You can go www.hd-radio.com and search for HD channels in your area. I'm really impressed with the sound quality. It sounds a lot cleaner than Sirius does, mp3s, CDs, or regular FM. Highs are higher, bass is lower and harder hitting. When I first tune to a HD station, it is in stereo, then the HD symbol appears. When the symbol appears on the nav screen, the sound quality jumps way up. Makes the hi-fi sound pretty good.

 

Thanks for the link, very useful! Only two stations in my area, the genre of neither being the least bit to my liking. Oh the joys of living out in the middle of nowhere.

I'll definitely check it out more next time I'm in a big city. Philly, which is less than an hour from me, has 45 stations.

I also find the quality of Sirius to be somewhat lacking. So I'm really curious to hear how the HiFi system sounds playing a high bit-rate source.

 

I just tonight figured out that the rear seats can be latched in a partially tilted forward position so they are straight up and down instead of leaned back. Wonder how I missed that in the manual?

 

My MA made a very big deal of showing me that during the 'new vehicle intro' we had on delivery day.

 

Mine did too. In fact, I believe it was almost a 3 minute speech!

 

HA! I finally found something to post in this thread... I have an October built R56, and found out that the cruise control can't be set at 52 MPH. It'll do 51, skip 52, then do 53...

 

Have you tried it on more than one occasion??? I ask because every once in awhile, for whatever strange reason, my cruise control will only allow itself to be set in 2mph increments (generally all odd numbers). While most of the time it allows me to set it at any whole number speed... Weird

 

Yeah, I left 'em like that once and stuck my sister in the back seat! She didn't even say anything either. Maybe she thought sitting leaning forward is the Mini way.

 

I got myself a loaded MINI (see sig), and I'm trying *really hard* to resist the urge of getting SPY CAR for my vanity plate. My most favorite SPY CAR button is the rear fog lamps, as in the evening they are the exact same, functionally, as an oil slick button. Someone gets too close, I hit the toggle (conveniently located right above the gear shift ****), and just like that -- they drop back 50'. I try not to overuse this feature (as I want them to respect my brake lights), but man is it ever difficult to resist the urge as it works way way way too effectively.

~Neal

 

I previously had a Mercedes that didn't seem to increment the cruise control normally either. It wasn't until a trip to Canada and I switched my GPS to Kilometers that I found out the Cruise Control was bumping up the speed by 1 k/H for each nudge. Mystery solved there.

I haven't used my mini CC too much though.

 

Yes, this is true, IF you have the auto-wipers, have the button on the stalk (not all do), AND you've had the software upgrade to do it. I had the SZL done, which required the upgrade. Not sure all flashes change this, apparently.

 

This has been a fun thread, especially for a newbie like me, I just picked my new '07 up on Saturday. I have questions more than answers. I traded in a Jag X-type that also had rear fogs (My new Mini does not) I was always using them to back off the folks using my cruise control!
My first question is: Since the CD player reads MP3 files, I was wondering if it could read DVD disks with MP3's, or will it only read CD's? I mean 4.7 Gigs would be more music than a $100 MP3 player.
Next question is:
The manual says I can set the "lock/unlock" notification for an audible signal, however, there is no speaker symbol on my menu, just the lights. Any body know anything more?
Last question in this post: Is there a thread/place for newbie to search for answers to newbie questions?

 

I think you can do this only if you have the Navigation. It has a DVD player. But is an interesting thought to play DVDs on a CD player

No newbie area. Just gotta search everywhere!

 

Thanks, makes sense on the DVD.
Any ideas for good snow tires?

 

Go to the Tire ,Wheel and Brake forum. Lots of tire answers there.

 

They decided not to offer that option after the manuals were printed. People in Britain think it's very annoying to have the horn go off when a car is locked.

 

Some of us American's think so too...

 

This feature is only available if you spec the factory alarm system or have it installed by a MINI dealer.

Well the 1st Gear Forum kinda fits your description. But your best bet is to do as jw34 said and just search everywhere. You'd be surprised in running a search how many of even the most obscure questions have already been asked and answered.

 

Well, there is the 1st gear section.

 

Be careful with that cup holder's death grip, it'll rip out the bottom of a styrofoam cup and leave a mess in your car :impatient...

 

I have found that the 2 cup holders, have that plastic "fingers" to hold on to the cup/bottle, are perfect for the 20 bottle because you don't need to push the bottle down all the way(the fully secure position) If you just place the bottle on top of the fingers it has a good hold. Even a "spirited" turn off the highway won't dislodge the bottle.

I wish this worked the same way for 12 oz cans too, but it doesn't

 

Amen. . . .

 

Yes, indeed.

 

I hate being in a parking lot, minding my own business, and having to turn around to see what's wrong with someone ELSE'S car when it honks!

There's enuff noise pollution now.

 

Did a little test ... turns out that with the headlamp stalk turned to:

Automatic: Front and rear fog lamps activate independently.
Parking: Front must first be activated.
Headlights: Front and rear fog lamps activate independently.
Off: Neither work

At least on my 06 September 2007 build MCS machine.