Very good point to remember cixuru. Haven't taken mine to a car wash - which is my normal route...for some reason I've been washing mine quickly in the driveway. It must be love or money that's the cause. Honestly, it's the BRG color...it just doesn't look good unless it's clean.

 

Not really a bug per se but my Clubbie came w/o armrest from the factory even tho I specc'd it and it was listed on the build sheet as well as the window sticker!

The MA - had half the dealership out to look at something that's seemingly pretty unusual. Let's hope the other aspects of QA didn't get overlooked quite so alarmingly!

 

Didn't see it answered. There is a mute button. Just press the volume **** in. Works that way on my Cooper S.

 

Has anyone else experienced: a very high pitched whining noise coming from the club door side? It is only noticeable when the windows are down or more than just cracked. I can hear it whether I am going less than 20mph, 30 and even 65 and up on the highway. Since we've only just gotten into summer, I hadn't noticed it earlier. If I have NPR (think of a conversational toned news program if you don't know it) on the radio, I can hear it...can't hear it with music playing.

 

doesn't that just shut the radio off?

 

i don't hear this otra... and I've been driving with the windows open pretty much all the time.

one thing that's weird on the MINI in general is the amount of wind coming from the passenger side window ... it was the same on my R50 and now the Clubman ... passangers always complain about it.

 

Not really as the station info is still displayed on the Nav screen even when muted. I'm not sure about non-Nav equiped cars. It's the same when listening to Sirius, it still displays song titles as the songs change. On the Nav screen it also shows a picture of a speaker with a line across it to indicate mute.

 

ok thanks ... will have to try it tomorrow. it will be great if it works that way.

and come to think of it, i do believe the other ****, the tuning one, is the one that shuts off the stereo.

 

I'm fairly certain that on the non Nav version, that that button (the lower button - which also adjusts the volume) just turns the radio off.

Re the general wind noise - I don't like to say it but I find the wind noise from both sides - with the windows rolled up - to be much more than I'd ever heard on either my '04 or '06. I keep trying to roll up the windows more.

This high pitched whining that I'm reporting is quite pronounced...I suppose I will have to call and bring her on in - just in time for the upcoming MINI run we're attending this coming weekend. I want to make sure it's not something mechanical.

 

OK - in case this happens to anyone else, which I hope it doesn't... Though I can't swear to it quite yet it sounds as though my high pitched whining noise...is a water pump issue. To learn more read here: http://nemini.org/index.php?topic=10...;topicseen#new where Partsman has gone into great detail.

I'll update when I have more info.

 

Just got back from having "them" check out the Clubman...and they say it is "normal" engine noise for the R56 and R55. I asked if I could have my old MC back but they'd sold it the day before - didn't want to know how much they'd sold it for!

First of all, I commend the SAs at MoFC for getting me in on a moment's notice...I was up there for about an hour and a half or so...and was told the above. To me the sound is very noticeable - as I said...driving on the highways at 65 or so, windows down, NPR news on...and I hear it...as well as normal driving around town... I will keep the faith and hope for the best....and either keep that window up, turn up the volume or stick some cotton in my right ear?

At least, I am on the record with them and they have checked the car out. Now I can feel good about this coming Saturday's Jim Thorpe Run #5 and go for it.

 

 

Oh, only kidding...didn't mean to scare you, but the 1st generation didn't make this noise, that's all. I do really like the Clubman and am looking forward to Saturday's MINI run out to PA and Jim Thorpe land.

P.S. So did you ever figure out a "mute" button? Mine just turns it off and on.

 

no mute button that I can find. the Bluetooth one probably works as such when you press it.

they probably figured if you don't spring for the Bluetooth integration ... well.

 

Hmm, Bluetooth button... I have the factory version with the iPod thingie...and if a call comes in it does mute the radio automatically. It's quite wonderful...though it makes using the phone, albeit handsfree, much more tempting. However, I am glad I sprung for it.

I honestly like everything about my ordered Clubman, but if I'd wanted to save some bucks I could have foregone the exterior chrome and the piano black interior and have been fine...I just wanted those lower grilles to be chrome like the old first generation MC... I think MINI realized that most preferred the whole chrome grille aspect and figured why not charge for those little bars below?

 

I liked the Chrome line EXTERIOR on my old Coupe also, but was never a fan of the Chrome Mirror caps on the new gen that come with it ... so I passed.

On a reverse note, I never liked the Chrome line INTERIOR on the First Gen cars ... the chrome rings were too fat and bling bling looking

the new gen has a bit more thinner rings ... and I have to say they do reflect the dash lights nicely at night (someone once mentioned this here on NAM I think it was the main reason I looked into them this time around)

 

Agreed about the mirrors.

Dare we say there are too many choices?

OK, back to "bugs and fixes".

 

you could always swap out your chrome caps for black ones with someone I guess.

there are definetelly TOO many choices. I laugh now as on the Mazda3 forums when someone buys a Mazda and they post pics ... everyone ooohs and ahhhhs ... and basically there are 2 trim levels. EVERY car looks identical.

 

When I purchased my other car a while back I recieived a survey asking me about the vehicle....wind noise was one of the categories. Maybe it's time to ask Mini corporate about the noise? This thing had to hit a wind tunnel sometime during the production.

I'm going to have to test drive a clubbie again and jump the freeway and hit it faster

 

Right, there is some wind noise from the doors - on all MINIs...but this high pitched sound - almost like someone is whistling with a blade of grass between their thumbs (if you know how to do that) - is different, but it's supposed to be the normal engine sound on the 2nd generation cars. My others were 1st generation.

To test drive again...windows open, closed, air conditioning on/off and make sure to take it someplace where you can feel it on the corners, too.

 

Tinitus, maybe?

 

For my husband - that's a yes on the tinitus...perhaps a MINI blessing?

 

more weirdness.

the passenger seat seems to send off some weird signals.

if I put as much as 3 2L sodas on it ... the seatbelt light already chimes. gotta buckle those bottles up

also if someone now sits in it ... the "Airbag not Active" light next to the roof toggle switches goes on as well as the airbag light on the dash. This has been happening consistently lately and it sometimes goes off after a few minutes and sometimes not.

ALSO ... the seatbelt light stays on if there is a passanger ... even though they are buckled up. but at least it does not beep, thank God!

The seat is either possessed OR its calibrated for the weight of an infant and anything heavier freaks it out.

Any others with similar experiences?

 

I'm laughing...but yes, that "air bag not active" light up above came on the other day when my 18 year old daughter sat in the car...I made her get out, I turned off the car, she got in buckled up and I started the car and it was fine. Just happened once that I know of.

It did make me buckle up my very FAT cat in its carrying case.

I'll keep an eye on that Air Bag light. I haven't noticed the seat belt light staying on yet...and, thankfully, no bongs or beeps!

 

haha ... yes, in the beginning i had it where a few times the light went on and then off if i restarted the car. but now it seems on everytime someone sits in the passanger seat.

my wife likes it as I told her it means the car thinks she is lighter than she really is ... so she is fine with it being on


but saftey first, so its going in to be cheked out. need those missing chrome rings squared away also. I learned from my coupe to let the little annoying gremlins multiply to 2-3 different ones before taking the car in ... its something you learn as a MINI owner ... and it keeps you guessing as to what loaner they will give you next.