I own a BRG2 Clubman...... And.........and..... not only are there more color choices for ambient lighting, are you ready? If you hold the toggle switch for 10 seconds, it will flicker one time. And then......voilà .........a steady ever changing rainbow of colors, changing ever 2 seconds in all areas of the ambient lighting - Door handles, armrests, spots, opera lights on pillars, etc. occurs. BTW, this occurs during the day as well. Not limited to "headlight on" mode. Makes me laugh. Not sure how I've lived without this new feature. It's in the 2011 manual. That's how I came across it. How did I live without this feature before?????

 

Why the hell do you not have a video of this? Go now and capture this for all of us nonbelievers!

 

+1 and RUN while you're at it

 

"For a continuous color change in the ambient lighting, press and hold the switch for longer than 10 seconds."

I swear I'm not joshing any of you!!!

 

I hate you.

And still require a video, because my hatred isn't quite as deeply rooted as it needs to be.

 

But is it a double rainbow of changing colors? Does it go all the way?

 

Bull crap - you love me. Say it. SAY IT!! You're merely overwrought with jealousy. One other change for 2011: Only those equipped with manual transmission: the gear the computer decides you need to shift to flashes for one second on the upper left quadrant of the windshield. Concurrently, for those who have upgraded to the HK sound system, a woman's voice with a Brit accent softly says "up shift now please." Or, of course, "downshift at your earliest convenience." Fantastic! Love this car.

 

How is this any different from earlier cars? My '10 S has this.

 

What is is used for? Dance parties in confined spaces? I can dig it!

 

Kevin C. Your '10 has ambient lighting that AUTOMATICALLY changes colors every two seconds? Are you certain? This is of extreme importance!

 

Actually on the windshield? Like a heads-up display?

 

No. I must confess, RKW, I am in fact joking about the heads up display of gear, along with the Brit woman's voice if you opt for the HK sound. But alas, no, I am serious about the automatic, no need to reset, changing of all of the ambient lighting! Disco is back! And it's great!

 

wow! this is really a stirring conversation.

 

Is it just me, or is Mini not offering Nav on the '11? I see the portable one, but no built in...

 

True.

 

on Dec builds. Comes with MINI Connected

 

perhaps the BMW/MINI engineering brain trust should spend less time on ridiculous **** like openometers and variable mood lighting, and more time addressing serious mechanical and build quality issues.

 

I have a 10' and just tried this...It doesn't work. Oh well.

I love ambient lighting and wish there was more of it in the MINI. I'm happy the MINI is offering this and as far as build & quality issues...I must be lucky, because this is my 2nd trouble free, rattle free MINI. I think the build quality is superior.

 

Well said!!!

 

I haven't had any serious build/mechanical issues with either of our 1st-gen MINIs, but I'd have a hard time buying a new one until they bring back the equivalent of the Chrono Pack (i.e. real gauges for coolant temp, oil temp and oil pressure.) Spending time on things like variable mood lighting and the openometer seems silly until they have a decent engine-monitoring capability.

 

yeah... all that extra could have been put into something like... hmm an oil temp gauge or coolant temp gauge? As nice as it is to have a scan gauge, I just dont know any car that doesnt monitor something as important as oil temp...

 

You're kidding, aren't you? The auto ever changing ambient lighting colors is a major techno leap forward.

 

I like the way you think!

 

It's official, the MINI is now a true clown car...

 

See, here I am computing the possible benefit, or detriment, of trading in my '09 MC (the dealership called and wants to make me an offer of some sort) when in reality I should be thinking of the added value of having rainbow mood lighting. Now if only we could add strobe lights, then it would be perfect! LOL, the rainbow colors sounds awesome, but I think that they would drive me nuts after about 5 minutes.