With the 08s you can get the comfort iPod/Bluetooth option. That gives you BlueTooth and the iPod Y cable. I didn't get BlueTooth in Tristan because I hate the armrest, Number 4 got BlueTooth now you don't need the armrest.

I like the BlueTooth system, and I wish I could get the same thing for Tristan. Our MA suggested suggested you could get the dealer installed version, but not install the armrest. That's $1250 in the accessory book, expensive. The factory option is "only" $500 and the you get the iPod cable as well.

 

I've noticed that the gong volume option in the 08s isn't specific to the key. I reprogrammed it this afternoon with my key in the ignition. Later when my wife was driving, it was programmed to the same value.

Another weird thing, it wouldn't let me reprogram the gong volume while we were at the dealer waiting to sign the papers, it said this wasn't supported or something like that.

Something you may not know is the attention sound has changed. In the 07 it was a "ding", in the 08s its a "dong", and it seems to be called the gong and its volume is programmable. Its a sound system options along with bass, treble, balance etc under the musical note button.

 

.05 m/s is about 1.1mph, so I expect GPS speed to be pretty accurate. (And GPS speed accuracy doesn't depend on the accuracy of the GPS position accuracy.) If the GP and the speedo differ by more than 1mph, I'd expect its the speedo that's at fault. On all the MINIs they seem to have used up most of the 10% error they're allowed in being optimistic. I've checked that with mile markers and a stop watch, as well as with a GPS unit. The stopwatch and the GPS agreed.

 

The overboost is supposed to give about an 8% increase in torque, so that should translate into another 8% increase in power. I makes it about 20hp difference.

I had though that the R56 was substantially lighter than the previous ones, but the specs in the manual aren't backing me up on that. Being light gives an increase in power/weight ratio, same effect as more power. However the difference only seems to be 10lbs or so. (I had thought it was 200lb, which would really significant.)

 

That was our main justification for getting number 4 and replacing Quentin. Driving both just gets confusing, the control feel is just so different.

 

Never mind when I drive the Mazda, where I've crunched reverse 2 times already.

 

Mine did that at the dealers also- even the MA was bewildered by it.

 

I tried the aux jack with an mp3 player- it worked fine, though switching songs required handling the player. I did not buy the ipod adapter.

So I burned some MP3 cd's. I like this functionality.

~Now I can switch tracks with my multifunctional steering wheel.
~Press the LIST button to see up to 30 characters of the file as it is named on your cd.
~You can quickly go through the list with main radio dial.
~Turning this dial you can also navigate back to your folder view. To select and open a particular folder push the dial.

Sorry if this has been posted before.

 

YOU are my hero! I did this a couple days ago and haven't had an issue with the boot since. Now I don't have to worry about my DH breaking the window as he slams the boot in frustration trying to get it to close.

 

Wherever you are those must be some long lights... And I don't know about your MINI but mine is small enough that you'd be hard pressed to sneak up on me under any circumstances.

 

I'm sure he said it tongue-in-cheek...

Still, I wonder if they have this problem in Europe with $9 and $10 a gallon gas?! (We just got back from Italy where diesel was about $9.50.)

 

We have some crazy stop lights here in Oregon, but as Deb said, I had tongue firmly planted in cheek.

What I find interesting is that outside of farms, where there have been reports of people siphoning diesel out of large non-vehicle tanks, I've heard of no one siphoning from cars or trucks.

I can remember back in 1974, when gas was still less than 50 cents a gallon, that was happening all the time. The gas lock doors on most cars are still pretty flimsy, so it's not like you'd need anything more than a screwdriver to open them with.

I guess the kids today would rather huff on spray paint than gargle with gasoline.

 

[quote=daffodildeb;2267397]I'm sure he said it tongue-in-cheek...

I'm sure he did too, hence the smiley at the end of my sarcastic remark. Geez, just joking.

Wait, I'm sorry. Gas siphoning is a very serious crime and I am adamant that we must stop all the senseless and serious crimes against our MINIs and ourselves. Back to the serious discussion of the Serious Things You Seriously Didn't Know about Your very Serious R56 MINI.

Chill out...

 

There was a news story around here recently where someone crawled under a delivery van (florist, I think) that was parked in front of the shop over night. The punctured the gas tank and drained out a few gallons of gas.

 

I fixed a 97x (Saab SUV) the other day that'd had it's tank punctured & drained, siphoning is near impossible on many (most?) modern cars.
there are check valves and mechanisms in place from the filler down into the tank to make it really hard to get a hose down there.

fat chance to anyone thinking they're getting under my Mini to drain my fuel tank or steal my catalytic converters

 

Can you imagine the risk? The thought of having a rather volatile liquid saturating my clothing and/or face gives me the *******!

 

Sorry to distract you guys from the syphoning bit, but I just realized something about my R56....

When I FIRST set the alarm, the little LED does the pulse glow...but after an hour or so, it blinks quickly. I thought at first it was because I hadn't shut the doors properly, but it does this EVERY time. Is there a reason why?

Next, why, when I'm closing the sunroof, does it sometimes bounce back open if I hold the toggle too long? I have to ease it closed by toggling it in jerks. .....?

