R59 What wre they thinking moments......
What wre they thinking moments......
So now that the R59 has been out for a while, what MINI idiosyncrasies unique to the Roadster drive you nuts? For the former R56 owners, we've all complained about some "WTF were they thinking?" moments but what "WTF" moments have you had with your Roadster?
4th Gear
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 306
Likes: 1
WTF were they thinking when....
...they put the microphone on the steering column angled away from the driver?
...they didn't give me window control on my keyfob?
...they set it up so that you can't have USB charging your phone while connected via BT? (and also, how it disables it in your device and you have to reenable it manually when you unplug)
...they put the microphone on the steering column angled away from the driver?
...they didn't give me window control on my keyfob?
...they set it up so that you can't have USB charging your phone while connected via BT? (and also, how it disables it in your device and you have to reenable it manually when you unplug)
3rd Gear
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 257
Likes: 1
From: Western Massachusetts
I love my roadster...
My WTF were they thinking when they, moment:
When they decided to disable the voice command system on their 2013 vehicles and install a piece of junk microphone???
Car companies have been doing this right for almost 10 years...
Come on MINI!!!!!!!!!!!!
My WTF were they thinking when they, moment:
When they decided to disable the voice command system on their 2013 vehicles and install a piece of junk microphone???
Car companies have been doing this right for almost 10 years...
Come on MINI!!!!!!!!!!!!
Coordinator :: Eastern Iowa MINIs
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,520
Likes: 4
From: Decorah, IA
But that's it. In the grand scheme of things, that's a pretty darn good scorecard.
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4th Gear
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 407
Likes: 0
From: Lake Saint Louis, MO
What were they thinking when...
They put the analog openometer in the Roadster instead of putting useful gauges like oil pressure and engine temperature. You could always use the digital computer readout for time the top was down if the analog openometer was missing. I know this is not specific to the Roadster since many Convertible owners have the same complaint, but it is even more of a WTF moment with the Roadster because of its "sports car" ambitions. MINI even says they didn't put an insulated top on the Roadster to stay true to traditional roadster form. My guess is that an insulated top wouldn't fold flush with the rear deck so they had to go with the uninsulated. Just more MINI marketing speak.
They put the analog openometer in the Roadster instead of putting useful gauges like oil pressure and engine temperature. You could always use the digital computer readout for time the top was down if the analog openometer was missing. I know this is not specific to the Roadster since many Convertible owners have the same complaint, but it is even more of a WTF moment with the Roadster because of its "sports car" ambitions. MINI even says they didn't put an insulated top on the Roadster to stay true to traditional roadster form. My guess is that an insulated top wouldn't fold flush with the rear deck so they had to go with the uninsulated. Just more MINI marketing speak.
I miss the gauge pack option in the R53. I always like the dual speedo/tach pods on the column with useful gauges in the center. My WTF moment [I just went back and tested an R59 yesterday] is the USB/Aux-in port location. Truly makes an almost unusable space [based on my '08 R56] into a completely unusable space for anything but an iPod.
Anybody want to go aver to BMW with me and grab the first MINI design engineer, grab him by the shirt [using my best Sam Kinison voice] "SEE THIS? THIS STUPID. WTF WERE YOU THINKING? AHHHHH AHHHHHHHHHHHHH".
For those youngsters out there who don't know who Sam Kinison is, look him up on YouTube
Anybody want to go aver to BMW with me and grab the first MINI design engineer, grab him by the shirt [using my best Sam Kinison voice] "SEE THIS? THIS STUPID. WTF WERE YOU THINKING? AHHHHH AHHHHHHHHHHHHH".
For those youngsters out there who don't know who Sam Kinison is, look him up on YouTube
4th Gear
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 306
Likes: 1
Holy crap how did I forget about this? I honestly feel like we should petition Mini Corporate for either a fix or a refund. It's a defective design.
4th Gear
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 306
Likes: 1
The auto-dimming side mirrors are controlled by the sensor on the rearview mirror. How tall are you? If i wasn't tall then the headlights that don't trigger the mirrors would also be blocked by the spoiler. As it is, my height puts my eye level about 1/2" above the sensor on the rearview, so that I cna see headlights before the sensor does.
4th Gear
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 401
Likes: 0
From: Memphis
Interesting. I'm only 5'11", so maybe that's it. It seems like EVERYTHING triggers the auto dimmers, even stuff that I wouldn't normally notice or be bothered by. But I like it like that. Better to work when I don't need it than not work when I do.
Sent from my Galaxy S3 using NAMotoring
Sent from my Galaxy S3 using NAMotoring
6th Gear
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,552
Likes: 10
From: Des Moines, Iowa
What were they thinking when...
