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Here's an interesting email I just received from an estatic MINI owner:
Here's the email I sent to several MINI folks (both my dealer and someone at MINI corporate):
I can't thank you guys enough for sending my DME to NJ and fixing the stumble. It is still totally gone, after about 125 miles of varied driving.
I only wish you guys could have seen the grin on my face as I pulled out of MINI Peabody and didn't feel the stumble.
It's hard to tell, but the Yo-yo seems to be gone also. I say it's hard to tell, because as the weather got cooler, the Yo-yo seemed to get less pronounced also. I am optimistic though – I'll let you know once the weather warms up again. In general the car seems to run better at low RPMs and pull more strongly.
Questions for you – What did this software change? What version of software will be listed if MINI Peabody scans the DME? Will this fix make it into future release versions of the software? I just want to make sure that in the future if my car comes in for service and still shows up as having version 33.2 loaded, someone doesn't load a newer version of software that reintroduces the stumble.
Thank you all!
MarkHere's the response from one of them:
Mark:ÂÂ
I'm very pleased to hear that you are happy with the new software. I had a feeling you would be. To answer your questions………….
1). The software changed several things but mainly the ignition timing advance.
2). There is no CD version yet for this software. If a dealership tapped into your DME, it would read out a four digit code to identify the software and I don't know what that code is.
3). Yes. This fix will be in future versions.
Hope that answers your questions. All the best for the Holidays. Let me know if you need anything else.
I hope this sheds a little light on the whole stumble issue. Now if the Yo-yo stays away when the hot weather returns I'll be one happy camper.
Thanks again for your great site.
Mark
Great letter Mark – thanks for sharing it. It seems as the stumble fix is getting closer and closer to an actual dealership distribution.
<p>But will it be on my October build MCS when it arrives in December?!</p>
<p>My '04 MCS with a 9/22/03 build came through without the stumble. I haven't heard of any '04s with the stumble…yet.</p>
<p>However, I do have the yo-yo between 2500 and 3500 rpm when accelerating.</p>
<p>Theo</p>
<p>Theo
Could you, or anyone that has experienced yo-yo, explain what happens when yo-yo kicks?</p>
<p>I have never experienced the problem but would like to know what it's all about.</p>
<p>thanks.</p>
<p>Ken</p>
<p>Ken,
Oops, sorry about the above post, pressed the enter key by mistake. The effect of yo-yo as experienced by myself on my July 03 MCS is that when you are accelerating in 2nd or 3rd gears at around 2500-4000rpm the car surges ie as if you are putting your foot on the accelerator and then taking it off. But the actual effect is quicker than you would physically be able to press and release the accelerator yourself. Does that make sense? If you accelerate hard the yo-yo is either gone or not very noticeable at all, however, as much as I would like to I cannot accelerate hard everywhere I go. I do not have the stumble issue on my car. With regard to the yo-yo being temperature related I don't think this is an issue as it is always wet and cold over here in the UK and I still have the problem. I am due to pick up some spares from my dealer next week and have booked an appointment to get the software version upgraded so will keep you all posted regarding the effects.</p>
<p>andy d.</p>
<p>2004 MCS (9/8/03 build), 1,600+ miles, ZERO stumble.</p>
<p>If the stumble is feeling like your car bottoms out when you punch the gas from a stop or from a rolling start, then I have had the stumble three times on my 9/26/03 build MCS.</p>
<p>Went in for the stumble fix last week. My service rep and I had talked about it all summer. When I went to PU the car he told me the service tech couldn't make the car do it so they decided the car didn't need it. This after they kept the car for 3 days. I reminded him about our conversations last summer and that it is a hot weather thing. He says “oh yeah bring it back next week”? Assael, Ca. How not to run a dealership!</p>
<p>Thanks for the explaination Andy. I've been lucky to only suffer stumble but recently had it fixed and it greatly improved cold staring as well.</p>
<p>Will this be available for MC manufactured in Oct. 2002? Everytime I think about asking my service advisor to look at updating it, I get chills up my spine thinking about them screwing it up like I have heard about other MC owners on the MiniUSA website or if it did happen then I'd get some over inflated bill for this work. How much does it cost to have this updated? I have the stumble plus the yo-yo in hot weather ever since I got my car in Jan. of 03. Thanks in advance for anyone that can help me understand and solve this problem.</p>
<p>Just the week I have noticed this 'yo-yo' effect (I have only had my S for 500 miles).(april 03 build)
It was so subtle, I didn't know what it was – and I had not read about it on any of the sites.
Thanks for mentioning this.</p>
<p>My question is what is up with this software upgrade business?
How do I know if mine is out of date?</p>
<p>Ian:</p>
<p>I'm amazed you haven't read it at any of the usual MINI message board sites. The stumble and yo-yo issues are discussed ALL OVER them.</p>
<p>andyd —</p>
<p>Good explanation of the yo-yo. This is what I experience EXCEPT the yo-yo on my '04 doesn't go away when I am at wide open throttle. It DOES go away if I gently accelerate, however.</p>
<p>Theo</p>
<p>Ditto here Theo, my yo yo is not noticable is I gently accelerate. This new software is for the stumble but seems to work on the yo yo as well. Will ask about it next time I am in for service.</p>
<p>Got email wrong, can anyone reply if you get time to my request in my first email, sorry about the email address being off.</p>
<p>Yeah, it is true Pete.</p>
<p>And I have spent A LOT of time on these boards.. mind you, I was looking for info about buying the car and items related to that more than the day-to-day ownership..</p>
<p>i had heard about the windshield issue however..</p>
<p>Update – My MCS is running great after about 225 miles. I do still notice the lurch when decelerating through 1900 RPM though. It might even be slightly more pronounced. It's minor and I can live with it. I wonder what it is though… The pull away stumble was driving me crazy – I'm thrilled it's gone. Thanks MINI!</p>
<p>Very well said that the stumble came out the adjustment of ignition timing as the comment dated 11/18/2003. this issue was a problem of type of gas we have the only octain that US carry is 91 octain as the manual said is a minimun of 92,we don't have that, I always put Shell 91 octain and only a small amount of stumble.If you can read some of the comment of MINI UK they don't have this issue.They are triying to adjust the timing on the ignition to so that they can attain cleaner air as requiment here in US speacially California,I hope they will come out a solution on this issue.</p>
<p>Does the stumble still exist on newer models like 04 or 05 models?</p>