Dealership's opinion on my MCS' go-stutter-go 1st gear acceleration problem.

[freeman]

You guessed it: "That's completely normal for a Cooper S."

First of all, the problem has been mentioned here a few times before. When I accelerate from a stand-still, the car's power hiccups half way through 1st gear. So from every stop light, my MCS has this early little stutter before I can get into 2nd gear and beyond. Annoying.

So I went to the local service center today to see what could be done. As it turns out, apparently nothing. And I should be happy to know that my MCS is perfectly normal! They had one of the techs come out to explain that my MCS was <finger quotation gesture> "supercharged." And because of this <finger quotation gesture> "supercharging," the 1st gear stutter was unavoidable. Something about a lack of boost pressure during initial acceleration.

Funny, I've been in other <finger quotation gesture> "supercharged" cars that didn't seem to have this problem. But what the hell do I know. Has anyone else had this issue with an MCS and gotten a dealer's expert opinion on the subject? What were you told?

[MINIAC]

There's a new software release which supposedly fixes the 'S' "surge" or "yo-yo":

http://www.mini2.com/forum/showthrea...threadid=28082

[Cape Cod MINI]

Well, if your MCS performance is "normal" then mine is faulty and I need to bring it in so they can fix it and add the hesitation/stutter. I think your service dept. is full of you know what.
Do you have another MINI dealer nearby with perhaps a better service dept?

[GTmini]

Which dealer did you go to? With a helpful response like that, I'd like to be sure to avoid them.

[freeman]

It was Crevier MINI in Santa Ana, CA. They're pretty nice and helpful overall; but this was once instance in which I came up a little short I guess.

They also told me that there was no programmable option to have the doors unlock when the hand brake is pulled. I saw this option listed in the FAQ, but maybe it's not something they do in the US? Again, I'm at the tech's mercy.

I have VAG-COM software that I use on my Audi to program my own preferences through the car's ODB-II connector. It's quite liberating to be able to do this in my own garage without anyone telling me NO! With my MINI though, I'm just a loser in the dealership customer lounge waiting for some good news.

Quote:

Originally posted by GTmini
Which dealer did you go to? With a helpful response like that, I'd like to be sure to avoid them.

[GTmini]

ah, Crevier...where the salesman laughed in my face about the markup, boasting about the beauty of the free market. Don't think I'll ever be going back there anyway, but thanks for the heads up.

[very mini]

maybe you should show them your <finger quotation gesture> "FINGER".

I can't believe that was their response.

BTW, I have that hiccup too, on my Cooper, but it goes away after the first time it hiccups (in one drive)

[RickB]

freeman, I also have this problem. I have been worrying over it for a couple of months. I took it to the dealer, and the first guy who drove me around, said he couldn't sense what I was talking about. I drove a car off the lot, and it most definitely did not act like my car. Another service guy drove my car, and decided there was something wrong. They (re)did the "disc 32", or whatever it's called, reprogramming, and said the adaptive computer would adapt-out the hiccup over time. I've driven maybe 200 miles since then, and no improvement. I have found that I can minimize the effect via driving technique, but I am getting tired of treating each launch like it's the start of a Grand Prix. There is no trace of the effect on a rolling start, so I think it likely an "electrical" or "computer" problem.

[freeman]

Today I sent an email to my dealership's Service Manager in an attempt to offer a documented account of the problem that he might research with MINI. I say "might" because who knows if I'll hear back. I'll post back as I find out anything new.

I tried corresponding with MINI directly via email, but they very politely responded by telling me I had to work through the dealership.

I found that if I start from a stop gently enough, the stutter doesn't happen. I haven't been able to try the hard acceleration method since my car's not through its break-in yet.

Totally agree with you. This problem seems like some kind of engine management bug. The MINI, like many newer cars, lives and dies by its computer and the software it runs. Who knows what kind of goofy emissions reduction tricks they've coded into this thing (for example). My imagination runs wild as to what the final resolution might be.

Quote:

Originally posted by RickB
freeman, I also have this problem. I have been worrying over it for a couple of months. I took it to the dealer, and the first guy who drove me around, said he couldn't sense what I was talking about. I drove a car off the lot, and it most definitely did not act like my car. Another service guy drove my car, and decided there was something wrong. They (re)did the "disc 32", or whatever it's called, reprogramming, and said the adaptive computer would adapt-out the hiccup over time. I've driven maybe 200 miles since then, and no improvement. I have found that I can minimize the effect via driving technique, but I am getting tired of treating each launch like it's the start of a Grand Prix. There is no trace of the effect on a rolling start, so I think it likely an "electrical" or "computer" problem.

[Lizard]

I have the same problem with hesitation on launch with my Feb 2003 build S.

BTW - I DO have the car lock at 10MPH and it DOES automatically unlock when I stop. This IS a valid option.

[Nosdrovni]

I have the same problem with hesitation on launch with my April 2003 build S.

everything else is great

[minitech]

there might be a hiden problem with your car their not finding.as for the newest software they should have the newest cd(33).they should have installed the software into your car.

[mxchis]

I too have the go-stutter-go problem. It only recently started when I asked the delear to (yet agian) address the yo-yo problem. It must be software related as it wasn't there one day but was after they updated the software!
I have since had the 33.1 version of software applied following reports that it fixed everything. If anything they are both more pronounced.
Anyone any ideas what we do next?

[RickB]

Like you, I didn't notice this problem until AFTER the 32 "upgrade". I stopped by my dealer yesterday, to mention that I still had the problem, and they essentially said that there is no specific fix for it. The also said they hadn't installed 33 on any Cooper Ss yet, and that I shouldn't just go "upgrading" in willy-nilly fashion, as you only get 13 tries, and you're then stuck. I replied, "Well, each change is supposed to be an upgrade, right?" The service guy said something like, "Yeah, that's the idea."

[Nosdrovni]

I called my dealer about the go-hesitate-go problem yesterday and this is what he said:

"I see what you mean, well, most Ss have that problem, it should go away while running it in."

Has anyone seen the problem fade and disappear while running it in?