[weezer2282]

I know there is a thread about the SES false warning, but this is a different problem and I think it deserves its own thread. I had a MCSa for about 1 month then when I was leaving work one day the throttle just died on me, the engine started running rough, and the SES light came on. It was in for 3 weeks and they changed the entire throttle, both map sensors, the O2 sensor, and put V42 software in it(with a supposed software fix!). I drove it for 5 days when I got it back and now today it did the same thing once again. I backed out of my driveway, started driving around the corner, then no throttle, engine sounded like crap and SES and EML lights came on. There is something wrong and the dealer can't tell me it's only a software glitch anymore! There must be a problem with either the entire computer or the engine. This is very dangerous too because if it happened in traffic on a highway then there could easily be a severe accident. MINI needs to recall these MCSa's and/or stop selling them until they can fix the problem. I hope most people here would agree that if you pay 30 grand for a car it shouldn't break down every week. Anyone having similar problems? I think I am leaning towards getting a full refund even though I love the car when it works.

[GBMINI]

Quote: Originally Posted by weezer2282

MINI needs to recall these MCSa's and/or stop selling them until they can fix the problem

Your problem sounds serious but if you try to paint a picture like "every MCSa is dangerous" based on ONE SINGLE CAR you are simply making yourself sound stupid.

(I have >5500 miles on GBMINI#3, problem free)

[weezer2282]

There were at least 7 at the dealer here. I've read of others on some threads in NAM with similar problems and somewhere I read of a dealership with a MCSa that they couldn't get to move at all. It is not just my one car!

[AprilWhine]

My car is problem free, and so are all the ones from people I personally know. Not saying all are, but that most are problem free.

[newyorkcitymini]

really sorry to hear of your problems. i have nearly 4k miles on mine, and have never even seen the ses light at all - let alone had problems with the car going into safe mode. i did however have a 2004 cooper prior to my 2005 mcsa which had a similar problem to what you describe: constant "breakdown" and the computer going into safe mode and the car needing serivce. this happened to me 4 times in a month and mini took the car back as a lemon and i replaced it with my mcsa.

i REALLY understand what you are going through, but starting a panic is not the solution here! demanding a refund sounds more like it - and judging from my own experience you should be well taken care of. if service cannot fix the car after multiple attempts then go to the the dealer and demand a replacement - period.

again, really sorry to hear of your problems - belive me, i know EXACTLY how frustrating it can be - but every car company produces a handful of cars which have gremlins in them.... mercedes, bmw, you name it...they all do.

go get a refund.

best of luck - drew

[weezer2282]

There is a problem, but they said it is only in the South where it is hot and humid. Like Texas, Florida, and the rest of the Gulf Coast. That would explain why all of you further up north have had no problems so far. They have one more shot at getting it right then I will demand a refund or replacement. I still think for this region they should do some sort of a recall until they have a solution for the problem.

[nonsequitur]

Quote: Originally Posted by weezer2282

They have one more shot at getting it right then I will demand a refund or replacement.

I'd urge caution in your decisions. You say it's a more widespread problem, yet propose to resolve it by getting rid of the car you know for one you don't. If this is software, which I've heard that it is, then a resolution will come to all the cars. This situation is frustrating, but starting over could be too.

[typer_801]

Actually you may not have to demand it....check out your state's Lemon Law. In some states taking a car in for the same repair three times and having the problem still exist is enough to warrant full reimbursement from the manufacturer.

Quote: Originally Posted by weezer2282

There is a problem, but they said it is only in the South where it is hot and humid. Like Texas, Florida, and the rest of the Gulf Coast. That would explain why all of you further up north have had no problems so far. They have one more shot at getting it right then I will demand a refund or replacement. I still think for this region they should do some sort of a recall until they have a solution for the problem.

[sethrp]

WOW... My wife has had this happen to her twice now. WE live in NC and have not yet gotten to the dealership for the software upgrade that keeps our SES light on constantly...we are going this weekend to do this and replace a part which broke on our passenger seat airbag module.

My wife has pulled out of the driveway and driven a little over a mile both times and it spits and sputters and will not go anywhere. Turns it off, waits a few seconds, turns it back on and off she goes...wierd? Is this the same sort of deal we are talking about here?

We have almost 7k on our MCS CVT automatic

Seth

[rsinsheimer]

Quote: Originally Posted by sethrp

We have almost 7k on our MCS CVT automatic

Seth

Not to be anal about it, and this has nothing to do with your issue, which does sound like a real problem, but the MCSa does not have a CVT. Only the automatic transmission in the MINI Cooper (non-S) is a CVT, which stands for Continuously Variable Transmission.

The automatic transmission in the MINI Cooper S, while it is a very nice microprocessor-controlled 6-speed design from a Japanese company called Aisin, it is not a CVT.

I sure hope you can get your car fixed, and have many miles of happy driving ahead of you.

-- Roger

[Cooper76]

Well, at least you don't have the 2002 fault in which the MINI exploded! Much documented that was on here!

[sethrp]

Right....I have a Mini Cooper S CONVERTIBLE...just went a little overboard on the shortening of CONVERTIBLE....But thanks for the info mate.

Our car goes into the shop for the software upgrade and other misc. repairs on Sat.

