I have a 2003 MCS and I want to know if anyone knows why the temp gauge starts flashing and beeping when it hits 37 degrees F. It scared me to death the first time it did this because I had no idea what it was. I do have all 3 packages on my Mini.

 

It's a warning that ice may be present on road surfaces if the atmospheric conditions are right.

X2

 

It took me by surprise, too, the first time I heard the familiar "airplane announcement" beeps from my MINI. If you do frequent air travel, you'll notice it's a very similar sound -- much like the sound you hear right before the pilot or stewardess speaks over the PA system...

But, if you think the beep sound at 37 degrees F is alarming, wait until you hear what it "says" at -37 F!!!


Rock On,

-MB

 

Another feature I miss out on living in Southern California. :???:

 

>>Another feature I miss out on living in Southern California.

 

i first thought my car was broken.

but as mentioned above, its a warning notification for frozen bridges, etc.

 

Do MA's not explain this upon delivery? The Freeze Warning chime should be explained right there in the owners manual; chime at or below 37F and flash display momentarily.

I still get amused how people freak out from the chime the first time they experience it! Sorry for the condescension.

 

hi wendy,
it surprised me too. i live in southern california but ski at mammoth. so the first time it did it i was alarmed, just another bmw quirk

 

This is a typical BMW feature. I remembered the first time I experienced that back in in the late 80's with a 750iL, I thought something was wrong with the car. :smile:

_________________
04 IB/W JCW MCS

 

HEY! This actually just happened to me last week and I thought I was going to have a heart attack! Yes, the ding is very much like the ding you hear before the pilot speaks. Then I look down at my OBC at it's flashing 37 F!! I pressed the button and got the digital speed readout back on the screen, but out of curiosity, I pressed it some more to get back to the temp... and it was still flashing 37!! AHHHH!! I became consumed with pressing the buttons nonstop until the temp rose to 40 while I was driving and it quit. It weirded me out!!

I guess the MA's here in the South don't bother to explain that feature, since it's rare that we'll need/use/see/hear it down here!

 

I'm still waiting for my MINI to learn how to "ding!" at me when the gas gauge goes into the red. That silly red-lit bar doesn't do it for me as far as a warning goes. And a gas-related warning would be much more useful for me than the 37 degree warning given the fact that the temp up here went down below 37 about 3 months ago and hasn't risen above yet. Oh well.

 

I just noticed the number on the door of the Limited Edition Mini Cooper (MCS 40) that MINI is producing to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the MINIs win in the 1964 Monte Carlo rally... is NUMBER 37.

I wonder if the reason why the MINI Cooper instrument cluster blinks and chimes at 37 degrees has anything to do with this fact??? Sorta like an homage to the winning MINI??

Could be the reason why they chose 37 degrees instead of something closer to 32...sometimes nostalgia wins over logic...

-MB

 

>>I'm still waiting for my MINI to learn how to "ding!" at me when the gas gauge goes into the red. That silly red-lit bar doesn't do it for me as far as a warning goes. And a gas-related warning would be much more useful for me than the 37 degree warning given the fact that the temp up here went down below 37 about 3 months ago and hasn't risen above yet. Oh well.

If I were you I wouldn't let the gas drop to that point. In colder climates it's always better to maintain at least a quarter of a tank of fuel. It helps keep condensation down in the gas tank, that way you don't get a bunch of water in the fuel/air mixture in the engine. It's better for the engine and you're also guaranteed never to run out of gas.

 

>>
>>I just noticed the number on the door of the Limited Edition Mini Cooper (MCS 40) that MINI is producing to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the MINIs win in the 1964 Monte Carlo rally... is NUMBER 37.
>>
>>I wonder if the reason why the MINI Cooper instrument cluster blinks and chimes at 37 degrees has anything to do with this fact??? Sorta like an homage to the winning MINI??
>>
>>Could be the reason why they chose 37 degrees instead of something closer to 32...sometimes nostalgia wins over logic...
>>
>>-MB

interest observation

 

I love that ding...its like my MINI's talking to me!