I just got an 06 MCS convertible and I don't know how to cut off the auto a/c/heat. I had the same looking unit on my 04 MCS coupe and I could turn the automatic climate control off. I hate these devices but they came on the car used and it is hard to buy packages without them even on a new car.
But the stupid thing won't turn off. Help!!!!

 

Keep pressing the minus(left) on the fan control and it will turn off. The bars should go down to one and then off.

 

I'm in the same boat. I'd prefer to have more control over my windshield defroster/defogger than full blast and off.

 

On our 03 if the defrost is turned on and it's full blast, you can press and hold the defrost button and then you can control it manually.

 

I'll give that a go. To be honest, it hasn't bothered me enough yet to start hacking at the buttons like that. Its been rainy and humid here lately, though, so its been on my mind. Thanks for the tip, fentos.

 

Tried that per your info on our 06 MCS--no dice--but you can use defrost sans a/c compressor. FWIW

 

If that's all yours does, it's not working properly.

 

Pretty sure we've had this discussion before.

That defrost button next to the auto button is confusing. It's an all-or-nothing button and gives you the quickest route to a clear windshield. You can control where the air comes out using the three flow buttons on the right; up, down and straight-ahead arrows correspond to defroster, floor, and vent. You can pair defroster and floor, vent and floor, but not vent and defroster. Press each one to turn it on or off (they're toggles). I usually start out in Auto, turn off the A/C (friggin' hog that it is), then individually adjust the flow, letting the computer manage the temperature and fan speed.

 

I ordered a la carte, so I didn't have to have auto air....saved some money too!

 

Yeah, 3 years difference there. It was worth a shot.

 

Why defrost without the A/C? Having A/C on will clear the window much faster.

As for turning off auto, just hit any switch (fan, or vent selection work for sure) and it becomes manually controlled.

 

Jughead was right. Just hit the minus button on the fan and it cuts off.

 

If you're like me, you saved all of fifty bucks going that route. That's what I did with my '05, but I got the entire premium package with my '06. I like the auto A/C, surprisingly; I was going for "simpler is better" before, but it's really nice to just set the temp and forget it.

 

Winner!

A little RTFM wouldn't have hurt me either.

Thanks for your explanation, though. IMO, the MINI manual isn't always clear in its meaning.

 

I already used that on someone this week.

 

For my '06, I ordered premium package a la carte, just to get the manual climate control - I don't think I saved a dime. I've just grown to hate German auto climate control.

The issue for me is that, in order to get any air movement with the auto systems, you have to be running the fan or the car electronically seals up the outside vents (at least '05s and later).

With the manual systems, the outside vents stay open and you get free air flow (speed senstive) without turning the fan on, and are still able to control direction and heat (you do need the fan for A/C cooling, however). It's just like opening the window or sunroof a crack, but with heat if you want, and without the associated noise.

I hardly ever run the fan in my car.

 

I wish I had your ears. There's no way I could possibly hear the fan on its lowest setting over all the other noise in the cabin!

 

If you're referring to my comment "without the associated noise," I meant the noise compared to opening the window/roof a crack. Anyways, at highway speeds, the free air movement through the cabin on a manual climate system is much greater than that of the lowest setting of an auto.

Reason I've come to hate the auto climate is that I've had some loud and/or intermittently squeeky fans in past vehicles, and that your only choice to turn off meant no air at all.

Enjoy your fan.... I don't miss mine at all.