I've got a 2006 MCS with Nav and have a question that doesn't seem to be documented elsewhere.

The Nav display has what is called out in the manual as a light sensor below the screen and on the opposite side of the scroll **** from the menu button.

Above the screen in the "dummy light" cluster, there appears to be another light sensor. Anyone have a clue as to what that is? Is it another light sensor and if so, what is it used for?

Also are these light sensors integrated with the one on the dash that controls the auto headlights? It seems that it doesn't have to be very dark out for my DRLs to turn off and the regular headlights to activate.

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

The sensor atop the nav display controls the brightness of the LCD displays in the speedo, tach and radio (and the overhead clock in earlier models). At night, shine a flashlight on each sensor with the car and lights on. The displays will slowly brighten. Cover the sensors during the day and the displays will dim.

 

Ah, OK. So the sensor on the top of the dash (the "nipple") is for the auto headlights, the sensor below the Nav screen is for the Nav screen brightness and the sensor above the Nav screen is for everything else?

Wonder why they couldn't just link all the stuff into one or maybe two for better sensing?

Also, it would be nice if the clock were integrated into the Nav so that the time delivered by the GPS were used to set the clock. The Nav knows where I am, so it should be able to determine the proper time zone as well. Guess I should take my Engineering hat off and just enjoy the stuff, right?

 

When MINI called asking for input of things about the car I asked them to do this. Maybe with enought of us asking it will happen.