Just a couple of things to note after I got my car back from some minor warranty work earlier this week.

- HUD Display "Rotation" settings have icons before and after the sliders. I also got an explanation of what this does. Due to some of the inherent imperfections in installing the HUD module in the dashboard, sometimes the entire module may not be level, so the Rotation setting allows for a 2 degree rotation (clockwise or counterclockwise) to compensate for any HUD module leveling imperfections at install.

- GREEN Mode. Before the software update, when I was coasting either on the highway or at moderate speed, I noticed that the transmission decoupled from the engine and the Revs went way down, the needle just dropped and the car truly coasted. After the software update, it seems that the programming has been update to idle the car at a higher RPM, which means that coasting isn't as "freewheeling" as it was before. I confirmed this with the service manager at my dealership. He said that the reprogramming was in part to address some MINI owner's stalling issues, so they programmed the idle to be at a higher RPM. It does drop, slightly, however (I have noticed that), but it doesn't fall off the charts like it used to. Slight engine braking is normal.

The Green mode bit sort of disappointed me because I did enjoy coasting down the highway and allowing gravity to take me for the most part.

Just thought you all might want to know.

BTW, I took my car in for weeping wiper nozzle, hood latching, and stalling (only twice since I purchased the car in July), but thought I'd have it checked out.

 

Which software version are you now running?

Just curious, my HUD has had the rotation adjustment since I picked it up 2 weeks ago. Maybe the dealer updated it before delivery?

 

I'll post the software version later today.

As for the HUD update, I may not have been clear. The adjustment setting has always been there, the icons before and after the slider are new additions.

I believe the adjustment setting if for the user / driver to adjust for comfort along with height and brightness.

 

What kind of rev range are you talking about when it's way down, and how is it now after the update? 750? 1500? I would like to have the coasting with 700-800 RPM, and I don't understand why a engine would stall. Yeah, seems like it'll waste more gas now.

 

First off, sorry, I haven't had a chance (well, I forgot) to take a picture of the software screen yesterday. I'll post it today for sure.

To answer your question, I LOVED the coasting. I do miss it now, but if the SW update is necessary to fix something which can leave a few people in the lurch, so be it.

It used to coast between 400-700RPM, the RPM needle basically dropped off a cliff when it coasted before the SW update.

Now, it hovers around 1500RPM depending on the speed. The slower you're doing, it does dip below 1000. But it doesn't feel like the transmission truly decouples anymore, although what do I know, even if it doesn't feel like it does, I don't know if it really doesn't. It just feels different... I'll get used to it of course. Maybe a future update will bring this back.

The SA told me that one of the reasons he was given that this was done because the engine was revving /idling too low in some cases (like my car), and sometimes, the car would stall in times of coasting, or in my case, when the car would slowly come to a stop and it seemed as though the engine would be "thinking" should I stop? Should I keep going?

Although it only happened to me twice in a safe area without too many cars around, others here have experienced it on much more well traveled roads, and stalling like that definitely put them in harms way, so I completely understand MINI wanting to prevent this. Unfortunately, they've taken some of the fun out of the car for me (coasting). Maybe I'm weird that I liked coasting so much! LOL

 

I like saving gas.

 

Here's the SW version for those wondering:

 

Can you skip to next track on the multimedia wheel button with the update? I hate that on bluetooth mp3 music I have to use the **** for next and previous track.

 

I've been able to use the steering wheel up and down buttons to skip to next and previous tracks from the start. Both while connected via USB as well as on Bluetooth streaming.

Maybe I'm misunderstanding you, what **** are you speaking about? The only **** related to multimedia I have on my dash is the volume / power / mute **** under my NAV screen.

 

Sal1K, do you know if it fixes the issue with spotify or some other music services where the album art shows for the 1st song you play and stays that way for as long as you listen?

 

Unfortunately, I don't use Spotify, so I can't help with that question.

 

Wasn't there an answer to that artwork problem?

I see the below solution for the iPhone. I think I read another solution where the dealer gave some advice.
I think that's here. Maybe CobraBob can elaborate. https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...-for-help.html

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...one-6-fit.html

 

Thanks for the reply, I have not had any issues with Pandora radio, spotify and Google music and a few others stick on the album art for the first tracks that are played.

 

Ya my steering wheel up and down on Bluetooth says "not available" but on USB works fine to switch tracks. :(

I wonder if it is because of the phone, software, or because I don't have ConnectedXL just the Connected...

 

I was noticing the changes to coasting after this software update as well. I'm glad that it was something intentional. However, its seems like my MINI never goes in to coast mode now. Previously on my 15 mile, all surface street, drive to work I could count on getting at least a mile of coasting. Since the update, the coasting mileage counter on the MINIMALISM screen never moves off zero. Also, the green driving bar at the bottom the instrument cluster used to light up while coasting. It would light up in "best performance" space on the bar. Now, if I let off the gas it immediately moves all the way to the left indicating that the car is braking.

Has your coasting mileage counter moved off zero since the update?

 

My experience so far matches yours. The times that my car is truly "coasting" where the green bar lights up are fewer now than before the SW upgrade. The car wants to brake. Even when the green bar lights up, the car is ever so slightly slowing down for me.

 

I think idling above 1500 RPM and if it changes as speed decrease, it means it's engine braking. My Mazda CX-5 never decouples engine unless on full stop, or I manually put in N. When I do put in N while coasting on highways, it'll idle near 750 RPM.

Maybe this update is why the EPA estimates on highway went down so much from 41MPG HWY to 37 MPG HWY on 2015 Hardtop with automatic trans.

I'd keep an eye on what kind of MPG you guys are getting after the software update on your 2014.

On my CX-5, I see a big difference when I use coasting in N, but I have to use it carefully and only on roads I'm very familiar with when there's no traffic.

 

I paid attention while driving around to see at what RPM the coasting might kick in at now. Even at 2500 RPM going 75 MPH, the coasting did not kick in when I released the accelerator. I don't know how to get the RPM higher, and it certainly used to kick in in that scenario.

I'm not happy about this. Maybe MINI was attempting to correct an issue some were experiencing, but I wasn't. I feel they disabled a key feature (or at least one I really liked) of my car without my knowledge or consent. Do you think it would be possible to have the dealer do a software downgrade? Would calling MINI USA have any effect?

 

I feel you. I really liked the true coasting feature. Unfortunately, unless MINI has a SW Upgrade which brought back this feature alone (or accentuated it a bit), I doubt that dealers would do a SW downgrade. It would mean more liability. Usually these SW upgrades also tack on other less than obvious tweaks as well.

I still like my car, I just miss that feature immensely.

That being said, the auto start stop is much smoother (less jarring) than before the upgrade, so there's that.

 

Quickly waking this thread to say that I too have noticed some changes on Green mode and with coasting. For one thing, driving in Green Mode is no longer like a "limp along" mode - it's actually got a bit more pep (my derriere dyno talking here).
Also some of the coasting/ cylinder de-coupling seems diminished but looking at one of the displays under Minimalism shows that when not coasting (with foot off the accelerator) the battery is being charged. A small price to pay for keeping my battery charging nicely? Maybe the previous coasting was just a bit too lethargic for the charging system??
Anyhow, found that interesting. Felt like I was in a Prius