R50/53 Things You Didn't Know About Your MINI
OVERDRIVE
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7,201
Likes: 8
From: Norfolk, VA
Also, don't fill up the washer reservoirs immediately before an autocross event! The first round of hard braking will cause the washer fluid to "barf up" out of the reservoirs and splash all over the engine compartment.
OVERDRIVE
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7,201
Likes: 8
From: Norfolk, VA
If you set the automatic climate control for "outside fresh air" by setting the temperature control to "LO" and turning off the A/C, be aware that the next time you start the car, the air conditioner will come back "on" by default.
OVERDRIVE
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7,201
Likes: 8
From: Norfolk, VA
Hopefully it'll save you from the gut-wrenching feeling I had when I finished my first run, got out of the car, and saw liquid dripping out onto the ground from underneath the bonnet. I initially thought I had overheated/cracked something during the run, but another MINI owner saw me, laughed, and explained what was happening.
5th Gear
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 647
Likes: 1
From: Indy
this function is actually so that u can check the mileage on the odometer w/o a key in the ignition.
4th Gear
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 358
Likes: 0
From: Los Angeles, CA
And it will play nested directories (folders).
1st Gear
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
From: WV
I know some of these are in the manual but...
If equipped w/ Conv. package or in separates:
Rain Sensing Wipers work not only in delay intervals, but also Low and High.
Auto Garage door opener only works with the IGN on, prevents someone from breaking a glass in your car (parked in the driveway) to gain access to your garage/home. I know of another brands that are always hot. The garage door opener option can be added on by other nifty stuff at homelink.com
Auto headlights have settings that can be changed, but how i don't know. All I do know is if headlights are manually turned on, and car is shut off, and the switch is moved back to Automatic, the lights will stay on for about a minute or so.
It took me awhile to find it but, the cabin air filter is located horizontally directlly underneath the passenger glove compartment.
To make sure you propely secure the bonnet, pull down the hood about two feet above its closed position, and put your palm in the center of the hood on the MINI logo and shut it. This applies equal pressure to both hood latches, closes it equally to prevent the paint from cracking.
I know it is mentioned allready in above posts, but as I park the car prior to exit, I hit the unlock switch on the dash to unlock the doors. It will keep a non-MINI person from pulling on the doorhandle, and it will make the boot hatch able to open/close until you lock the car.
If equipped w/ Conv. package or in separates:
Rain Sensing Wipers work not only in delay intervals, but also Low and High.
Auto Garage door opener only works with the IGN on, prevents someone from breaking a glass in your car (parked in the driveway) to gain access to your garage/home. I know of another brands that are always hot. The garage door opener option can be added on by other nifty stuff at homelink.com
Auto headlights have settings that can be changed, but how i don't know. All I do know is if headlights are manually turned on, and car is shut off, and the switch is moved back to Automatic, the lights will stay on for about a minute or so.
It took me awhile to find it but, the cabin air filter is located horizontally directlly underneath the passenger glove compartment.
To make sure you propely secure the bonnet, pull down the hood about two feet above its closed position, and put your palm in the center of the hood on the MINI logo and shut it. This applies equal pressure to both hood latches, closes it equally to prevent the paint from cracking.
I know it is mentioned allready in above posts, but as I park the car prior to exit, I hit the unlock switch on the dash to unlock the doors. It will keep a non-MINI person from pulling on the doorhandle, and it will make the boot hatch able to open/close until you lock the car.
I removed the filter it was completely clogged with crud. The one I removed appeared to be the original with 53k+ miles instead of the 15k recommended.
Coordinator :: Pitt Stop MINI
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,919
Likes: 1
From: Steelers Country
^^ +1
In other news, a small, tiny little item: I just noticed that the MCS fuel filler cover hinge has a small "hook" for the cap tether. Odd that I've overlooked it now for a year since my tether has not been properly hooked and getting in the way of the hinge closing properly. My, my what a big help the little hook is!
In other news, a small, tiny little item: I just noticed that the MCS fuel filler cover hinge has a small "hook" for the cap tether. Odd that I've overlooked it now for a year since my tether has not been properly hooked and getting in the way of the hinge closing properly. My, my what a big help the little hook is!
