Hey,

I am a proud owner of my new 2009 MCS!! I'm new to this community and I'm still in the process of knowing my Mini better

While searching I read a few threads that spoke about their Mini's running out of gas. I was wondering how can I check that in my MCS? I see the amount of gas left on my speedometer but no indication of how many miles can I run my Mini for?

Any pointers where do I check it? Or is this a new feature added in 2009+ Minis?

 

Do you have an owners manual?

 

Use the BC stalk to cycle the display in the tach or the display screen on the radio will also give you the info in a less convenient place and not show all of you radio function while doing it. If you car didn't come with a manual I suggest creating an account on the Owner's Lounge on the MINI site and DL the manual for your car, read it...read it again and go play with the settings and switches.

 

Manual tells you to fill up as soon as the low gas indicator comes on. On my 2010 that means the last two bars. I would worry more about filling up than seeing how many more miles you can go before it actually dies from no gas. It's just an estimate anyway. It could say 30 miles before empty.... if you drive conservatively. If you're stomping on the gas, then it's likely less. Again, just fill up when you're low and you never have to worry. If you know you're going on a long drive, plan ahead.

 

Two things to keep in mind: Running out of fuel can be very expensive as in having to replace a burned out fuel pump and 2: It is always better to burn off the top half of the tank than the bottom. That's pilot speak for 'don't embarrass yourself by running out of fuel at the most inconvenient time'.

 

My daughter likes to "tempt fate" in her MINI as far as the gas thing goes. She got down to 8 miles (according to her display) before empty. I was on the phone with her at the time and even she was starting to get nervous. I told her to get the number for roadside assistance handy. Geez....she did make it to the gas station. She put 13.5 gallons in her tank. (owner's manual says it holds 13.2). I'm hoping this little incident scared her enough to not wait so long next time.

 

Don't let her know you can get around 14.5 gallons in the tank. She probably had another 40 miles she could have gone.

 

Last week I got 72 miles once the candy corn turned red. When I hit the gas station it took 13.9 gallons. I have the regular hardtop though. No turbo.

 

I've driven half a mile on "--". Scary. It seems from 5 down to 0 miles left its totally inaccurate. I don't let it go past 30 if I can help it.

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I read my owner's manual.. read it again and again and after struggling quite a bit, I finally found the option to see the miles you can drive! And then when I took my mini out in the morning, it won't show me my speed :( .. It looks like the display has speed tied up to something else and when I change the display to the total miles left, it doesn't show me the speed
The On-board computer is so difficult to configure!! Now I'm trying my hand at auto door locking and I'm not able to find the menu!!
My mini is just two weeks old and I haven't reached a point of low gas warning. Where does it show the low gas warning? Is it on the speedometer besides the fuel available?
I have 4 bars left and OBC says that I can drive for 90miles more. I'm very skeptical about that. I might fill up fuel when I have 2 bars left!
Thanks all for the advice

 

The last two bars light up red at 60 miles. At 30, the last dot, you will also get a low fuel indicator on the tach.

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I'd rather pay attention to my fuel status and ride to my destination than ignore it and have to hoof it. Besides the money spent to replace a smoked HPFP could be better spent on performance mods.

 

My suggestion....just by fuel when convient around 1/4 tank....
The pump uses fuel to cool it....so helps lengthen its life, and you never know when some event might happen delaying a fillup....maybe a blaclout, a storm, traffic jam, etc....no reason to tempt fate. And remember, miles left is based up you avg mpg, and what the gas guage THINKS you have....and cars sometimes run out on as much as an eighth ......just play it safe!!

 

When I did run out of gas, with the miles to empty still saying 3 miles, I put 14.5 gallons in him. There was plenty left for her.

 

I am NOT showing this thread to my daughter. Lol

 

My former 2010 hatch ran out with 50-something still indicated to go. Now I get nervous if I get to the point when the happy orange carrots turn into angry red carrots. Not a good idea to trust those things, IMO.

 

I like that description.

 

If you car is new, take it to the sales/service office. And have them set things for you. I did this to have the doors lock. I don't like fooling around w/ the settings myself.