Has anyone figured out how to keep the clock display on the '14 Justa Harmon Kardon radio?

If I so much as change the radio station with a pre-set button, I have to go thru several menu & **** twists to get the time display back.

This is distracted driving at it's worst - so - what am I missing??

-Oly

 

You're missing the clock on the speedo display.

 

Thanks, but that's not it - that display is too tiny to really see: possibly when I had my first Mini over 50 years ago, but not now.

My previous car was a Honda Fit - and it displayed the time in about 1/2" tall numbers on the radio screen independently of the radio setting.

The mini only if one wants to fiddle with all that.

I can't understand why a clock setting should disappear when one only changes the radio station.

-Oly

 

The Mini displays are not friendly to aging eyes. I have the bigger display and the music info displayed in varying shades of red is nearly impossible for me to read in full daylight. Other cars w/ a white on black text are quite readable, even if red(orange) media display (especially the artist's name) were brighter I could see it, as is, I have to ask my wife or just forgo knowing. I have intensity adjust all the way up to no avail. At night it's fine.

C7 Corvette info screen and BMW M240i screens are completely readable anytime, day or night. This is a huge irritant for me.

 

Yeah, me too.

If a Honda Fit, a "bottom tier" car has this figured out, why can't BMW/Mini?

It's not Rocket Science.

I'm looking for a small clock that I can fit into the Mini but one should not have to retrofit a "Top Tier" modern car.

-Oly

 

Wait. What time display are you talking about? Is there a large display on the HK radio? I've only ever seen a small time display at the top, same size as on the speedo. Did I miss something?

 

No you are not missing anything. Those are the two displays and the same sizing.

I'm not even complaining about the size, just the contrast. Like trying to read gray text on a black page. I can read it but it takes a few seconds to get focused. Not something I like to do when I'm in traffic.

 

Is Justa HK radio same as S radio? Mine is the small LCD HK version and clock never disappears when I rarely use the radio.

Btw i just noticed how much louder the HD radio stations are than USB music plays. I generally dislike the audio portion of my car. BMW doesn't do audio very well. My old Nissan Murano with Bose was vastly superior.

 

Yes - on the RADIO:

Press the "menu" button, then turn the right-hand **** all the way to the right (to the right-most icon) then press the **** in: several options are displayed, including "time & date". turn & press the **** to select this, THEN: press the 'option' button to the RIGHT of the **** and several selections are displayed, one being: "Show Time" -> turn & press the **** and there is the time, in bright red/orange 1/2inch high numbers.

Until you change the station or shut down the car.... then you have to do the whole rigamarole again (sometimes you only have to do the last "Show Time" part.

Anyway, having to do all that when Honda's cheapest model just simply displays the time in similar large numerals, is crazy, and even doing it while waiting for a traffic light to change, is dangerous!

(This is how it's done in my 2014 "justa" automatic trans car with harmon Kardon - I have no idea about other models or radio options)

BTW I got this car used, so I didn't request "Harmon Kardon" and I can't see paying more for it - the regular push-button radio in my 2004 base Mini was just as good, and received weak AM stations better (I live in the coastal hills quite a ways south of San Francisco, and AM signals fade in & out as one travels the hilly area.)

-Oly

 

There's some confusion in this thread regarding the radio options:

- There is no harmon/kardon radio. HK option refers to the speaker system and you can have (or not have) HK with any of the THREE radio options
- The three radio options are the base radio (small monochrome orange display), visual boost or MINI Connected (6.5" full color display, accompanied by a controller in between the seats), and the Navigation or Connected XL (8.8" widescreen display)
- On the base radio, there is an option to have a big digital clock display on the screen, but as OP noted, if you do anything with the radio, it goes away. The color screen options do not have a full screen clock, although the new touchscreen navigation does have an option to show an analog clock in split screen view all the time.

 

THANK YOU!

This I did not know - I thought HK was the whole audio system - it can be a tad confusing when one buys a recent used car, never having talked to a Mini salesperson about it - I didn't much consider the HK when I bought it and still don't see the point ;-)

Glad someone could clarify, but I still wish I could have the clock without the hassle!

-Oly

 

Sounds like a programming error, what is the point of having the large clock if it goes away so easily?

 

Not a programming error, just goofy UX....

I have heard of so many people that just want to have the clock up there by default or at least have an option to, I'm surprised MINI has it set up where you can't. Yes, there are at least two clocks visible most of the time, I can understand why some people would want a bigger digital one.

 

Thanks folks. Nice to know I'm not crazy :-)

 

No big deal to me, but I sent an email to MINI to ask about it. You might want to do the same, we can start a movement.

On my 2014 MINI Cooper S Hardtop there is an option to show the clock on the radio face in large numbers. However this disappears as soon as you use the radio or media functions and doesn't comeback unless you go through the menus and select the option again.
What is the point of this feature? Seems wrong or poorly implemented. I'm not alone in this as others have complained on-line about it.

 

The ever helpful MINI helpline: NOT REALLY

We appreciate your inquiry regarding the change in your clock size. Your patience is appreciated.

I was sorry to hear about your frustrating experience. However, please accept my apology as I was unable to locate the information you requested. Please be assured that Motorers' feedback plays an integral role in improving product design and development. We appreciate the time you have taken to share your thoughts related to the clock size in your vehicle—your comments will be heard and considered.

Since technical information regarding repairs and maintenance is allocated to authorized MINI dealers, we recommend working with the service team at your preferred MINI dealer for a complete diagnosis. They have the mechanical expertise to provide you with dedicated support.

Should you need it, a list of our authorized MINI dealers can be found on our website at: www.MINIUSA.com, under “Dealers & Inventory.”

For your convenience, MINI Motoring Relations is available Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. ET and Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET. You can reach us at 1.866.ASK.MINI (275-6464).

Should you have any other questions, please let us know. We’re always here to
help.

LET’S MOTOR®.

Megan Bussey
MINI Motoring Relations
Representative

THERE ARE MORE THAN 10 MILLION WAYS TO DESIGN A MINI.
Build your own at www.miniusa.com.

 

Let's just say that MINI better hope I don't get in an accident while fooling with this.

As it is, I'm hanging a cheap analog wristwatch on the dash - at least it tells the time and I can actually change radio stations.

This SHOULD NOT be necessary on a top tier car like a Mini.

-Oly

 

FWIW, the new touchscreen navigation has a screen saver that will show a giant analog clock after 30 seconds

 

What a concept!

Now, waiting for the firmware update.

-Oly