engaging the clutch? Did you have any kind of bog after your foot was back on the foot rest? Mine doesn't. I'm not clear if everyone answering my post is having the same problem as us. I don't want to insult anyone, but the loss of power and then a surge sounds a lot like how the traction control reacts. Is it possible this is thier problem? BTW how did you convince mini to replace the clutch?
..............

Wait, are YOU wow, or are you posting asking wow something?

There are several stumble variations. The most common is the stumble with is a quick lurch as the clutch is just about to fully engage in first gear. This stumble is well documented, was introduced at software version 33.2 and MINI is working on a fix. Another stumble occurs after the clutch is fully engaged and the car loses power for several seconds. Sometimes the DSC light comes on sometimes it doesn't. It certainly might be DSC related, but in my case even after the car is definitely on a hard level surface where wheel slip shouldn't be an issue, the car continues to crawl. If it is DSC, then the DSC is programmed wrong.

I had a new stumble two days ago also (stumble 3?) I was pulling away in first gear, clutch fully engaged, no lurch (yeah!) acceleration increasing then at about 3200RPM the engine died for just a split second, the car bogged, then lurched forward? Has anyone else had this happen? This is the only time in 3800 miles it has happened to me. I hope it's not the start of something new.....

Wait, are YOU wow, or are you posting asking wow something?

There are several stumble variations. The most common is the stumble with is a quick lurch as the clutch is just about to fully engage in first gear. This stumble is well documented, was introduced at software version 33.2 and MINI is working on a fix. Another stumble occurs after the clutch is fully engaged and the car loses power for several seconds. Sometimes the DSC light comes on sometimes it doesn't. It certainly might be DSC related, but in my case even after the car is definitely on a hard level surface where wheel slip shouldn't be an issue, the car continues to crawl. If it is DSC, then the DSC is programmed wrong.

I had a new stumble two days ago also (stumble 3?) I was pulling away in first gear, clutch fully engaged, no lurch (yeah!) acceleration increasing then at about 3200RPM the engine died for just a split second, the car bogged, then lurched forward? Has anyone else had this happen? This is the only time in 3800 miles it has happened to me. I hope it's not the start of something new.....

Makes me wonder how many more surprises BMW have in store for us?

Wait, are YOU wow, or are you posting asking wow something?

There are several stumble variations. The most common is the stumble with is a quick lurch as the clutch is just about to fully engage in first gear. This stumble is well documented, was introduced at software version 33.2 and MINI is working on a fix. Another stumble occurs after the clutch is fully engaged and the car loses power for several seconds. Sometimes the DSC light comes on sometimes it doesn't. It certainly might be DSC related, but in my case even after the car is definitely on a hard level surface where wheel slip shouldn't be an issue, the car continues to crawl. If it is DSC, then the DSC is programmed wrong.

I had a new stumble two days ago also (stumble 3?) I was pulling away in first gear, clutch fully engaged, no lurch (yeah!) acceleration increasing then at about 3200RPM the engine died for just a split second, the car bogged, then lurched forward? Has anyone else had this happen? This is the only time in 3800 miles it has happened to me. I hope it's not the start of something new.....


AHHHHH thanks for the clearification... i can never figure out what the "stumble" is... I get stumble 1 A LOT and i have experience stumble 2 before... i dont recall stumble 3 maybe once after making a right turn...

and the AC... when the AC is on, OMG... I almost stalled the car while taking off at the intersection today... Gees Louise!

and the yoyo effect... what is that? I thought the yo-yo was stumble 2 and or stumble 3 am i wrong or is the yoyo something totally different?

I have the stumble 2 problem especially when the aircon is on.

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and the yoyo effect... what is that? I thought the yo-yo was stumble 2 and or stumble 3 am i wrong or is the yoyo something totally different?

If you haven't felt the yo-yo, you're lucky. It does for me seem to be temperature related, i.e. more noticeable on hot, humid days. The yo-yo is a very uneven acceleration noticeable for most in 2nd and 3rd gear between 2500-3500RPM. It feels as if you are hitting the gas, letting off, hitting the gas, backing off, several times all within the span of 2-3 seconds. Somebody described it as the car doing a "pigeon strut", just like a pigeons head bobs back and forth as it walks.

I can't recommend enough that if you are experiencing any of these problems, bring your car to your dealer and have them document it on a service order. Even though there is no fix, the more people complain, the more this rises up the priority list at MINI. My dealer was totally on my side and really wanted a fix.

Ya I dont think i've really got the YOYO then but i know i have some of the stumbles...

