So here's the question. My Convertible has the alarm option, and I thought I read in the manual that when you're topless and you lock your car, the alarm will sense anyone trying to insert their hands in the vehicle and sound the alarm (BTW, which is very loud). I tested this out this afternoon while at work, and I couldn't get the motion sensor to go off. I was able to even open the glove box (it was unlocked) and it didn't sound the alarm.

Here's the screen capture of the PDF manual. Page 32 speaks to this feature:


Anyone else tried this out?

 

Somewhere in orbit, a high-powered BMW laser satellite was homing in on your position, alerted by your MINI's silent alarm...

But seriously.

Did you have the key with you? I wonder if it decided you weren't a threat because it detected the signal from the key.

 

I did remove the key fob from my pocket and place it in the garage about 10 feet away. Still nothing happened.

But now that I have re-read and posted the screen capture to my original message, it says seats surface, I assume that means the top of the front seat, but maybe it means the bottom piece on which we sit on.

If that's true, then what's the use of that? It'll only protect items that may be left in the foot wells of each seat, and not necessarly in the cup holders, arm rest, around the manual stick shift (I leave my sun glasses on it sometimes), or even the opening of the secret comparment door.

I'm going to test that out tomorrow but if that's true, what a useless feature.

 

I don't have a cabrio, but I wanted to chime in to say I was having the exact same questions about my Hatchback today. I do have the alarm, I turned the car off, removed the key, opened the door, closed the door again (while staying in the driver's seat), armed the alarm, and waited about 2 minutes (thinking there might be a time delay). The alarm didn't go off at all. No matter what kind of flailing about I did or rocking of the car. I'm having serious doubts about the effectiveness.

Edit: For what it's worth, I also don't have the ComfortAccess system, so I highly doubt my car knew I was still around with my keys in hand.

 

Interesing thing is that in my Convertible manual it has some information about the alarm in the hard top.

Summary:

1. The alarm system when activated reacts if there is movement inside the car. (Ohh really... so far we haven't not been able to reproduce this)
2. Before the interior movement detector can operate correctly, the windows and glass roof must be closed.

Hmm, I wonder if item #2 is still a requirement for the convertible, meaning I need to make sure the windows are up even thought I'm topless for the alarm to detect interior movement... I'll test that out tomorrow.

I've attached the two pages from the PDF manual to this posting.

 

I usually put my windows up anyway. That way, I know that if something's stolen, I can probably rule out midgets.

 

"I usually put my windows up anyway. That way, I know that if something's stolen, I can probably rule out midgets."
Hee hee

 

Actually, I think you might be able to rule out just about anyone. I'll have to give it a try tomorrow, but I'm 6'2" with long monkey-arms, and I don't even think I could reach over the raised windows to get to anything in the front of the car. I'd probably be able to get something off the back seat, but that's about it.

Of course, there's nothing stopping someone from climbing up over the back into the cabin of the car, but it would discourage anyone from just walking by and dipping an arm in to snitch something.

 

It was the same situation for the 1st gen convertibles. The ultrasonic motion detector only worked in the front footwells. My guess is that the technology they use is too crude and imprecise. If they tried to make the detection cover more of an open car, it would also be set off by people walking past the car. A closed car is a much simpler case The detector simply floods the enclosed area with signal and detects disturbances. With an open roof, the boundaries are undefined.

 

Does the alarm on the coupe include an ultrasonic interior sensor as well? I'm wondering how sensitive it would be to passers-by if the car were parked with the windows down.

Of course, I've never used interior sensors or glass-breakage detectors when putting together an alarm on a hardtop. I figure I'm going to close the windows when I park it, and between the door switches and an impact sensor, it's going to be hard to get in without setting off the alarm.

 

Yes the coupe have sensors as well.

 

Thanks everyone. I guess I'm going to always roll up the windows but leave the top down when I park. I'm also going to try to disturb the footwell and see if it sets off the motion alarm.

 

 

Z,
Where do I find the R57 PDF manual? i wanted to look up a few things

 

Here's the actual post to where the PDF is hosted.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...182-post8.html

This post was part of this message thread:

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...le-manual.html

 

PDF Owner's Manuals for all models and years can be downloaded from the MINIUSA Owner's Lounge: http://ol.miniusa.com. Click on YOUR MINI, then on OWNER'S MANUAL

 

Ok..So I tested this out this week ( accidentally). I put some clothes from the drycleaners onto the backseat and the alarm went off. I also popped my purse onto the front seat and the alarm went off. SO...the stated coverage of the alarm to the surface of the seats was verified in Simone

 

i just had the factory alam installed in my 09 mini cs hardtop--with the window down and my key in my pocket i was able to activate the motion sensor--the alarm went off

 

Good news. I finally tested this out numerous times. When topless regardless if the windows are up or down, there is a movement sensor, and indeed the manual is right. The sensor only captures movement below the actual bottom seat cushion. This means that someone can grab something from the actual seat (if that's where you left it), and the alarm won't go on, however if they attempted to sit down, the alarm will go off.

So basically #2 doesn't apply to the Convertible, and #1 is correct however it only checks movement below the seat cushion level, and not above.