Wow, this is bad. I just read that the R56 doors don't unlock automatically when turning off the car and removing the key. Is this true? That is one of the features on my '05 mcs, which I really appreciate. It is really annoying to have to pull the door handle twice or even hit the toggle to unlock the doors every time you turn the car off. I think the auto lock feature at ten miles or so is great.

 

Yeah, thats how it works. I too use the auto-locks, so I need to pull the handle twice. Kinda annoying, but it only takes a second. I wouldn't mind auto-unlocking though...

 

I wonder why this can't be programed like in my '05 mcs? The auto unlock was a nice feature that MINI should never have changed.

 

It would be nice if you only had to pull the handle to unlock it, not pull it twice.

 

The dealer can program the R56 to do this just as they did in the R53

 

What's a key?

 

Not based on what I have been reading here. Where did you learn of this?

 

????? Oh, you must have the start button in yours.

 

I believe what is being referenced is the FOB instead of the "key".

All R56s have the start button.

 

Thought that was only with comfort access option?

 

I have the comfort access option. I just get in the car, depress the clutch, and push the Start button. I've never put a key into anything on the MINI.

 

Nope, the comfort access fob is different than the non-comfort access fob but they are both fobs and both should have a key hidden inside it. The non-comfort access fob charges its internal battery when it is inserted into the vehicle and the comfort access fob has a replaceable battery.

 

Correct, with the comfort access option it is not necessary to insert the fob, the non comfort access fobs need to be inserted and get recharged while inserted, the manual recommends they be inserted at least twice a year so the battery will be recharged. So those without the comfort access feature will want to use their second fob at least once every six months to keep it charged up.

 

Back to what Twister said... can the dealer really program the R56 so it has auto unlock?

 

Thanks for the info, I'm still learning about all the new features on the R56.

 

Yeah, is that possible or not?

 

I'm not seeing in anything in the downloadable owners manual about this being an option that can be set, either via the dealer or as part of the personal profiles for the selected fob. You can however, set it so the doors do not auto lock at all. The unlock choices I'm seeing is the toggle switch or pulling on the door handle twice.

 

I haven't seen a single carjacker here in Roseburg, nor in Eugene or Portland. I've never driven with the doors locked and am glad my passengers don't have to yank twice on the door handles. They'd soon break them.

 

Oh yeah, that would be REAL nice, when you pulled the handle once accidentally (and it unlocked and opened) on the hwy at 75 MPH.

 

I hope it NEVER happens, but in the event you ever get in an accident, you will WISH you had locked your door. Most people killed in auto accidents are killed when they are ejected from the vehicle, NOT in the vehicle.

LOCK your doors when driving!! It has NOTHING to do with "carjacking". Thank me later!!! Most cars today do not even leave this as an option. Both my Audi and Ford F-150 lock the doors the second the car is put into gear, you have no choice.

So MINI thought it was OK to let us drive with the doors unlocked, but it's NOT ok to roll the windows up with the key FOB? Or worse, open the Sunroof with one touch??

 

Every other car I've owned was set up that way. I never once accidentally opened the door while rolling. Is that a problem in your area?

 

My truck is the same way, it opens with one pull, i'm sure most are smart enough not to try to jump out of their vehicles doing 75, who does that?

 

And how does that square with the Mini system that automatically unlocks the doors in the event of a "sufficiently severe" accident?

 

Maybe we should post a safety bulletin for those who's doors don't automatically lock?

 

I believe it unlocks the doors after the impact, it is during the impact that if a door is unlocked that is more likely to be thrown open. After it registers the impact, it will unlock the doors so that you can escape the vehicle (for example you'd want the doors to automatically unlock should you go off a bridge into a river or lake, or something to that effect)