Wow, I cant believe I found this thread! As I was reading it, it was like everything that has been happening to my car was posted here. I thought it was just me at first. Here is my story.... Since I have got my car (April 03) I have had the following problems:

Sunroof squeaks
Steering column creaks
Car stalls on occasion
Car shudders at idle on occasion
Car "bucks" and "lurchs"....the stumble
Speaker blew
Headlight blew
Airbag light came on
Window opens by itself
Windshield stress cracked

Some of these have been fixed, most have not. Howeve the stumble and lurch and sudder and stalling are what really bothers me. I already have had the wiring harness replaced and my software updated to 33.2 and that seemed to make it worse. The stalling started when I first got my car in April and then had the wiring harness replaced and it was fine until they upgraded the software a week ago to fix the stumble. Now I have the stumble AND the stall is back. I really started to think my car was just a lemon until I read this thread. Right now the car is having its ECU sent to BMW and I am praying this will fix it as it has for others. MINI USA has been less then helpful and even rude on the phone. If my car does not come back fixed I can assure you I will persue the lemon law. This will be the last MINI/BMW I buy thats for sure. Clever marketing and looks will only get you so far. At the end of the day I need a car I can drive. I am not rich and dont have time or money to just randomly throw at my car. Its was funny to hear that someone said most BMW products will have problems that will annoy the owner to the point of feeling that the car is a lemon, cause that exactly how I feel. My Civic had 175,000 miles on it and did not have a quarter of the problems that my MINI has had in just 12k miles. MINI better do something about all these problems soon. Because its all over the internet and will start affecting sales after awhile. Again, you can only get by on marketing for so long.... Makes you wonder what these cars are gunna be like after they are out of warranty and have 50k on them and stuff starts breaking.

I had a new stumble two days ago also (stumble 3?) I was pulling away in first gear, clutch fully engaged, no lurch (yeah!) acceleration increasing then at about 3200RPM the engine died for just a split second, the car bogged, then lurched forward? Has anyone else had this happen? This is the only time in 3800 miles it has happened to me. I hope it's not the start of something new.....

Ah, the wonders of stumbling. My May 2003 Cooper S stumbles in every way, as often as it can. Stumble 3 is indeed around 3000rpm and generally feels like a car with dirty electrics. I'm beginnig to find that the car is only comfortable when it's well above 3500rpm. Which means that I'm driving round like my hair is on fire most of the time. I'm expecting to die soon.

I haven't taken the car back to the dealer because I can see from this forum that there is no fix. I'll wait. By the way, my car had Stumble 1 from the day I got it, as did the one I test drove. The other two stumbles appeared over time. I'm just about to roll over the 10,000 miles mark.

Play Nicely. :eb:

...............

I haven't taken the car back to the dealer because I can see from this forum that there is no fix. I'll wait. By the way, my car had Stumble 1 from the day I got it, as did the one I test drove. The other two stumbles appeared over time. I'm just about to roll over the 10,000 miles mark.

Play Nicely. :eb:

Major Clanger,

Please, Please, if it is at all possible for you, take your car to the dealer!! I sat around watching the forums for almost two months before I talked to my dealer. This is a bad thing. It puts no pressure on MINI to fix this and they underestimate the problem. In my case I did it so that I would at least have it documented. I'm going back another 2 times as soon as I can, even though I know there is no fix, just to get it documented. If more of these software bugs start popping up, I can claim Lemon Law. In my state, you have to pay fair use of the car up to the first documented attempt to fix. Getting it in that first time ASAP is critical!

antsmini:

Please let us know how your ECU fix turns out. I've had no stumble at all since they sent mine off to be fixed by the BMW engineers. I still have an occasional (4 times in 3 months) cold start problem, but I can live with that for now. Good luck!

Major Clanger,

Please, Please, if it is at all possible for you, take your car to the dealer!! I sat around watching the forums for almost two months before I talked to my dealer. This is a bad thing. It puts no pressure on MINI to fix this and they underestimate the problem. In my case I did it so that I would at least have it documented. I'm going back another 2 times as soon as I can, even though I know there is no fix, just to get it documented. If more of these software bugs start popping up, I can claim Lemon Law. In my state, you have to pay fair use of the car up to the first documented attempt to fix. Getting it in that first time ASAP is critical!


Some real good advice here

Agree. In fact, I would say no matter what problems people have with their MINI, big or small, take it back to the dealer. IMO there has been a real lack of product testing/quality control with this car; that job has been left to us!

Some real good advice here

This is strictly a computer problem. Clutch driving tecnique has nothing to do with it. I have driven several MCS' and I can tell you that the clutch/Getrag gearbox is not the issue here. these cars use throttle-by-wire technology (E-gas pedal) and the Siemens EMS2000 ECU management system heavely controls all phases of acceleration from the get go. This applies to the Cooper 5-speed, CVT and MCS.

Hi CooperS4us,

It's sounds to me like you know a lot about the ECU unit fitted to the MCS.

Could you tell me whether if this linked http://www.mini2.com/forum/showthread.php?t=41729 picture is how you think they look?

Thanks,