I custom ordered a brand new 2012 Cooper and upon arrival the dealer told me there is a problem. The car, and apparently over 1,000 others, does not have the satellite radio activated. The dealers have been trying to get the right "program" to activate the radio for over a week. For a while they thought that it was the wrong radio (hardware) but then said the radio is correct but it needs "programmed." They've been waiting for the correct program or programming instructions from the manufacturer for over a week now. My new mini is just sitting on their lot waiting. And I'm sitting here waiting to get my new car!

I don't know what to believe - is it possible that it just needs some sort of code or programming? Is this a common experience/occurrence with Minis? This is my first Mini - is this a sign of more problems to come? Has anyone else heard of this issue?

 

There was another new owner that was expressing this exact concern recently.

I couldn't tell you if the car needs programming or what, but this is not a common occurrence.
Also, I would not be too worried about problems in the future. The cars did get a refresh just recently (2011) that fixed the dreaded timing chain issue. Which was a big problem with the cars before then.

I have a 2011 Cooper and it has been rock solid so far at 8800 miles. One thing I recommend is changing the oil once you break the car in. 1200-2000 miles. Check the oil level often as some people find out later rather than sooner that their oil level is x quarts too low, and that will lead to problems.


EDIT:: Found the other thread, https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...-fun-fact.html
According to the OP of that thread 1007 2012 Coopers are missing satellite radio and 8 have been sold. I guess you're one of the 8. lol

 

So, what happened with your mini? Mine has no satellite radio active either. Is there a fix?

 

When I picked up my 2012 Convertible S today my MA told me there was a problem getting all the channels. He said that in about two weeks they will contact Sirius to get it programmed. Apparently it is a two-week free preview mode. He said the fix is easy and he can do it over the phone with me then.

I was happy I brought along a CD with me as it could only get one FM channel on the way home. We'll see what happens.

On the way down to pick it up my CUBE's windshield got broken "TWICE" with rocks thrown up by passing cars. Talk about insult added to injury. Tomorrow the windshield on that car will be replaced. Luckily the cabrio made it home without damage.

 

When I picked my car up 10 days ago the Sirius was in preview mode and kept flashing the Sirius 800 number and the the ESN # of the radio. I tried to activate on the website but neither the ESN or VIN numbers were in the system so I had to call "Daniel" at Sirius to get set up. It was no problem took 5 minutes on the phone and about 15 minutes later the activation signal came through to my car. Gotta say I like it a lot more than I thought I would except for going under bridges and such...

 

The difference for me is that there is no menu option anywhere for satellite radio. No preview mode--nothing. It's like it just doesn't have a satellite radio.

 

Yeah, that does sound like someone blew it at the factory. Odd that it's taking the dealer this long to get the software to load. It will be interesting to see what if any compensation Mini gives you for this.

 

I have issue but on a 2011 salvage clubman so no warranty. Where do I start to find the fix? Where is the unit? The dealer says it could be as simple as a wire that was cut but want to estime $500 to diagnose. Any clues and help would be appreciated.

 

Probly gonna have to go through Sirius to get the subscription started. On my wife's Mustang they're holding the treble control hostage until I call their number

 

My 2012 Countryman had this problem. I called Sirrius and after 2 more calls and about an hour on with a CSA, they had my radio working. I didn't bother with MINI.

 

My satellite doesn't even show as an option when I hit 'mode'. Was yours the same? Thanks for the help.

 

And it seems odd that the dealer wouldn't offer delivery of your new car, you've waited for, and arrange to have you return later to have the radio "programmed" or whatever. Why not let you enjoy it in the meantime? Curious.

 

No I had it as an option but it just wouldnt activate, so I was stuck on the previews for a week until I had the time to call again.

 

This.

I realize this is an old thread, but I would never wait for my car because of satellite radio. I don't really care about Sirius and only my boyfriend uses it when he's in the car with me. I always use Pandora from the phone with the Aux Input.

 

I heard from my MA that this is a common issue. I picked up my CMS last Friday and my MA had the radio activated within a few minutes on the phone with a Sirius tech. I think my issue was the multiple accounts I have with both XM and Sirius and Sirius couldn't decide at first which account to add the new car to. Hopefully I don't find out they created a new billing account.

