In the description it says the comfort access will automatically unlock my car when I get within 5 feet of my car. My thought was when I decided on this outrageously expensive option ($500) was that in the pouring rain, I could just grab the handle and be in my car in an instant. Instead I have to push this little button on the door handle (which doesn't always work on the first push) before the car unlocks.

Do I have a case with Mini in that the feature doesn't work as advertised, or am I possibly doing something wrong?

What I thought I was getting was a feature where I could just leave the key in my pocket, and when I walked away from the car it would automatically lock, and when I got close to it, it would unlock the door.

I still have to remember to lock the car (with that little button).

What do you think? Do I have a case, or am I stuck with a $500 novelty that doesn't live up to advertised promises?

The comfort access keys don't even have rechargable batteries like the standard fobs.

 

Here, have a piece of cheese.

 

Is it really that hard to hit the little door handle button when getting into your car? You have to grab the door handle to open the door anyway???

Personally, I see the Comfort Access option as a nice feature (not sure if it's worth the 500 clams though) since you never have to take the key out of your pocket (or purse). This is a real benefit when starting the car as there's no need to have to stick the key into the silly socket and then hit the start/stop button.

Without Comfort Access, the standard start/stop button is just plain silly IMHO. It takes more effort to have to insert the key in the slot and then hit the start button. It would be much easier to just insert a standard key and just twist the ignition in one single movement.

I do agree that it would be nice if Comfort Access auto unlocked and locked the doors for you though. And, I too noticed that the online config is wrong as you've pointed out. However, I doubt that you could do anything about that as there are laws in place that protect manufacturers from typos in advertisements, etc.

 

I don't have comfort access, but I would not have expected you have to push a button on the door handle.

 

My g/f has a system that is similar on her Prius and it doesn't unlock the door when your 5 feet away, but it waits to unlock the door until the handle is pulled. But I do love the feature that you don't have to hand the keys over to someone else when the drive it.

 

I say sue!!!

There are so many out of work lawyers since we produce so many of that breed in the country. Go find a hungry shark and put him/her/it back to work today.

Besides our court systems need more work too. Think of all those civil servants you'll be keeping on the payroll (queue Sousa March) it is your patriotic duty to sue, and appeal, and sue again. The horrors of letting those German engineers get one over on us Americans. (cut to US Flag flowing breeze)

 

...it doesn't really sound like a typo, they'd have to prove it was.

 

it works exactly the same as on our FX35...buttons on the handles and all. $500 is cheap for that option and I'd have spent it on the R53 if it was offered. Great feature and you're just being lazy...push the damn button! It's hardly more effort than squeezing the door handle.

 

I like it---yes you have to press the button BUT I have had situations where that is easier than reaching into my pocket to hit the fob button.

Happened the other day when I was carrying my pug into the car after surgery.

getting very used to not using a key or anything else when starting the car.

Worth $500 ?--a bit much, but I like it. Law suit---forget it..

 

im definitely getting this option when i order my MINI. Yeah for 500, its a bit much for what it really does but i love convenience. i have a question for you though... what happens if you dont stop the engine and leave the car with the key in your pocket?

 

Comfort access is for lazy people.

That said, I miss the comfort access in my old IS350.

 

Heh, got my MINI a week ago, and wondered that myself when I *almost* did just that yesterday when I pulled it up at a parking lot, got out, got the ticket from the attendant and almost walked off with the key in my pocket as he got into the car to park it somewhere

 

Thanks for thinking of us lawyers!!!

 

I negleceted to mention my other concern of what happens if you lose or damage the fob. There's that nifty key that slides out of the fob, but it alone will do nothing other than open the door (or raise/lower the windows).

It certainly would be nice to have a nice small flat key that could be hidden, or placed in a wallet that could start the car in the event of an emergency.

Mini has put a lot of faith in their roadside assistance program. My car was delivered without a jack. When I discovered it was intentional, Mini told me I didn't need a jack since I had roadside assistance. I wonder if I can call them this winter and have them swap my street wheels for my winter ones. Or maybe the manual that described the included tool kit was yet another misprint?

I love my MINI, but there are several things that I find rather irksome.

 

you bought a British car built by BMW and expected normalness of a Toyota or Honda??

 

I believe on our Mazdaspeed 6 there is an option to program the system to automatically lock and unlock without pushing the button. Did you check the owner's manual to see if it's an option?

 

Think about it for a moment, if the system locked and unlocked by an auto mode, how does the system know when you are walking away or walking toward the car. Also what about when you are washing/detailing the car, move away locks, move close unlocks,......repeat.......repeat...not for me thank you.

But by all means, use your USA rights and sue Mini. That way the next time the Mini engineers have what they think is a cool idea....they will re-think, re-think. re-think........it till it is perfect, and we consumers will never see new advancments in car features.

 

Another thing I've wondered - If you have each key programmed with different vehicle memory settings, and both keys approach the car at the same time (like one in your pocket and one in your wife's purse), which key does it use to determine the vehicle settings?

 

i think youd kill your MINI.

 

There have been some reports on this situation. I believe that it usually picks the one you don't want -- Murphy being alive and well.

 

It doesn't auto-lock, AFAIK. And I believe the unlock is silent (non-mechanical). Which makes me wonder, what happens if you lock the car using the button, then later on walk near the car. Do you have lock it again? I'm guessing not, so long as you don't touch the button.

Edit: I just realized you have it, and were making a point about why it doesn't auto-unlock/lock w/o a button! Sorry.

 

Already tried this, which ever key is detected by the Mini becomes the dominant one.

 

Why would it matter?

If it really bothered you having your car lock and unlock while you were washing it, you could just throw the keys in the car.

Or we'd end up getting advancements that actually were what the engineers intended. Instead of poorly implemented features that aren't worth the money.

I had an Audi before my MCS. When you held the unlock button on the fob the car unlocked and the windows went down. If you held the lock button down the car would lock and the windows went up. The Audi also had auto-up windows.

There's obviously too much "re-thinking" going on at Mini, and far too little "thinking". I could give you several examples

 

I know it does not auto lock/unlock, I was replying to the OP that thought it would. Unless Skeeter is abnormal, when locking and unlocking you can hear the mechanical sound of the locks. As for using the buttons on the key fob, not sure what you are asking, mt buttons work the normal way, push to lock or unlock.

 

If you read the description of the Comfort Access System in the Configurator it does claim that it automatically unlocks the doors.



So, yes we were deceived if that is what we expected. I also find that the black button doesn't always respond. The hatch is especially bad. If you are standing in the rain without an umbrella, it could matter.

Law suit? That seems a bit much, but I think the issue is worthy of a complaint to MINI. Or, if one wanted to take it further, report it as false advertising to your state's attorney general.

Jascooper, what sort of solution are you looking for? Do you want your money back, a correction to the Configurator, or what?