They put the analog openometer in the Roadster instead of putting useful gauges like oil pressure and engine temperature. You could always use the digital computer readout for time the top was down if the analog openometer was missing. I know this is not specific to the Roadster since many Convertible owners have the same complaint, but it is even more of a WTF moment with the Roadster because of its "sports car" ambitions. MINI even says they didn't put an insulated top on the Roadster to stay true to traditional roadster form. My guess is that an insulated top wouldn't fold flush with the rear deck so they had to go with the uninsulated. Just more MINI marketing speak.
They put the analog openometer in the Roadster instead of putting useful gauges like oil pressure and engine temperature. You could always use the digital computer readout for time the top was down if the analog openometer was missing. I know this is not specific to the Roadster since many Convertible owners have the same complaint, but it is even more of a WTF moment with the Roadster because of its "sports car" ambitions. MINI even says they didn't put an insulated top on the Roadster to stay true to traditional roadster form. My guess is that an insulated top wouldn't fold flush with the rear deck so they had to go with the uninsulated. Just more MINI marketing speak.
2nd Gear
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 102
Likes: 1
I have had the car for a little over a week now, and I have already gone through the meter twice. Why is that helpful? It's not even that fun. I mean, I know that I will be driving with the top down for most of the time, so really, who gives a s*** for how long? And then, it just resets every seven hours, so it really is useless.
Now, that would have been a perfectly good place for a turbo gauge. And at least that means something!!
As for my WTF moments (coming from a '10 MCS): (1) Massive blind spot on driver's side with the top up; (2) Above-referenced worthless openmeter; (3) NO COAT HOOKS (sorry, I wear a suit almost every day); and...well, no. That is about it.
I freaking love this car, and it is a blast to drive. There are some little things, but really, too little to matter.
4th Gear
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 306
Likes: 1
It's a shame we couldn't "rewire" the openometer somehow. If the lights indicating hours could be rigged for temp (half way is normal) and the needle indicated boost it'd be great!
4th Gear
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 401
Likes: 0
From: Memphis
I like tracking the time with the top down, but devoting an entire analog gauge to it -- and one molded in one-piece with the tach, so you can't swap it, no less -- isn't useful. Especially since it maxes out at 6 hours. Knowing how long I've had the top down since the last time I hit a multiple of 6 isn't really something I need to know at a glance.
Coordinator :: Eastern Iowa MINIs
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,520
Likes: 4
From: Decorah, IA
I refer to it as my "Ultraviolet Radiation Exposure Meter" -- a very important data point for health-conscious motorists during beaucoup hours of top-down motoring, considering the increasing prevalence of the Northern Hemisphere ozone hole extending to the mid-latitudes. 
Would I rather have had functional factory gauges with power plant data? Absolutely...but it's so easy to tap the OBDII port for the information these days that I don't mind the presence of my "UREM" all that much (in the grand scheme, it's a pretty small thing). Besides, I think my two Aeroforce Interceptor gauges look pretty cool as a supplement to it.
Exactly.
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Would I rather have had functional factory gauges with power plant data? Absolutely...but it's so easy to tap the OBDII port for the information these days that I don't mind the presence of my "UREM" all that much (in the grand scheme, it's a pretty small thing). Besides, I think my two Aeroforce Interceptor gauges look pretty cool as a supplement to it.
Exactly.
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6th Gear
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,341
Likes: 10
From: Nr. Boston, MA
My biggest annoyance is the way the top and windows (don't) interact. This might be only something that afflicts the few of us with the manual top though. It may also require comfort access and the key in your pocket not in the dash for full effect...
If the windows are up when I close the top, the windows go down and keep going down until I latch the top, even if the car is off.. (If I'm quick I can get them before they are all the way down, it's sort of a game now.) I guess this is a safety thing, in case I'm putting the top down on someone's neck, but really they only need to drop like they would when you open the door to let the seals seat.
In and of itself, this isn't too bad, except for the fact that if the car is off you can't roll them back up without starting the engine. Not just switched to accessories, actually started. Seriously irritating... I often stop, switch off then do the top only to have to restart to roll the windows up.
If the windows are up when I close the top, the windows go down and keep going down until I latch the top, even if the car is off.. (If I'm quick I can get them before they are all the way down, it's sort of a game now.) I guess this is a safety thing, in case I'm putting the top down on someone's neck, but really they only need to drop like they would when you open the door to let the seals seat.
In and of itself, this isn't too bad, except for the fact that if the car is off you can't roll them back up without starting the engine. Not just switched to accessories, actually started. Seriously irritating... I often stop, switch off then do the top only to have to restart to roll the windows up.
