So, I've had my car for about 2 years now and I've noticed somethings that in any other car I'd assume were broken. are any of them actually broken?

1. You can't close the windows when the door is open. I'm not sure why they would be programmed that way.
2. When it's nice out i pop the sport button and traction control. Is the only way to visually tell if the sport button is pressed the tiny little light on the button? Shouldn't there be a dashboard indicator?
3. The seatbelt alarm. I hate that thing. If the door is open and the engine is on I bet the driver can decide if it is a safe situation to have their seatbelt off. The thing should turn off after a certain amount of time too. Couldn't they have just used a regular chime instead of the worst noise ever?
4. Here's a fun one: I pulled the seatbelt out all the way to get it to lock. When i unbuckled it it swung under the seat adjustment lever. I had to take that part off because the seat was still in locking/rachet mode! Who would want to lock the seatbelt out with less than 6 inches of play? that was annoying.
5. Occasionally, i stall my car. i know shameful. But even with the clutch in all the way sometimes i have to cycle the car and press the button like three times. shouldn't the clutch in tell the computer i'm ready to drive?
6. The fuel tank gauges are working according to mini service. I have them check every time i go in. But using the obdII port and comparing to filling up/division method shows that the gauges are wayyy off. If they are working based on the one test service can do doesn't that just mean their testing method isn't so comprehensive. When i called up corporate about this they wouldn't acknowledge a problem. I explained that when i have 2/9 of a tank left i have almost no fuel. I asked what car the rep drives. she cheerfully replied a civic. Great - how far can you drive when the low fuel light comes on - quite a bit - well in my car i'd run out of fuel when the car says i have 22% of a tank. mini does not see this as a problem i was told.

end rant.
-Alex

 

Let me give this a shot since you have 6 Qs:

1. Something is not right. You should be able to close/open windows with he door open. Likely Needs reprogramming at dealer.
2. Yes, sport modes does show up with the word sport for a few seconds, the it does away.
3. No way to change that
4. Learn to pull the seatbelts less
5 strange, it sounds odd. Lift up the clutch and depress again before restarting.
6. Fuel gauges are non linear. Learn to live with it.

 

Bys, my sales advisor drives an MB. Maybe I paid too much for my car.

 

What does the trip computer say about miles-to-empty when you get down to two carrots left?

I have seen very few fuel gauges in my life--in any car--that were good linear representations of how much fuel was actually in the tank. I figure that as long as "full" on the gauge means you're close to full in the tank, and "empty" on the gauge means you're close to empty in the tank, it's good enough. If you're really lucky, the half-way mark might actually mean you're close to half a tank left, but don't count on it.

The distance-to-empty readout gives you a somewhat reasonable countdown, based on your fuel usage over the last ~50 miles. That's why you can see it go up sometimes, especially when on long low-speed trips with little or no stopping.

 

First let me say, I love the string title "Is it broken or is it mini." Let me answer by saying mostly it's MINI!
1. MINI - The windows should go up. But my question has always been: "why do windows have to be programmed?" I think they should just go up and down. I mean, what else does a window do.
2. MINI - I agree but I can "feel" it's in sport mode. Now the DSC is anouther thing. It has an indicator in my tach that NEVER goes off.
3. MINI - Just goofy
4. I don't know about this one
5. Have you tried: after stalling, shift to nuetral, let out the clutch, press the clutch in and then press the button?
6. MINI - if the carrot were any indication of how much gas you have, at one missing it would indicate I could go 1200 miles on a tank. It is just best not to run dry. I never have but I have gone to the point where the OBC said I had 5 miles to go and I put in 14.1 gallons...in my 13 galon tank.

My take is, you either enjoy the car or buy a Civic.

 

@austins haha! i do love the car. The engine restart idea you have is a good one. The problem that if i stall i'm used to slamming in the clutch and cranking to get going again.

The good news is that i wouldn't have mentioned the window thing when bringing in my car for a warantee oil change tomorrow. The dealer should have a list of things you get told when you get the car. "Hey your gas gauge doesn't work, rattles are normal, and your new wiper blades will only last a month. enjoy! "

 

I gotta tell you though, it is a love/hate relationship for me because our family has had 21 Hondas over the past 30 years and my almost 4 year old MINI has been in the shop for various warranty work as much as all 21 of my Hondas.

I haven't paid anything yet but I think it's coming. My MA says it's time to trade or even better sell and lease. I guess if you leased for 3 years, everything would be covered. It's a shame though that a $32,000 car has so many problems. And that the dealer can smile and say, "Well, you have to expect these things. After all, it's a MINI" like that excuses poor craftsmanship and problems.

But like you, I am a masochist when it comes to my MINI.

 

That's weird about the windows, my 11' MCS doesn't have that problem and I am the original owner too. Go to your dealer for sure!

 

Well, of course your MA would say that:

 

And he says it with a huge smile...

Lease your MINIs on a 3 year basis and you will always be "worry free."
Of course, you will never be "Payment free."

 

i just brought my car in and mentioned the windows. "uhhh, yeah, it's not supposed to work like that."

 

For #3, in the automatics, sport mode is indicated if you are in drive. 'DS' is displayed instead of 'D'. It's too bad that you can't permanently put the car in sport mode...

 

Jeff, theres a guy on here that sells a module, forget who it is and I think its like $50, that'll remember what mode you were in last and reset it, so the car will always start in DS if you were in DS last drive cycle. Might be what you want ..............