While waiting for the delivery of our MINI I downloaded the owners manual and gave it a read (yes some people do rtfm (read the fine manual)).

I came across the following warning:

Installation and operation of non-MINI
approved accessories such as alarms,
radios, amplifiers, radar detectors, wheels,
suspension components, brake dust
shields, telephones (including operation
of any portable cellular phone from within
the vehicle without using an externally
mounted antenna) or transceiver equipment
(e.g. CB, walkie-talkie, ham radio or
similar) may cause extensive damage to
the vehicle, compromise its safety, interfere
with the vehicle’s electrical system


Is any of this true esp. the part about cell phones and radar detectors

_________________
Only mountain climbing, bull-fighting and automobile
racing are true sports; the rest are children's games.
Ernest Hemingway

 

>>(yes some people do rtfm (read the fine manual)).

thats not what rtfm means! Although it is a little less vulgar...

 

Your MINI will most likely come with a neato decal on the window that says the same thing.

The phone thing still scares the fine ( ) crap out of me though. I've used mine, but still cringe when I do.

 

The phone warning strikes me as crazy. I've used my cell phone without an external antenna regularly for the past couple of weeks (since delivery) and my MCS is just fine, as is her electrical system, fancy-dancy lights and warning bells and whistles.

What's with that cell phone warning, anyway?

_________________
=R= #3077
My Sharona (Delivered Nov. 28/02): LY/B 2003 MCS. Fully Loaded. This car ROCKS at http://MINIac.ca

 

What the heck, the cell phone may interfer the electrical system. Please!

Didn't realize our MINIs can now fly (use of cell phones, radios, ... are not allow in flight). Wonder if we can keep it on until we close the door? May be we do fly.

 

The damage to your electrical system from using a cell in your MINI is obvious. Once you hit a tree due to inattention, your electrical system is sure to suffer, along with your bumper etc...

 

sounds like BMW took a page out of the Insurance handbook.....if you read your policy carefully, you'll fined they can deny you insurance for any reason. Probably just a way to avoid frivolous lawsuits.

 

I just posted this very questionyesterday after reading my window warning sticker. I don't want to be paranoid here but I also don't just want to assume my cell phone won't scramble my baby's brains. Anyone know the official MINI party line on this one?

 

>>Probably just a way to avoid frivolous lawsuits.


I would tend to agree with this.

However, there have been a few stories that make one start to wonder... Reality or Coincidence??? (She was using a cell phone in this incident.)

_________________
The little SharkFin antenna is 2 much fun!


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From everything I have seen, despite the fact that the warrenties are through MINIUSA, their administration is through the dealerships. Thus, the answer about what will and won't cause you warrenty problems is best dealt with directly with your dealer. That said, these "warnings' just strike me as being a large CYA on the part of MINI. I wouldn't be worried about it.

If you want to get into a good discussion about what can cause you warrenty issues, start doing software changes to the ECU/DME and replacing the cams. As for the cell phone, drive safely, use hands free if you have to use a cell phone and in all cases be willing to ignore whoever you're talking to mid sentence to focus on your driving if conditions warrent.

 

I can understand the part about transmitters (cell phones grms and cb radios)giving problems to the ecu, But I don't get what radar det. have to do with damaging the vehicle. you could be right that it realy is a cya thing to keep people from mucking about the electrical system. As for the cell phone ant thing it could be to keep from be implicated in any brain tumor litigation. It will be a point of discusion when I pick up the car.

 

It's deja vu all over again...as these previous threads discussed (and discussed, and discussed, and discussed.... ) the warning is to cover BMW's liability for you doing anything that might cause you or your car distress. It's not engineering, it's lawyering.

 

>>From everything I have seen, despite the fact that the warrenties are through MINIUSA, their administration is through the dealerships. Thus, the answer about what will and won't cause you warrenty problems is best dealt with directly with your dealer. That said, these "warnings' just strike me as being a large CYA on the part of MINI. I wouldn't be worried about it.
>>
>>

I just spoke to my dealer about this issue and he said, like you, that it is nothing to worry about. You just have to get used to the head tilt manuever to talk on a cell phone and drive a MINI. (non-cvt of course).

 

Its for the same reason you can't use a cell phone on a plane. Haven't you heard of all those airline crashes because someone was left their cell phone on at 30,000 feet?

_________________


02 mini cooper s, pure silver, black top and bonnet stripes, prem and sport packages, 17" wheels

 

My wifes Mazda had the same thing about the cell phone and she lives on it. So far no problems with hers or my MINI. I think it is just to scare people and try to keep you from using it while driving.

 

>>Its for the same reason you can't use a cell phone on a plane. Haven't you heard of all those airline crashes because someone was left their cell phone on at 30,000 feet?
>>
I've been told that the real reason you're not allowed to use cell phones in a plane is because you are switching cell towers so frequently at cruising speed that your service provider cannot accurately calculate the minutes you are using and bill you. Don't know if this is true, but at the very least it is interesting...

As for the warning, I'd bet money is is CYA.

 

Lawyer's get out of jail free card....
About as meaningful as those waiver forms you sign for a multitude of things.
If the coffee is hot, sue...and make a lawyer rich.

 

Even when my cell phone is in another room, moments before I hear it ring, my computer hums ... moments after it stops ringing, the computer stops humming.

... little things like that make me wonder ...

 

>>Even when my cell phone is in another room, moments before I hear it ring, my computer hums ... moments after it stops ringing, the computer stops humming.
>>
>> ... little things like that make me wonder ...
>>
>>

I saw once where a walkie talkie would cause a status/warning light to illuminate on a material transport system. Very interesting...

 

MINI's are mystical cars, but not when it come reception and transmission of electronic devices. FCC has Xmitt and RCV ranges for every type of device on the commercial or private (Military) range. NO group of devices can cross over or Xmitt/REV on any other frequency than it is limited to.

If phones, radar detectors, radios or any other device used in a MINI did, then it would do so in any other car. When you buy a device it will state the frequency range of that device, i.e. 900Mhz phone. If you still have doubts, contact the FCC with a list of your devices.

As far as not being able to use cell phones on commercial aircraft - BS. Having a pilot friend who fly's a major airline, they use their cell phones in the cockpit to order food or make reservations when landing at out of hometown locations. It's hype to make you use the over priced phones on the aircraft. Or do you think those phones are also mystical.

 

I've been using a cell phone in my MC since July. No problem.

 

What if the person in the next car is using their cell phone??? Maybe that's why MINI sent us the "MINI MESSAGING KIT" one of the signs included reads: "PUT DOWN THE CELL PHONE AND ENJOY THE RIDE" Instead of holding a cell phone up to our ear, shifting and driving BMW would rather have us shuffle through the "MINI MESSAGING KIT" and pick the correct sign and hold it up for the other driver to read. Now that's an accident waiting to happen LOL!!! I think I'll just take my chances with using my cell phone. Have been and no problems...besides, even if it were to harm the car electronics how would MINI ever prove you were using it? "Sorry MINI service, it must have been that guy on his cell phone parked next to me!!! I tried to warn him... Happy Holidays... LOVE MY MINI and love my cell phone too... :smile:... Paul...