Hate to be a spoil sport, but there is nothing that drives me nuts about my MINI - I love my Cricket

 

Carbotech Bobcats are upposed to be easy on rotors, and long lasting. So, may not be that expensive in the long run.

 

I have heard others make that complaint about making shifting feel uncomfortable. I must be the right body size...it's extremely comfortable for me.

I have smartphone prep with a snap-in cradle for my iPhone in the armrest. Most of the time for short drives the phone stays in the pocket since the phone function works by bluetooth anyways...but for long drives I love being able to plug the phone out of the way in the armrest and have it charge as well as being able to play my tunes.

I realize that you can get the same function with the Y-cable adapter...but I really like having the phone out of the way...and the armrest is in a very comfortable position for me for driving...

 

The boot lock release. Sometimes, and I can't figure out why, I have to press the unlock button 2 or 3 times to be able to open the hatch. One press obviously activates the release but it still keeps a hold on the door until I press the button once or twice more.

 

Goldilocks...I'm with YOU...there isn't anything that I don't L@VE about my Molly Car!! She is everything I wanted and more, I SPOIL her too!!

 

The large arcs on the doors should match your brushed aluminum. Piano black should only come with the Piano Black, or English Oak interior. If you bought it new, something went wrong. If you bought it used, it is possible the previous owner swapped the dash panels for brushed aluminum.

 

Here is something to try, press it once and wait. I suspect there may be a timing issue with the OBC. I'm not sure whether it just has a long interval between polling for boot latch switch activation, or is asleep and needs time to wake. I've noticed that it can somethimes take awhile to respond.

 

[quote=IamLili;3034302]Ha. Thanks so much! I'm really wondering what the newer one looks like when sitting in the back - but then again, I'd never sit back there. I'd be at the wheel! Think it looks ok and could prove useful nonetheless.

When I'll place my order, I'll inquire about the price and maybe have it installed before delivery (or try to get it as a freebie?). But it could be more worthwhile to order aftermarket.

My 2010 Mini did not come with an armrest so I got the one shown on the left (optional) thrown in. The rep installed it while I was waiting for my car and as an armrest with storage it is very good. However, from the back the large black metal brace is prominent. Rarely is anyone in the back seat of my car so it doesn't bother me but, I can't live without an armrest.

 

Robin! I bought my MCS new. The door arches match the dash, its just that the two speakers on the door have shiny black rings around them, not chrome rings like everything else in my car. It seems totally random. My 2008 MC had the chromeline interior option as well, but the rings around the speakers in that car WERE chrome. These black rings are a mystery to me...

 

I envy your set-up with the cradle because actually the Y-cable adapter doesn't charge 3GS iPhones. This is an issue that many of us are waiting Mini to fix.

 

Fortunately I read a thread on here the weekend I had placed my car order...and I was able to call the dealership Monday morning before the actual order went in...and added it to my build. I am extremely happy that I did...it all works very nice.

I thought that I read somewhere that there is a newer Y-cable that has been released that WILL charge your iPhone 3G(S)?

About the only thing that I have some very minor regrets that I didn't add was Comfort Access. In retrospect I can see some advantages to that...but really I'm not all that bothered about it.

I'm sure if you asked 100 people what they think are essential features and waste of money features on a MINI...you would get about as many different opinions. There is something nice to be said about the fact that it is a car that allows for a lot of personalization. To each his own...

 

Some people have gotten the Y-Cable to charge, but its been hit and miss. There's no new cable that definitively/consistantly charges 3GS iPhones.

Having experienced/used Nissan's feature that is similar to "Comfort Access", it would certainly be a feature I would not mind having too. Life is about tradeoffs, though, and I'll indulge myself to a that luxury sometime in the future. It gives me something to look forward to!

 

If you aren't already doing this....press and HOLD the button. I believe it's designed that way, due to being the same button that acts as the panic button if you get the factory alarm?

 

I've always had to hold for a couple of seconds.

