[jibou]

Hi guys
On my CVT I've had v.36 v.37, and now v.38 . With 36 and 37 there was that notorious engine break and the strong knocking upon acceleration. But with 38 all that is gone. It stops smooth and it just doesn't knock anymore. I heard somewhere that 38 was for S' yo-yo problem, but obviously it works with CVT as wellll.
How's it with your MINI?

[driverphil]

Hmmmm, I'm on v37 and I don't have any of the problems you mention w my '04 CVT.

What is the 'knock'? The only knock I know of is from using gasoline too low in octane.

[thrilhouse]

My only issues are the jerkiness at or below 15 mph/2000rpm and a cold-start stalling issue which may or may not have been resolved (it hasn't been cold enough to find out since myast update, which I think was v.36).

[bob_dylan]

Hello,
I am new here, and just picked up an Indie Blue 2004 CVT.
How do I find out which version (.36, .37, .38) I have?
Any ideas?

Thansk!

[nonsequitur]

Call your dealer where service was last performed.

[ecylai]

Quote: Originally Posted by thrilhouse

My only issues are the jerkiness at or below 15 mph/2000rpm and a cold-start stalling issue which may or may not have been resolved (it hasn't been cold enough to find out since myast update, which I think was v.36).

Cold Start Stalling can be prevented by giving some gas to the Engine when uyou start the car in the morning. I do this every morning before i leave home it makes the car move a little bit more smoother IMO.

I have V.36 on my MINI CVT and it does jerk a little at 20kph but it's not a common occurance for me.

[nonsequitur]

I just had v38.1 installed today (7/16) because there are specific CVT fixes in this version. When I asked early on, I was told that v38.0 did not have anything to address the CVT so don't try to put it in, but that's just not correct. CVT programming is in v38.1.

First reactions:
The "jerk" which often occured when Selecting Drive after backing in Reverse... is gone.

I don't think that the SAT-mode "shifts" are any smoother than v36.2 when floored in Drive or SportDrive. Someone thought this was adjusted.

[Spookyfish]

Quote: Originally Posted by nonsequitur

I just had v38.1 installed today (7/16) because there are specific CVT fixes in this version. When I asked early on, I was told that v38.0 did not have anything to address the CVT so don't try to put it in, but that's just not correct. CVT programming is in v38.1.

First reactions:
The "jerk" which often occured when Selecting Drive after backing in Reverse... is gone.

I don't think that the SAT-mode "shifts" are any smoother than v36.2 when floored in Drive or SportDrive. Someone thought this was adjusted.

What can you tell us about the 9mph rocking?

[nonsequitur]

These latest software versions are working the more subtle issues.

This v38.1 eliminates the "jerk" that often occompanied the Selection of Drive after backing in Reverse (a driveway situation).

It also appears to adjust very slow speed behaviors, to make driving in the Crawler function smoother. Our car will now maintain 5mph, not possible before. Steady speeds at 9mph, 12mph, 15mph, and 20mph shows no obvious rocking.

We don't have this documented from ZF or BMW, but Crawler is operating from after Launch at any steady speed condition until about 20mph. You can test this yourself by moving the Gear Lever between D and SD and back to D ... with no change in rpm. At about 25mph SD produces a higher rpm so it's using the SD program. Selection of Steptronic forces the software into that programming so you can get rpm control at lower speeds in 1 or 2.

We'll see. This v38.1 looks to be another step forward in debugging the MINI software loaded to the Siemens EMS2000. I'm curious if there is any affect on acceleration or fuel economy.

[Spookyfish]

Just booked for an upgrade to v38.1 on the 12th of August (it's the holiday season).

[lintqueen]

Quote: Originally Posted by nonsequitur

It also appears to adjust very slow speed behaviors, to make driving in the Crawler function smoother. Our car will now maintain 5mph, not possible before. Steady speeds at 9mph, 12mph, 15mph, and 20mph shows no obvious rocking..

I have a May 04 build with v38 and I feel like it "yo-yo"'s at 9-11 mph. Maybe I'm doing something wrong WRT technique... I'm *trying* to just press the accelerator and not ease off (though that's a long-time habit that's proving hard to unlearn), but it still feels "hurky-jerky" to me. I've described the sensation as the same feeling one gets in a manual car when one is about to stall...sorta like the engine is hiccoughing.

I've read the CVT driving tips forum (and am learning).. I'll be curious to see what everyone else is seeing with v38. (I'm also going to try shifting back between D/SD; however, I'm still in break-in so perhaps that should wait?)

[nonsequitur]

The v38.1 installed in our car last week altered this characteristic some ... I think.

To test for yourself, switch back and forth between D and SD at about 9mph, no change in rpm. This means that you are in neither D or SD, but rather one of the Functions from the CVT Functionality Map. One strategy at slightly higher rpm is to simply use SD, because it is smoother. I think, but do not know for sure, that you are seeing a pressure balancing feedback loop in the gearbox itself.

[beekatt]

Quote: Originally Posted by lintqueen

I have a May 04 build with v38 and I feel like it "yo-yo"'s at 9-11 mph. Maybe I'm doing something wrong WRT technique... I'm *trying* to just press the accelerator and not ease off (though that's a long-time habit that's proving hard to unlearn), but it still feels "hurky-jerky" to me. I've described the sensation as the same feeling one gets in a manual car when one is about to stall...sorta like the engine is hiccoughing.

I've read the CVT driving tips forum (and am learning).. I'll be curious to see what everyone else is seeing with v38. (I'm also going to try shifting back between D/SD; however, I'm still in break-in so perhaps that should wait?)

