Gear-stick vibrates wildly in 1st gear?

[waynef]

Hi.

The gear-stick of my MCS vibrates wildly (so fast it's a blur!) when I accelerate medium-to-hard in 1st (first) gear.

It's become painful to change from 1st to 2nd now!

Anyone else got (or had) this problem?

Question is how did your dealer resolve the matter? Incidentally my car has also got the so-called "stutter" or "stumble" too. I have tested Version 33 and 34 now and there's no change.

...I wonder if it's the engine mountings that are loose. Am I insane?

Help. Me. Please.

[Gryphon]

Take it to your service center NOW

[Paul]

I'd agree with the above, that's not right.

Talk to your dealer ASAP.

[waynef]

I agree totally with you. This will be the 25th visit to the dealership for major rectification work since I bought the car new in October 2002.

My steering wheel clicks now too Paul, a subject that I know you've experienced as well!

Here's the list of my problems so far. Get this little lot, in chronological order:


My MCS problems - so far

1). Single-slot CD player replaced because it skips. And it still does. My Sony Discman doesn't and that cost £95. The dash-mounted MINI equipment cost a darn sight more!

2). Wiper-speed step-down programming requested as per the "MINI User Manual". Turns out that the manual is incorrect.

3). Replacement Single-slot CD player fails.

4). Dash rattle.

5). Driver seat mechanism squeaks requiring total rebuild and lenghts of anti-rattle tape to finish the job started in the factory.

6). OSF suspension mounting failed causing the car to lean and fall to the OS-kerb/centre of the road under braking.

7). Replacement Single-slot CD player fails.

8). NSF run-flat puncture on a Sunday. Ran out of miles on the flat tyres. COnsequently had to drive the car to the dealer an leave it there for replacement the next day. They hadn't got any service people or tyres to replace it on the Sunday you see. They didn't on Monday either. I had to pick the car up on Tuesday. Wholly unsatisfactory.

9). Replacement Single-slot CD player fails.

10). MPG is averaging at 27MPG at a steady 70mph.

11). Fuel Computer registers "30MPG" instead. It's wrong. Even a £50 after-market one that I fitted to my 1972 Beetle was more accurate. There is no reason why the more expensive MINI one shouldn't be correct.

12). Clutch pedal clicks when being depressed and released.

13). NSF side repeater falls out, with it's retaining catch broken. I was told not to brake hard or drop off of kerbs as that shatters them. I have done neither.

14). Handbrake releases itself and car rolls away.

15). Replacement Single-slot CD player fails.

16). Two-stage door locking couldn't be programmed again because of a mistake in the manual.

17). Glove-box creaks.

18). Lacquer marks in paintwork (since new) removed.

19). Extremely loud front brakes squeal

20). Extremely loud front brakes squeal again.

21). Extremely loud front brakes squeal yet again. Pads skimmed and deglazed to resolve.

22). Fuel consumption worsens (25MPG)

23). Fuel computer still over-registers by 10%

24). Yo-yo'ing or Surging effect ("Kangeroo petrol"). 3 visits until...

25). Throttle housing shatters. Yo-Yo effect disappears.

26). Power Steering pump fails because the terminals have corroded away. The steering wheel has become a static item and needs He-Man to move when the car is stationary. Car recovered by MINI Emergency. Courtesy car, a Nissan Almera is very, very boring. But it works fine. How sad.

27). Traction Control light and Tyre pressure warning lights on permanently. There is a total sensor failure in the car. I wanted it recovered. MINI Emergency told me to drive it "...carefully". Unreal. Am I really paying for this?

28). Tailgate latch mechanism fails and rattles like crazy.

29). OSF and NSF seat-belt hangers rattle together. How tuneful.

30). Yo-Yo effect returns.

31). ECU version 33 loaded.

32). "Stumble" now arises when pulling away in 1st gear, throwing passengers forward in their seats. I call out MINI Emergency, as the car is unsafe. It cut's out at 10-15mph which when your pulling away at a set of lights means that following traffic could easily shunt it. Car recovered to dealer. Astra Diesel works fine too. Again, sad.

33). Gear stick rattles around like crazy when pulling away in 1st.

34). Drivers seat mechanism begins it's squeaking-rattling thing again.

35). Cooper "S" bonnet inlet duct looses retaining nuts into engine bay and rattles around. At high motorway speeds, it flaps up and down!

36). ECU version 34 loaded.

37). Stumble still exists. I dispair.

38). Steering column clicks (can be felt through steering wheel).

39). Power Steering pump fails again and car is again recovered (25/09/03) never to be seen again. Car recovered by MINI Emergency. Courtesy car, a Vauxhall Daddy-wagon is pants, but it goes.


What do you reckon then people? The dealer is trying their hardest but I am now tired of taking the car back, day-in, day-out.

(By the way, I still really really love MINI. It's just BK52MXM that's tripe).

