Hey folks I have a question someone might be able to shed some light on. If you deploy the spoiler manually (pull the switch) is it supposed to stay up regardless of speed? I like to use this feature when driving certain roads where speeds take me above 55 and down to 25 and back again to avoid the spoiler having to work non-stop. It seems like if I deploy it manually, go above 55, and then down past it's retractable speed it automatically retracts again despite me having switched it on. Is this normal or do I have a glitch. If this is the way it's supposed to operate it kind of defeats the purpose of having the manual switch in my opinion.

Thanks for any insight you guys might have?

 

I have not specifically tested mine as you stated it. But I think it is operating as designed. I believe the switch is really used so that you can raise the spoiler in order to clean under it. The drains may need occasional cleaning as well depending one would suppose on the amount of rain etc. that your car is exposed to.

At least that is my take on things. I guess I will have to test mine to see if it does the same thing as yours. I'll try to get that accomplished sometime soon.

But I agree with you. I think that the switch ought to override the automatic operation of the spoiler.

 

Is there any way to program it to override the automatic operation?

 

I was wondering about the exact same thing that the OP asked. My drive in the morning is going to put a dent in its lifespan.

 

Mine will stay up for awhile, but at some point, it does lower itself so I think it must be on some kind of timer....say 15 mins or something as that would be my guess as to how long it stays up. I haven't tried to time it yet

As long as it stays up for about 60secs at a time, I'm good. The cones will all be behind me by then ;-)

 

Thanks for the replies folks! Like Keysersozeh said. I'm concerned about it's lifespan (though I'm probably overthinking it). Still, some of my drives take me above and below 50 and 37 MPH so frequently that the spoiler is working quite a bit. That doesn't include my more "spirited" back country drives where I'd prefer it stay up the whole time. According to the manual it mentions that the spoiler mechanism may overheat with repeated use in which case it will stay down till it cools (and don't manually raise it when this happens). Seems like an engineering oversight in my opinion.

What seems to be happening is if the spoiler is raised manually then you drive above 50 where the car would then normally raise it automatically but then you at some point slow back down below 37 mph (or whatever the speed is) and the car thinks it's supposed to retract like in auto mode, so it does.

The main reason I'm unsure how it's supposed to work is like pgmstr said. Sometimes it seems to stay up despite my driving above then below it's deploying speed but I could just be imagining it. One thing I know for sure is that if I manually raise it and drive for awhile at varying speeds and happen to look back in the rearview it will be down at times. Mind of it's own? haha. I'm going to mention this to my MA and service folks at MINI and see what they say.

 

If it were to fail after my warranty is up, I would go with the JCW Fixed Spoiler. (Someone had a better picture of this in another thread)

 

I have been thinking about the fixed spoiler,and wonder if the one already on the car can be disabled.Anyone notice this in their owners manual? Q

 

I don't have my car yet, so I can't confirm this - it's just speculation - but is there a fuse that can be pulled? Raise the spoiler manually, then pull the fuse. It'll be permanently raised.

 

I'm sure there is a way to disable the spoiler altogether. I've read somewhere that that's what is done to the JCW cars you see with the fixed rear spoiler. It's still there, just not in working order. Not sure about pulling a fuse in order to keep it upright or not.

I went back and re-read the manual and like PatM said, one of the reasons for manual mode is for cleaning, etc. though it is also for being able to drive with it raised at any speed. It states that to manually retract it at speeds of 50 down to 12 mph push the toggle forward once or hold it forward. In order to retract it at speeds of 12 mph or less, push and hold it in the forward position.

No mention at all of it automatically retracting once speeds fall back to 38 mph. It seems as if no matter what mode you are in (automatic or manual) once the Coupe reaches 50 mph and above the rear spoiler reacts like it is in automatic mode. The manual doesn't state this but it sure seems like that's what's going on.

Apologies for the long rant. This is the only thing about this car I find odd but it's certainly not annoying enough to change my mind from thinking it's the most fun car I've owned to date! I'm going to bring it up to the dealer and see if they can find out more info when I get the chance.

 

I have a friend with a Coupe who'd like to have me wire-in a "suppress" function or switch: in other words, NOT deploy the spoiler, ever, when this switch I add is thrown. Anybody out there know which fuse or wire in the main harness is the "spoiler" line?

 

Here's the deal:

If the spoiler does not deploy properly at 50 mph, the DSC will not turn off. Apparently the DSC DTC or whatever is tied to it so if you disable it or if it fails to deploy the tractons controls will not turn off. So the programming needs to be modified to accomodate that.

 

http://mobile.miniusa.com/cnt/mobile...PE_SPOILER.mp4

Not sure if anyone has seen this video from mini... I originally took it to say the spoiler would stay up if manually toggled, but I guess it is still up for interpretation.

 

indymidnight, Excellent find! Thanks for posting. I'd seen that video on the "MINI on track" iPhone app but obviously didn't pay attention to that part because I don't remember it. I'm with you. To me the video couldn't be more clear in stating that if you manually raise it, it overrides the auto function. As we all know that is not the case in reality.

I've been meaning to call MINI on this issue since I started this thread but keep forgetting.

 

I was curious about this concerning the JCW fixed spoiler that's been posted about. I'm assuming there's a way it can be done since MINI JCW designed and built a wing to take the auto spoilers place.

 

Obviously an option set in the ECU. MINI isn't going to have the techs cutting wires, etc. They'd have to set the ECU not to chirp about the spoiler's failure to deploy at 50 mph anyhow, so this is a logical conclusion. It'd be more/unnecessary work to defeat it any other way, from a factory perspective.

 

I would certainly think that's the case but then again I assumed raising the spoiler using the manual switch would defeat the auto feature as MINI claims is it's purpose, or at least one of them.

 

That's probably a miscommunication. Semantics in the wording of the statement. I'm sure it works exactly as they intended, unless the ECU programmer didn't understand their intention in the first place, in which case a future flash will probably correct it.

 

I hope so. That'd be great. It's the only complaint I have with the Coupe and it's pretty minor. Just seems like a no brainer, auto or manual.

 

I also noticed the green led turns off as soon as I hit 51 which suggests that it is disabled at speed as well.... As others have stated, it kind of defeats a potentially useful feature.

 

Exactly! I haven't noticed the LED turning off but I'm sure it does, like yours.

 

I wonder if this is something the NCExpert programmer thing could override...I autocross and would love to just deploy it for my runs. Saw Outmotoring has the fixed spoiler for sale ~$900.

 

If I manually raise my spoiler from a standstill, then drive away and never reach 80kph (automatic deployment speed), and then come back to a standstill, the spoiler will retract on its own; to say the least about the little LED indicator....

 

I have pulled the FUSE that supports the Spoiler only to get a Alarm on the digital display showing the Spoiler is not working & also get a audio ding. I have unplug the plugs that feed info & voltage to the spoiler motor & the same thing happens.
Looks like it must be a computer Flash or mod to get manual control.
I live on the east coast & had to drive west on I-40 for 3 hours & the SUN is behind me & would reflect on the Spoiler & mirror the Sun into my rear view mirror.
Hope Mini will add so options to give driver control below 65 mph.

 

Yep I'm pretty sure the only way to avoid an alarm/code is a reflash of the software.