YISH!

Also, don't attempt to stick it in reverse in a convertible with the tailgate down. The tailgate falls near enough to the sensor to trigger the straight tone for the parking detectors . . . not very pleasant.

 

you left you belt unbuckled long enough to count them?

 

Your MINI is trying to tell you something . . .

. . . Dude, you're harshin my mello, buckle up already. And OH by the way the tailgate's DOWN ! where you goin ?? . . . hey, have you been drinking ? . . .

Something like that. It's in the manual.

 

The seat height adjuster handle grabs the bottom of your pants leg every time you try and get out.

 

Awww, that's sweet; it's saying "don't go!"

 

I'm afraid I'm not so polite when I reply to it though

 

how do you get rid of the self locking dooors thank brad

 

purr - from what I understand it's something the dealership can do for you without much trouble. I haven't seen any postings on folks doing it themselves.

 

Your dealer will need to do that for you. It's a programable option. It will only take 10 minutes, but most dealers will charge a half hour labor for it. If you just bought your car, they should do any programing changes for free.

 

If you have xenon headlights, you are probably aware that they “pop up” approximately 5 – 7 seconds after you first turn them on. Due to a recent software update, I had the opportunity to have my DRLs enabled at no charge. Here’s something I noticed the other day. The DRLs are pointed down if you just start the car and go. Because the voltage to the headlamps is reduced when in DRL mode they do not self level themselves to the proper aiming point.

We can correct for that two ways.

One is to first turn on the headlights and then turn them off. I think this is stupid because I’ve read that it shortens the life of the xenon lamps if they are frequently switched on and off. Also, if you turn on the headlights, who needs the DRLs.

The other way, which I recommend, is to start the car, put it into gear, then hold the stalk/switch for the bright lights in the high beam flash mode for 5 – 7 seconds. This sends the full voltage to the headlamp unit and gets the lights to level/aim to the correct point.

If you are still reading this, perhaps you are thinking ‘so what’. Here’s my theory on it. If the DRLs are pointed down, they are less effective at putting the light down the road where they are more likely to catch the attention of pedestrians and other drivers. And that is my 2¢ on the matter. Happy Motoring

 

I have a Oct 06 Build MCS with the DRL enabled..
mine automatically level themselves without having to do any on-off or flash of the hibeams..

When I turn on the car, they point down, then level.. its a cool looking effect..then if i turn on the headlights (Xenon) they stay at the right level.

Maybe its a year thing?

 

At work that would be called sexual harrassment! lol

 

I have an '05 and they do the same thing. I never have issues with leveling, and the leveling happens immediately when I turn on the car, not 5-7 seconds later. That may actually be an issue the dealership should look into.

 

I have a very early '05 (9-04) build, my lights auto level when I turn them on. As soon as the switch is turned to or past the parking lights.

Steve

EDITED: Nevermind, I missed the fact that we are talking about DRL. I don't have DRL, which is why mine do not level until I turn them on.

 

Mine is a 2-14-03 build. I'd be interested to hear from people with MINIs of a similar "vintage".

 

Found the easiest way to clean the rear convertible window is from outside the car, through the boot opening. It's even easier if you release the latches inside the boot that let you raise the back of the convertible roof, but you can do it with the latches fastened.

Beats the heck out of crawling into the back seat to reach the window.

 

I learned something new tonight!

We had 4 MCS's together with the Scenic City MINIs, and as we were walking towards the cars, we decided to unlock them all at the same time...try to make the lights flash together. We counted 1....2.....3.......NOTHING!

I guess all the signals flying around activated some sort of anti-theft system. None of the cars unlocked. We then unlocked our cars individually and everything worked fine, but no go on doing all 4 at the same time.

Rawhyde

 

I also have a 2/03 build date and my xenons turn on and immediately jump up to level. No delay.

 

Just picked up my new MCS in St. Louis 11/18/06 and then found this thread on things you didn't know. Lots of neat stuff here
I did notice one thing that I have not seen yet and that is the smart power windows. The windows are set in a small groove in the weather stripping around the top of the glass and if you just opened the door it would tear up the rubber, soooo when you pull on the door release notice that the glass automaticaly rolls down about 1/2 inch and then when you close the door it moves up 1/2 inch. I have never seen that before. This is one neat car but I still remember my first mini, a '65 1275 S which I bought new in 1965.
Guess you can tell that I am one of those old guys.

 

Yeah thats because Mini's dont have pillars, every other car without pillars does the same thing, I think, I'm not sure, but I've seen it happen on a lot of cars.

 

Guess I am just not used to a car that thinks for it's self. Still lots more fun than my son's Corvette.

 

Actually, BMW pioneered this, and it really hasn't shown up on other cars without window frames until just the past couple of years, so it is still pretty rare. A fun little thing to show your friends.

 

Thanks. It might not be 5-7 seconds, but it is a bit of time before mine level up. I'll have to ask about that next time it's in for service.

 

The past few weeks we have had some bitter cold mornings, freezing and below. I ALWAYS warm up my engine even when its in the 60's. I noticed the car would *bing* right about the time I got to the end of the culdesac we live in and the temp on the on board computer would flash 7 times!

Its as if my Mini was looking out for me just in case I didn't know it was cold.

 

^It will do that anytime it's below 37 or drops below 37 while you're driving. It just wants you to know that there might be ice on the road. Such nice cars.

Couple questions:

1) Do the side marker "follow me home" lights turn off after a certain period of time?

2) Is there a full list of the self test things...