I have a theory that the lights make them take a second look - and by doing so they judge the distance and speed better (or at all )

 

I don't know if this has been covered, but I ran out of gas and the "remaining mileage" gauge said I still had 29 miles before empty.

 

I've also seen Zero Miles Remaining and the car keeps running. That range estimate is based on the fuel milage from the previous 30 miles, so the estimate is never perfectly accurate.

 

But it will "ding" if you have just the running lights on and won't turn them off. Odd....

Jim

 

My 09 did the very same thing for a couple of months and then it stopped. I keep it set on MPH and now it stays there. Perhaps it has to learn that you want it there rather then defaulting to Temp/Time. I have no clue.

Jim

 

I wish they would go back to the foot switch for high and low beam. That was easy.

Jim

 

Let me guess - you drive an auto?
The problem is when you're half-way through changing gear AND you need to dip your lights, eg when coming into a blind curve or over a crest. In Australia MINI doesn't bother to move the lights stalk to the other side, so I get the same problem - can't dip the lights and change gear simultaneously. (As the occasional oncoming blinded driver will testify.)

IMHO the best way for dipping lights is one noone has used, to my knowledge - where you push the stalk AWAY to dip the lights and pull it towards you for high beam. The advantage is that you sometimes need to quickly dip the lights and you can just flick your hand at the stalk in a single movement. Pulling the stalk towards you is a slower, double movement, more suited to putting high beam and driving lights on because you don't normally have to do that unexpectedly.
I set my rally car up this way years ago - but I only bothered because I had to change the whole lights setup anyway. It was a Japanese-spec Datsun P510 with the circuits permanently powered (the switch closed "earth") and where the stalk swapped between running lights and low-beam headlights or between low and high beam depending on the position of the dashboard switch. Seriously weird.

 

Nope, I have a manual. I realize what you say can be a problem, but having learned on a three on the shaft, then four in the floor, five and now six on the floor, it happens rarely enought to be better then what we have now. IMHO of course.

Jim

 

Flashing lights is great for halogens, but not so good for bi-xenons. That's another reason I usually drive with lights on. It's no biggy to flash high beams (it's just a shutter), but with lights off the xenons have to 1. Ignite; 2. Cycle through the leveling mechanism; and finally, 3. Flash. That's about 4 seconds--352 feet at 60 mph.

And it's not so good for the lights, either.

 

This will be an offshoot of European regulations that fixed where the indicators must be on a car here - irrespective of whether it is right- or left-hand drive.

If you think the Mini is hard work, I used to have a Mercedes with its single multi-function stalk on the left, so the left hand had to do the wipers as well!

Andrew

 

Fair enough! BTW, in Australia we used to call it "three on the tree" to rhyme the same as "four on the floor".

I didn't realise that. And it only half makes sense. The pedals are always the same - but they can't say the gear lever has to stay on the right.

However, I think it's also BMW being lazy/cheap. I used to have a Belgium-built Astra with the stalk on the left, but I have a new Astra loan car (the MINI is sick) and they've gone to the trouble of swapping the stalks for right-hand-drive this time. For the BMWs, most in Australia are autos so it's no big deal but lots of the MINIs are manuals which is where it matters - maybe they just didn't think that through or something.

I'd never thought of that. Makes good sense!

 

The middle position is the parking lights, so of course will they stay on when you shut the car off. If you want to use daytime running lights, there is a menu setting to enable them (and then they will always turn on whenever the car is running).

 

After a year and a half of owning my MINI, I am STILL discovering new things.
If you are listening to your ipod and you press the small "m" button on the dash, then turn the selector ***, you can jump songs by 10 songs. ie: you listening to track number 113, you press the"m" button, move the dial to the right and it'll jump to 123, 133, 143, 153, 163 etc.
Dunno what this is good for but hey, it's certainly different.

 

When you say "track # 113"...my display shows song titles, not Track #s...so you said you're using an iPod...what version?

Are you playing songs through a Playlist, or through selection by album and/or artist?

I just tried it...didn't work for me. Tried holding it down as I twirl the **** too. I'm using the latest iPod Classic 120gig version... I was REALLY hopeful this might be the quicker solution to scrolling through hundreds of artists or album titles...does that work for you as well or just for individual songs?

 

When you say "daytime running lights", do you mean the headlights on low beam, or do you have separate running lights like they do in places like Sweden? If it's the headlights, could you describe where the menu option is - I haven't found it and maybe it's a US-spec only thing.

I'll have to try this on MP3 CDs. I mostly hit the "List" button and use the album & track hierarchy, but by default it just shows track numbers so maybe it'll work. When my MINI's back from the doctors' I'll give it a go.

 

In my Cooper, when I set the "daytime running lights" it is in fact just the low beam headlights and not true daytime running lights- ie not even at 50% intensity.
With the lights set to the Parking light option I find that to be closer to a true Daytime running light, although with the tail lights also active (which I fine with me).

 

Bought my Mini in Dec 2007, just found out that not only are the seats heated(knew that) but the back of the seat is also heated! Not very cold here & don't use it much in the winter anyway. Maybe I'll try reading the owner's manual again.

 

What do you mean by "back"? Lower back, only, right?

 

I have the 2nd gen ipod nano and am just playing the music off the ipod,, not off a playlist, when the songs change it list briefly the track number, then it switches to the song title.

 

I use my passenger seat heater to keep takeout warm on the way home.

 

With Xenons, there is no dimming possible. Low-beam is just a mask blocking the top of the beam. So, not possible to have 50% intensity, unless they put a filter in front of it.

The main difference between daytime running lights and just leaving the low-beams on is that the dash lights don't turn on with daytime running lights.

In my NAV equipped 2007, you turn on daytime running lights in the Settings menu. Not sure how it is done on more primitive models.
Driving with parking lights on is illegal in California. Someone decided that it confused drivers into thinking the car was farther away.

 

No, the heat radiates all the up the back. It works great after a long day on the course or a tough excercise work out.

 

Hmmm. I'll have to check my bun warmers when the temperature goes below 100°. I don't remember anything above the lower back, though.

 

yep that is correct. the parts diagram shows a heating pad for the bottom and one for the back portion that goes all the way up the back.



#6 is the heating element for the back.

 

I'll be out of warranty in about 12,000 miles. Guess I need to get cracking on checking this out. Wonder if it will be cool(er) at MITM?

Don't laugh--I've been in the Rockies in 90° weather. No fun. And we've had a record summer so far in the Houston area.

(I'm moving--just need to figure out where. Retirement next year!!!)