The point of this thread is get advice and help others who might encounter this problem. I've posted all the things I've done, good or bad . Electronics are not my thing so maybe that's the issue but swapping parts/sensors has not resulted in a solution. Even the dealer could not figure it out hooked up to their BMW computer for 2 weeks.
Maybe you should contact the company that makes the "ultimate driving machine" to see if their super mechanical sleuths can find the problem, since, in reality, the MINI IS one of their "ultimate driving machines", too.:ihih:
I'm doing that right now. There is an Ex BMW dude here who works for himself fixing BMW's I emailed me to tell me he has this issue with BMW's all the time. Some hope there I think.
Here's the latest:the BMW tech says it is the knock sensor picking up a vibration, maybe but I tried running the engine with the knock sensor plug off. Same issue
meh, You gotta stick with what you know for sure: It's fine (-ish) with the tmap disconnected. If it was me i'd disconnect the tmap and take it for a spin. Give it a good italian tune-up. Maybe some gunk from that bad gas is messing with the valves and redlining it for a while will burn it off. At the very least you'll enjoy it.
That's funny! I was thinking that last week! worse case is I blow the engine then I have an excuse to make it 4WD with a mid-mounted BMW V8..LOL! Problem is this time of year is expensive with the holidays next month. So let's see what Santa brings! hahaha
I don't see much happening this year due to I didn't buy anything to take down. I'm going to do the Tmap plug off drive and hopefully buy a cheap car cover from job lots. Lucky I took the Mini to the tech inspection in July. If not I would been faced with a huge fine and no chance to get the annual tax! Oh well I've until July 2016 to fix it!
Worst come worst you can schlep to the inspection place under 2k rpm and pray they don't make you rev it.
haha the test is at idle and 3000rpm .....booo hoooo The more I read about the Tmap the more I think there is something wrong in the intake area. I'm off down there tomorrow so another 3 weeks of fun and games.
Thanks chaps! I did post the problem on Mini Torque and some guy suggests the ECU is now getting enough volts, so I'll be checking that.
I hooked up the diagnostic software with the Tmap plug off and on. With the plug off the ignition timing stays consistent at around -5 to -7 at idle and at 3000rpm is around +20. With the plug on the intake pressure is around 3.5 to 4.5 psi and the timing is fluctuating from -10 to +12 then when I get to the magical 3000rpm the pressure drops to 3psi and the timing hits +28 pops and then goes on 3 cylinders. Has to be some air leak of throttle body issue. That's my next check.
If the Mini is not sick I am! Got a sinus infection which grounded me all week and Saturday but I braved it today. The clutch bearing seemed better today as I could get the gears. I took off the intake, sealed it up and tested it for leaks. I found nothing wrong. I did find the vacuum feed to the fuel pressure regulator blocked so I replaced the pipe with the hope this is the problem. Also I tested the fuel pressure again and all was well there, with vacuum on and off, I blocked off each of the pipes going the intake which didn't improve anything. So seeing the Mini has been nowhere since July and the clutch working I pulled the Tmap plug and went for a drive. Engine ran fine and pulled really well, I would not have guessed the Tmap was not plugged in. I filled up with fuel fitted the Tmap plug and kept the revs above 4000rpm to avoid the misfire. Going downhill all was well but coming back up the hill the misfire happened at 5500 so I presume the engine is more loaded causing the misfire? At least I got a drive today! Next I need to buy a vacuum tester to see what the intake pressure is up to.
So I sit here thinking what else can I do? I did the compression check again, after several cranking I get around 210 psi on all cylinders. So I did a crank over by hand which might now prove much. Anyway I got 28Psi on #1 and about 15psi on #2,3,4
Apparently the data from the tmap allow the ecm to calculate the timing. It behaves more conservatively without it. So another possibility: something else is giving false reading to the ecm and causes the ignition to be to advanced for the actual conditions? totally wild guess: the crank position sensor moved. or maybe the knock sensor is faulty and doesn't repot the knocks?
I changed the crank and cam sensor last month and ran the engine with the knock sensor plug off. Maybe I'm losing it but last night after re-fitting the plugs when I'd finished the compression test the fault seemed to take longer to appear, also the plugs were quite sooty around the prongs. Likewise with the pre-cat 02 sensor. I read last night some Mini owners had a faulty throttle body causing Tmap calculation issues. I have the old one in the shed so I'll fit that tonight.