[barti01234]

Hello everyone,

I have bought my 2016 Mini Cooper in the March last year, since then once in the while I get a fault coming up saying "Cruise control failure - Please visit your local authorised service". Haven't been too bothered with it as it only shows up then disappears, and cruise control works just fine.

It shows once in a while, normally whenever I start the car and then goes away pretty much immediately. Today, after I refuelled my beast cruise control and speed limit failure came up, but then like usual it has gone away, but now it started to worry me. I saw a few people had that issue, but I don't know what to do with it.

It is a 2016, 1.5 Mini Cooper in Manual pre-facelift.

 

[MINIkiter]

You need the car diagnosed, fault codes read, to determine what the cause is. Could be a number of things so guessing isn't helpful. The faults will still be in memory, so MINI or any good garage can check it for you. Also there's diy code scanners, not sure if you're into that though!

 

[barti01234]

You need the car diagnosed, fault codes read, to determine what the cause is. Could be a number of things so guessing isn't helpful. The faults will still be in memory, so MINI or any good garage can check it for you. Also there's diy code scanners, not sure if you're into that though!

I've got mine own OBD2 scanner, so I could check for history of fault codes if you know an app allowing me to check it. I've thought I could diagnose it, but my mechanic didn't see anything and I wasn't sure if going to Mini would help much.

 

[MINIkiter]

I think BimmerCode does a scanner version, which might work with your adapter. I use ISTA+ myself, but that's the dealer software. Taking it to MINI will likely get you the answer, but they charge a lot just to test it! Can you find a local BMW/MINI specialist indy garage? They would have the same dealer level diagnostics needed, hopefully at a sensible price. May even check it for free if they do the repair.

 

[barti01234]

I think BimmerCode does a scanner version, which might work with your adapter. I use ISTA+ myself, but that's the dealer software. Taking it to MINI will likely get you the answer, but they charge a lot just to test it! Can you find a local BMW/MINI specialist indy garage? They would have the same dealer level diagnostics needed, hopefully at a sensible price. May even check it for free if they do the repair.

I'm in Suffolk close to Essex, but there isn't a BMW/Mini specialist in my town or near. Ive seen the Bimmerscanner been advised to test ABS sensors with it. I wondered whether that wouldn't go under the warranty.

 

[MINIkiter]

Your car's in warranty!?? If it's a MINI warranty just get it into the dealer, your cruise fault should be fixed free I would imagine. If you have a MINI Used 12 month warranty, report it quick and I think they'll sort it.

 

[barti01234]

Your car's in warranty!?? If it's a MINI warranty just get it into the dealer, your cruise fault should be fixed free I would imagine. If you have a MINI Used 12 month warranty, report it quick and I think they'll sort it.

I don't have any warranty that I've bought myself but I wondered whether the electrical faults don't have longer warranty.

 

[MINIkiter]

Ohh I see. No, unless you got 12 months when you got it last March, your out of luck mate. Only paint gets longer than the 3 years mechanical warranty.

 

[barti01234]

Ohh I see. No, unless you got 12 months when you got it last March, your out of luck mate. Only paint gets longer than the 3 years mechanical warranty.

Will have a check with OBD2 scanner for fault codes tomorrow then.

 

[navwizard]

Normal cruise or adaptive cruise?

 

[barti01234]

Normal cruise or adaptive cruise?

Normal cruise

 

[Sunny14]

I had the same issue with my 2016 Mini, started with 'cruise control failure' for a few seconds. Gradually the time the message would appear kept increasing followed by 'limit speed failure'. And then I noticed that when the message was on, the steering will loose all the controls on the wheel (media vol up/down, change track/radio stations...etc) and also if the lights were on in the eve, the steering will black out as well.
As discussed on the forums and suspected, it was the slip ring at fault. Took my car to the garage (Cazoo) under 90 day warranty and they replaced the slip ring free of charge. Its been a couple of weeks now and (touch wood) the issue is resolved.
If your car is under any sort of warranty, get it fixed there. I have seen second hand slip rings on ebay for around £50 but changing it yourself can be tricky as it involves fiddling with the steering wheel air bag (have to disconnect the battery, discharge and the air bag itself is hard to remove apparently).
I would assume a new slip ring from BMW or dealer would be costly and they would charge a hefty amount to replace, although apparently, reading the forums it seems that BMW did replace some slip ring FOC as it became a common issue.
Good Luck!

