When doing the auto down function (The one where you hold the button and the windoes and sunroof open) does anyone notice that you have to be nearly on top of your car for it to work? My windows go down but sometimes just stop in the middle and it will not work from more than 5 feet from the car.

Anyone want to weigh in on ths?

 

YES! i have the exact same problem. i took it in for warranty service and MINI said everything was working fine. i dont know how to fix this problem...

 

Same here. The range is nowhere near that of my pickup truck. JUst learned to live with it.

 

I sometimes experience it. I guess it depends on the electric clutter around your car. Hold your key vertically and slightly tilted like the antenna of the car. This is maximizing the coupling of the car antenna to the key fob antenna. That will increase the range a bit. The higher you hold the key, the better the results as well. (Less clutter between the key and car)

 

There's a thread on this somewhere, but if you hold the key so it's touching the bottom of your chin (tho i'm sure other body parts would be Ok too), it'll work from MUCH further away.

No joke! Try it!

 

Mine works from 50+ft away without a problem. I find if it stops mid-roll-down, I look down and my thumb isn't squarely on the button--in other words, it's me, not the fob.

 

Touch your key to your lips (or just one lip, doesn't matter) while pressing the button. Increases the range at least 4x for me... no lie... using that technique I can do it from all the way across the parking lot, and go through the whole top-dropping process (I have a cabrio) before I get to the car...

Touching your chin or another body part (other arm, etc.) can also work, though maybe not quite as well...

Sounds wierd, but works.

 

I just rapidily push the button and it opens up.


Art

 

I have the same results as Blimey, if i hold the metal part of the key to the side of my chin my range goes up 3 or 4 times.

 

Depending on how long you've had your MINI, the battery could need replacement. I know someone who changed theirs and their range increased as well.

-Cody

 

I had issues getting my car to unlock in a busy grocery store parking lot. For some reason, it just wasn't responding to my remote.

I remembered reading the thread about this, so for giggles, I decided to give it a shot. Sure enough, the lights blinked and the doors unlocked! I've tried it several times since then, with good results every time. Looks kind of foolish, but it works.

To stay on topic - I have the same problem in certain areas. The chin trick seemed to help a bit for the auto down function as well.

A question for you... Does the auto down function work when you stick the key in the door handle and twist counterclockwise? Mine only seems to work via remote, and auto up only works with the key in the door handle twisted clockwise. I kind of wish auto down would work through the door handle as well...