Searched on this but came up blank.

The last MCS loaner I drove (built 11/08) had the auto recirc mode for the automatic climate control (small "A" on the recirc button). This mode apparently switches back and forth between recirc and fresh air on its own based on input from a sensor. Sounds good.

However, the new MCS that I picked up last week (built 06/09) does NOT have this automatic recirc mode (yes, it has the auto climate control). The recirc button doesn't have the "A" on it and pushing the button just toggles between manual recirc and fresh air. My printed owner's manual doesn't make mention of the auto recirc feature, although the older 2009 PDF version of the manual does.

Looks like the auto recirc got canned sometime during the 2009 production year. Anyone know why?

 

Is that what that button does?

 

My 08 goes from recirc to fresh air about every 30 min when te recirc button is selected. The owner's manual confirms this. Have you driven it long enough to notice if it switches over?

 

I've driven it a while but not on recirc mode, so haven't noticed that. I wouldn't generally make much use of recirc, so that's why the auto recirc (Mini/BMW calls it AUC) sounded useful. Recirc only when you need it.

But for some reason they removed it. Could be for cost savings, but seems odd to drop it in the middle of a model year.

 

I suspect if you select recirc you'll nontice it'll switch to fresh air every so often.

 

Could be, but that would be the opposite of the AUC mode, where it runs in fresh air and switches to recirc as needed.

Maybe I'm the first one to notice that it's gone on the late '09 builds...

 

When I put my in fresh it stays fresh, when I put it in recirculate it cycles from recirculate to fresh about every 30 minutes. Guess they got rid of it on 09s then...

 

Right, and the AUC gives you a third mode - fresh, recirc and auto recirc. That last mode is the one that seems to have been dropped partway through 2009.

 

My 09 Mini has the auto a/c and the auto recirc...if you keep pressing the button you can switch it to always on recirc or fresh air...

 

Yup, that's the one. Earlier '09s seem to have it, later '09s don't.

 

Not sure when my 09 MCS was built, but it does have it. It's a Canadian model though, if that changes anything.

 

Any pictures of this button?

 

Link to open photo in its own tab/window

After opening photo, click on it to enlarge and see details.

First press of the button below AUTO places a red icon in the 'Two-O'Clock' portion of the round display, including the 'A' with the little MINI and its 'inside-air' arrow.

A second push of the same button removes the 'A' from the icon.

I have not noticed any change in the air output or sound when the button is pushed, perhaps I did not wait long enough.

Thirty years ago, all Auto AC Systems only allowed 'Re-Circulate' mode on MAX COLD setting, the thought was that you needed fresh air entering cabin most of the time.

This requirement seemed to go away with the "wouldn't start until seatbelt inserted" feature.

I have encountered modern autos that worked the same way on AC Recirculate.

 

That's the one. My '09 MCS does not have the "A" on the button and there are only two modes: recirc or fresh. The earlier-build '09 MCS I drove right before getting mine did have the "A" button.

I'll see if I can get an answer out of the dealer or ask them to go back up the chain of command and find out why they took it out - if it was simply to save a few bucks or something else.