This may not be the best location for this, but my new to me 06 convertible emits a series of beeps, only occasionally, when backing up. It seems more prevalent when dark out and it is not the seatbelt chime. There has been nothing behind me. Please advise if you know what this is.

 

Sounds like the back up sensor is playing tricks on you. Are you sure the neighborhood kids are not having fun with you? Did you check under the car to make sure there is not someone under there?

 

i think the backup sensors are overly sensitive in minis (compared to other cars i've driven)

 

I think it is a distance sensor. The closer you get to something the faster it will beep. I have seen a few others with this as well.

 

It could be that even though there is nothing directly behind your car, there could be something close to the rear corner (but to the side) of the car that the sensors are detecting. Just an idea...

 

My wife parks her Cabrio next to the garage(Storage Shed! ),and when she backs out her beepers go off when she's a foot away from the side of the garage.I wonder,if any else cares(she doesn't),is there is a way to adjust the sensitivity?

 

Thanks for the replies. It must be the garage opening or the car next to me.

 

I've noticed on my wife's Volvo, the back up sensors go off when there's water drops or heavy dirt on them. Once I clean them, all is well.

 

Back up sensors? Is that the new excuse for not having to learn the size of your car?

 

pretty much. i think all the cabrios come with them, because of the poor visibility when the top is up

 

Yep, it's standard on all -- and visibility is bad top up or down.

 

My MCC has the sensors and they detect tight rear side clearance as well as directly behind.

 

They do not have poor visibilty. The sensor just makes it very easy to backup. I think it's an excellent addition.

 

compared to what? an abrams?

 

I have to strongly disagree. I love my car, but will put the top down no matter the weather if I have to squeeze into a spot.

 

Those sensors are very helpful on the convertible as the visibility is terrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrible when backing.

And yes, what the OP is probably experiencing is objects close to the vehicle, even off to the side. Our sensors go crazy when backing into the garage, because they detect the door frame that is about 18 inches to each side.

Helpful AND cool feature, IMO.

 

^^ completely agree with you. visibility to the passenger-side blindspot is really bad without assistance. PDC is a must for the cabrio.

Actually, I need to be careful when getting a carwash in the winter. the place I go to uses pressurized air to blow water out of the cracks/crevices of the car. But I have to remind them not to do that to the sensors. When they do that, it blows water further into the sensor area and then it freezes causing the sensor to go off immediately when reversing...

 

I have to agree. I've always been a bit of timid freak when parallel parking.

There are times (like when I pull out of our 4 car shared garage) that it can be only effective when it warns of objects on my side, such as the wreck on the my right. So, if anything short sneaks up behind me, there better be an owner nearby so I can whop them on the head with my extra thick MINI owners' manual for letting their pets run around without leashes.

 

Oh boy, I hear you on this and wish I could do something about the epidemic of off leash dogs in my neighborhood, the owners have a real attitude about it. They ought to pay for my PDC because it has definitely helped save their pets that dart behind the car, and into my garage, when backing in

I agree with the others, the PDC is likely picking up objects to the side, ours does this as well; if not maybe they need a cleaning. I don't care what size the car is, I think PDCs and/or back up cams are a great feature since there is no other way to see anything low to the ground behind the car there or that suddenly appears, it is super handy and can save from scraping or hitting something, love it