doesn't the gps/nav calculate your distance "as the crow flies?" - i.e., doesn't traveling up (or down) an inclination distort (artificially shorten) the distance calculated? or do they account for travel in three dimensions?

 

Most GPS units also calculate (and can display) altitude above sea level, so it's likely that they also calculate speed over ground considering ups and downs, in three dimensions.

I have an older Garmin portable unit that indicates my speedo (R56, stock 16" funrats) reads between 2 and 2.5mph on the high side of the truth, consistently at speeds between 35 and 85 (not on public streets, of course). Close enough

Too bad the on-board GPS doesn't interface with the speedo to provide real speeds, though

 

yep. i have seen some that do the altitude calculations, pretty cool stuff! ...but even if we suppose that they do factor in the altitude, a lot would still depend on the frequency with which readings are taken. since the computer would have to assume the average of the motion between any two samples, wouldn't it be true that the margin of error would increase with the length of time between samples?

now that i think about it, it stands to reason that the low-tech odometer (with it's higher sampling frequency and it's direct relation to the road) is going to be the more reliable value -- even if it over or under reports, it will do it by a fairly consistent fraction.

 

I agree with your logic. The less frequently the GPS samples, the more averaging and the less actual data will be displayed. In reality, most modern GPS units are sampling several times per second, while odometers approach continuous readings.

The practical reality of this is that, as speeds increase, and as direction is changed more frequently (including altitude) the greater the chance for GPS averaging error. On a hundred mile trip through the mountains, I'd guess that the GPS might be off by about 2% compared to a straight, level route. So it's not good enough for scientific calculations, but probably good enough to find Cleveland

 

i have it on mine! WOot WOot!

 

Um, I can't find what this refers to--I'm old, help me out.

I didn't know that if you have the car reprogrammed for something, such as the SZL replacement, that the auto windshield wipers now work by pushing the end button, not by lifting slightly as before. I really like the change. (I just wish I didn't have to reprogram some of the "personal choices" stuff again.)

 

I found it, but I'm still not sure what it refers to.
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co....php?p=1426848

It is near the bottom and it is from 03-16-2007, 08:30 PM.

 

All of them should have it by now. There's a retrofit for the January cars that had locked secret compartments. No longer a problem.

 

I just found out that if you run out of wiper fluid and don't get to it soon enough the car will yell at you until you get to the auto parts store and purchase the fluid and fill it back up. That had to be the most annoying thing to ever happen. Give me the idiot light and shut up! I know I need fluid, let me do it the next time I am near the store.

 

OK daffodildeb, we need to talk...you push the end of the stalk to activate the auto wipers? What month was yours built? Mine was made in August, and the owner's manual says to lift the stalk. The problem is that when I do that it doesn't behave the way I'd expect, as the wipers never stop. (unless I come to a stop, at which time they go to the intermittent mode) Hmm...maybe mine works like yours, but why wouldn't the manual reflect the change? I'll have to test it...

Well I'll be...mine is like yours! There's a tiny symbol near the button that I hadn't noticed before. (I'm old too! )

 

There is indeed a change to the auto wipers on the later build cars. Our week 34 build has the auto wiper push button on the end of the wiper stalk as well. However, there's no mention of it whatsoever in the Owner's Manual??? There's also a new setting on the OBC (also not mentioned in the Owner's Manual) that allows you to control the speed of the auto wipers??? Haven't a clue as to what that one's for yet???

 

From what I understand they stopped doing it, I'm not sure why. The last time I drove by it still worked though.

 

hey maven did you ever get your comfort access to work?

 

Add ice cream in the summer to that list!

 

Nope...

We just got the car back from the dealer, but I forgot to mention it to them. It will have to wait until the first service I guess.

We ended up getting our iPod adapter fixed (it was installed upside down by the VDC), having the missing door seals installed, and having new washer jets installed (with check valves) in order to stop the leaking. The dealer had to order parts and that took four days (due to the weekend). The good thing was that they gave us a really nice 2006 MCS convertible as our loaner vehicle for the whole time. What a fun little car that one was. I was actually sad when we returned it.

 

Sounds like you had a grocery list of stuff for them to fix.

 

I experimented with this a couple days ago when it rained for the first time here since getting my MINI. It seems to adjust sensitivity of the rain sensor. If you set it to maximum (all the way to the right) the wipers cycle with just a couple drops on the windshield. While if you set it to minimum (left) the glass has to get pretty wet before the wipers clear it. I left mine on the default (one 'box' from max) and for me it's perfect.

 

That's great information Msteadman! Thanks for passing it along. Makes perfect sense now.

 

You're welcome! Although I find it surprising that many of the features on late model 07's have gone undocumented in the owner's manual, it's kinda fun discovering new features.

 

Indeed...

 

Does anyone know how to interpret the setting on the 'speed sensitive volume adjustment'. I've set mine to either end of the setting and I can't tell any difference. Does more plus mean it changes more (decreases volume) or that it keeps the volume higher?

Also, I think I might have a 'dink-dank-dink-dank' sound instead of a gong sound. I certainly doesn't sound like a gong.

 

In my MINI at least (and I can't imagine that it'd be unique in that aspect) more plus means it changes the volume more - both increasing and decreasing depending on vehicle speed. I actually keep mine on 1 as I tend to play my music rather loudly anyway, so when it's set on 5, by the time I get up to 60mph it's about to blow the speakers. To your second question, I haven't heard the older chime sound but you can know which you have by pressing the little music symbol on the radio, going past bass, treb, etc. and seeing if there's a setting labeled 'gong'. If it's there you have the newer sound and if it's not then you don't. My MINI has the 'gong' and I do a agree that it doesn't sound so much like a gong per say, but whatever.

 

I knew the rear wiper went on when the car was put in reverse with the front wipers on. I just noticed today that the wipers slowed to intermittent when stopped at a traffic light.

 

I think the answer to the handbook/no handbook riddle is that they don't want to republish the manual every time there's a programming change. And if something electrical happens, it often uses a (redesigned, hopefully) part that requires reprogramming. That's the case with the auto windshield wiper button on my January build. Sort of like getting a latest and greatest model free!

 

Thanks Msteadman, and for the earlier wiper tip too.

I just bought a small umbrella at Target because it's been raining like crazy here. It fits perfectly in the little cargo well in the back seat that would otherwise be useless. Now the search is on for a good ice scraper, not too big, not too small, preferably Pepper White . . .