Color me further confused about the limits of my gas tank.
06 MCS

I *thought*, according to the manual, that the tank was 13.2g and that the red fuel light would engage solid illumination with 2g to go (this meaning 11.2g regular use, 2g reserve) and I deduced that the mileage on tank indicator in the computer was miles to zero, ie. fumes, ie. bottom of reserve, not bottom of regular use, beofr reserve kicks in.

But I've been testing this against my own empirical evidence, and something's not adding up.

For one thing, I just filled 13.6g, and had about 15 miles to go on my trip computer.

For another, I've never noticed an amber fuel illumination, or a flashing red. Just normal, lights out on the fuel gauge, then red at the bottom quarter or so.

Clear my troubled brow of these gas fumes and inform my addled mind!
t

 

Those who have run out to the point the engine dies have needed to put in 14.7, I'v been a gallon shy a few times and did 14.2 once last week. My guage was completely out of wack, I need to fill up as soon as the redlight comes on, but I run of the trip and aproximate my MPG.

 

The othe rday my wife ran out of gas completely. She bought a 2 gallon can at the gas station, filled it up, put it in the car, and followed that with 11 and some change at the pump.

Hows that for some more confusion??

 

I've put 14 gallons in multiple times and between 13.5 and 14.0 a lot. There's no way it's 13.2.

Steve

 

Also need to consider how much is in the fuel line.

Annette

 

Yeah it is whacked. Just this morning I filled up, my computer said 10 miles DTE, I had 361 miles on the trip odometer, and I put in 13.66 gallons.

I have no idea where MINI is getting 13.2 from.

 

There is a chance the tank itself is 13.2 and the extra is coming from the fill tube from the side of the car down to the tank.

 

That is one heck of a fill tube then. In the past year and a half, I have put in 13.2 or more 8 times and over 14 3 times.

I ran out one time and put in 2.076 gallons and then followed it with 12.682 gallons for a total of 14.76 gallons. I actually drive a few miles between the 2 gallons and when I was able to fill up so that does put it pretty close to 14.7

 

thirdraildesignlab - do you have OEM Nav?

I wonder - should there be a survey of who runs out of gas more often...those with OEM Nav vs those without?

I got Nav on my '03, and the only thing I actually hated about that car was the idiotic fuel guage. Who designed that??? Ran it out of gas once :(
I know, I can't blame the guage, it was my fault, but that is such a pathetic design - not at all accurate or visually infromative.

Now my brandie new '06 has the chrono pack and no Nav. While the guage was not the reason for that change - one of the BIG plusses of getting rid of factory nav was that I could have REAL gas guage again -oh yes - and a bllinky light and a bong!!!
So NOW when I run out of gas, I'll have absolutely no chance to blame somebodey else!
(btw - loved that nav - looking for an aftermarket one now).

 

There are actually TWO tanks in the MCS - if you look under the car they come down on either side of the exhaust, so there's one more tube to fill that is probably not included in the capacity.

I've got Nav and I tend to fill up before I normally would with the last LED changing from orange to red. Red lights on my dash make me nervous. (BTW, TRDL - it turns red, but only flashes initial and at startup. The dealer can change the options so you get the bong when it turns red.)

I generally trust the OBC, but a friend ran out in her Cooper with 20miles left on the OBC, so I'm a little suspicious.
Funny OBC story - Ran a track day and on the last run went to the last LED. Checked the OBC - 4 miles left. 10 miles to a gas station. Watched it go 4-3-2-1-0, then -- , and then it came back up as it determined I wasn't burning fuel at the track rate any longer. It was a LONG ten miles...

 

I have an '05 with the chrono pack. I have not seen an orange light or a blinking red light, only the steady red.

 

I have a NAV car and have run down as low as 1 mile but never put more than 12.5 in the car. There must be a lot of secret reserve in there

 

Not to add to the confusion, but an imperial gallon (commonly used in the UK) is 1.201 US gallons. So if the manual is referencing 13.2 imperial gallons, that would work out 15.85 US gallons, which seems a little high. Just a thought.

 

I just recently saw my low fuel light after about a year without seeing it. It wasn't because I was filling up too soon or anything like that. I was regularly putting in about 10-11 gallons. The light just never came on, even that one time I put in 13 gallons.

I don't have any idea why my light isn't coming on, I know it works, it must just be shy or something. As you might imagine I don't entirely trust the OBC and fuel indicator.

 

my 06 MCS has no chrono, no nav and no obc. I get no ding... just the last LED turns red when there is less than an 8th in the tank. I've also put up to 14 gal in. how do I get it to ding? I'm not exactly keen on running out of gas to find out either

 

BONG?? My MINI does not BONG all i get is the last tic on the guage turns red. I want the BONG :-(

 

If you are putting more gas in your tank than it can hold (even with reasonable addition for the filler pipe), you should also consider calling the state standards and measures bureau (different names in different states). The gas pump should have a sticker on it with a phone number to call if you suspect that the pump is not accurate.

 

this is one of the best threads ever! lol so much mystery. I Love it

 

The BONG aka audible gas chime is a dealer programmable setting; you're not really missing much though since it's not that loud...

 

mystery... and confusion

 

If no Nav, then you've got an analog gas guage, right? How is it you have LEDs?? Is there a little LED on the analog guage?
As Purple Hazel says, it's dealer programmable.

Smart alec answer - when it 'dings' you're low. When it says "Doh!" you're out.


That, and it's the same as the freeze warning, and the tire pressure monitor.

 

lol... yes I have an analog gauge but there are LEDs behind the needle to indicate each section of the tank and a big one at top and bottom. they don't change except for the bottom one... which turns red.

 

I must admit - I have only filled my tank once since taking delivery!!
So I can't speak from personal experience re: bong and lights. Just know what the dealer told me. I don't care that it's the same as any other bong...I'm just so happy to be free of that silly 8-led thing.

Let it go, BMW - needles and guages are really better than digital in some cases...don't design for the coolness factor - design for maximum info and usability. Weren't the Germans the inventors of Bauhaus - "Form follows Function"??

 

your getting screwed by the gas pumps...lol

 

I'm not surprised that the digital gas range calculator might not be accurate, Your consumption of gas could be pretty dynamic in the space of a mile or so if you tried.

I have the 06 MCS no nav, regular sundial in the center console, though I spend all of my gauge viewing on the computer in the tach. Anyway, I don't think I've ever seen anything other than a red low-gas indicator and it seems to me it's been at 1/4 or 1/8 tank, probably the latter. This time, I'm paying close attention. I may just be missing it. I think I'm going to call the dealer and get their take on the true fuel capacity of the car. Though, the imperial units thing might explain it.