Hey!
I am so happy to say that I am the proud new owner of a 2006 (left over) Brand New MINI Cooper! IT is Chili red with a black roof, and mirror caps. IT also has the black bonnet stripes. It is IMO the coolest car in the world, and I can't stop thinking about it!

Having said that; I am a nervous WRECK! I don't let my cats (outdoor) anywhere near it! i have to go out into the garage, and clean it, and constantly look it over for scraches, dents, or even dust for that matter!
I guess you could say that im in love with it!


I just have some things that i could use some second opinions on.

1......I have the Mini cooper, not the mini cooper s. It is a five speed, and when i am on the highway, what is an appropriate crusing speed? Because doing about 70 mph on the long stretches, the tach hovers somewhere around three thousand rpms. The window sticker says that highway mpg is 36. Is my car rated at 36 miles per gallon while doing this speed? i just find that to be kind of a high rpm for such amazing gas mileage


2.......I also hear a small noise when i am on the highway. It absolutly does not sound bad at all. it happens when i am in fifth gear going rather slow, (about 35-45 mph) and i give it gas to go faster. (like when i am using the torque of the engine. Is this normal? again it does not sound bad at all. just... hmmm


3........Last thing. When i am driving, my car randomly unlocks. I know about the feature where the doors automatically lock at 10mph, but this is like when i am on the highway. THe doors will just unlock. I thought that i might
have spotted the problem. I am six foot 1, (((((haha im the biggest of my friends, and they all chuckle at the fact that i drive a mini))))) and my legs must be bent for me to reach the steering wheel. THis makes my legs hit the keys while they are hanging, and i thought that this wass the problem, but no matter how much i play with the key while in the ignition, (while the car is on, stopped of course) the doors will not unlock.
* the key functions perfectly while not inside the car. ( and i know that the buttons don't work, while in the ignition.)



Maybe i'm just thinking to much into everything that happens to/with my car.
I love it so much!

THanks to everyone who can help me out!

 

Hey, welcome, sounds like you have a great car!

I am the exact same way, always checking my car and washing the winter salt and crap off of it whenever I can, even if it's only in the high 30s or 40s.

I'm also a bit new to the MINI experience (bought off the lot too, but in late December), but I have noticed a number of noises; pops and clicks and stuff, going on at semi-regular intervals on my MCS. I have just been kind of assuming much of it is just the normal operation of the car and that everything is just more "immediate" in our cars since they're so small and fit like gloves.

On the door-locking thing, I haven't had that, but have had a few other electrical gremlins. Somewhere else here on NAM, I read about inserting the key in the ignition and turning it til the electrical systems come on, giving it a few seconds, and then starting the car. I don't know if it's real or not, but since I started following this advice, the "gremlins" appear less frequent.

Good luck and happy motoring!!!

 

Thanks for the help above. i'll have to not think so much in to everything.

hey, how do you get that *owners Club* thing on the bottom of your posts?
thats awesome. i need a chili red one though.

 

We purchased our Mini in January 2007. We experienced the doors unlocking phenomena only once. After checking with our salesman, he said the same thing had happened to him, once. He told us if it continued to bring it back to the dealer for repairs. We haven't experienced any of the other situations you mentioned. Let us know how your concerns are resolved.

 

I'll definitly keep you updated. It only started happening today, and i have to take it back to morristown (my dealer) anyway to pick up my lic. plates. Ill talk to somebody then.
thanks again everybody!

 

To All

I have had my MINI for 4 months now. After reading about all the electrical issues people were having I finally found a thread here that told you how to start the engine.

I have my own little twist to it.

Get in the MINI, insert the key and turn it almost all the way to the start position.

Put on your seatbelt; by the time you get your seatbelt on the MINI has completed all of its electrical checks.

Start your engine.

I have not had any of the electrical issues since doing this, works right everytime.

You gotta LOVE that MINI!

 

urmaboy, on the "owners club" badges, do a search here for "Chili Red Owner's Club", I know there is a very active thread/group. Lot's of pics as well with ideas for mods.