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Have you found a particular "trick" for performing some user function in your MINI? I'm not talking about actual how-tos in terms of operating the car in the manner it was designed (i.e., things you'd find in the official owner's manual), but rather things more along the lines of what's in the UNauthorized manual...only perhaps a bit more practical. Using the headlights to find lost pets in trees and impressing the girls is sweet, but not exactly useful info for many us.
If you've found or developed something, how about listing it here? Be specific as to model (S or Cooper) as this may make a difference.
OK, here's one (and I'm sure that most of you can come up with better ones...) --
(MCS) When driving on wet roads, DO NOT turn on the rear window defogger! Why? Because it tends to cook/dry out the road crud that gets sprayed in a ultra-fine mist on the rear window, making it all that much harder to wash/wipe off with the rear wiper. I finally learned this this week and have had much better visibility since.
Well, this is probably too basic, but I've found that keeping my sunglasses under the e-brake handle is the best place for them. The carpet keeps them from skidding around, and they're always within easy reach.
Tip: Pump your front tires up to 38 psi and the rear to 34 psi for best handling. Tip: When you wax your car, don't forget the wheels. A good coating of wax will help keep brake dust from sticking to and corroding the wheels. Practical Joke: This is best done about 10 minutes before you get to a place with lots of people, like a mall or party:
Take a stick of Big Red gum (must be Big Red) and bet the friend who's riding with you that he/she can't get the tin wrapper to stick to their forhead for 10 minutes. They must stick the inside of the wrapper flat against their forhead for 10 minutes to win the bet. Tell them that they can even lick the wrapper to get it to stick. The wrapper will stick if they lick it, which means you'll lose the bet, BUT after 5 or 10 minutes the acid left over on the inside of the wrapper will leave a nice RED MARK on your friends forhead.
I found some black rubber mesh used for lining cupboards and cut them to fit into the wells inside each door. This way, cell phones, pens, sunglasses, etc. don't go sliding around each time you make a stop or turn.
This has been mentioned before, but there is a great alternative to the "cupholders" if, like me, you often carry larger water bottles like one-liter Nalgenes. They fit snugly in the corner of the passenger footwell, between the seat, the center hump, and the seat control that moves the passenger seat backward and forward. I'm not sure if the position of the seat (how far forward it is) affects this. This position is very accessible - just to the right of the gearshift.
I also find that the space under the emergency brake is an excellent place for my wallet - nowhere for it to go!
What I would really like is a tip on extending the window visors. I haven't yet found an extension device for sale anywhere. Anyone got a good homemade solution?
__________________ "I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy." - Tom Waits
I remember seeing complaints here about windshield wiper coverage. The complaint was that the driver's side wiper blade was too short to compleatly clear the windshield of the rain/slush pushed to the center by the passenger's wiper. There was always some smutz left top and center on the windshield. Trivial, yes, but annoying none the less. :smile:
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If you can't fix it ...... feature it!
'05 MCS w/ factory LSD, WMS 15% pulley, H-Comp rear swaybar, M7 OCC, JCW Intake w/ Helix filter and 16" OZ Superleggeras
>>I found some black rubber mesh used for lining cupboards and cut them to fit into the wells inside each door. This way, cell phones, pens, sunglasses, etc. don't go sliding around each time you make a stop or turn.
GOOD ONE! My stuff is always sliding around Thanks for the tip!
Here's mine Bit long sorry..
If you have the auto AC don't forget to turn the dial to 'LO' if you are going to turn the it off while you drive in cool weather otherwise the baffles will allow hot air to flow into the cabin and heat you up!
and
Keep a hammer in the glove compartment in case nails fall out of the celing while you are driving.
If you have the glasses that have clip on polarized sunglasses, they store perfectly in the visor. Most any time you'd be pulling down the shade, the sunglasses are needed (and often much more useful).
There are two compartments in the boot of the car that you remove panels to get to. Store a set of jumper cables (in a plastic bag to keep them contained) in one of them. Gives you a set of cables whenever you need and doesn't take up space you'd be otherwise using. (And with an MCS, you'd be going in to the trunk to get to the battery anyway.)
