Hey everyboy, just bought a 2010 Mini s. Few questions that were not covered in the owners manual... how do I start using the voice control dialing and all that? Also... does the cooper s come standard with the backup sensor or is that additional... if its standard I'm not sure how to use it! Thanks for the help

 

It's not standard, it was an extra $500 option I think. If you have it your rear bumper will have little circular things on it that kind of look like this (couldn't find a MINI pic):

 

As stated, it was a factory installed option. If you didn't order the car with it, then chances are no dealer would. They usually just order the premium, convenience, and cold weather pacs.

I didn't check that box when I ordered mine, I figure the Mini is so small, I can see what's back there.

If you really think you need it, you can have an back up camera installed.

 

Every time i parallel park, it always look like it's too close to the car behind me, but when i got out, it's still 2 feet away . maybe i should have bought the backup sensor.

 

The Park Distance Control is nice. You can maneuver in very tight spots with it. It is automatically actuated when you put the car in reverse. It beeps as you approach an object. So, you don't need to know anything to use it. If your car doesn't beep as you approach something in reverse, you don't have it. With a NAV, it displays a graphic that shows where you are getting close to something.

 

You could always get one of these:

http://www.etrailer.com/p-MS-913.htm

or the many others like it. At $69, its less than the ridiculus than the $500 mini charges. I've seen do-it-yourself kits on ebay for $15.

 

Thanks for the help everyone... yeah I dont want to find out the hard way if I dont have the sensor... am I close enough yet for it to start beepi.... CRASH

 

Here are two pictures from my friend's 2010 Clubman

Park Distance Control on rear bumper


Park Distance Control integrated into NAV system

 

Okay...

Just picked up a 2010 Cooper S Clubman last night. I inadvertently held the interior light switch for three seconds or so and, according to my owner's manual, switched off my interior lights "permanently". While I'm sure it's not "permanently" as in, "never to come on again within the lifetime of this car", but "until the time as you see fit to turn them back on".

Soooo...

Can anyone tell how to turn the $*#@( things back on?

*bangs head on keyboard*

 

Hit the switch again.

 

Seriously?

You think that might do it?

Just hitting the swtich again?



Yah. Already tried that.

No joy.

 

It works for me. I turn off the interior lights whenever I'm working on the car and have the doors open a lot. Hitting the toggle sets it back into normal mode where they come on when the doors open.

 

Thanks.

There must be something actually wrong with my car. The interior light toggle seems to do absolutely nothing.

Drat. Looks like we're heading back to the dealership this afternoon.

 

Okay, yah.

Even the dealership is scratching their heads over this. I'm glad it's not simply that I'm a complete idiot.

 

Don't just hit it once, press and hold it just like you did to turn it off.

 

Thanks.

Tried that, too. Pressing it forward for three seconds, checking to see if they come on, then pulling it back for three seconds and checking to see if they're on.

Again, no joy.

The only thing I can think of is it's something like the key-fobby-thingy has to be in it, the driver door closed, the car is "on" and in Park, and brake pedal depressed or some combination of those elements while pressing the switch only forward for 3.85 second then get out and walk around the car backwards four times while singing "God Save the Queen" that I'm just not getting.

 

Welp, even the dealership is left scratching their head on this one. The car's computer is showing a short in that circuit, but all of the power feeding that circuit is checking out. :dunno

After two hours at the dealership, yesterday, they decided it's a "control module" that may have a problem. They're ordering one of those and will replace it early next week.

However, if that isn't the problem, they're not sure where to go from there.

 

Could be the light is good but the car is bad. Just have them remove the car from the light and replace the car around it and see if that works.

 

That repair option was discussed.

 

It's going in for round 4.

We thought we had it fixed a week ago when changing out the "control module" did nothing and the dealership found that one of the door lights had been crushed during production causing a short at the connector. This was fixed, everything reset, and... Nothing.

The diagnostic system is still showing a short somewhere in that circuit.

They've given me a courtesy car and this time they're keeping it until it's fixed.

 

You may want to at least start looking at your state's "lemon" laws. You may be getting close with the amount of times and/or and days without your car.

 

Fixed!!



Turns out they needed that extra control module for the interior lighting.

When they put the new control module in and it didn't do anything, they put the old one back in, then checked the circuit. That's when they found the crushed door light and the short at the connector. After fixing that, they were still seeing a short somewhere on that line.

Turns out there really was something wrong with the control module. The short at the door light burned something out on the control module. So... They put the new one back in and violá! Interior lights!

 

re: voice dial, you should have a booklet but tell ya what: hit the talk-button and say

HELP!

Say help any other time to get what you can say:

You can dial a name, dial a number, read the phonebook, save a name...