BMW/MINI issues

[Bayum]

I'm really clutching at straws, but here we go anyway.

I've purchased a Mini Cooper SD in September '16, and it keeps throwing errors at me, warning me there's a 'driver stabilisation error' and therefore I must 'drive moderately'. On the dashboard and behind the steering wheel it comes up with an image of a car skidding.

Now it isn't a major issue, but it throws off the stop/start system which can be problematic if I'm in traffic and the error decides to come up.

There's nothing specific that I'm doing to cause the error - some days it will come on whilst motorway driving, other days driving slowly in traffic, other times when I'm accelerating/decelerating for speed limit changes.

I took the car in over Christmas and the Mini garage replaced a sensor on the clutch - no avail. I've taken the car in again this half term and they've just restarted the whole of the onboard computer software after discussing the issue with 'head office'. Worked beautifully from pick up at 11am this morning until about twenty minutes ago back from the hospital. I've tried googling but I'm not having any success and I'm really starting to lose it with the garage, if I'm honest. Surely it can't be that difficult to correct?

Has anyone suffered anything similar, or works in BMW/Mini and has an idea about what's causing the issue? I don't know who else to turn to seeing as the garage clearly don't know themselves.

 

[Bald Rick]

Can't help with BMW / MINI, but I had something very similar in an Audi TT 15 years ago. It was intermittent, and seemingly random. They replaced throttle sensors, brake sensors, reloaded all the engine management software, and did various other things. Several times.

In the end it turned out to be stability sensors in the sills of the car - some sort of accelerometer. Effectively the car thought it was about to flip when it wasn't.

Only took them 2 years to work it out.

 

[richw]

I had a similar issue on mrs richw's 1 series. I found the problem to be a wet control unit behind the back right rear wheel arch below the rear light. She had about an inch of water in the cubbyhole. I dried it out and relocated the control unit higher up the rear pillar. This is a common fault on 1 series- on the babybmw forum there is 12 pages in the thread of people reporting the Same issue.

 

[DaleCooper]

Can't help with BMW / MINI, but I had something very similar in an Audi TT 15 years ago. It was intermittent, and seemingly random. They replaced throttle sensors, brake sensors, reloaded all the engine management software, and did various other things. Several times.

In the end it turned out to be stability sensors in the sills of the car - some sort of accelerometer. Effectively the car thought it was about to flip when it wasn't.

Only took them 2 years to work it out.

In all the years I've been driving I've NEVER felt the need for stability sensors.

 

[deltic1989]

When you took the car in over Christmas did they hook it up and read the codes?
Just before Christmas (After only owning the car a month), my 3 series started acting funny in corners, took it to Sytner BMW, who read the codes, and immediately diagnosed a traction control fault. Took them a day to fit the new part, and left my wallet feeling a ton lighter, but no issues since.

 

[Bromley boy]

I'm really clutching at straws, but here we go anyway.

I've purchased a Mini Cooper SD in September '16, and it keeps throwing errors at me, warning me there's a 'driver stabilisation error' and therefore I must 'drive moderately'. On the dashboard and behind the steering wheel it comes up with an image of a car skidding.

Now it isn't a major issue, but it throws off the stop/start system which can be problematic if I'm in traffic and the error decides to come up.

There's nothing specific that I'm doing to cause the error - some days it will come on whilst motorway driving, other days driving slowly in traffic, other times when I'm accelerating/decelerating for speed limit changes.

I took the car in over Christmas and the Mini garage replaced a sensor on the clutch - no avail. I've taken the car in again this half term and they've just restarted the whole of the onboard computer software after discussing the issue with 'head office'. Worked beautifully from pick up at 11am this morning until about twenty minutes ago back from the hospital. I've tried googling but I'm not having any success and I'm really starting to lose it with the garage, if I'm honest. Surely it can't be that difficult to correct?

Has anyone suffered anything similar, or works in BMW/Mini and has an idea about what's causing the issue? I don't know who else to turn to seeing as the garage clearly don't know themselves.

Did you buy new?

If so, in your position, I would go back to the dealership and threaten to reject the car outright if the issue isn't sorted... That should concentrate their minds on fixing the problem.

 

[Bayum]

Did you buy new?

If so, in your position, I would go back to the dealership and threaten to reject the car outright if the issue isn't sorted... That should concentrate their minds on fixing the problem.

TBH, that is 'plan B'. But I'd like to give them some fees of what it could be and an ultimatum - these are the things I've researched in my time that could be the issue - you need to sort it. Otherwise I'm not sure what else to do! I'm 99% certain it hasn't affected the driving or that there is an actual stability issue, but it's a new 66 reg. from September, and with Mini I do expect that little bit more.

 

[thejuggler]

For any detailed advice on matters such as this the owners club is the best port of call.

Over the years I have found far more experts on them than in the expensive glass palaces known as car dealerships.

 

[Bayum]

'The Owners Club'?

Do you mean like a forum devoted entirely to Mini?

I've signed up for a couple, but the majority seem to be diehard fans who subscribe to the forums... I'd like an answer, but I'm not really wanting to have to pay myself to work out what could be wrong!!

 

[Bald Rick]

In all the years I've been driving I've NEVER felt the need for stability sensors.

Driving the early TTs you would definitely be thankful for them! Quite a few ended up in hedges until Audi put in an enhanced stability programme and a spoiler on the back. Mine was one of the first RHD models, and I suspect was modified on the production line.

Mind you, it could bloody shift, and stuck to the road like being on rails.

 

[richw]

Driving the early TTs you would definitely be thankful for them! Quite a few ended up in hedges until Audi put in an enhanced stability programme and a spoiler on the back. Mine was one of the first RHD models, and I suspect was modified on the production line.

Mind you, it could bloody shift, and stuck to the road like being on rails.

I'm sure there was a recall on the really early ones they were that bad.

 

[richw]

TBH, that is 'plan B'. But I'd like to give them some fees of what it could be and an ultimatum - these are the things I've researched in my time that could be the issue - you need to sort it. Otherwise I'm not sure what else to do! I'm 99% certain it hasn't affected the driving or that there is an actual stability issue, but it's a new 66 reg. from September, and with Mini I do expect that little bit more.

Are you on finance? Get your finance company involved as they are jointly liable with BMW Mini. Any mention to them of rejection and things get done fast.

My previously mentioned issue is on a 57 plate 1 series.

Babybmw . Net has been a great resource for me, unsure if they cover .Mini.

 

[Geezertronic]

Do you have Mini Assist or AssistPlus on the Media screen?

 

[Bletchleyite]

In all the years I've been driving I've NEVER felt the need for stability sensors.

With you on that. If you're (not you personally obviously ) so incompetent at driving that your car needs to warn you that you're cornering a bit quick, you really shouldn't be driving.

My Land Rover Defender has pretty much nothing electronic at all

 

[richw]

With you on that. If you're (not you personally obviously ) so incompetent at driving that your car needs to warn you that you're cornering a bit quick, you really shouldn't be driving.

My Land Rover Defender has pretty much nothing electronic at all

But whether we need or use these warnings, they're on our cars, and go wrong producing fault lights on the dash.

 

[DarloRich]

I've purchased a Mini Cooper

there is your first issue..................

 

[Bayum]

there is your first issue..................

The Mini One I had beforehand was great!!

Do you have Mini Assist or AssistPlus on the Media screen?

I have no idea if i'm honest.