2nd Gear
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 124
Likes: 0
to rawhyde u said : The rear parcel shelf is designed to rest right behind the front seats upside down when it is removed from it's normal place.
i tried it and i really have no idea how it can fit behind the frontseats upside down or even right side up or even vertical or horizontal. if you could post a pic so i have an idea how it looks. maybe i can figure out how to put it right. thank you.
i tried it and i really have no idea how it can fit behind the frontseats upside down or even right side up or even vertical or horizontal. if you could post a pic so i have an idea how it looks. maybe i can figure out how to put it right. thank you.
1st Gear
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
From: Huntsville, AL 35803
Parcel Shelf
Just match up the curved, indented portion of the shelf with the hump in the floor, concave portion of the shelf toward the rear of your mini. (lay the rear seats forward) and it will be more obvious.
If that doesn't do it for you, them move your front seats forward and try again !
If that doesn't do it for you, them move your front seats forward and try again !
2nd Gear
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 124
Likes: 0
ripnrik: oooohhh . gotcha. thank you. so why does 1 poster say it's life altering? so basically. u do that when the seat is down. more cargo room? i thought it's to elevate the feet of backseat passenger as a better legroom.
4th Gear
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 552
Likes: 11
The standard heater/AC vent controls probably work the same on any car that has a circular dial control, but I didn't know you could put the dial anywhere to get the mix of air you want. I always put it right on one of the markings. For example if you wanted air out the dash vents and out the floor vents I would just put it on that mark. The I realized by turning it a bit from there, I could get more air out of the dash or more out of the floor vents depending on which way I turned it 
. Ok, not that big of a deal but ... I had to try and contribute something to this very long thread
. Ok, not that big of a deal but ... I had to try and contribute something to this very long thread
3rd Gear
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 175
Likes: 0
From: Northern Virginia
I read this entire thread about a month ago and dont remember if I saw this one:
When listening to the radio/CD/Ipod with the ignition off, it will turn itself off after 30 minutes. Also if you are listening to the radio/CD/Ipod and start your MINI, the radio/CD/Ipod stays on with no interuption.
When listening to the radio/CD/Ipod with the ignition off, it will turn itself off after 30 minutes. Also if you are listening to the radio/CD/Ipod and start your MINI, the radio/CD/Ipod stays on with no interuption.
5th Gear
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 655
Likes: 0
From: Raleigh, NC
If you are loading cumbersome objects into the boot and want the shelf out of the way, just disconnect it from the boot, leaving the strings attached to the hooks, and "hang" the lip of the shelf on the top lip of the boot opening (where the seal is). I'll try to take some pictures later if this doesn't make sense.
4th Gear
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 454
Likes: 0
From: New Jersey, USA
The standard heater/AC vent controls probably work the same on any car that has a circular dial control, but I didn't know you could put the dial anywhere to get the mix of air you want. I always put it right on one of the markings. For example if you wanted air out the dash vents and out the floor vents I would just put it on that mark. The I realized by turning it a bit from there, I could get more air out of the dash or more out of the floor vents depending on which way I turned it . Ok, not that big of a deal but ... I had to try and contribute something to this very long thread
. Ok, not that big of a deal but ... I had to try and contribute something to this very long thread
Last edited by Rennie; Apr 6, 2007 at 10:02 AM.
1st Gear
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
From: Huntsville, AL 35803
Another bit about the shelf. Sorry if someone already mentioned this one.
If you are loading cumbersome objects into the boot and want the shelf out of the way, just disconnect it from the boot, leaving the strings attached to the hooks, and "hang" the lip of the shelf on the top lip of the boot opening (where the seal is). I'll try to take some pictures later if this doesn't make sense.
If you are loading cumbersome objects into the boot and want the shelf out of the way, just disconnect it from the boot, leaving the strings attached to the hooks, and "hang" the lip of the shelf on the top lip of the boot opening (where the seal is). I'll try to take some pictures later if this doesn't make sense.
6th Gear
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,218
Likes: 9
From: Milford Mass
cool...yesterday I needed to load some foldup chairs into the car and folded down the rear seat to load them and tried the hanging rear shelf trick just mentioned...nice idea....plus |I remembered the caution to not forget to put the shelf back before closing the boot....nice trick