 

There is an issue that could be one of the reasons the Sat radio is not working. The radio is programmed for sat radio at the time of the radio build. If the radio does not get a signal for 6 months, it shuts it off. Sounds like a long time, but we had this happen on cars build in Australia and then shipped to the US because no signal can get through the shipping container to "see" the satellite. Also half way across the globe no signal is there anyway. They extended the time to solve the problem for this particular case. Not sure if Mini/BMW has a manufacturer rep, but the at the time I served that purpose and discussed it directly with the Sirius/XM technical team. The solution was to send the radio serial number to Siruis/XM for them to reactivate the radio. The vehicle VIN should allow the dealer to find the radio ID number or it will display when the key is turned on (not familiar enough with MINI's to know if that is the case).

 

Sorry not to check this very often. I am finally posting the resolution. Turns out that I did INDEED get this issue corrected as follows:

1. Talked to my sales rep. She forwarded the details to the regional rep.
2. Did not hear back for over a week on this.
3. Contacted customer service via an 800 number. Spoke with an agent who claimed that just because I was getting "welcome" emails from Sirius XM did not mean that I was supposed to have an XM radio. I told him it was a standard option. He put me on hold, came back a while later and said, yes, it is supposed to have XM. He contacted my local dealer service dept. and all I needed to do was to call to setup an appointment.
4. Contacted service. Setup the appointment. They said I was in luck, they had the part in. $500. I told them it should be free. Puzzled, he put me on hold, then came back and said, YES, there is a bulletin out on this situation. We setup an appointment.
5. Brought in my MINI, left with a loaner.
6. Picked up my MINI the following day. No charge, no loaner fee. Now happily listening to XM radio. Everything else left intact (Nav, MiniConnected, etc.). I am happy with the outcome. Even got a free car wash!

 

I know this is an old thread but I want to post this here since the thread just helped me out a lot. I just experienced what caver01 describes in post # 6 and post #17. I have a 2012 Clubman S. The Sirius radio was working since I got the car in May. On Sept 8, I was listening to Sirius and I switched the radio "Mode" to FM to catch a football score on a local FM news station. I then tried to change the radio "Mode" back to Sirius, and Sirius just disappeared. The satellite icon was gone from the Mode list.

Hendrick MINI took great care of me and my MINI this past week. There is a service bulletin. The service receipt that I was given states:

"Tech verified icon for Sirius sat radio is no longer present. Found bulletin 65 10 11. Found internal fault in radio. Went and performed vehicle test. Bulletin states that when this condition exists, there is no applicable test plan to generate a corresponding diagcode. Replaced radio per bulletin 65 10 11. Programmed necessary control units including CAS."

A couple additional notes:

The replacement of the radio causes you to lose all radio station presets.

The replacement of the radio also results in a new radio ESN that you have to register with Sirius customer care in place of the previous radio ESN.

Due to the amount of reprogramming done when the radio is swapped, the personalization settings may revert to defaults. These are the settings (under the "checked key" icon in SET/INFO when pressing the BC button) such as : locking/unlocking confirmation signals, unlocking response, automatic locking, pathway lighting, daytime running lights, and triple turn signal activation.

 

Was sat radio free in 2012s and not in 2013?

 

Sirius was a standard option with a 1 year free trial in 2012. I believe I read that MINI was making Sirius an orderable option, and not a standard option, in 2013. The 2013 may have reduced or no trial period.

EDIT: Found my link. For 2013, looks like Sirius is a $250 option with a 1 year trial.

General Motors used to have 1 year free of XM. They're down to 3 months.

 

Wow, MitchbSC. Something to watch for. Mine hasn't disappeare now that it has been added, but knowing this can happen (and that bulletins exist for it) will hopefully save folks time later. Thanks for posting this!

 

Thanks back at you, caver01. Your posts earlier in the thread really helped with describing to my dealer that I had something wonky going on that 20 minutes, a little WD40, and a wrench would not solve.

 

I have a 2013 with Sirius, free for 1 year. A $250.00 option.

Now, if you have Sirius and just let it expire, they will e-mail you with great deals in order to get you to re-up. Personally, I wouldn't be without it. I know it doesn't have the best fidelity, but where else can you get a steady diet of Jimmy Buffet and Bob Marley?

 

A USB drive, for one.

 

Too much like work.

Admit to being lazy in some areas of my life, music being one of those areas. I didn't buy CDs, have no music on my computer or phone. Sirius/XM gives me all the variety I could ask for.

I even use the Music Choice stations on cable TV. I did go high tech with my new "Smart" TV and use Pandora.