 

[barti01234]

I had the same issue with my 2016 Mini, started with 'cruise control failure' for a few seconds. Gradually the time the message would appear kept increasing followed by 'limit speed failure'. And then I noticed that when the message was on, the steering will loose all the controls on the wheel (media vol up/down, change track/radio stations...etc) and also if the lights were on in the eve, the steering will black out as well.
As discussed on the forums and suspected, it was the slip ring at fault. Took my car to the garage (Cazoo) under 90 day warranty and they replace the slip ring free of charge. Its been a couple of weeks now and (touch wood) the issue is resolved.
If your car is under any sort of warranty, get it fixed there. I have seen second hand slip rings on ebay for around £50 but changing it yourself can be costly as it involved fiddling with the steering wheel air bag (have to disconnect the battery, discharge and the air bag itself is hard to remove apparently).
I would assume a new slip ring from BMW or dealer would be costly and they would charge a hefty amount to replace, although apparently, reading the forums it seems that BMW did replace some slip ring FOC as it became a known issue.
Good Luck!

Thanks, someone has told me about the slip ring on the Facebook group. I think that is possible as sometimes the plus or minus for the cruise control don't seem to work. Might visit my Mini dealer and ask them about it then.

 

[Sunny14]

Thanks, someone has told me about the slip ring on the Facebook group. I think that is possible as sometimes the plus or minus for the cruise control don't seem to work. Might visit my Mini dealer and ask them about it then.

Also, I would suggest to observe next time it happens. Try using the media controls and check the light (if it happens in the dark and the lights on your steering wheel go off).
More likely is the slip ring if both the media controls fail and the steering lights go off as well.

 

[barti01234]

Also, I would suggest to observer next time it happens. Try using the media controls and check the light (if it happens in the dark and the lights on your steering wheel go off).
Morel likely is the slip ring if both the media controls fail and the steering lights go off as well.

I'm pretty sure other controls don't work at that time, but I'll watch out for it and give my local Mini dealer a visit this week.

 

[Sunny14]

I'm pretty sure other controls don't work at that time, but I'll watch out for it and give my local Mini dealer a visit this week.

How did it go with yours, mine has had the slip ring replaced back in Jan by Cazoo under warranty but the error has started appearing again in the last 2-3 weeks. I reckon its the start of the slip ring failure again. The car is under warranty still so hopefully Cazoo will take care of it but a bit disappointed that the new slip ring didn't even last 12 months! :-(

Anyone had similar issues?

 

[Stewman1985]

How did it go with yours, mine has had the slip ring replaced back in Jan by Cazoo under warranty but the error has started appearing again in the last 2-3 weeks. I reckon its the start of the slip ring failure again. The car is under warranty still so hopefully Cazoo will take care of it but a bit disappointed that the new slip ring didn't even last 12 months! :-(

Anyone had similar issues?

Yes. I've started having the same issue with mine. speed limit failure and lights and controls on steering wheel not working when it does happen.getting quite annoying now!!!!! You dont know if they had to re-programme anything when they swapped the slip ring do you? don't really fancy paying dealer prices. Also do you know if they were recalled for this issue? do these models have a contact spiral behind the steering wheel?

 

[Sunny14]

Yes. I've started having the same issue with mine. speed limit failure and lights and controls on steering wheel not working when it does happen.getting quite annoying now!!!!! You dont know if they had to re-programme anything when they swapped the slip ring do you? don't really fancy paying dealer prices. Also do you know if they were recalled for this issue? do these models have a contact spiral behind the steering wheel?

It is very annoying and in my opinion can be quite dangerous if you rely cruise control a lot. Anyway, what year and model is your car?

I don't think anything needs reprogramming when you swap the slip ring or the whole squib unit. My car went back to cazoo after my last post and this time they have replaced the whole squib under warranty (unit that encloses the slip ring and the indicator/wiper stalks). I would recommend you do the same instead of just the slip ring otherwise the issue is more likely to reappear in future. There are a few videos on youtube, the only tricky part is to remove the airbag (WITH BATTERY DISCCONNECTED).

I really hope this is the end of the issue (fingers crossed). From what I know, the early models of F56s have this issue and that's why I ask what year is yours. Please let me know and best of luck

 

[Sunny14]

Yes. I've started having the same issue with mine. speed limit failure and lights and controls on steering wheel not working when it does happen.getting quite annoying now!!!!! You dont know if they had to re-programme anything when they swapped the slip ring do you? don't really fancy paying dealer prices. Also do you know if they were recalled for this issue? do these models have a contact spiral behind the steering wheel?

Sorry but i missed the second part, I don't think they had a recall for the issue but some goodwill fixes have been done by the dealers. Regarding he contact spiral, I am not sure about that, I think the slip is the alternate which does the same function.

 

[Sunny14]

So the dreaded message has come back for the third time!!

Cazoo replaced the whole SZL (Steering Angle Sensor which has the slip ring, indicator/wiper stalks) unit but the wheel is loosing the controls when adjusting the steering wheel forwards and backwards.

Might be a loose wire this time but I am really getting fed up now :-(

Anyone in south west who can give me hand with trying to replace the steering wheel cable please?