The passenger side wiper blade is 18" but the driver's side is only 17 1/2". An 18 will work tho if you don't feel like getting new ones from the dealer (for those of us who have used up our service warranties.

 

The rear wiper blade is a non-standard size that can *only* be found at the dealership. (well, so far, anyway).

 

Just an other of the many wonderful features of having a convertible! No rear wiper!!! Seriously, I don't know how the rear window EVER stays clean at all!

 

Rather than pay MINI the extra $$, I went to the local Auto Zone/Auto Barn/whatever, and bought a set of plain blades without the frame work, slightly longer than the stock item. I cut one to size, and slid it into the wiper frame. Perfecto! and I got two for much less $$ than one replacement from MINI.

 

I could spend all night reading this thread. Thanks to all who have posted little tips etc. It's great.
Yellow MC 2005

 

on my '04 MC, the stock head unit, no nav/no HK, has a tiny little LED on either side of the CD slot to help guide you while inserting a CD

 

With the auto AC, for Defrost; simply glide your finger down from 12 o'clock towards 9, on the ring which surrounds the temp readout, and depress the first thing on the left.

That bic stick pen fits great!

 

the key's radio control mechanism is apparently watertight. It still works after I accidentally (and much to my dismay) left my keycain in a pair of pants through a wash cycle. The effects of a ride in the dryer remain unkown for the foreseeable future.

 

The R56 key resembles the Starship enterprise

 

haha. do you need to stick that in that key slot to start the car? or can you have it in your pocket? my dad had some Infiniti, and he could start the engine without the key being inserted into anything

 

Space . . . the final frontiier . . . . BWAH - HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHA!!!!! <hehehehe> <whew>

 

I have found that the Glove Box will lock up at random, without warning.
I don't like that feature

 

Here's one I haven't seen. My radio has three FM bands, FM1, FM2, and FMA. Couldn't figure out why the third wasn't FM3...till I travelled and used the until-then-unused FMA to find stations on the road without messing up my permanent FM1 or FM2 settings. Then when I used the arrows on my steering wheel to cycle through the FMA stations, it stayed on FMA and did not cycle through the other two bands like FM1/FM2 will do. Perfect. Then when I travel and my normal stations are not working, I don't have to worry that the arrows will cycle through static. How cool is that!

 

What is the little ding noise I have heard twice in the last couple of days, once while braking? It only puts out one ding at a time.

 

Probably the outside air temperature. It bongs when the temperature drops to 37º.

 

Not a problem anymore. I was able to pry it open and I've remove all the important items and locked it back. I've contacted Nashville Mini and will get it replaced later. I'll miss using it for storing bottles of Aquafina til then.
Kept it at the perfect temp.

 

If you push up on the sunroof button, it tilts the back portion open.

Discovered this by accident when turing on the map lights.

 

While this thread is a great resource - and I've even learned a thing or two - as a former Motoring Advisor, it disappoints me that apparently so many features are not covered with new owners during the delivery process. I used to schedule a full hour just to cover the vehicle with my customers. ...of course there were those that were simply too busy to be "bothered" by the comprehensive overview and hustled on their way. (To whom I always offered for them to stop back anytime to go over anything and from whom I frequently heard back.) The MINI just isn't a simple little car.

 

Thanks for the tip garran. I was surprised that MINI didn't have that function.

 

found out about that one in the sunroof stuck topic. Showed it to a friend today.

You were a good MA, Mini2go. Mine spent time with me, after they closed even, and shot digital camera quick time movie of me piloting over the threshold! (and for full affect, the 37° ding went off two blocks out with 154 miles to go home). Like a lot of you though, I was able to point out at thing or two to the MA as well (hidden storage shelf for example).

I love this car. I suppose the R56 will have little things too- But I as so still loving my 06.

 

You can fit a half barrel of beer in the luggage compartment if you lie it on it's side. The Cooper S doesn't even squat with a full barrel back there. I think it was engineered this way.

 

But it does.

 

+1. How hard is it the RTFM (read the f'in manual )

 

If you spin the volume **** fast, it won't change - already posted, if you turn off the car with the radio on, and remove the key - (or not), you can still turn the stereo back on - but it will turn itself off after 10 minutes or so - to preserve the battery, I presume.

 

Though most things are covered in the manual there are quite a few that were happened upon by accident. Those are the super secret extra cool features.