Things you didn't know about your R56 MINI
 

This seems to be a popular topic in the past so lets do one for the R56.

List attributes, features and functions that are useful or interesting that you didn't know or assume. Be specific and try to avoid recollections of how you think it works. Try not to repeat or list the extreme obvious features, but chances are if you didn't know about it, it's OK.

Courtesy Lights

When you enter and exit the car not only do courtesy lights come on in the driver and passenger footwells but there are also lights on the bottom of each door that illuminate the area around the car. Also the lights don't instantly com on, they fade on and off for a cool effect.

I didn't know that it can't be programmed to unlock the doors when you turn off the car.
- or -
that the seat belt shoulder height is no longer adjustable
- or -
that I would have to RTFM just to use the radio
- or -
that it would actually get great gas mileage - even during break-in
- or -
that it would be this FAST!
- or -
that the seats could be this comfortable

CAN THE REMOTE BE PROGRAMED TO FLIP THE WING MIRRORS IF YOU HAVE MIRROR PACK

Great post!

Boot Storage Net
 

I realized today that you can put stuff in the vertical boot storage nets. Apparently the dealership didn't know this either as they attached one backward.

No. Neat idea, though. Also the mirrors don't work unless the ignition (I think, maybe just accessory) is on.

inomis, my MA pointed out they're to keep your milk from flying around. Must know how I drive!

I expect this thread to grow much bigger than the r53 one!

This one I figured out but many may not have heard it yet. Hold the unlock trunk button on the FOB and the trunk pops unlatched.

How can the thread grow bigger then itself Motormouth?

Didnt know..

Holding the unlock button after hitting it twice to unlock all doors will auto open your windows and double tilt your sunroof.

Hissing Noise - Only on MCS, but the car hisses sometimes after a drive. The Auxillary Water pump kicks in and it is cooling off the turbo in your engine.

Pez, is that the hum I hear or is that the turbo itself?

I didn't know it had those mood lights inside the armrests.

ok you caught me.. I typoed again :cry:


won't it open the sunroof all the way if you keep holding it after the tilt? maybe you just learned something new (or maybe I'm wrong).

It may.. I'm not sure.. Havent tried I have only tilted it.. weather hasnt hit the alll the way open mood yet :P

I didn't know the FM radio will list the song and artist information for some stations. I admit I wasn't up to date that many radios have done this for years.

I guess this is RDS ? If so it's interesting that they use the EU program type codes, so my local classic rock station is "DRAMA"!

I had an incident today when apparently I accidentally hit the lock button at the same time as the unlock button. I was temporarily locked out--got in through the passenger side. Here's the thing I learned: my service advisor says there's a "pause" built into the lock in case this happens. Wait a few seconds and the system will reset itself.

sorry to throw a question in here, but does the R56 comes with an extra mini mini wallet sized spare key like the R53 did?

Will you have the convenience package? I don't know what's included with that. I have just the regular entry, with key fobs--two of them--and nothing for a wallet.

There is a small key inside the round R56 disk-key. It reseases with a little button. It seems it's not meant for a wallet but is made to remain part of the disk.

Vader:
How do you program the car to unlock the doors when you turn off the car? I looked at the manual and can't find a thing.

Ummmm, I said that you CAN'T do that.....
all previous models could be programmed for that, the R56, no way.

Sorry Vader, my bad. You did say you can't.

If you leave the heated seats on when you turn the car off - when you return and restart the car, the RFID chip embedded in the will not only remember what setting you set it at but also if you prefer Celcius or Farenheit, or litres per 100 km consumption vs. MPG.

And if your wife/significant other/kid/dog gets in and uses the other key, all the settings they had set will be retained.

Also, driving lights stay on regardless of high or low beams.

You get 2 fob's with the convenience package too

tonight I noticed that it has those mood lights in the door handles too.