No doubt the oil pump has to run all the time,or it would kill the engine. You make a valid point about the water pump though, and I knew it was on demand. Back in the day the old trick in a manual car or truck was to coast down a hill out of gear when the engine was hot. This allowed the water flow to slow down through the radiator, thus cooling it, so you would get a fresh shot of cool water into the engine, when you put it back in gear. That is why I need to understand why the engine in the MCS cools off when pulling a hill. I'll find out when I go to my dealer for service next month. Anyone out there know for sure how this cooling off under load happens??? It's not the thermostat, I'll bet on that!!!

 

It's not an on/off thing (water/oil pump). Since they're both electric (boogie woogie woogie!) wouldn't they be variable speed controlled by the DME? When the car is under load going up a hill (and the turbo is producing insane amounts of heat), the DME goes into 'full cooling' mode allowing max cooling and immediately dropping temps to 90-95. This would mean the radiator is always capable of shedding massive BTUs and is limited electronically to keep temps 100-105 (for efficiency) when the engine is under light load via water flow fan speed or whatever.

 

From what I can see it looks like the water pump is an on/off thing by a plunger on the the serpentine belt idler pulley. I agree it looks like a combo of the water pump on/off and the high speed fan running to maintain 90 to 95C. I do know on my 2013 JCW the temp gauge goes to 95C then to 90C as the thermostat opens. On the MCS it goes all the way to 105C and stays there until you turn on the A/C all the way, or climb a hill, then goes to 90C. As the relative torque gauge goes up to 50% or better the temp goes down accordingly. On the JCW it stays at 90C no matter what you do, or conditions are!

 

I like how the windows open a bit when you open the door and then close after the door is shut.

How did this get on this thread?

 

When the doors are locked the gas cap is locked. But I saw last night in the trunk where the amp is located. There is a green wire with a gas symbol on it that you can pull. And it unlocks your gas cap.

 

When direct sunlight hits your cluster gauge, the lettering changes from red to silver.

 

Yah on demand doesn't mean electric I guess. Do keep us updated!

 

I didn't know how much fun it is to discover everything there is in a Mini when there was no owners manual included when I bought this previously owned. Today I found the hidden storage area above the glove box which I thought was just a loose panel, pressed on it and magically revealed its presence. So I put my cell phone in there, shut the panel and didn't say a word to my wife about it. However I did call my son up and told him to call me back in 10 min. My wife got into the car and we drove off somewhere. 10 min later she hears ringing comin from the dash and I just looked at her like, what ringing??? well my cell is set to auto answer and she hears my sons voice responding to her saying, answer the phone! Im spending the nite in the dog house.............

 

My favorite is still unlocking the MINI and holding the button down the second time while the windows and sunroof open. So cool:-).

 

I rather like the extra few inches of storage space one can get by extending the spacers/hooks on rear pillars - which stop rear seat backs from going beyond vertical.
There - that should clear that up. Still - surprising how many owners don't know about that - or the auto function for windows & sunroof. Pleasant surprise - for when the timing chain goes bonkers.
Barry

 

Don't think there is an auto function for the sunroof. Wish there was thoe.

 

You can open it tilted when the windows go down all the way. Helix or someone can program it all the way I believe but I forgot who(one of the vendors).

 

Mine opens the sunroof on second unlock button hold on the fob. I also programmed my car to close the windows and sunroof on second lock button hold. Love this and wish it was stock in the US but alas the stupid insurance industry.

 

How did u do that?

 

I love and hate you for this. I tried it from my 3rd floor office window, and it worked! It also started to pour down rain 3 seconds after I did it and there is no way to close it remotely

 

About two weeks ago when it was nearing 100*F here in SoCal I parked my Mini after a long drive along the California coast and after about two minutes after shut down the electric fan went from its usual speed and then got really loud almost like a jet engine! I was standing next to my car on the phone when it happened and I jumped as it scared the you know what out of me! Never heard it that loud before!

While the fan was roaring I started the engine and the intake temps was 140*F, I guess all of that heat soak after engine shutdown raised the under hood temps. It was very humid!

 

Oh man sorry about this. Time to get it programmed up to close as well. This is an awesome feature.

 

Have you tried blasting the AC full cold for at least the last 5 minutes of your drive and a couple minutes more after you've parked? That should get the temps down to 90C before you shutdown.

 

I could turn on the heater as well.

 

I'm curious--why wouldn't adding a lot of A/C just compound the problem of heat under the hood? I've always heard of putting heat on as a first-aid measure for an overheating engine, but never heard of air conditioning in the same context. Will you please explain?

 

Is there instruction in the owners manual to turn this off?

 

yes there is

 

Well you have to turn the ac to max. It opens the thermostat and turn on the big fan. Doing this will drop the coolant temp to about 172f in 30 seconds, cooling thing off under hood.

 

If you put the a/c on max, it opens a secondary thermostat, dropping the coolant to 90 degrees. The same happens with the sport mode on......

 

Sorry I'm at work without the manual, but thanks! I'll check it out.