I had a terrible time getting into our Bimmer's trunk a few months ago, though. I could hear the thing unlocking (little motor sound), but couldn't open the lid. I hadn't driven it for a while, and it took me a while to realize I'd forgotten that BMWs only take a millisecond press on the button, and I was holding down the button, à la MINI. Apparently it was unlocking and then relocking right away.

 

My beef right now is the nut behind the wheel. Or the screw loose. Or, whatever you want to call it--I've heard all the jokes.

Actually, there is something loose, and we've finally isolated it to the front track of the rear sunroof. Something is loose and slides from one side to another as you go around a sharp curve. It's easy to demonstrate, and so predictable that you can sling it around from one side to another just by picking the right direction and speed--takes a couple of seconds to roll all the way! Naturally, I'm just over warranty miles, and at this point I don't want to pay the $350 the dealer wants to pull the rear sunroof. We're still figuring out alternatives. One of the things I want to do is get up on a stepladder and see if I can actually see the culprit. I tried to put a flexible magnet up there by feel, but there's some sort of grate over the track. It might not be magnetic, anyway.

Anyone ever hear of this? I never did, and people make fun of me until I put them in the car and they hear it for themselves.

 

Update--I called my insurance company and yes, you can get a windshield replaced for pitting in Texas, at least with AARP insurance, which is administered by Hartford. I have a $75 deductible, and I'll be replacing it soon. The only criteria is that it has to interfere with vision, and that's certainly the case when going into the sun. In fact, my spotless windshield actually appears to have lots of bugs, but there's actually only one tiny spider crack, and it's below the wipers.

(Sorry for the 3 entries, but they were 3 separate topics.)

 

I'll rant a sec and say what drives me nuts about this car...the friggin' paint! I have a 2010 MCS CR/CR, and it seems every single time I wash it, I find some sort of water stain/blemish on the hood. At first I was having issues with weeping nozzles causing stains. Got that fixed, but still find stains here and there that are obvious water marks. It comes from rain, the washers, you name it. I have never owned a car that has paint as delicate as this car, it just annoys the hell out of me.

 

True that. I had just washed and waxed my MINI to perfection then here comes a bird and BOOM, gotta bust out the windex.

 

You use Windex on your car??? Or do you mean the glass?

 

The glass, it landed smack dab on the drivers side window, then it smeared from the wind. D:

 

This is a common issue with BMW clearcoat. It's way too soft.

My MINI also had some clearcoat etching that was present upon delivery - a trail of etched droplets that started at the windshield washer nozzle and went all the way down the hood of the car.

After seeing that, one of the first things I did was replace the washer fluid that came with the car with something more gentle - not sure what is in that crap they shipped the car with, but I basically sprayed every last bit of it out until it was empty, and then filled it with a different fluid.

I can no longer let the spots upset me - they are easy to resolve with a decent polish and buffer. I just plan on doing that every six months or so. (In reality no one can see the etching but me.)

 

Anyone surprised about the thing that drives me nuts? You haven't read my posts if you are, lol.

The dash buzz between 2500 and 3k on some trips. Its not the dash vent, the hazard button, the secret compartment cover, the glovebox, the overhead toggle panel. Can't figure it out.

 

I have that same buzz and cannot find it either. It just manifested itself about 2K ago. Drives me nuts so I turn up the sound.

It does seem to come from the left side of the dash though I still can't pinpoint it.

Pat

 

Yeah, I've got the same dash buzz too. I think I started hearing it after about 2000 miles. Mine seems to be coming from the driver side, and usually it's during longer trips (over 100 miles). Just like Pat, I crank up the tunes so I can't hear it, but one of these days I'm breaking out the stethoscope to try and pinpoint it.

 

Suggestions on the buzz--might be the tach/computer display. Hold the entire gauge in your hand to see if it stops. Might be the door of the secret compartment, after all. Open it, and have a passenger hold it slightly "twisted" straight. Both were issues on mine, but only on certain roads. Speed/rpm didn't seem to be the problem, but there are some asphalt highways around here that just don't seem to agree with my car.

I also found that replacing my aged radar detector stopped a lot of it, but that's probably not your problem!