I've been really happy with my Auto AC. It's very cold on the LO setting. I have a dark car overall, and I have leatherette seats, but it is amazingly cool inside even after sitting in 90+ heat! It's really weird! But I do have tint, so I'm sure that helps... I was thinking i might be sticking to the leatherette, but it's really nice and have not had that problem once, even here in Houston...

 

No one has mentioned how subjective this question is. I tolerate heat better than my wife, for example, so if I think the MINI AC is great, she may think its only adequate.

I do think the system is great by the way. And does anyone close the passenger vents to direct more air to the pilot?

 

California's Central Valley. 110º+ in the summer. Our AC has worked GREAT!

 

just got my MCS and noticed that the power of the a/c is a little weak. i called my dealer and they had stated its normal on the MCS but i still think it should get colder faster to bring my stress level down faster on hot days. so to help my MCS to sustained the heat, i have mirror-tinted the panarama sunroof to reflect the sunbeam and protect my MCS from frying. it works! when i put my hands directly under the sunroof, i could barely feel the heat penetrating inside my sunroof.

$40 paid and well spent on my calculation. to go beyond, i mirror-tinted my car all around, illegal i know but whatever i can to save my MCS will be worth it. this is not for the weak or faint heart but it feels nice and cool when i get in my car. all i need next is the mini sunshade for the windshield, than i will be saving in many ways.
pray for me from the cops :-)

 

Mine are always closed.

To help with power, I push the AC button off when the traffic light turns green, then back on when I'm well into second gear. Too bad the AC can't be controlled on the steering wheel.

 

Floyd:

I live in Miami, which is very hot and humid 9 months out of the year. (Some years we do get abreak, though, at least by our climate standards).

Both of my MINis have Panther black leatherette seats, no sunroofs and no tinted windows.

Both cars are parked the majority of the time outdoors (Mostly weekends) under the blistering Miami sun.

The A/C works very well, specially in my '05 MCS which has a much more powerful, yet quieter fan, than our '02 MC.

I can hang fresh meat off my air vents. My air temperature is around 40-45F at the vents.

85-95F days with 80-100% relative humidity... No problem!

In Florida it is suicidal not to have a car with a decent A/C system. Not only A/C makes driving comfortable, but safe.

A Car with a poor performing A/C system doesn't bode well in this market. A/C is a year round necessity here.

Oh and I have the manual A/C controls too.

 

Oh and I don't have any performance related problems with the A/C at full blast. My MCS as well as MC both have neck snapping starts and solid performance all around town.

 

Lemme guess.... You have the automatic A/C controls?

Also, your A/C system could be undercharged from factory. Take it back to the dealer and have them put the reading gauges to make sure that the system has just the right amount o R-134a refrigerant. A system thatis either undercharged or overcharged is bound to have cooling performance problems. It is not uncommon for cars to come out of the factory with under or overcharged A/C systems.

Also make sure your temperature at the vents is in the 40F-50F range. Anything higher than that indicates a charging problem.

 

I noticed after I tinted that the AC did not have to work as hard to get it nice and cool. I usually keep set between 68 and 72.

Like what has already been mentioned before....don't hesitate to get it checked. Our minis have a large greenhouse to cool and only a properly running system will keep it cool.

 

Either my '02 MCS or my '06 MCS seem to be able to cope with any conditions I see here in New England (90 - 95F with 95% humidity). I have the manual AC and no sun roof and no tint. Very happy with the AC.

The amount of glass is an issue. Preventing light infiltration would definitely help if you thought yours was not preforming as you would like.