R50/53 Things You Didn't Know About Your MINI
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5th Gear
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 832
Likes: 3
From: Akron, Ohio
Things You Didn't Know About Your MINI
I am sorry to disapoint everyone who opens this and is looking for a list of things they didn't know.
I got an Idea as I was reading the manual to my dad's new HUMMER. What are some things that most people do not know about their MINI? Intersting little bits of information, odd facts, interesting tricks....LIST EVERYTHING YOU KNOW THAT YOU THINK SOMEONE ELSE MIGHT NOT!!!!
I got an Idea as I was reading the manual to my dad's new HUMMER. What are some things that most people do not know about their MINI? Intersting little bits of information, odd facts, interesting tricks....LIST EVERYTHING YOU KNOW THAT YOU THINK SOMEONE ELSE MIGHT NOT!!!!
Popular Reply
Feb 11, 2006, 05:27 PM
5th Gear
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 931
Likes: 14
From: NW Georgia, USA
The key recharges its transmitter when it's in the ignition switch on 05 and newer.
The UNLOCK button when held in will roll down all the windows and open the sunroof unless it has been de-activated.
The glovebox is refrigerated.
When you initially turn on the headlights, they'll be on low beam regardless of how they were when last turned off. The foglights are likewise off.
The controls on the automatic A/C are shaped like the MINI wings.
The annoying self-locking doors can be de-activated.
Daytime running lights can be programmed on or off per the owner's wishes.
When you activate the defroster, the rear defroster comes on as well.
There is a "pull ring" tucked under the rear seat to open the boot if there is an electrical failure.
There is a little toolkit included with the MINI.
There is a little tool to manually close the sunroof in case of an electrical failure.
The interior lights (or any other accessory) switches off after 15 minutes with the key off to prevent killing the battery.
The brake lights don't work without the key in the ignition.
The radio may turn off when you turn the key off, but you can turn it right back on without the key in the ignition.
The rear parcel shelf is designed to rest right behind the front seats upside down when it is removed from it's normal place.
There is an emergency release for the fuel door in the portside storage cubby hole in the boot.
All wipers can be lifted off the windshields, and they'll stay in the up position to keep them from freezing to the glass.
If parked with auto wipers ON, they'll be OFF when you start the car the next time. You must turn them off then back on to use them. (In case the wipers freeze to the glass)
Are these the types of odd facts you were looking for?
Rawhyde
The UNLOCK button when held in will roll down all the windows and open the sunroof unless it has been de-activated.
The glovebox is refrigerated.
When you initially turn on the headlights, they'll be on low beam regardless of how they were when last turned off. The foglights are likewise off.
The controls on the automatic A/C are shaped like the MINI wings.
The annoying self-locking doors can be de-activated.
Daytime running lights can be programmed on or off per the owner's wishes.
When you activate the defroster, the rear defroster comes on as well.
There is a "pull ring" tucked under the rear seat to open the boot if there is an electrical failure.
There is a little toolkit included with the MINI.
There is a little tool to manually close the sunroof in case of an electrical failure.
The interior lights (or any other accessory) switches off after 15 minutes with the key off to prevent killing the battery.
The brake lights don't work without the key in the ignition.
The radio may turn off when you turn the key off, but you can turn it right back on without the key in the ignition.
The rear parcel shelf is designed to rest right behind the front seats upside down when it is removed from it's normal place.
There is an emergency release for the fuel door in the portside storage cubby hole in the boot.
All wipers can be lifted off the windshields, and they'll stay in the up position to keep them from freezing to the glass.
If parked with auto wipers ON, they'll be OFF when you start the car the next time. You must turn them off then back on to use them. (In case the wipers freeze to the glass)
Are these the types of odd facts you were looking for?
Rawhyde
5th Gear
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 931
Likes: 14
From: NW Georgia, USA
The key recharges its transmitter when it's in the ignition switch on 05 and newer.
The UNLOCK button when held in will roll down all the windows and open the sunroof unless it has been de-activated.
The glovebox is refrigerated.
When you initially turn on the headlights, they'll be on low beam regardless of how they were when last turned off. The foglights are likewise off.
The controls on the automatic A/C are shaped like the MINI wings.
The annoying self-locking doors can be de-activated.
Daytime running lights can be programmed on or off per the owner's wishes.
