You have to have either the cold weather pkg or bought the option for heated/power fold mirrors. If you have those, turn the right/left selector/adjust switch on the door past where you select the side and this will activate the powerfold feature

 

Yep! I got the cold weather package, heated seats, mirrors, washers, etc. So I guess I must have the mirror deal too. Thanks.

 

Turn the Mirror adjustment **** all the way for a second. They will spin in for you.

 

I concur with the opinions that the sport button is great. Makes it easier to drive.

On a related but different matter, it seems to me that the the clutch engagement point is a little high. Any opinions?

 

for those who shift at low rpms for better mpg, what would you say is the lowest one can go without lugging the engine? i always though 2500 would be the lowest but i've heard as low as 2000

 

I'll shift at 2000 when I'm in stop and go traffic. 1st gear for me will start to lug under 6 mph. 2nd gear starts to lug at 9 miles an hour.

 

How do you get the mirrors to fold in? I've never done it, and that would be a big help in the tight parking place I have in the garage.[/quote]

If you have the option,not sure what package it comes with. I've got an '08 CooperS and you turn the side mirror adjuster, located on the driver's side door clockwise all the way and the mirrors should fold in automatically. If you turn your side mirror adjuster all the way and it doesn't fold them in then you don't have that option.

 

After break in period. I like to shift at about 5000-5500 rpm so that I use the torque to its fullest.

 

Yo. Peak torque is achieved at 1600 rpm.

 

If you have the powerfolding mirrors option, you fold them in / out with the mirror position adjustment **** on the drivers door (on the handle). All the way to the right or left for in/out.

Shifting is a matter of personal preference and a function of the need for power. The more power you need immediately, the higher the rpms. Generally try not to lug the engine when you need power. Otherwise have fun.

 

You're right on about 2000 rpm.
I have a 2008 cooper clubman 6spd manual, euro spec with the gear change indicator in the tachometer. Generally, it recommends upshifts at 2000 rpm and downshifts at 1300 rpm. When pushed though, it says upshift at 2500 or above.

Regards,
--Anders.

 

A space that is too tight for a MINI???????????????????????
That must be a seriously crouded garage!

 

Just incase you ever sell it....do the next owner a favor. FOLLOW BRAKE IN, below 4 grand for 1200 miles.
Depending on your personality and style, I tend to keep my car between 3500-5000. If some german wont let me merge, FastFreddie will go to 7200. I bought my car as a toy, a hobby and commuter lastly.
More importantly My car launches extremely hard at 2,100 rpm, but I have exhuast, intake and other tuning. You will learn that the stock power curve will greatly be altered with modification.

 

Sorry, but asking when to change gears tells me you need driving lessons.

Don't want to come across as being a snobby Brit, but this is something that should be as natural as walking - and is to those of us raised in the Europe as you have to learn in a manual car to pass your test.

If you haven’t driven a manual before, learn first - preferably in someone else's car so you don't ruin your clutch.

 

Isn't the torque curve flat from 1600-5500 on the MCS???

 

It is, unless you invoke overboost, when its only flat from 1750-4500.

You still get most power at the top end, and power is what actually matters.

 

Are you kidding?! I rented a car in downtown Zurich and decided to use the multilevel parking garage. I had to WAIT outside until three cars left because it was full. I had a rather small car (can't remember which kind but it was an Audi) and had to TURN SIDEWAYS when getting out of the car! Thinking that I or the moron to the left had parked too closely to the dividing line, I checked out the gaps between a dozen other cars. They were the same.
Note to self: do NOT, absolutely D O N O T get fat in Switzerland. It will make life impossible. And no, I did not see a single fat person the entire three weeks I was there!