4th Gear
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 478
Likes: 1
Speaking strictly as an automotive development engineer, you can't always blame the engineer for the way some things work out in the execution of a vehicle. More often than not, the engineer gets it mostly correct and then the other departments step in:
Marketing wants it in 6 color choices and move it over here while you're at it (for example, I've sat in a meeting while HD styling commented on the REFLECTION of an O2 sensor in the casing of the chrome oil filter). Also, they want those color choices on a material that was never designed to be colored, so you're back to researching a way to make something black or chrome or purple AND stand up to salt spray, 500 degrees C or whatever else is required.
Purchasing comes in and says "Great, say, instead of carbon fiber can we spec some other material to lower cost? I'm sure used toilet paper tubes would be adequate here." Then you hold a series of meetings to essentially educate a kindergarden class on why you need a light weight structural material instead of the brilliant cost saving approach offered by someone who has trouble folding a paper airplane. So you compromise under management's direction and used glass filled nylon or a stamped steel part.
Then the public steps in and wants a redesigned vehicle line every 7 years, which means as soon as you launch, all the heavy engineering muscle is already working on the next generation vehicle. Remember when engines and parts and frames and even body panels had 10 and even 20 year life cycles? Things *often* get ironed out and improved over time for a reason. A vehicle is a complex piece of machinery that has several thousand engineers interacting with every single component on it.
Then the Fed steps in and says "By the way, you now need a 10mph bumper and exploding hood bolts because 3 people got run over last year." Also, make it 2 mpg more efficient, we're changing our measurement method this year (maybe), plus cars that produce chocolate during the combustion cycle cause fewer birth defects in California mice - make chocolate fumes come out the tail pipe.
So what were they thinking?
The engineer was thinking "Hey, I'm designing a car."
Marketing was thinking "Hey, that car should be magenta and shiny."
Purchasing was thinking "Hey, this is too expensive to produce, can we make it from slightly recycled diapers intead?"
The public was thinking "Hey, a new car! When is the redesign due out?"
The governement was thinking what it thought everyone else wanted, which makes it essentially schizophrenic.
Marketing wants it in 6 color choices and move it over here while you're at it (for example, I've sat in a meeting while HD styling commented on the REFLECTION of an O2 sensor in the casing of the chrome oil filter). Also, they want those color choices on a material that was never designed to be colored, so you're back to researching a way to make something black or chrome or purple AND stand up to salt spray, 500 degrees C or whatever else is required.
Purchasing comes in and says "Great, say, instead of carbon fiber can we spec some other material to lower cost? I'm sure used toilet paper tubes would be adequate here." Then you hold a series of meetings to essentially educate a kindergarden class on why you need a light weight structural material instead of the brilliant cost saving approach offered by someone who has trouble folding a paper airplane. So you compromise under management's direction and used glass filled nylon or a stamped steel part.
Then the public steps in and wants a redesigned vehicle line every 7 years, which means as soon as you launch, all the heavy engineering muscle is already working on the next generation vehicle. Remember when engines and parts and frames and even body panels had 10 and even 20 year life cycles? Things *often* get ironed out and improved over time for a reason. A vehicle is a complex piece of machinery that has several thousand engineers interacting with every single component on it.
Then the Fed steps in and says "By the way, you now need a 10mph bumper and exploding hood bolts because 3 people got run over last year." Also, make it 2 mpg more efficient, we're changing our measurement method this year (maybe), plus cars that produce chocolate during the combustion cycle cause fewer birth defects in California mice - make chocolate fumes come out the tail pipe.
So what were they thinking?
The engineer was thinking "Hey, I'm designing a car."
Marketing was thinking "Hey, that car should be magenta and shiny."
Purchasing was thinking "Hey, this is too expensive to produce, can we make it from slightly recycled diapers intead?"
The public was thinking "Hey, a new car! When is the redesign due out?"
The governement was thinking what it thought everyone else wanted, which makes it essentially schizophrenic.
2nd Gear
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 142
Likes: 0
From: Salt Lake City, UT
Speaking strictly as an automotive development engineer, you can't always blame the engineer for the way some things work out in the execution of a vehicle. More often than not, the engineer gets it mostly correct and then the other departments step in:
Marketing wants it in 6 color choices and move it over here while you're at it (for example, I've sat in a meeting while HD styling commented on the REFLECTION of an O2 sensor in the casing of the chrome oil filter). Also, they want those color choices on a material that was never designed to be colored, so you're back to researching a way to make something black or chrome or purple AND stand up to salt spray, 500 degrees C or whatever else is required.