S

[HyperBlueS]

It was in the mid 90's here in chicago for a solid week with humidity and i drove the hell out of my MCSa and no problems so far.....
I would say you have a lemon, and would agree with others in asking for a replacement.

I think that its important on these discussions for those who have had positive experiences to post them as well. It's always easy to say when things turn bad. And I know that when I was looking at the car I found more negatives than positives, so at least rack this up for one happy driver

I think recalling all MCSa's at this point is over reacting, Chevy could only hope to have a few dozen around the country of one of their mass produced cars to have problems. It takes quite a bit more for a full blown recall....

[weezer2282]

Quote: Originally Posted by HyperBlueS

It was in the mid 90's here in chicago for a solid week with humidity and i drove the hell out of my MCSa and no problems so far.....
I would say you have a lemon, and would agree with others in asking for a replacement.

It took a month of middle to upper 90s and high humidity to do it the first time. This second time they gave it back to me and it did it after about 5 days in 100 degree air. It only happens on a cold start right after you start moving and both times it has happened when I was lifting off the throttle, but it is supposed to have somthing to do with the air temp and the engine running rich. They had a software "fix" but now they say it was rejected by the computer. The engineers are supposed to be doing something in Florida to fix them(going to the beach).

[sbontrager]

I had "the other" SES problem. V42 of the software cleared it right up. I had ONE incident of shudders right after the software upgrade but that went away and I'm problem free now, over 1000 miles later. *knock wood*

It has been hot and alternating between humid and dry a couple hundred miles north of you. I'd give your dealership a few more tries to fix it (if they are keeping you in loaners and treating you well, if not try one of the many other dealerships in TX). If they can't get it solved soon, invoke the lemon law.

[weezer2282]

Take it some place hot and make it go into limp mode on a cold start, then you will understand how frustrating the little software glitch is. And what it is like to lose the throttle and have your engine sputter. It doesn't inspire confidence in the car. If they could figure out how to fix that it would be a great car.

[AndyP]

We've had the SES light come on once. Never gone into limp mode *knock-wood*. The time the light came on was a very hot (high 80's) day in Scotland and I had inadvertently replicated the exact symptoms which can cause the light to come on; cold start, driving engine hard, period of going downhill followed by accelerating uphill = SES light came on.

MINI Dealer reset light and it hasn't come back on since - *knocks-wood-again*

It really does seem to be climate related. Luckily us weather weary Scots don't suffer the high temperature/humidity of our southern-state MINI friends.

AndyP

[Kraigster414]

Let me join the club, albeit as an unhappy member. After receiving the software fix which took care of the SES light going on (that was about a month ago), lo and behold, I am rounding a corner today, and the engine dies, and the SES light is back on!! What the heck is going on here???!!!

You're right this could be VERY dangerous. I was lucky to be able to pull off the road immediately. I shut off the ignition, turned it back on, and was able to continue on but the SES light is stays on. This is not good.

Now it has been hot and humid. What is this? Do I need an outdoor thermometer every time I want to be able to drive this car??

[weezer2282]

The e-mail I received from the MINI Area Manager today:
"I am the MINI Area Manager for The MINI Center and am in receipt of your letter you sent our customer relations department. First off I want to thank you for your patients with your new MINI and MINI USA. As a mechanical engineer, you probably know the difficulties that are faced with designing & bringing new products to market and how differing environments can impact performance.

As of this morning I received an internal note that our team of engineers returning from Florida, (hot & humid area) may have a fix for the problem you are experiencing with your vehicle. The repair will require the DME, (computer) to be reprogrammed. The note stated that we might have the answer by Wednesday this week. If this becomes reality, I will have someone from the dealer contact you, (or I will) to have you drop your vehicle off at the dealership so we can send your DME to MINI USA for reprogramming.

Thank you in advance for your understanding and patients in this matter. I look forward in having MINI USA and The MINI Center resolve your technical issues.

Happy Motoring,
Dietz L. Froehlich"

Sounds a little promising if it works better than the last software fix that did absolutely nothing.

[Kraigster414]

Quote: Originally Posted by weezer2282

The e-mail I received from the MINI Area Manager today:
"I am the MINI Area Manager for The MINI Center and am in receipt of your letter you sent our customer relations department. First off I want to thank you for your patients with your new MINI and MINI USA. As a mechanical engineer, you probably know the difficulties that are faced with designing & bringing new products to market and how differing environments can impact performance.

As of this morning I received an internal note that our team of engineers returning from Florida, (hot & humid area) may have a fix for the problem you are experiencing with your vehicle. The repair will require the DME, (computer) to be reprogrammed. The note stated that we might have the answer by Wednesday this week. If this becomes reality, I will have someone from the dealer contact you, (or I will) to have you drop your vehicle off at the dealership so we can send your DME to MINI USA for reprogramming.

Thank you in advance for your understanding and patients in this matter. I look forward in having MINI USA and The MINI Center resolve your technical issues.

Happy Motoring,
Dietz L. Froehlich"

Sounds a little promising if it works better than the last software fix that did absolutely nothing.

Promising but a royal pain in the butt. He is the area manager for Texas I assume. How do you find out who the area manager is for other parts of the US? I would like to contact the individual responsible for Maryland and Virginia. Thanks!