This may be on here already, but I am not scouring 12 pages of posts to check, I have heard that when you drive by one of the MINI billboards with the electronic display, the RFID chip in your key will signal it to display a personalized message to you

 

NO WAY???? Where are the signs?? I highly doubt this.

You lift the seat release(on back of seat), and pull the entire seat forward. Then to put it back, PUSH the base of the seat (not the seat back) back until it clicks into position (it will be same position it was!), then push the seat back upright (it will also end up in same position it was!). That's it. Works nice for putting your "stuff" (briefcase...) in backseat....

 

But you have to hit the flasher (highbeam flasher) before you exit to make it work, right?

 

almost true.

MINI sent out special fobs to a few thousand people that will activate the billboards. Not everybody has one. I don't know how they selected who would get them.

The billboards are located in a few highly populated places.

 

Yes and No.... not with your key, it is a program you have to sign up for and you get another little fob that is recognized by the billboard and gives you personalized messages as you drive by. CLICKY HERE for the thread on it.

 

ONLY MINI!!!

 

With very few exceptions, the posts I am reading here are things clearly presented in the owner's manual. So WHY don't you know about them??

 

Add another GREAT "things we didn't know" to the list!! The MINI comes with an OWNERS MANUAL!!!

 

I didn't use the key since last night and the radio still worked.

 

Does anybody know what the plastic grate is for in the boot? This the opposite side of the seats down where you can connect the cargo netting.

 

If the key was in your pocket, you were using the key!!

 

I'm sure we could fill another few pages on what the dealer didn't know about the cars they are selling .

 

Not sure I follow you....?

 

i found that out while in the dealer while just playing around with the car, i thought it was a nifty little thing, gives a little more space, it stands the seats up straight for say taller items in the back with out sacrificing the back seats entierly.

 

My MA pointed out that the headrests had to be repositioned.

 

I have actually seen one up by O'hare airport, but unfortunately I will not have a key so no personalized messages for me But thanks for the info anyways!

 

The radio can be turned on at anytime. It won't stay on for more than ~15 minutes though without the key.

 

Thanks for the seat information - it worked.

And now for a real boneheaded thing I did not know. If you choose UK English, you get UK measurements for gallons. (The imperial gallon is different than the US gallon.) As a result, your MPG display will be quite innaccurate!

 

Great car and tons of fun. Mellow yellow, black bonnet stripes, double sun-roof, 6-speed, convenience/sport/cold weather packages and audio upgrade. It's an eye-catcher.

2 things I've found that are a pain:

1) iPOD integration. I have a 5th gen 80GB iPOD and use it often in my MCS. The integration cable is in the glove box, so it is hidden and fairly nicely integrated into the audio controls for display. BUT , here's my problem. The integration will only recognize the first 255 albums, songs, etc. I've got ~50GB of songs on the iPOD and WAY more than 255 albums or songs. So, I'm stuck with selecting an artist between A-J or the equivilant albums, etc. Pain. I'm working through whether I can break up my iPOD library into smaller play lists in order to be able to access all my songs in my car. Anyone else experience this and have some options?

2) The wheels are too easily damaged. This is my first "small" and sporty car. It drives great and can get into some very tight spots. But, I've scratched up 2 of my wheels so far (I've had the car for 2 weeks) by getting too close to curbs when parking. The run-flat tires don't extrude out beyond the edge of the rims, so the rims are easily damaged by doing what I've stoopidly done!!! Be careful!

I DO love my MCS, though.

 

So is it a pilot program with the intent to eventually place personalized ads some day?

As a joke regarding the information MINI provided:

So say your cruising along and you see a MINI motorboard in the distance. Suddenly, "David, should you be thinking about filing Chapter 13 bankruptcy now?" pops up on the screen. Normally that would seem weird, but you are David, and you have kind of backed yourself into a hole by investing your life savings in beanie babies.

Don't get me wrong the idea of personalized fun messages seems cool, but ultimately I think they will be placing ads on these billboards

 

Here you go Jascooper.

 

RTFM

I already have and ours is just now leaving Southampton...

 

Heh, I read mine after the first time I logged into the OL with a status of On Order. It took you until yours was En Route ??

I've refrained from posting in this thread until now, but yes, everything I've seen as I've skimmed through has been in the manual. But them I'm the type of person who reads the manual as soon as I open the box. I'm not the type to try to put something together without reading the directions first

 

something i did not know since i just got my mini.

Following the manual its hard to set up the voice dialing Store name since you have to say "save" not store number, i spent 30 min trying to say store number.

But hey learning is learning.

 

So speaking of stuff you learned from the manual...

I noticed the manual says you shouldn't use a cell phone inside your car. True??? Has anyone defied this rule? I didn't know that by not opting for bluetooth integration I'd be cutting myself out of using a cell phone at all....