Purchasing comes in and says "Great, say, instead of carbon fiber can we spec some other material to lower cost? I'm sure used toilet paper tubes would be adequate here." Then you hold a series of meetings to essentially educate a kindergarden class on why you need a light weight structural material instead of the brilliant cost saving approach offered by someone who has trouble folding a paper airplane. So you compromise under management's direction and used glass filled nylon or a stamped steel part.
Then the public steps in and wants a redesigned vehicle line every 7 years, which means as soon as you launch, all the heavy engineering muscle is already working on the next generation vehicle. Remember when engines and parts and frames and even body panels had 10 and even 20 year life cycles? Things *often* get ironed out and improved over time for a reason. A vehicle is a complex piece of machinery that has several thousand engineers interacting with every single component on it.
Then the Fed steps in and says "By the way, you now need a 10mph bumper and exploding hood bolts because 3 people got run over last year." Also, make it 2 mpg more efficient, we're changing our measurement method this year (maybe), plus cars that produce chocolate during the combustion cycle cause fewer birth defects in California mice - make chocolate fumes come out the tail pipe.
So what were they thinking?
The engineer was thinking "Hey, I'm designing a car."
Marketing was thinking "Hey, that car should be magenta and shiny."
Purchasing was thinking "Hey, this is too expensive to produce, can we make it from slightly recycled diapers intead?"
The public was thinking "Hey, a new car! When is the redesign due out?"
The governement was thinking what it thought everyone else wanted, which makes it essentially schizophrenic.
Marketing wants it in 6 color choices and move it over here while you're at it (for example, I've sat in a meeting while HD styling commented on the REFLECTION of an O2 sensor in the casing of the chrome oil filter). Also, they want those color choices on a material that was never designed to be colored, so you're back to researching a way to make something black or chrome or purple AND stand up to salt spray, 500 degrees C or whatever else is required.
Purchasing comes in and says "Great, say, instead of carbon fiber can we spec some other material to lower cost? I'm sure used toilet paper tubes would be adequate here." Then you hold a series of meetings to essentially educate a kindergarden class on why you need a light weight structural material instead of the brilliant cost saving approach offered by someone who has trouble folding a paper airplane. So you compromise under management's direction and used glass filled nylon or a stamped steel part.
Then the public steps in and wants a redesigned vehicle line every 7 years, which means as soon as you launch, all the heavy engineering muscle is already working on the next generation vehicle. Remember when engines and parts and frames and even body panels had 10 and even 20 year life cycles? Things *often* get ironed out and improved over time for a reason. A vehicle is a complex piece of machinery that has several thousand engineers interacting with every single component on it.
Then the Fed steps in and says "By the way, you now need a 10mph bumper and exploding hood bolts because 3 people got run over last year." Also, make it 2 mpg more efficient, we're changing our measurement method this year (maybe), plus cars that produce chocolate during the combustion cycle cause fewer birth defects in California mice - make chocolate fumes come out the tail pipe.
So what were they thinking?
The engineer was thinking "Hey, I'm designing a car."
Marketing was thinking "Hey, that car should be magenta and shiny."
Purchasing was thinking "Hey, this is too expensive to produce, can we make it from slightly recycled diapers intead?"
The public was thinking "Hey, a new car! When is the redesign due out?"
The governement was thinking what it thought everyone else wanted, which makes it essentially schizophrenic.
4th Gear
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 401
Likes: 0
From: Memphis
You've definitely got a worst case scenario of installed options there. With the semi-auto top and no comfort access, the behavior is very different.
Sent from my Galaxy S3 using NAMotoring
My biggest annoyance is the way the top and windows (don't) interact. This might be only something that afflicts the few of us with the manual top though. It may also require comfort access and the key in your pocket not in the dash for full effect...
If the windows are up when I close the top, the windows go down and keep going down until I latch the top, even if the car is off.. (If I'm quick I can get them before they are all the way down, it's sort of a game now.) I guess this is a safety thing, in case I'm putting the top down on someone's neck, but really they only need to drop like they would when you open the door to let the seals seat.
In and of itself, this isn't too bad, except for the fact that if the car is off you can't roll them back up without starting the engine. Not just switched to accessories, actually started. Seriously irritating... I often stop, switch off then do the top only to have to restart to roll the windows up.
If the windows are up when I close the top, the windows go down and keep going down until I latch the top, even if the car is off.. (If I'm quick I can get them before they are all the way down, it's sort of a game now.) I guess this is a safety thing, in case I'm putting the top down on someone's neck, but really they only need to drop like they would when you open the door to let the seals seat.
In and of itself, this isn't too bad, except for the fact that if the car is off you can't roll them back up without starting the engine. Not just switched to accessories, actually started. Seriously irritating... I often stop, switch off then do the top only to have to restart to roll the windows up.