 

I can't recall exactly what the owner's manual says, but I think when you set the alarm, the light will pulse slowly for the first 20 min. I don't know why they programmed it like that, makes no sense to me.

 

First off, I have to say that I love love love this thread and I finally joined the site so that I could post! I also fully admit that I haven't been able to read all 1200+ posts, so I apologize in advance and very heartily for repeating anything that has already been written.

So here are the differences that I'm finding with my 2008 Pepper vs. my 2005 Pepper (R53?). There’s a lot, but essentially the sum total tells me that perhaps the 2005 was more to my liking than the latest R56.

Positive differences between 2005 and 2008:

• Larger vehicle size: surprisingly noticeable in the cockpit.
• Fancy new color scheme on the cockpit: it's like being at the movies with the wall sconces!
• Dual tilt sunroof: so your passengers can breathe easy too.
• Sunroof shade can be positioned the way you want it!
• Extra compartment over the glove box.
• Trunk nets (finally!)
• Trunk is easier to close, with a softer touch and sounds more solid when it closes.
• 3 tick turn signal for changing lanes.
• Can look for stations by inputting their frequency numbers.
• Each key can have separate radio/light settings.
• Can set your daytime running lights.
• Quieter engine.
• BMW loyalty program helped me get a better deal on my second lease.

Annoying differences between 2005 and 2008:

• The “sportier” seats now have a bump between your knees--I'm assuming it's for comfort, but for me (I'm only 5'4") this bump hits my leg at a weird spot in the crook of my knee and makes it uncomfortable for long drives.
• Is it true that the sunroof doesn't have the one touch open feature anymore?!
• Can't lock the glovebox.
• The steering wheel has a lot more play than my 2005 Pepper and sometimes it's uncomfortably so.
• The multi-functional steering wheel should have a "MODE" function so you can change between the radio/aux/CD without having to use the radio dials.
• I have paddle shifters which I sometimes hit accidentally b/c they are so large.
• I also feel like the brakes aren't as responsive (but there is a lot less brake dust, so maybe that's the trade-off?)
• NO TEMP GAUGES for the engine, oil?! C'mon!
• The fuel gauge went from proportions to tick marks. So instead of knowing that my tank was half full, I have to see if 5 of the 10 tick marks are lit up. How intuitive.
• The pull handles for the trunk seem to have less grip since they are more shallow than the previous model. The door has slipped out of my hands a couple of times.
• The new "dong" sound for the turn signals/warning tones is actually harder to hear than the "tick" sound. Even though the sound goes up with your radio, it doesn't have enough bass for it to cut through loud music.
• Less interior door cubby space.
• Radio in the center chrono doesn't allow for modification. I was able to swap out the radio in my 2005 Pep, but now I'm kinda stuck with the stock radio in 2008 Pep.
• It seems like the engine fan goes on a lot sooner--my commute never triggered the fan to go on after I parked my car, but now it's on constantly. And the engine fan is much much louder.
• The sunroof shade doesn't block out as much light, so I almost always have to put on my sunglasses, even with the shade closed.
• The sunroof actually makes more noise when it's open fully--even with the flimsy sun screen that catches flies.
• The driver side vents hit right behind the steering wheel, so the car doesn't cool down as fast as the previous model.
• The automatic unlock function doesn't open the sunroof anymore, just the windows.

 

WOW! So have you been thinking about this, or WHAT!? Just kidding. I noticed some of the same things/same differences between my '04 and '07 MCS. Only I've had manual transmissions in both, and I'm taller, so the viewpoints are a little different. I don't think I was able to lock my '04 glove box, though....

 

Give yourself time to adjust to the car....and to check your mpg when you fill up. I've had my R56 Cooper over a year and love it to death. I don't miss my R50 eithher...which I also loved to death. Seriously....chill a bit. The car is quite good.

 

Super, I really don't understand your list. The relative loudness of the "dong" warning? Hatch grip? Not exactly the sort of thing that would make me buy a Hummer instead. Of course, I think most of us would agree with the lack of gauges. What were MINI/BMW thinking of? And I'll agree with some of the others, too, like the radio things.

When the R56 was new, the critics ragged on about how the gas cap is no longer chrome. I look at it every 400 miles or so. It's about as much of a non-issue to me as the "dong."

Live with the car for a while, as gokartride suggests. See if the seats, engine tractibility, and overall package aren't more important. And see if you only look at the gas cap once in a while, unlike with your other one.

P.S. Your last comment about the auto unlock not working on the sunroof puzzles me. If you hold the unlock button down for several seconds on your key fob, doesn't it open everything? Mine does.

 

Superbonbon99... You can adjust the volume of the "Gong" . Just hit the Note button and scroll to the end then hit the button under "Gong" to adjust it.

 

Does your Mini violate the laws of heat transfer and thermodynamics as mine does? My radiator overflow tank reads "MIN" when cold. It reads the same thing - "MIN" - when hot. Wazzup ???

- Bob

 

Main thing I didn't know about the R56:

I didn't know I would fall in love with it after being pissed for so long that BMW "butchered" the R53 design. Especially after one test drive.

Can't wait to pick up my new MINI!