How good is it? I had a Benz that had it and it was annoying as hell. In stop and go traffic, the volume went up and down constantly. I also had ambient sound sensing audio on another car. It based the volume on existing background noise and worked great.

 

I'm not sure about the new cars but in mine (2005), you can set the sensitivity and/or turn the speed sensing off completely. With it on, I didn't notice it very much so it probably wasn't that effective a device anyways.

 

Very errattic with MP3's. Although the recording of mp3's is all different due to all the different cd's used. have not tried it with AM/FM. Hopefully it will be better.

 

If you don't notice the volume change, that means its working properly. The volume should not swing wildly, if you really notice it, adjust the sensitivity down a notch or two. The whole point of it is so you don't have to turn the volume down everytime you come to a stop only to turn it back up again once you take off.

It is a nice feature that can be adjusted to suit you, or turned off.
Cheers,
Dan

 

Was going to start a new thread but I found this one....

Is this really speed sensing or noise sensing? Also if you move the settings either all the way left or right, which is the direction that will get you the most volume increase? Thanks.

 

It's speed sensing, and on the R56 it's adjustable, from barely noticeable to quite bizarre. Don't recall what setting I've got it on currently; I've been playing with it, moving it up and down a few notches every few days until I find a setting I like.

 

On the R53, it's noise sensing and works quite well as the system remains equally audible with windows up or down at whatever speed without twisting the volume ****. It is odd that they would have built the R56 with speed sensing instead as that would not adjust for wind noise from the sunroof and windows.

 

it gets the vehicle speed off the information bus and adjusts volume level automatically like Dan wrote. It's an excellent system. If you're not liking how it's working then change the settings, don't crap on the system.

Matt

 

I didn't see any crapping. They were just asking about it.

 

Exactly. I adjusted mine a few times and now don't even notice it adjusting the volume. The radio is always at the same volume regardless of road or wind noise. I like this feature!

 

ok, so what is your setting? is it to the right of center or to the left?

 

Mine is in between the middle and the left most setting.

 

thanks i'll try moving the settings towards the left. I've been moving it towards the right and it seemed like i wasn't getting enough of a volume change.

 

A rare moment when I find myself disagreeing with the doc. Maybe it's a tribute to how quite the Mini cabin is, but with my speed sensing volume set at the least sensitive (you can't turn it off), there is still a noticble volume change when I come to a stop. Since I am in a lot of stop and go traffic, it is extremely annoying. Aside from my nav changing displays without my consent and for no apparent reason, and the seat fryers not having timer switches, I find this the most annoying feature of the car.

 

Ah, there's the crapping. I guess Dr Obnxs can see the future! I got mine adjusted within two weeks of getting my MINI. It was almost perfect on delivery. Is it possible that there can be some variance from system to system? Maybe your SA can get you a new head unit? With all the tolerances they have to get perfect on a car these days, you'd think they could standardize the radio. Best of luck getting yours fixed.

 

So, why can't you adjust the setting so it works for your situation?

 

Because, my situation is that I don't need the volume to go up and down, since, even on the least sensitive setting the fluctuation is too much. Obviously, increasing sensitivity would just make it worse. I can't turn it off, which is what I would do if I could.

 

sorry i didn't do a thorough search but you mention a stereo upgrade in your sig, is this a significant change in the audio equipment including new amps & speakers that may be adding to the volume differences?

 

It's the Mini $500 upgrade, which, as far as I can tell, adds 2 crappy tweeters and a few more watts output. I don't know if that makes a difference, but the programming should account for that. Then again, it should have an "off" option.

 

I have the opposite problem of LynnEl.

I have the HarmonKardon factory installed. The speed sensitivity at 6, supposedly the largest gain in volume per gain in speed.

However, my radio (or mp3 on usb drive, mp3 from CD) goes from reasonable at full stop to inaudibly quiet at 60mph.
If I play with the speed sensitivity while at 60mph, I can hear a very slight lowering of volume when I move it from 6 to a lower setting.

Does this sound like an issue I should ask my dealer about?

 

I have to ask where is this adjustment? I don't believe I have seen it.

Jim

 

Hit the musical note in the top left corner...then "roll" the **** over past the treble, bass, etc..to the second page of settings.

You will see it there. As well as that horrific GONG volume, I wish I could reduce that volume WAY more than -5.

 

Thanks, I found it. After some testing mine seems to work fine (for me anyway) at the 4 setting. If I am at 60 and adjust the volume with the ****, the it seems to return to that level when I reach 60 again after a stop. I can't believe I just found this adjustment after a year + of ownership. I knew it had the speed thing, but did not realize I could asdjust it. I wonder what else I haven't found?

The "gong" doesn't bother me like some do. Even my wife doesn't say anything and she hated the one on my old Mustang.

Jim