Drove mine out two days ago and it has the secret compartment - Very very cool imo. (Week 40 production car).

 

Cool to hear. Label me hypocritical, but I'm hoping to have the secret compartment *and* the USB functionality with the bluetooth (which I rather doubt will be available as I hear it's a) one of the few advantages offered by an '08 model, and b) actually expected to be rolled out *late* to US cars for that model year). My build is a Wk 45, so we'll see...

~Neal

 

So far, i've asked 6 people to push the secret compartment and when it opened out, they all went "oooh".

I knew about the secret from these forums but i went "oooh" when i finally opened it in mine

 

Pushing the start button will not shut off the engine if the Mini is going faster than approximately 5 mph.

 

Nope--there's a retrofit for the early models that came in with the compartment sealed. Mine is a week 3 build, and it was fitted with the compartment a few months ago.

 

LOL! That really cracked me up!

 

The $500 option driving lamps are very bright that it can only be turned on together with High beam.
Which is kinda useless under most driving conditions..

 

is there a way to open the rear hatch without pushing the button on the FOB?

 

There is a button under the handle on the hatch. It works if the car is unlocked.

 

Mine doesn't work.

 

It's not in the center. It's kinda off to the side under a rubber hump...

 

Also if you have the convenience package, it will unlock and open the hatch if you have the key fob in your pocket. And it just unlocks the boot, not the doors. It relocks when you close it too.

 

If you have to push really hard to shut the boot, you can adjust the rubber stops to make it easier.

I had to get out of the car a couple of times when the warning light was on because I didn't push hard enough when closing the boot. Screwing down the stops solved the problem.

 

Unlike my Garmin StreetPilot, the MINI Nav system actually works in buildings and underground! Yesterday I was in a big parking garage, bottom level, and the screen showed every move I made! I've even been in long tunnels (under the Chesapeake Bay) and the system still shows my progress through the tunnel. I always thought the antenna needed a clear path to the satellites, but maybe there is also a gyrocompass onboard that helps out? This thing even works in my home garage. How's it do that?

 

IIRC, you can also adjust the position of the latch on the body of the car. When you compress the rubber bumpers, it changes the cushioning. Changing the latch would be the desired way to adjust the boot closing.

 

I believe that the NAV uses info from the OBC to tell how far you've moved, and in what direction. This is information an add-on NAV would not have access to.

 

How do you know the date of birth of your MINI? How can I find mine?

 

Indeed. The feature is called "Dead Reckoning" and it's part of most OEM nav systems and some high end portable units as well. The nav system is hooked into the speedometer of the car as well as the reversing system in order to allow it to continue to navigate without a satellite fix.

 

Changing the latch position would change the alignment of the body panels and would not be the desired way. The rubber stops are easily adjusted for a reason. Wrong again, Robin!!!

 

That could be dead reckoning or it could be the OEM nav uses a good chipset. Newer Garmin units with the Sirf chipsets can get locks without any view of the sky. My 76CSx works wonders, even in tunnels and concrete structures like parking garages.

 

Hold down the reset trip odometer button on the tach for about a minute. A bunch of information about the car appears including the VIN number and as I recall the build date or week. I found this by accident and posted it somewhere.

 

It's DR for sure. All the high end Siemens VDO units support it (and they make the MINI's nav system). However, the MINI's nav system does have a great ability to rapidly obtain and lock a satellite fix as well. I'm not sure what chipset it uses for its GPS receiver though (although I kind of doubt it's a SiRF since the system has been around longer than those chipsets have been - at least for the 1st gen cars anyway).

 

Thanks everybody! It even registers turns in the underground garage! How cool is that?

 

Hey Newt
It worked!!! My Dol was born 6/12/7. Thanks so much for the info.

 

Here is your original thread. Very good info!