R60 Option Codes
Thread Starter
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2nd Gear
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 102
Likes: 1
From: Las Vegas, Nevada
Option Codes
I just used the BMW VIN decoder on my car (2017 Countryman S) and among the options listed is:
544 - Cruise Control With Braking Function
This sounds like the front camera will detect following distance and automatically brake if you get too close - but I thought this capability was only available with the Active Driving Assistant (which I do not have). Seems like this is labeled incorrectly or maybe it has the feature, but it won't work without the front camera. (I do have the fully loaded package.)
Anyone know what this means?
David
544 - Cruise Control With Braking Function
This sounds like the front camera will detect following distance and automatically brake if you get too close - but I thought this capability was only available with the Active Driving Assistant (which I do not have). Seems like this is labeled incorrectly or maybe it has the feature, but it won't work without the front camera. (I do have the fully loaded package.)
Anyone know what this means?
David
6th Gear
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,599
Likes: 42
From: Bothell, WA
It's referring to Dynamic Cruise Control, which is standard.
If you had cruise on and set and either went into a corner at speed, down a steep hill, or manually changed the set speed low enough, the car is capable of braking itself a little to keep better control. Doesn't use the camera, but uses set speed, steering angle, and pitch/yaw of the car. In practice, it works pretty well, especially if you're used to older cruise control that would barrel you down a hilly freeway.
The ACTIVE cruise control that comes with the Active Driver Assist and front camera will monitor for cars in front of you to keep a speed and a safe distance without driver intervention.
If you had cruise on and set and either went into a corner at speed, down a steep hill, or manually changed the set speed low enough, the car is capable of braking itself a little to keep better control. Doesn't use the camera, but uses set speed, steering angle, and pitch/yaw of the car. In practice, it works pretty well, especially if you're used to older cruise control that would barrel you down a hilly freeway.
The ACTIVE cruise control that comes with the Active Driver Assist and front camera will monitor for cars in front of you to keep a speed and a safe distance without driver intervention.
Thread Starter
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2nd Gear
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 102
Likes: 1
From: Las Vegas, Nevada
Thanks for the info. I took a look at the owners manual and it says only "The desired speed is also maintained downhill". One of the things that bugs me about MINI is the absence of clear information about these features. These cars - particularly heavily optioned cars like mine - have many useful features, but they are often hidden. I guess the theory is that you find them by experimenting or you ask your Advisor - but I don't think this is a useful approach. I guess this approach is related to the way computer/phone games are presented these days - essentially no manuals are provided. I am an old guy, and I like to read manuals to orient me to products. That seems to be almost universally missing these days.
So, siriuszero, you are knowledgeable about these things. How to do you find out about these features? MINI sales and owner documentation is minimal - just try to figure out what an option does by reading the MINI web description! (One thing that drives me nuts about the Owners Manual is that it discusses how to set options - but doesn't describe the options available, and/or why you might want to choose one option or the other.)
This extends even to basic car specifications. For example, what is the battery specification - the alternator charging specifications, how much oil does the engine use (with and without a filter change), etc.? Service manuals must exist for these things, but they are "secret" and are restricted to MINI service centers (though I thought there was a legal requirement to provide this information to non-MINI service centers).
In one sense this is all irrelevant. All my service is done by MINI - I used to be able to work on cars - change oil/filter, flush radiator, replace spark plugs, set timing, etc. but I wouldn't even attempt that on the MINI (or on other modern cars). I lift the hood and admire it - but touch nothing. There isn't even an oil dipstick any more - I have to use the car computer to check that now.
But MINI owners are, I think, different - we enjoy driving and like to understand our cars and how they work. That seems hard to do. Any good sources of information that you use to get this kind of information?
David
So, siriuszero, you are knowledgeable about these things. How to do you find out about these features? MINI sales and owner documentation is minimal - just try to figure out what an option does by reading the MINI web description! (One thing that drives me nuts about the Owners Manual is that it discusses how to set options - but doesn't describe the options available, and/or why you might want to choose one option or the other.)
