Two questions for someone out there. Is it ok to leave your Ipod connected all of the time? Also, is it ok to leave the air conditioner on all of the time? Just wondering if it does anything to the battery.

 

I had the same question. I posted it on the MINI website, I don't know what year your MINI is but I have a 2009 Clubman S. I have a USB drive pluged in for my music, they said that the power stays on for about 15mins, then all power shuts down. So it should not drain the battery.

 

Post pictures in your gallery, we want to see your baby.

 

Depending on what Ipod connector you have to the car. Most shut off with the key off, so leaving the ipod connected won't hurt anything.

As for running the A/C all the time. It won't hurt the car, but it will cost you fuel mileage. Also I suggest shutting off the A/C about a minute before you shut off the car. Keeping the fan running when you shut it off will dry off the evaporator and keep mold and mildew from growing on it. That way your car won't have odors with the A/C on, and you won't be breathing mold which isn't good for you.

 

With the MINIs the battery shuts off about 15 minutes after you close and lock the car doors so leaving anything on will not drain the battery. I also discovered the other day that even if you leave the keys in you only get about 10 minutes of running the outlets before they shut down as well!!

I leave my headlight switch in the on position all the time and it doesn't drain the battery in the least.

 

That may work on your car, but if you leave them on in an R50/R53 you'll kill the battery cause the marker lights will stay on.

 

Didn't realize the marker lights stayed on in the R50/R53 so scratch that point. I wonder if you could run things from the outlets without the power going out in the R50/R53 too... Swings and roundabouts really...

Thanks for the correction!

 

You know I had heard that it was good to shut off the AC before turning off the car, but was never told why, so I usually forget. But it makes sense now! I often got funny smells in my aging BMW whenever I had the AC running previously. Now I know why. When I finally get my MINI I will not be making the same mistake!