When you activate the defroster, the rear defroster comes on as well.
There is a "pull ring" tucked under the rear seat to open the boot if there is an electrical failure.
There is a little toolkit included with the MINI.
There is a little tool to manually close the sunroof in case of an electrical failure.
The interior lights (or any other accessory) switches off after 15 minutes with the key off to prevent killing the battery.
The brake lights don't work without the key in the ignition.
The radio may turn off when you turn the key off, but you can turn it right back on without the key in the ignition.
The rear parcel shelf is designed to rest right behind the front seats upside down when it is removed from it's normal place.
There is an emergency release for the fuel door in the portside storage cubby hole in the boot.
All wipers can be lifted off the windshields, and they'll stay in the up position to keep them from freezing to the glass.
If parked with auto wipers ON, they'll be OFF when you start the car the next time. You must turn them off then back on to use them. (In case the wipers freeze to the glass)
Are these the types of odd facts you were looking for?
Rawhyde
The UNLOCK button when held in will roll down all the windows and open the sunroof unless it has been de-activated.
The glovebox is refrigerated.
When you initially turn on the headlights, they'll be on low beam regardless of how they were when last turned off. The foglights are likewise off.
The controls on the automatic A/C are shaped like the MINI wings.
The annoying self-locking doors can be de-activated.
Daytime running lights can be programmed on or off per the owner's wishes.
When you activate the defroster, the rear defroster comes on as well.
There is a "pull ring" tucked under the rear seat to open the boot if there is an electrical failure.
There is a little toolkit included with the MINI.
There is a little tool to manually close the sunroof in case of an electrical failure.
The interior lights (or any other accessory) switches off after 15 minutes with the key off to prevent killing the battery.
The brake lights don't work without the key in the ignition.
The radio may turn off when you turn the key off, but you can turn it right back on without the key in the ignition.
The rear parcel shelf is designed to rest right behind the front seats upside down when it is removed from it's normal place.
There is an emergency release for the fuel door in the portside storage cubby hole in the boot.
All wipers can be lifted off the windshields, and they'll stay in the up position to keep them from freezing to the glass.
If parked with auto wipers ON, they'll be OFF when you start the car the next time. You must turn them off then back on to use them. (In case the wipers freeze to the glass)
Are these the types of odd facts you were looking for?
Rawhyde
7th Gear Gal
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 36,087
Likes: 3
From: Weeblegabber West (aka WLA)
Originally Posted by Rawhyde
The rear parcel shelf is designed to rest right behind the front seats upside down when it is removed from it's normal place.
Oooh....I didn't know this one....very cool! 
5th Gear
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 746
Likes: 1
From: Miami, FL
Just learned that in a convertible, if you lock the doors with the key in the actual lock (i.e. not from a distance) and hold the key in that position, the top and all windows will go up! Very slick.
6th Gear
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,406
Likes: 0
From: Northeast Ohio
Originally Posted by Kentiki
Just learned that in a convertible, if you lock the doors with the key in the actual lock (i.e. not from a distance) and hold the key in that position, the top and all windows will go up! Very slick.
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6th Gear
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 8,354
Likes: 0
From: Overthemountain, AL
Originally Posted by Kentiki
Just learned that in a convertible, if you lock the doors with the key in the actual lock (i.e. not from a distance) and hold the key in that position, the top and all windows will go up! Very slick.
6th Gear
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 2,010
Likes: 0
From: Huntsville, Alabama
That's cool about the rear parcel shelf. I've done this and I never thought that it was actually engineered to work as good as it does. I just thought it was a coincidence.
One I heard about recently and tested was the key recognition feature. With the driver door open, wave the key by the ignition switch and you will get a confirmation ding sound.
One I heard about recently and tested was the key recognition feature. With the driver door open, wave the key by the ignition switch and you will get a confirmation ding sound.
If you buy a MINI and say to yourself " I am not going to Mod this car" you will soon be selling off everthing including the kitchen sink to fund your new addiction. Oh I am sorry this is for "things I should have known better about" thread.
5th Gear
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 965
Likes: 4
From: Loveland, CO
Originally Posted by Rawhyde
There is a little tool to manually close the sunroof in case of an electrical failure.
All wipers can be lifted off the windshields, and they'll stay in the up position to keep them from freezing to the glass.
