That side parking light works in the US! It is described in the owners manual. And it is on most BMWs.

 

You can have the dealer turn off the chime with a "retrofit" program on ISTA/P. My dealer SA denied it exists, but it is available. Also you have NCS expert you can do it at home (go to the electrical modification section for more info).

No way to adjust the timeout. However, the chime is separate for driver and passenger.

 

I did not know that all the annoying electronic functions could be customized with a <$30 dollar wire and the instructions posted in the Electrical forum here on NAM. I was able to resolve all the little things that bothered me by coding the options the way I like them. A sample:

- One touch sunroof open and close from the overhead cabin switch instead of having to hold it.
- Hold Unlock on the remote to open windows and tilt sunroof from a distance. Hold lock on the remote to close all.
- Disable constant chiming - from the driver/passenger seat belts, on start up, on door open, when the temperature falls to 37 degrees. So peaceful now! I always wear my seat belt, but in some situations I want to not have it on right away! I also don't need my car to yell at me every time the temperature drops which always makes me think something is wrong for a second.
- Turn on the red Heartbeat LED lights on the tach when the car is locked without having to buy an alarm. It looks awesome and is a good deterrent since it looks like an active alarm.
- Auto door unlock when key is removed from the ignition. Works great with the existing auto locking feature since you don't have to pull on the handle twice.
- Windows can be operated for about a minute after the key is out of ignition. Some Minis have this turned on at the factory but mine did not.
- Always show digital speed on the tach like the newer models. This was not an option on my 2009 but now it is.
- Disable speed overestimation so the speedo is more accurate.
- Enable a setting so that opening a door will not interrupt a window from rolling up.
- Enable a different pattern for hazard lights - it's a cool looking double blink now.
- Disable auto A/C Engagement When Pressing the Auto Button. How annoying is this in the winter? However, it will now retain the settings before you turn the Auto climate system off, so if the AC was on it will come back the next time Auto is pressed and if it was off it will stay off.
- I don't have the Nav, but it allows you to get rid of the Nav system warning which would be great for those that have it.

It took a couple of days to figure it out but it was by far the best mod for the money! Take a look here if any of this sounds interesting to you, but you do need to be comfortable with computers to get into this: https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...beginners.html

 

Where did you buy your cable, Vert? I used to do this with VWs and have the cable for that, but believe I need a new one for my MCS.

 

Got mine from www.uobd2.com. I don't have the exact link, but I found it mentioned in one of the coding DIY threads in the Electrical forum. It was around $28. If you read the DIY threads you will see several places to get the cable from and uobd2.com seemed to be one of the cheapest for something that was tested to work. Some people bought theirs from places other than those mentioned in the DIYs (ebay, amazon) and some of those did not work, so I would definitely read up and get it from a tested source.

 

Thanks, vert!

I learned something abut my MCS today: You can't have your window cracked if it's raining, or there's snow on the roof. You WILL get wet

 

Something you may not have known about your R56 MiNi:

The USB port in the glove compartment is useful for charging any USB device (smartphone, etc). Unlike either the USB port that connects iPod/iPhone to MiNi Connected or a USB insert in the power outlet in the center console, the glove box USB will keep charging a device when neither engine nor accessory port are on - almost like a hardwire to the vehicle's battery.

Another thing you may not have known - with an Android smartphone, you can get full functionality of all MiNi Connected functions - yes, ALL. You'll need to invest in an iPod and root your phone (or otherwise have tethering capabilities/permission on your data plan). This is good information for people committed to Android by choice or by contract (in my case, T-Mo doesn't offer iPhone yet).

 

You must have the nav system. From what I can tell, that port is intended for Nav updates. Those of us without do not have it, and must make do with the center console port that (at least when I ordered my car I was told) was part of the Bluetooth option.

 

In fact I do indeed have the Nav. I was aware of the specificity of the glove box USB receptacle as a dedicated Nav dataport, but it still serves good utility as a simple charging port that is always "hot" even when nothing is on. I can run the cable out to the center console within the glove box so it also eliminates that "loose wire" look in the cockpit.

 

My MINI Cooper D manual is smart enough to re-start the engine when I'm dumb enough to stall it!
If I stall, I put my foot down on the clutch, put it back into neutral and he fires back up again without touching the start button! Into first and away I go.
Must be something to do with the auto start/stop feature.
I think it's his way of saying "it's ok, let's get out of here before people laugh at us" haha

 

Love it.

 

Be careful about using an 'always hot' for charging... I read on a Jeep forum about a device that possibly overheated after being left in all night, and may have been what caused a fire in the Jeep. If you're using a hot outlet and leaving your device in, your device could possibly overheat, at least older ones might.

 

Wow! You've managed to solve all my pet peeves with one post.

I will have to look into this in more detail. Thank you.

 

I made the absolutely colossal mistake of trying this out while my girlfriend's 11 year old daughter was in the car... Now I can't go back because she insists on it being a dance party in there.

Thanks guys... You rrreeeeaaaalllly did me a favor. LOL

 

Wait until she buys one of those mirrored disco ***** that hangs from the rear-view! Ha!

 

I didn't know I could change the color of the lights that are behind the armrest.

 

Hey Vert, thank you for the post, do you have any email, invoice or order confirmation that shows/includes the item number from uob2d.com?

 

I checked and I do not have it. However, I found the link to the wire here by reading a couple of threads in the Electronics forum on NAM - I started with the Beginners thread I linked in my original post and then there were a couple other ones, so it's buried in here somewhere. Also, you don't have to get the wire from the same place as I did. There are several other recommended places discussed in the DIY threads.

 

Still waiting for my 2013 to get on a boat and head this way.
But, in the interim, thought I'd add one here maybe you all aren't aware of ...

2013s with Manual Transmission, when in Sport Mode, will backfire on the downshifting. My MA showed me this on the test drive - told me it was to emulate the JCW.

 

Thanks for the information, but this is not new for 2013. It has been around a long time and there are many threads discussing it. You know, we Vols have to help out you Gators all the time with things like this

 

Thanks - actually, my MA is originally from TN No *****

 

Wow, and you still bought the car from him/her?

 

Keeping the SEC on top! :p

 

as otherss have stated, this is not new to 13s, my 12 cms all4 does the pop/burrble

however, i have noticed that there is no pop/burrble until the engine is fully warmed up

so even though i do not have a temp gauge, by using sport mode ON, my cms all4 will let me know when it is fully warmed up and until it does, i drive with a light foot

scott

 

Thank you very much for looking Vert, it's appreciated!
I'll dig a little deeper in the threads.