1st Gen R50 Cooper Most liked posts in thread: Urgent help needed!

Got back from CR with ECU . the ECU is now on its way to FL for testing

 

Thanks for the good wishes but the Mini has other ideas! I got the software and OBD cable to work..that was the good news! the bad news is the I cannot reset the system because an error pops up that the controller was now found. Which I think means the software cannot see the EWS/EMU....so once again the Mini wins! Fear not....while looking for a cable in CR I got in contact with a rally guy from the US who lives here and guess what? he reprograms BMW's for a living woooo hooooo so I'm going to contact him as he arrives back in CR today.

 

Hey Thanks, My Daughter moved to AsheVille NC so the Dragon might be on one day.

 

Another important note is the ECU repair shop said the Way tune I had was the issue for the failing ECU which is BS because now I have the R50 standard tune and I still have the same issue. The Way tune worked perfect for me since 2012 with good performance even with the low grade fuel we have in CR. I was not happy when the ECU repair shop removed the Way tune without even asking me but there is good news...(finally) Way will reload the tune once the ECU is repaired. Thanks Way.

 

MCS02. ah yes there is a lot of reading for sure. I changed the timing chain and did a compression check which all looked fine. The misfire is less than it was so I think bad fuel and an electrical issue happened at the same time. The night before the rally I added the fuel and bled the clutch which had me moving the harness as I worked on the slave cylinder. Maybe and just a maybe the harness was about to go due to the solid engine mounts and I broke/moved something? Anyway I have a working harness and a new crank sensor to fit. The ECU is coming back so I hope next week the Mini will be running. Looking at all I've done I think we are close!

 

Those VW diesels do well in rallies as do the Abarth 500....but to fly the flag(currently half mast) I'll stick with the Mini.

I did think the key could be the issue but I think this explains from time to time the engine misses a beat. Like when I was going to work the engine would loss power for a second and then ran as normal. The basic key from Emini parts is around $50 so I'm going to order one as my key is completely beat up and held together with electric tape

 

The Damned Mini! hahaha I think over past few months I've checked and double checked everything and started to doubt every new part I've fitted. I'm pretty confident everything is as it should in the engine area. Removing the Tmap forces the ECU to do the best it can which seems to make the engine run correctly although rich.

Last night I hooked up a threaded bar to the seat and the throttle pedal so I can slowly increase the RPM's idle is steady, 2000rpm steady but after 2500rpm a popping through the exhaust develops and the rpm starts going up and down. It is not possible to keep a steady 2500 then as I increase to the 3000rpm the popping continues until eventually the engine goes to 3 cylinders. Like I've mentioned several times above 4000rpm the rpm is fine while not under load. with all the crap still coming out the injectors could now be clogged up, so I'll check them again.

I did think again about the ECU but after 2 checks from the so called ECU experts and the fact that the ECU runs on their R50 I don't think the ECU is at fault. I really don't want to pull the engine apart because I believe all is well there. Anyway the engine should not go bad overnight as it was perfect the day before.

When I first drained the fuel back in July on the day of the rally a ton of crap came out the fuel line, so the crap is still coming out then something is still wrong in the tank. On that day I was desperate to join the rally so in the rush I could have missed something.

The next focus will be the fuel tank.

Thanks for your suggestions and patience.....we will find the cure!

 

Ah no, I'm back in the US. I forgot to let you know the battery supplier is going to pick up the battery, test it and if it is faulty they will replace it. Turns out the manager is a rally driver so I'm covered. Also while I'm in the US I'm getting a knock sensor, alternator and battery cut off switch. Plus some research over the holidays into voltage induced misfires.

Another tool I'm buying is a valve spring remover with the head in place. The idea is to check for sticky valves.

The above should pretty much cover the issue.......fingers crossed.

Happy Holidays to all.....2016 will be good!

 

looks like all the parts will be here before I leave chilly MA for warmer CR.

 

Hahahaha reminds of a co-worker with a Saab, He had a fuel leak issue for weeks , he asked me and I looked under the hood and saw a tiny leak. job done.

The rally season down here is yet to be decided so I have time.

I suppose reading this thread at some points you must “what is this guy doing?†My background is textile based so since I was 16 I have gained my automotive experience by reading and asking. I have worked on more 50 cars of all makes, Alfa’s, Ford, MG, Fiat, Peugeot, Mini, Land Rover, Suzuki, Subaru, Lancia, Citroen, Hillman, Vauxhall, Volvo to name a few. Building engines, diffs, gearboxes etc I started building rally cars back in 1987 with some good championship results. One thing I admit is I’m not an electronics expert and I know that has not helped me with this issue but having sent the Mini to the dealer for2 weeks and a BMW expert confessed to not knowing the issue that gives me a little confidence that this is a complex electrical issue. Traveling back and forth has not helped either, all I can do is keep going and hopefully have a result soon.

 

Hahahaha I did think that! "Urgent" was lost a long time ago! For sure the fuel gummed up a few things but just by swapping the pulley and alternator changed the fault range.

The strange thing is the fault is still there at 3200-3500 but only when the Mini is standing still. On the road nothing happens. Who cares, it's running.

Didn't work on the Mini last night! Watched "the Moaning of life" instead!