I have the same problem with my May 04 build as well. Driving at low speeds 8-12 mph (ish) sucks because I get this back and forth motion of the car as if it's going to stall... and it's a CVT! I don't like it at all. I've gotten better at managing it by being careful with the accelerator, but still feel it often. Its worse when I have the A/C running as well. Maybe a software upgrade to 38.1 will help.

Brian

[beekatt]

Quote: Originally Posted by nonsequitur

The v38.1 installed in our car last week altered this characteristic some ... I think.

To test for yourself, switch back and forth between D and SD at about 9mph, no change in rpm. This means that you are in neither D or SD, but rather one of the Functions from the CVT Functionality Map. One strategy at slightly higher rpm is to simply use SD, because it is smoother. I think, but do not know for sure, that you are seeing a pressure balancing feedback loop in the gearbox itself.

Hi nonsequitur,
I read your MAP on the different functions and think I may be driving my MC with CVT wrong. As noted in a previous post I have the low speed jerking problem, which should be solved with a software update. I do enjoy driving in SD because it does appear smoother than D, but I don't understand SD. SD doesn't appear to ever shift...I don't get it. When does it shift? Can I drive on the highway in SD or is it only better in city traffic? Also, when should drive steptronic and when shouldn't I?

Any advice is welcome.

Brian

[nonsequitur]

SportDrive is essentially the same as Drive, except rpm is about 20% higher to produce a better response, higher pressures in the gearbox (quicker reaction), and more power. The comfortable programming in Drive (like the "Smooth to 50" functionality) is absent in SD.

So you have a Sport... Drive, with the two modes also available in Drive: SAT-mode (floored gas pedal; "shifts" at 6000rpm) and CVT-mode (turbine-smooth acceleration. SD produced the best acceleration in our tests many software versions ago, in CVT-mode.

Steptronic (especially in this ZF CVT) is a sequential 6-speed "manual" and it may be used that way. A [virtual] "gear" is held tenaciously so that you can drive it like a manual, unless you hit the limits of 6000rpm (upshift) or a stall-speed of 2000-1400rpm (downshift) depending on the "gear."

So I would say, go out and try driving it harder (you won't hurt the car)! Pull off the freeway, stop, Select SD, and floor it until you reach the speed limit. You'll see how it "shifts". Next do the very same thing, but hold your foot just at the resistence point of tthe gas pedal; rpm comes up to 5500rpm and hoolds there, while the CVT zooms you to the speed limit (slightly faster, because the engine power is being optimized by this nifty little gearbox we have.

[jaieism]

Hey, nonsequitur... it seems like u are kinda a CVT expert... lol.. wells i have some questions...and i hope u could help me out, yea?

I just took delivery yesterday... nd i noticed some of the jerkiness and also... the gas peddale seemed heavy... cuz its kinda slow when u trying to go from 0 to 10mph...or something like that... is it cuz of the car is new....nd just needs time for the gas peddale to loosen up a bit?

I'm sorry if its a repeated question....

[Spookyfish]

Quote: Originally Posted by jaieism

Hey, nonsequitur... it seems like u are kinda a CVT expert... lol.. wells i have some questions...and i hope u could help me out, yea?

I just took delivery yesterday... nd i noticed some of the jerkiness and also... the gas peddale seemed heavy... cuz its kinda slow when u trying to go from 0 to 10mph...or something like that... is it cuz of the car is new....nd just needs time for the gas peddale to loosen up a bit?

I'm sorry if its a repeated question....

The car will def. loosen up until 6000-10000km. Having said that, the CVT will always be a tad slow from a dead stop, but nothing that really bothers me (25000km on my CVT).

[Duckie]

Do the dealers automatically update the software version, or do you have to specifically ask for it?? just curious....

[beekatt]

Quote: Originally Posted by nonsequitur

SportDrive is essentially the same as Drive, except rpm is about 20% higher to produce a better response, higher pressures in the gearbox (quicker reaction), and more power. The comfortable programming in Drive (like the "Smooth to 50" functionality) is absent in SD.

So you have a Sport... Drive, with the two modes also available in Drive: SAT-mode (floored gas pedal; "shifts" at 6000rpm) and CVT-mode (turbine-smooth acceleration. SD produced the best acceleration in our tests many software versions ago, in CVT-mode.

Steptronic (especially in this ZF CVT) is a sequential 6-speed "manual" and it may be used that way. A [virtual] "gear" is held tenaciously so that you can drive it like a manual, unless you hit the limits of 6000rpm (upshift) or a stall-speed of 2000-1400rpm (downshift) depending on the "gear."

So I would say, go out and try driving it harder (you won't hurt the car)! Pull off the freeway, stop, Select SD, and floor it until you reach the speed limit. You'll see how it "shifts". Next do the very same thing, but hold your foot just at the resistence point of tthe gas pedal; rpm comes up to 5500rpm and hoolds there, while the CVT zooms you to the speed limit (slightly faster, because the engine power is being optimized by this nifty little gearbox we have.

Thanks nonsequitur. I will take your advice and try it all out. I am looking forward to getting the upgrade to 38.1 in order to lose some of the jerkiness at slow speeds.

Brian

[jaieism]

Another question...

If i wanna shift manually using my CVT.... when should i downshift?.... I know when i reach about 4k rev.... i should upshift... but still not familiar w/ downshift... but according to last entry....i should donwshift at around 2k rpm?? Also, when i wanna come to a complete stop....should i apply break with downshifting? or???....

Can i try shifting when i'm still in break-in?? My dealer told me just not use the SD mode....and shifting is fine.... i just wanna hear opinions from some experienced CVT driver.

Thanks!