NEWS UPDATE... NEWS UPDATE... NEWS UPDATE...
You can all now buy BK52MXM from my dealer! Here's the link:
http://www.minicherished.co.uk/AUC/M...&regNo=BK52MXM

All the best,

[Hobbe]

Must be close to a Mini world record ?
Demand a new Mini, your current is determined to make you nuts....

[Paul]

Quick thing:

"Wiper-speed step-down programming requested as per the "MINI User Manual". Turns out that the manual is incorrect.

Two-stage door locking couldn't be programmed again because of a mistake in the manual."

I've had the two stage door 'selective unlocking' programmed on my 'S', my Cooper had speed sensitive wipers programmed.

As for the rest of the list, it's VERY poor, however I don't know where you'd stand with rejection etc. because you've had the car so long, and you've had so much work done to it.

Difficult to call.

[Grings]

Gulp

I am never ever complaining about my car again.

You really have my sympathies. Perhaps if you talk to your dealer they will give you an extra special part ex price to get a new one (I know this is not the solution, but if it was me I would despair).

[northandy]

OMG !!!... thats one heck of a friday afternooner you've got there !!...

I too have a CD player that skips, even though I had a replacement fitted on Saturday !...

I have a quite pronounced stumble in 1st too, and the yo-yoing....

My car is only 3 weeks old too so it looks like they havent really fixed the problems !...

Mines also developed this lovely habit of not dropping the window, making it nigh on impossible to shut the door..

[waynef]

Yes indeed - the car is a lemon - and yes indeed I am trying to get a new one.

On the face of it, today, there are one or two little niggles that need to be sorted (apart from the terrifying stumble!) for the car to be a great car. Question is, in two years time when I have finished paying for it, will I want to keep it - or - buy another for that matter.

And the answer as it stands today is "No" to both points: unless BMW/MINI make inroads into sourcing me a brand-new replacement that is. I have lost total confidence in this car. But I love it sooooo much it's a shame. What a paradox!

[KenL]

If I were you I'd demand a replacement at no cost to you. In fact with all the hassle you've had I'd expect a few tasty extras thrown in for free with the replacement.

Keep us posted.

[waynef]

My dealer has been investing a lot of their time into resolving not only all these issues, but also a total replacement vehicle.

Their contact at BMW/MINI itself, has now comeback to say that they would replace my October 2002 MINI Cooper S, so long as I pay £1000.

I am left speechless by BMW/MINI's total lack of customer care. They are in the 20th century.

What happened to retaining customer loyalty? I have been an constant and ardent BMW customer since 1996 and have always 'Bigged' them up whenever I could. I love ALL there products, their design ethos and their branding. The brand figured #1 on my list of reasons when selecting a car.

#2 was Pre-sales and Post-sales support. Here my dealer has excelled. Unfortunately BMW/MINI are running seriously close to losing me, and more than a few others here I fear.

I am not paying to test another product for them. No matter how may miles I cover (12,000 in 9 months).

Somebody, please. Keep me sane and tell me I am not wrong?

[GTmini]

http://www.autoweek.com/cat_content...._code=08675215

"and we’re annoyed by an occasional buzz from the shifter that varies in severity and duration."

so you're not alone if that makes you feel any better. ...and your list reminds me that I should check that my replacement scoop nuts are still there. now I'm also kind of scared to get my CD player replaced (it also has begun having skipping hissy-fits) after considering your run of luck! hope things get sorted out, one way or another.

[waynef]

(Item 38 turned out to be the motoring equivalent of "Trapped Wind", by the way).

[Martin L]

You have the patience of a saint
I'd pay the £1000 and get the new car. That is not much to pay at all. If you went down the rejection route earlier it may have cost you nothing but it looks like you've left it a tad late.
My MCS has was troublesome for the 9 mths I had it and I decided to change it for a new one and did get compensation from MINI UK for all the hassle I had in the form of about £500 worth of extras

[waynef]

Quote:

Originally posted by Martin L
You have the patience of a saint
I'd pay the £1000 and get the new car. That is not much to pay at all. If you went down the rejection route earlier it may have cost you nothing but it looks like you've left it a tad late.
My MCS has was troublesome for the 9 mths I had it and I decided to change it for a new one and did get compensation from MINI UK for all the hassle I had in the form of about £500 worth of extras

Hi Martin L,

Do I take it that you too paid £1000?
And do I take it that from that, you got £500 worth of extra's?

On the other issue timings. I have been reporting these problems, as you can imagine, ever since the car was new. I have had a formal Word .doc list that I have been issuing to all concerned for a long time also. After all, this list didn't happen on one day. It built up within the 'acceptable' time that returns of faulty goods can occur.

That said, I escalated this issue with my dealer to the highest level many months ago (2/3). It's BMW/MINI that have dragged it out until now.

I also know that not only has the "Distance Selling" law been changed to further protect internet buyers, but at the same time the legal obligation of a manufacturer to offer a full refund is now 6 months. So I have more than enough cover here!!! But frankly, and all can read this, I don't think (or want) that things will need to get 'legal'. Their nice enough people really!

Time will tell. Please reply.