Rawhyde
All wipers can be lifted off the windshields, and they'll stay in the up position to keep them from freezing to the glass.
Rawhyde
Wipers up a little or all the way up?
The eye glass slot in the glove box is in the form of the MINI logo.
The factory radio will always restart at a reasonable volume level, regardless of how loud it was when the MINI was turned off.
The factory radio will always restart at a reasonable volume level, regardless of how loud it was when the MINI was turned off.
5th Gear
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 931
Likes: 14
From: NW Georgia, USA
Originally Posted by umberto
RAWHYDE.....having a hard time picturing about that rear parcel shelf....is that with both rear seats folded down, where does that rear parcel shelf go?
The tool for closing the sunroof is in the little toolkit. Kinda shaped like a squared off S. You remove the front reading lights (clock on the pre 05's) and there's a place for it there. It's in the manual.
The wipers stay up if lifted all the way up.
One more...
There is an adjustment for the aim of the foglights. It is a white plastic allen screw. Look straight down behind the bumper. My MINI's foglights are MUCH better after I aimed them. I know there's supposed to be low, but mine were too low. Counterclockwise to raise.
Okay don't know how common this knowledge is so
If you press and hold the trip button before turning the key you can acess the on board computer
your seat will go back to the original postion when slid forward using the outer releases
The ECU is held in place by the airbox on an S
If you unplug your ECU long enought the sunroof open and the windows go down
The change holder is the same shape as the gas cap on an S
Your vin is on thw window, door sill and in the engine bay The side refelectors are only on US cars
The shift **** doesn't screw on
Even if you don't have the OBC the tach display still comes with the avg, kph, mpg, range displays built-in
The gas pedal has its BMW part # written on it
The car was designed to be slighty off balance so that it was closer to 50/50 wieght distribution with a driver
It has equal lenght driveshafts to prevent torque steer
There is a slot just foreward of the dirverside rear wheel that one can hide a key in
reseting the ECU removes 1 mile off of the odometer
The car will protect it self from exceeding redline except when down shifting do to rapid increase in revs
redline can be moved through software adjustments
If you press and hold the trip button before turning the key you can acess the on board computer
your seat will go back to the original postion when slid forward using the outer releases
The ECU is held in place by the airbox on an S
If you unplug your ECU long enought the sunroof open and the windows go down
The change holder is the same shape as the gas cap on an S
Your vin is on thw window, door sill and in the engine bay The side refelectors are only on US cars
The shift **** doesn't screw on
Even if you don't have the OBC the tach display still comes with the avg, kph, mpg, range displays built-in
The gas pedal has its BMW part # written on it
The car was designed to be slighty off balance so that it was closer to 50/50 wieght distribution with a driver
It has equal lenght driveshafts to prevent torque steer
There is a slot just foreward of the dirverside rear wheel that one can hide a key in
reseting the ECU removes 1 mile off of the odometer
The car will protect it self from exceeding redline except when down shifting do to rapid increase in revs
redline can be moved through software adjustments
1st Gear
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 45
Likes: 1
If you have a car with automatic climate control, you can change the
temperature display from Farenheit to Celcius (and back again):
pre-2004: Hold down the "Auto" button for a few seconds.
2004 onward: Depress the AC button and the footwell fan button together.
temperature display from Farenheit to Celcius (and back again):
pre-2004: Hold down the "Auto" button for a few seconds.
2004 onward: Depress the AC button and the footwell fan button together.
5th Gear
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 970
Likes: 1
From: Metro Washington D. C.
Originally Posted by Kentiki
Just learned that in a convertible, if you lock the doors with the key in the actual lock (i.e. not from a distance) and hold the key in that position, the top and all windows will go up! Very slick.
Mike, Mike, Mike....
You have been in Cali to long. Only on the left coast does the hard top go up when you lock the doors. Every where else it stays in place .
You need to come back to the right coast. We will take car of you.
Just learned that in a convertible, if you lock the doors with the key in the actual lock (i.e. not from a distance) and hold the key in that position, the top and all windows will go up! Very slick.
Originally Posted by mbabischkin
Does it in a hardtop too...
You have been in Cali to long. Only on the left coast does the hard top go up when you lock the doors. Every where else it stays in place
.You need to come back to the right coast. We will take car of you.