This extends even to basic car specifications. For example, what is the battery specification - the alternator charging specifications, how much oil does the engine use (with and without a filter change), etc.? Service manuals must exist for these things, but they are "secret" and are restricted to MINI service centers (though I thought there was a legal requirement to provide this information to non-MINI service centers).
In one sense this is all irrelevant. All my service is done by MINI - I used to be able to work on cars - change oil/filter, flush radiator, replace spark plugs, set timing, etc. but I wouldn't even attempt that on the MINI (or on other modern cars). I lift the hood and admire it - but touch nothing. There isn't even an oil dipstick any more - I have to use the car computer to check that now.
But MINI owners are, I think, different - we enjoy driving and like to understand our cars and how they work. That seems hard to do. Any good sources of information that you use to get this kind of information?
David
6th Gear
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,599
Likes: 42
From: Bothell, WA
Thanks for the info. I took a look at the owners manual and it says only "The desired speed is also maintained downhill". One of the things that bugs me about MINI is the absence of clear information about these features. These cars - particularly heavily optioned cars like mine - have many useful features, but they are often hidden. I guess the theory is that you find them by experimenting or you ask your Advisor - but I don't think this is a useful approach. I guess this approach is related to the way computer/phone games are presented these days - essentially no manuals are provided. I am an old guy, and I like to read manuals to orient me to products. That seems to be almost universally missing these days.
So, siriuszero, you are knowledgeable about these things. How to do you find out about these features? MINI sales and owner documentation is minimal - just try to figure out what an option does by reading the MINI web description! (One thing that drives me nuts about the Owners Manual is that it discusses how to set options - but doesn't describe the options available, and/or why you might want to choose one option or the other.)
This extends even to basic car specifications. For example, what is the battery specification - the alternator charging specifications, how much oil does the engine use (with and without a filter change), etc.? Service manuals must exist for these things, but they are "secret" and are restricted to MINI service centers (though I thought there was a legal requirement to provide this information to non-MINI service centers).
In one sense this is all irrelevant. All my service is done by MINI - I used to be able to work on cars - change oil/filter, flush radiator, replace spark plugs, set timing, etc. but I wouldn't even attempt that on the MINI (or on other modern cars). I lift the hood and admire it - but touch nothing. There isn't even an oil dipstick any more - I have to use the car computer to check that now.
But MINI owners are, I think, different - we enjoy driving and like to understand our cars and how they work. That seems hard to do. Any good sources of information that you use to get this kind of information?
David
So, siriuszero, you are knowledgeable about these things. How to do you find out about these features? MINI sales and owner documentation is minimal - just try to figure out what an option does by reading the MINI web description! (One thing that drives me nuts about the Owners Manual is that it discusses how to set options - but doesn't describe the options available, and/or why you might want to choose one option or the other.)
This extends even to basic car specifications. For example, what is the battery specification - the alternator charging specifications, how much oil does the engine use (with and without a filter change), etc.? Service manuals must exist for these things, but they are "secret" and are restricted to MINI service centers (though I thought there was a legal requirement to provide this information to non-MINI service centers).
In one sense this is all irrelevant. All my service is done by MINI - I used to be able to work on cars - change oil/filter, flush radiator, replace spark plugs, set timing, etc. but I wouldn't even attempt that on the MINI (or on other modern cars). I lift the hood and admire it - but touch nothing. There isn't even an oil dipstick any more - I have to use the car computer to check that now.
But MINI owners are, I think, different - we enjoy driving and like to understand our cars and how they work. That seems hard to do. Any good sources of information that you use to get this kind of information?
David
Service manuals are becoming obsolete for car manufacturers. Cars are more complicated than ever, information changes often, it makes more sense to use a computer database with all the necessary information, accessible by MINI techs. MINI does make this database available to the public as well for a monthly fee (https://www.bmwtis.com/), though I wish some basic information was more readily available. Caring for your own car is also becoming a diminishing practice. People seem to want to do the least possible to maintain their car. I see it all the time. So many people buying cars these days don't even know to check the oil, much less how to.
This forum has lots of great information on it, having a knowledgeable MA or MINI Genius helps a lot too. Aboutyourmini.com has a lot of great info on basic stuff as well.