OK, here's another... Radio Shack sells a dual outlet, pigtail, adapter for accessories powered from the front lighter socket. Using this makes it a whole lot easier to plug things (e.g. radar detector, cell phone charger, etc.) into this outlet which is otherwise pretty hard to reach. Also, the pigtails allow you to continue to use plugs that are otherwise too tall to fit into the MINI's socket (since it's wedged under the toggle bank).
>>Well, this is probably too basic, but I've found that keeping my sunglasses under the e-brake handle is the best place for them. The carpet keeps them from skidding around, and they're always within easy reach.
Good one!! i've been sticking them in the cupholder. gotta try this on my ride back home tonight
Those with NAV:
Go into information and select Poliece Stations. Since the NAV will put an Icon of the last thing you select, Every Poliece Station will now show up on your NAV map!
Just so you know when you need to behave in the MINI.
>>Those with NAV:
>>Go into information and select Poliece Stations. Since the NAV will put an Icon of the last thing you select, Every Poliece Station will now show up on your NAV map!
>>
>>Just so you know when you need to behave in the MINI.
... that sounds good .... but are there icons for Donut Shops?
When backing into a spot, the proper distance from the front of the space (rear to you) would be four beeps. This keeps you from going too far in and other cars not seeing that you are there and flying into the space thinking it's empty.
I understand that parking anything but head-in is illegal (the poor meter maids and such can't see your tags easily), but I like to do it because it shows off the front of the car, which is by far the sexiest.
Worlds Cheapest Cell Phone Mount: White velcro, coloured grey with a pencil. Stick to the dash where desired, and to the back of the cell phone. My cell phone is the perfect colour for the dash. Buy earphone and charger if wanted. Voila!
I'll try and get a picture at night, as the screen and all the keys are lit in blue, it looks awesome contrasting the orange instruments.
~Joe
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'03 BRG/W MCS Sport, Premium, Leather - Since Nov '02
"This is the Self Preservation Society..."
If you have a toll device like sunpass, EZpass, whatever, you can make a black cardboard cover and use black velcro to mount it to your windshiled. This looks much better than having a huge white blob stuck there.
The foam-style shelf liner I have on my driver's side parcel shelf as well, saved quite a bit by using it instead buying the pad which comes w/ the shelf. I also lined the door wells AND the front cup holders, where I keep my change and stuff. Here's one: I have the armrest w/ the storage, which takes away your rear cupholder. Many of the adjustable cup holders have a set of padded legs under them which adjust into a smaller cup holder. Some, like mine, will adjust so small that the legs pinch together. I have one of these pinching the back wall of my armrest storage compartment, so that it sits at the back of the armrest, and actually keeps the armrest cushion in a better position. The armrest stays where I want it, and the cupholder will hold any size cup. The cupholder doesn't sit exactly level like this, so a really full cup doesn't work, but once some of the coffee or whatever is gone, it works perfectly. One other one: I keep my CD's in a visor-type holder (mine holds 18 or 20) under my driver's side seat. Fits perfectly, will move forward and back w/ the seat, is easy to reach, and is completely hidden.
With all the comments regarding "sliding" items...I just picked up a "Sticky Pad" from Office Depot. The size of two drink coasters, range of colors. Used in the car, anywhere, to hold phones, PDA, keys, coins...anything placed on it will not move. Is a jelly substance....difficult to explain, no glue needed. Also, there is a slick sunglass holder the size of a quarter that clips to the visor. Guess they know how many people need office gear in the car.
>>>>I understand that parking anything but head-in is illegal (the poor meter maids and such can't see your tags easily)
>>
>>Huh? Where is this at? I've never heard of a blanket law like this....
'Tis true, although I don't know if it's true everywhere, in just some states, or street parking only. I also don't know where you can find the law written, but I was told by one of those meter maid people once while I was in the process of parking (I guess she saved me a ticket), then asked my cousin's wife, who is a cop here in the State of Washington. The reason, besides not being able to see your stickers on your plate, is that with your front facing out, the concern is that parked cars would enter traffic much faster if going forward as opposed to reverse.
