So, I just intro'd myself as a new CMS owner and have been reading as many threads as I can learning all about my new Mini. Having owned a Mini before, I know it is almost like a treasure hunt learning some of the small details I will find as I go. But, I have to say, I am yelling uncle on a few things. I have three items that I am curious about. It is a used '14 CMS 4All with about 15,000 miles on it. One item that appears to be missing is whatever used to reside under the operator's seat in the straps in front of the tow hooks. What should be there?

The other two: having searched the Operators Manual and NAM for both of them, I give up. The first, what is the little dot on the fuel gauge? What does it represent? (EDITED with answer below) The second is the boxy spot in the glove box. What is that for?

Thanks in advance!

EDITED regarding the little dot on the fuel gauge. The answer appears here. The best answer I can find is in that thread. It to be used as a point of reference for the "top" of the tank/gauge. I am glad I wasn't the only one that didn't know.

 

jack or pump/tire slime mobility kit ?
dot on fuel gauge = ? full tank , not sure
glove box space = phaser?, again not sure

I have an empty velcro spot where tow hook might have been. According to the manual I thought ALL4 should be flatbed only and not towed.

 

When all the little fuel gauge lights go out one by one and the only one left on is the little dot it's about time to start walking and saving up pennies for a new fuel pump. DO NOT let the fuel get so low that you burn out the fuel pump. It is always better to burn off the top half of the tank than the bottom (old pilot's rule).


That compartment in the glove box might be a place to store an extra fuel pump?

 

Agreed about the flatbed. The tow hooks are to pull pickups out of ditches I think.
The dot has always been on - even when the tank is below 1/4, so I don't think that is it. I will check to see if a phaser will fit in that spot in the glovebox!

 

Thanks for the heads-up on the fuel level and the affects on the fuel pump! I am one of those people that keep the tank above 1/4 all the time anyhow.

 

I know there are two locations on the bumper for the hook(s).

Are there supposed to be two hooks or one?

The clips on the front of the glove box are perfect for a pressure gauge or pen light.

Also does anyone have a solution to cover up the red gas icon that looks curiously like the empty gas icon in other cars!

PS. It's not for a phaser. It's where the optional ejector seat switch goes!

 

Mine has two hooks under the drivers seat and the empty spot in front of them with an elastic strap and velcro strap. Rather odd.

Thanks for the idea on the ejector seat switch. That would be a perfect spot for that!

 

I think that it is a misconception that you can burnup the fuel pump by running the tank low. My understanding is that the fuel cools the pumps as it flows through it. It does not cool the pump by being submerged in fuel.

Running the tank empty, now that might be a different story.

 

Yeah, I think the little dot is an intelligent addition by BMW when they realised one problem of the corn cob fuel gauge - at night you can't tell how far off full you are, unless you have memorised the shape of the gauge, but with the little dot, you can.

Some European countries require all cars to contain certain emergency items and I wonder if the glovebox recess is for those. It's too small to take the first aid kit (below) required in some countries which instead is found in the boot/trunk, but for example, France requires vehicles to contain an emergency visibility vest for the driver to use on roadside stops and the law requires it to be stored inside the cabin and not in the boot/trunk. Maybe the recess is for that?

 

Good idea! That would be about right.

I hope I wouldn't have to put it on in the car. Talk about mayhem!

 

The fuel does keep the pump cool. IF the fuel gets low enough for the pump to begin cavitating or actually runs out then, yes, the chance of it overheating and failing exists, a very good chance. Over the years there have been several threads herein testifying to such horror. So, to repeat, the easiest way to avoid any chance of an expensive/un-necessary repair is to refuel between half and a quarter tank under normal every day conditions. There's been a road trip or two where circumstances have increased the anxiety level to be sure.

 

Oh man,...I just noticed in your sig that you have the Deluxe Silly Grin package. That is what I had in my '06 too. It was a great package and worked wonderfully. Supposedly, our Countryman has it too, but I think that it is not the Deluxe version.

 

...and I do everything I can to maintain it's immortality. I hope you enjoyed yours as much as we enjoy our li'l guy. BTW, we extended our road trip last year into PA, primary destination was Gettysburg (battle anniversary), then the obvious co-pilot destination (Hershey) then just out and about. You've got fantastically beautiful motoring byways at your doorstep.

 

We had 105,000 on ours when we said goodbye to it. We still see it once in a while and that just gnawed at me a little at a time. But, we knew we would get another one in time and that time (whew!) has come. It is not the R53, but it'll do good.

There are some great motoring roads in PA - and not far south WV has a bunch too. We have a pretty good selection no matter where we go. SW OH too. I am really looking forward to a road trip with our CM this coming summer. I am thinking we may need to go up to Nova Scotia and PEI. I was there three years ago on my motorcycle and the only thing that would come close to that would be the Mini.

 

Regarding the tow hooks, even for the ALL4, it still needs to be dragged onto the flat bed - that's what it is for. I had to use mine on my ALL4 once when I was having fuel pump issues and had to take it to the dealer. Make sure you have one in your car! Hope you never need it, but be glad if your car ever needs a tow they can hook onto that (what it was designed for) rather than another part of the car...

The space in the glove box, I asked someone from MINI about it a while ago and he said it was going to be something when they were designing it, it didn't work out or they scrapped the idea, but the space was already made. Basically, it's for something that was supposed to exist, but never did so we get a blank space...

 

Then I think we (someone) should make something to go in there. I'll brew on that.

 

So, you're thinking maybe fitting a tap in there and running a hose to a mini keg in the boot?

 

It would be the most popular passenger seat out there!

 

They use the hook points to tie them down on the ships also. Can't have Mini bumper cars on the ship.

 

Double tow hook mounts are useful for many reasons; options regarding which side to pull the car from, and mounting the Mini brand bike rack, and someone makes a trailer hitch that mounts on those tow hook sockets.

I'm skeptical about gasoline cooling the fuel pump. I believe that used to be the case in older cars, and internet folklore has perpetuated that belief. Yes, I know there are stories, that how the myth is propagated.