Fixing a DME error for R56 MINI models is easier than you think

MINI’s are viewed by many as small bundles of joy. The revival of the car launched by the BMW Group at the beginning of the 21^st century, brought forward a heap of new customers, interested in the quirkiness of the car but unwilling to leave the new-age tech behind.

All things considered; the modern-day MINI is a true successor to the original. Sure, it grew in size, but it’s still one of the smallest cars you can buy today. And the expertise BMW has in car making turned it into a tantalizing proposal for ‘fun times behind the wheel’.

No matter how much we might love them though, these cars are getting old, especially the R56 generation. Problems are bound to pop up and solutions might be scarce, if you don’t know where to look. According to various forums, one issue you might encounter is an error in the DME which basically tells you that it cannot communicate with the rest of the car.

If this happens, a couple of things might’ve triggered the issue. From a faulty coupling and bent pins. One of the solutions would be to go to a dealer and get your DME or ECU replaced. But that proved to be quite expensive for a car that is almost 10 years old.

Another approach is to have your DME or ECU reprogrammed. This can be done by a specialist and it can cover everything you need but you will have to get a used ECU/DME yourself. After that, you’ll have to send the original EWS unit from your car along with the used DME/ECU to the programming specialist along with the original key of your car. Once received, the specialist will program it and include the correct VIN number, mileage and coding in the new unit, saving you thousands of dollars in the process.