This will be my first summer with my MINI. I usually go to the drive in, yes we still have one, once a week.
Normally I would have a key and turn it backwards for auxiliary power, but realized that I don't have that option with the MINI. How do I listen to the radio, as this is how the drive in speakers work, without killing the battery?

 

Might be different with your 2007, but on my first gen, if the radio is on when I shut the car off, it remains on until I remove the key. There may be a timeout on that, though.

Edit: My statement above is a lie. I retracted this in post 5.

 

On another note, will you be able to see the screen without craning your neck?

 

I hope so, actually all the parking spots are mounded uphill, so it should be ok, if not I guess lawn chairs will do.
:popc orn:
My radio does stay on until I remove the key but just wondered if this is going to kill the battery? With a regular key you can turn it part way forward and have only electrical without starting the car or turn it backwards which doesn't drain the battery as fast.
I have also heard that these batteries don't have as much reserve as other car batteries. Is this true?

 

I just went out to my car to make sure I wasn't giving out bad info. It seems I was. I must have been thinking of my Volkswagen when I wrote my response. I'm thinking that maybe a battery operated portable radio might be your best bet.

 

Just put the fob in and turn on the radio. Have done this at our drive-in. Works just fine.

 

Thank-you, was worried about it draining the battery.

 

On an 07 you can turn the radio on by pushing the lower button. I think it'll turn off on its own after a while though

 

It has a 15 minute time limit before it shuts off....quite an annoyance when tuning a complicated stereo LOL

 

We did a drive in movie night as one of our first club events. We used a portable radio, that is what the club suggested, but we also took chairs and sat outside of the car until it got cold. No worries on draining the battery that way, and it frees you up to sit where you like.

We saw Transformers, by the way... the sight of all of those MINIs right up front, with their little MINI bonnets turned up to the screen watching the Transformers, was memorable. It was also at an old Tiki style drive in, which was a lot of fun. But I sure wish that people would be more considerate. Yelling kids, car lights and alarms going off, people driving out halfway through, and the TRASH they left behind. Sigh. Well, it was fun anyway, and the club people are awesome. (So Cal MINI Maniacs)

 

That would be a sight to see.
I try go during the week when there aren't as many people there. I do know what you mean about inconsiderate people.
On weekday nights there is carload night and another night is 6.00/person. $12.00 for 2 people to watch 2 movies is a bargain compared to the theatre.
I would like to be able to use the car radio if it won't kill the battery would sound much better than a portable radio.

 

with the FOB if the key is inserted the radio does not shut off (at least with my car wit comfort access i don't know if that changes anything).

I played my radio fro hours and didn't drain the battery. your mini warns you when your batter get close to were you won't be able to start the car. it happen to me once i just started the car and ran in for 30 mins and problem solved.

 

Drive-in's. Man that brings back memories. Wish they still had them everywhere.

 

Plug the fob in and turn on the radio. It will turn off in in 15 minutes. The secret is to pull the fob out push it back in; the radio should turn off and turn back on. After which the radio will stay on. The battery will last through a movie with no problem. Our drive-in will jump start a car with dead battery for free, so no problem.

 

That's great to know, about how to keep it from turning off!