mdsbrain.com MINI Blog

Like V27.1 this seems to be a baby step update to increase the overall speed of the NAV. Although it says it does nothing for US cars.
Link to download. 137mb compressed
Link to GB voice hacked version for cars without the GB voice from the factory. Thanks to omascow for supplying this.

How to install.

Detailed info on this update.

Updated to include GB voice hacked verson 9/26.

I took my car today to a local private shop (Lucky Dog Garage) that works on alot of MINIs. They ran alot of diagnostics via the OBD2 port and poked around.

They found the loose bolts on the undercarraige and they were 2 bolts that held the front suspension to the body. These bolts would of been removed when my engine was replaced in March. So they either backed out or were never fully tightened.

MY CAT IS FINE! All signs show the car is running perfectly, No codes, fuel trim is right and the sensors for the CAT show no issues. Also when we bang on the cat we get no bits moving inside..So the dealer is full of crap!

Also the car is very messy underneath from the oil change. There is alot of oil from removing the oil filter and the car is overfilled with oil.

So, what I have learned is my dealer is full of crap and is looking to make $.
I also swapped my colder Denso IK22 plugs out for standard NGK plugs as my Densos were blackened and covered with carbon.

So alot of my questions were answered and nothing is wrong with the car.

UPDATE – The dealer in all this is Tate MINI is Annapolis, MD.

Short answer to my issues is they won’t fix anything under warranty due to mods. This is new since the only thing to change at this dealer since May has been my SA. So wow! I got a oil change which I paid for and an explanation that everything else will have to be paid for if I want it fixed.

As posted on this NAM thread.

1. Steering wheel – It doesn’t seem to be straight and I believe I found a TSB on this issue. Due to aftermarket parts I have lowering springs.
2. Exhaust rattle – issue mostly when stopped and it changes depending on what gear I’m in. Worse when in R. Due to aftermarket parts pulley, intake. My header is bad for the 2nd time. They say the car is running too rich.

3. Squeek in rear – Probably my sway needs some more lube. Won’t touch due to aftermarket parts. I have a larger rear sway bar.

4. Noise on the passenger side. They say there is loose bolts on the undercarraige and they let me leave like this without fixing it. They were more concerned with getting paid to tighten a few bolts. WTH

So to say the least I am in a rut. My car needs probaly $1500-2000 in work and I wonder if I should just pay the piper or demod and ride stock.

Current plan is to check with a local shop Lucky Dog Garage for ideas, estimates and such. They are a local shop that has gotten alot of praise from local MINI owners already out of warranty who need good work done.

I dropped off my car last night and picked up a loaded 06 MCC HB cvt loaner.

My car is in to have several small rattles and issues looked at. Shall we look at the list…?

1. Oil change – I’m paying for this one since i’m still 6k away from the next free service. Also the oil is blacker then black lately.
2. Steering wheel – It doesn’t seem to be straight and I believe I found a TSB on this issue.

3. Strut Tower – Mushroom issue. I told them to let me know if I will pay for this or not. I say pay because of my springs, lets hope for a warranty fix.
4. Exhaust rattle – issue mostly when stopped and it changes depending on what gear I’m in. Worse when in R.

5. Squeek in rear – Probably my sway needs some more lube.

6. Yo-yo on hills – I get a yo-yoing when going uphill almost everyday as I enter the metro parking garage. I don’t know what  they will do with this.

7. Install PS fan – I was told when my car was in several months back that my Power Steering fan was gone. So I am having them put one in. I have noticed no steering issues from driving without the fan for 6 months.

Man, what a list. But that list would be much shorter if it didn’t take 5 weeks to get an appointment.

Oh and my normal SA Caroline has gone to the dealer’s BMW side. WTH!?! She was so great and she has been replaced by a BMW guy. So we’ll see how the new guy is.

As posted on this NAM thread.

Crazy morning yesterday. Got the car towed and brought to dealer. The car started and ran fine when it got there and there was zero stored codes. I had told them the car seemed to run but had no boost. I looked down and I was doing 4k rpm and my boost gauge was flat with no power. The SES and DSC light then lit. So I pulled over it and it started to chug and sounded like it was misfiring. Car was towed from the side of the highway near Columbia to the dealer. They said they would replace the bypass valve but then theres no code stored so they say nothing to fix. Oh well, so my car got a free ride to the dealer and a car wash. Now I just have to explain this to the boss why I missed work. *rolles eyes*