About 75% of the time when I put my key in the ignition, I accidentally bump the wiper control with my knuckle. Thus, when I turn the key, the wipers start going and I sheepishly have to switch them off. Does anyone else have this problem, or do I just have freakishly large ogre hands?

 

At least now I know that I am not the only one that this happens to! at least once a day, sometimes twice...

 

This usually happens to me as I frantically try to turn the car back on after stalling out - only further adding to my embarrassment. In the 200 miles I've put on since getting it last week, I've stalled out like 6 or 7 times...mostly during the first 2 days or so, but the wiper thing sure as hell added to my confusion.

 

Happens to me so often that my procedure is becoming, key in ignition, turn OFF wipers, start car.

 

I do it all the time - large hands, long arms.


Vincent

 

hmmm, I hope I don't fall into this category when I take delivery

would putting a touch more effort in going around the wiper stalk help?

 

Never has happened to me... but I guess I have small hands... LOL....
But speaking of windshield wipers... I do love the feature that when you have them turned on, front or rear and turn the car off... the wipers go through a cycle and end up in the "resting" position...Not in the middle of the window... Doesn't take much to make me happy... LOL...

Paul

 

I have pretty average size hands and that has NEVER happened to me.

http://hometown.aol.com/joseh1076/JOSEART.html

 

Jeez, I never have done that, and now I am doubting my manliness (the whole hand size thing)

I wear a size ten shoe...

 

I was doing it during the first couple of weeks of ownership, but I have gotten over it and I don't have that issue any more.

6'3" large hands

 

ok... small hands... but they are very very BIG on quality...

 

Hmmm...are you holding the key in your palm or by your fingers? I mean, I don't have larger, nor small hands...but have never had even the slightest chance of doing this. I mean, you could have circus freak sized hands, hold the key by your fingertips and have no problems. Stop monkey palming it and you should be fine. Hmmmm....

R

 

I've had a similar problem, on the other side of the steering column... I practically can't activate the turn signals without flashing the headlights. People coming toward me when I do this are probably just perplexed (unless it's a fellow MINI); but people in front of me seeing me flash my lights at them are probably annoyed.

Overall, the control stalks are a bit small and feel sort of flimsy. It's that form vs. function thing again.

Oh, and I think I have perfectly normal-sized hands. :smile:

 

NO never, you are all freaks!

I used to have the 'Flash' problem, now I tend to push the stalk away and up/down as there is no pushed away position on that stalk you dont flash.

 

I find if I remove my glove....

everything is.....

 

this was happening to me also, iwas too embrased to tell, my solution was simple, since iwas doing this when i was turning hand all the way to start position,the top of my knuckles was hitting the wiper switch, i installed one of the push button start switches just to the left of the steering wheel, now all i do is turn key to the "run" position and hit the button on the left.

 

I think you all just have "freakishly" large hands

BTW, does anyone else or everyone else despise [To dislike intensely; loathe ] the shape of the MINI key? It's very annoying. I'm had to get used to the VW Jetta flip out key and thought that was bad enough, but this new key ranks lower on my list. It's like a wind-up car key and inevitably, I get the "clown" car comment on a bad day.


anyone ? anyone?

 

Yeah. I find the key kind of annoying. Granted, it does fit in my freakishly large hand , but I've found that I had to get rid of several other keys on my keychain in order to avoid a big, geeky (ala high school janitor) wad of keys once I added the MINI key. In otherwords, it doesn't hang well with other keys. Now, I practically have to carry my MINI key on its own key ring...and all that means is that I'm more likely to lose it.

For some reason I think it would be much better to have a separate key and remote device.

 

I am also a member of the windscreen wiper on, start the car club. This doesn't happen all the time but enough of the time that my wife just laughs. Its probably one of those ergonomic designs that doesn't work for non-ergonomic people.

 

>>I was doing it during the first couple of weeks of ownership, but I have gotten over it and I don't have that issue any more.
>>
>>6'3" large hands
>>
>>

I was wondering if there were any other Alfisti here...

 

I don't think the ignition key-hole on the MINI is very intuitive... as it is obscured by the wheel.

I always lean over to get a good look where it is before trying to insert the key.

Anyone else?

 

>>Jeez, I never have done that, and now I am doubting my manliness (the whole hand size thing)
>>
>>I wear a size ten shoe...
Hmmm, that's why it happens to me...shoe size 11.5 EEE (extra wide)

 

>>I don't think the ignition key-hole on the MINI is very intuitive... as it is obscured by the wheel.
>>
>>I always lean over to get a good look where it is before trying to insert the key.
>>
>>Anyone else?
>>

Now THIS I totally agree with. The wiper thing I don't know about. I'm forever "missing the hole."

For some reason or other, I tend to reach about an inch further back than I need to.

 

>>
>>I used to have the 'Flash' problem, now I tend to push the stalk away and up/down as there is no pushed away position on that stalk you dont flash.
>>

I had/have same problem and came to the same solution - I try to push the stalk away as I signal. :smile:


I think Dav is right. Hold it by the fingertips and there shouldn't be a problem.

 

>>I don't think the ignition key-hole on the MINI is very intuitive... as it is obscured by the wheel.
>>
>>I always lean over to get a good look where it is before trying to insert the key.
>>
>>Anyone else?
>>


Gee, after the first week, I don't think I look at all! It's all by feel and habit by this point! :smile: