Ok... So I’ve had my MINI for four weeks now I have like 2k miles on it but I have a few minor annoyances with it. Now, I LOVE my car and I’m not knocking it, I’m actually hoping some of you old MINI hands will tell me how fix/modify/get around them.

So here they are:

5) The sunroof has a sunshade that really isn’t a sunshade, its a bug screen. It’s February in Minnesota and some days I already roast. Summer is going to suck. I could get a vinyl roof cover or black out the roof with a tint, but wouldn’t a working sunshade be better?? Doesn’t anyone make one? By that I mean one that replaces the factory one and rolls back into the roof like the factory one.

4) My car doesn’t have HD radio. Yes I have an iPod connection, but I want HD radio too.

3) About that iPod connection... It sets my iPod out in the open. I’ve had people break into my cars in the past and I don’t want to motivate them to do to it again. I’ve found an iPod extension cable that will let me mount it in the glove box out of sight. The problem is that the cable mount is so far forward in that little space in front of the shifter that the cable still shows.

2) The doors don’t lock when you have them open. I carry a LOT of crap with me everywhere and I often have a dog with me. In all of my old cars I could open my car door, lock it, then get my crap, and then get out. I didn’t have to fumble with with a key to lock it once I'm out.

1) When I push the lock button on the key and the car is already locked, the lights don’t flash and the horn doesn’t honk. In all my old cars this would happen. It makes them easy to find in a parking lot. With the MINI, a car that’s easy to lose in a parking lot, that doesn’t happen.

Anyway any suggestions would be helpful.

Thanks,

JP

 

You can set the lights to flash and horn to beep when you lock the doors if you have the alarm system. Instructions are in the owners manual. If you don't have the alarm system you can still set the lights (but not headlights) to flash, just no sound. Hope this helps.

 

No, no one makes one at this time. Search here and you will find some that have done a modification to it to make it solid but I think all of them have had a problem with the extra material thickness at some point.

Also there are a number of manufacturers making removable shades for these and other cars.

Zippee Shades - I have these and love them.
http://www.zippeegear.com/

Stratmosphere -
http://www.stratmosphere.com/sunshades.htm

Just to name two


This can bee added. You can DIY the OEM module if you would like and have full integration. But you will have to take it back to the dealer to have it programed.


Or you can go aftermarket and have it play thru the AUX input.

Not sure how it is on the 2010 but on my 08 it is not seen if it is in the little compartment down below the switches.

Check the Audio and Nav Section and you will find a person that has removed the dash and extended the USB and AUX to the secret compartment with no wires showing.

Here is how mine looks close up but it can not be seen from the outside.


You will find many new cars are this way for safety reasons.

And in fact all my cars for the last 25+ years have had this feature on the drivers door. That way you can not lock the keys in the car easily.

Do you have Comfort Access?

Two things here.

1. the car will not make any sounds unless you have the OEM alarm installed.

2. This is a safety feature that many new cars have. it does not warn all the would be thieves, rapists, car jackers, etc. as to where your car is.

 

Thanks for the replies!!

It’s a no on the Comfort Access. My Explorer died and I needed a car fast. I wanted the Comfort Access and the xenons real bad but it was a choice between those and the turbo and the turbo won out. MINIs are popular so dealer stock sucks. I wanted that proximity key real bad for these very reasons. There’s no way to it add aftermarket is there??

I’ll look through the audio boards for that post on how to place the iPod in the secret compartment. That would be great!

I’m also looking at the Viper/iPhone system. But I hear that system has it’s quirks and it’s expensive. I believe that system allows you to press a button on your phone, honk the horn, and lock/unlock the doors. But it doesn’t work if you’re in a cell phone dead zone. Like a parking ramp or the inside of my place of work.

I should just be able to call the parts guy at my dealer for the HD radio OEM module right? I have the premium package with the Harmon Kardon.

Thanks again,

JP

 

[quote=JP_Smith;2991667]Thanks for the replies!!

It’s a no on the Comfort Access. My Explorer died and I needed a car fast. I wanted the Comfort Access and the xenons real bad but it was a choice between those and the turbo and the turbo won out. MINIs are popular so dealer stock sucks. I wanted that proximity key real bad for these very reasons. There’s no way to it add aftermarket is there??[quote]

To many parts and a wiring harness change are required so although feasible it is not practical as the whole car needs to come apart.

i may have been moved to the "How To Section" under the mods area but I did not see it there. Check both sections.

Have read about this system but as yo say it is VERY expensive and from the reports i have read it doe not work all that well.

Yes if you call the dealer parts department they can get you the part number. Then get a price form them and also a price form Pelican Parts (online) and then check with Morristown MINI as they usually have very good prices.

Then do the install of the hardware yourself and then make an appointment with your dealer to have it programed in.

 

#3 - Replace the iPod with a USB stick. I'm using a 16GB Patriot flash drive and it works great. And, let's face it, 16GB of MP3s is one heckuva lot of music. Plus, even if it does get stolen, you're only out $25-30 or so. Additionally, the USB stick will *easily* fit down inside the the little hidey-hole they provide, no one will EVER see it there...

-RW-

 

I personally have been very pleased doing EXACTLY this myself. Heck, even a 4gig USB thumb drive can be found for under $10 and 4gigs is several CD's worth of music. Enough for almost any road trip really. I'm not sure what all the fuss is over the iPod anyway but I respect everyone's right to choose an over priced mp3 player.

 

I have a GREAT idea for you: get the Parrot bluetooth kit, which connects to an iPod/iPhone or other Bluetooth-enabled device. I self-installed in my '03 Cooper S, and it's awesome! I use a Blackberry Storm for phone and also have the Rhapsody music service. It's the Parrot PARROT MKi9100.

 

Have it in my BMW - it was a "Must Have" option for me. So much so, I have a black car instead of the blue I wanted (in the BMW that is). Turns out it sucks. HD goes in and out and is way more annoying than it is good sounding. AM is nice at first and then just sounds weird. It is now must NOT have option for me.

However, CA rocks

 

I also use the USB stick, a 20gb model model that has an "accessing" light. I just plug it in and enjoy the music. The "accessing" light adds some minor ambiance when driving at night. I found the Ipod connectors problematic.

 

This sounds very interesting, but I can't figure out what you guys are plugging into!

 

if you have the ipod adaptor option, it's USB based. unplug the ipod cable and plug in the usb drive.

 

With using an USB stick can you still use your steering wheel contols to access the music? I got the iphone 3gs which does not charge with the Mini Thanks to schatzy62 I understand their system beter.