Originally Posted by LynnEl

After the latest software update, the "Arrow Display" function on the navigation is no longer available. (I'm referring to the one that displays an arrow only, without the map). Personally, I don't use that feature, but you may want to know.

Also, this is in the owner's manual, but I don't like it. While the Dynamic Route mode is on, the navigation will automatically reroute if there is a traffic problem, but will provide no information on the screen about it. With it turned off, however, the nav will display what the obstruction is, where it is, how long the delay is, how it plans to reroute you, and give you the option to reroute. Thus, to me, "Dynamic Route" sounds good, but isn't.

Originally Posted by Minidrivr

Any other changes, like maybe the POI search function in that update? When did you get the update?

Originally Posted by x uh oh x

That's odd...I just got the new NAVTEQ disks in DEC 07 for my '07 MCS. I get the dynamic routing (forgot I could turn it off), and it will give me both screens - it will display the obstruction info, then the map, then the re-route. It's annoying, for sure, but....? Hm. Luckily we don't get enough traffic here to work that function much...

Originally Posted by x uh oh x

I get the dynamic routing (forgot I could turn it off), and it will give me both screens

Originally Posted by mwittstock

• 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.
• you can put stuff in the vertical boot storage nets. apparently the dealership didn't know this either as they attached one backward.
• i didn't know it had those mood lights inside the armrests.
• 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 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• when you are riding with your wipers on, and you come to a stop as at a traffic light, your wipers slow to intermittent automatically, then resume wiping once you start off again. thats what they did from the medium setting at least - i did not try the fast setting. and, no, i don't have rain-sensing wipers.
• the speed-sensitive volume adjustment on the radio (at least the hifi) is itself adjustable
• you can have different bass/treble/balance/fader settings for fm, am, cd, and aux. presumably the ipod adapter and cd changer would keep their own settings.
• you can access some obc settings from the radio (things like time, units of measure, read the fuel economy, etc.
• if you have the bluetooth option when someone in your phone's phonebook calls you thier name pops up on the radio screen.
• when you arrive at your destination and shut off your mini, when you get back in and start up again the cd player starts the last track at the beginning.
• i didn't know that (if programmed properly) a quick tap on the turn signal will flash the turn signal 3 times, then stop. great for lane changes, instead of holding it down. i love this!
• its snowing, i have the front wiper on, rear wiper off. i shift into reverse when i am parking, and the rear wiper comes on by itself and runs until i take the car out of reverse! handy!
• headlights adjust, and you can tell when you first turn them on if your looking at them form outside the car, my ma said they moved so they coudl adjust to the road.
• the mood lighting has 5 colors if you tap the switch. you can get in-between shades by holding the switch.
• if you lock the car with the lights on - the lights will shut off to conserve the battery (non-convenience pack cars, non-autoheadlights).
• you can retract the mirrors at speeds at up to 20 mph - however any speed above that does not allow you to retract them. however, if they are retracted, they can be extended at any speed!
• the cigarette lighter outlet shuts off when the key is out. handy if you run a radar detector--no problems if you forget to unplug it.
• when the sun shines directly on the tachometer digital display, the display changes from an led red to a liquid crystal grey. most displays wash out in direct sun .. this one becomes very crisp and clear.
• driving with the back seats down results in more road noise (a significant difference in my car).
• if you hold the unlock button on the remote down when approaching your car, the windows go down.
• when pushing the button to start the car, it's only necessary to hold it momentarily even though the starter continues 'til the engine starts.
• when your car is locked, pressing the lock button on the remote turns on the interior lights. i suppose this is to see if an intruder is inside your car or to just see inside while keeping the door locked. maybe this is pretty common but i never noticed it before.
• if you get out of the car and leave the door(s) open to hear the stereo you can turn off the domelight by holding the switch for 3-4 seconds. (and i like that there's no stupid warning noise when the doors are open and the key is on).
• push start/stop, let go and then push in the clutch and it starts. i haven't tested to see how long you can wait before pushing in the clutch and still have it start. i'm talking a lag of two or three seconds.
• press the lowercase m button on the radio, and it brings up a list of numbers. press the corresponding #'s for the station...very cool.
• there is an alternate setting for the rear seats that allows a little extra room in the boot and still lets passengers sit in the rear seat (maybe a little uncomfortably, but safely). fold the rear seat backrest forward, then pull up on the rear seat latch bar. the top part of this latch bar is where the seatback normally latches onto the rest of the car; you need to pull up on the bottom part of the bar, about 6 inches below the ordinary latch point. then latch the rear seat to the latch bar.
• you don't even have to hit the start button, just push the volume/power button and the radio fires up... along with some other lights and stuff.
• my ma told me that the boot unlock button on the remote would no longer unlock the boot because with the alarm that button is now the 'panic' button. well, if you depress it briefly, less than two seconds, it does indeed still unlock the boot. longer than two seconds and it indeed sets off the panic noisemaker
• the chrome gas door locks when the car is locked.

Originally Posted by Sambo99

Thats odd - My fob wont do either open or close... I generally get in the car and quickly open the sunroof to vent the hot air (I tried the fob, but for some reason it didnt work - will ask the car dealer at the next service)

Originally Posted by LynnEl

After the latest software update, the "Arrow Display" function on the navigation is no longer available. (I'm referring to the one that displays an arrow only, without the map). Personally, I don't use that feature, but you may want to know.

Also, this is in the owner's manual, but I don't like it. While the Dynamic Route mode is on, the navigation will automatically reroute if there is a traffic problem, but will provide no information on the screen about it. With it turned off, however, the nav will display what the obstruction is, where it is, how long the delay is, how it plans to reroute you, and give you the option to reroute. Thus, to me, "Dynamic Route" sounds good, but isn't.

Originally Posted by pilotart

This (post #939 fom March 25 '08) was such an excellent summary of so many 'tips' that I thought it deserved another view in this great thread

Originally Posted by LynnEl

I was able to reactivate the "Arrow View" on/off option. In Set Up, under the category "Language/Units" (why there, I have no idea), I unchecked the Arrow View option, activated my navigation, went back into Set Up and re-checked the arrow view option. Now, it once again allows me to select/deselect "Arrow View" from within navigation. A kind of reboot, I suppose. (BTW, I descibed the Arrow View wrong: Actually, in that view, there is a split screen with the map on the left and the arrow on the right).

Also, I can get information on the traffic disruption when Dynamic Route is activated: When Dyanmic Route announces that a disruption is on your route (or any other time, for that matter), you can joy stick to the right portion of the navigation screen, onto the icon that is a triangle with an ! in the middle of it and it will give the specifics of the "traffic disruption."

Another cool feature of that icon is that, even with the navigation off, it will list every major and semi-major road for at least 50 miles from where you are that has a traffic problem. It tells you what the problem is, where the problem is, how long the problem is, and the direction that is affected. I think this is very usefull if you know how to get where you are going and don't need to use the navigation, but still want to see if there's any problems along the way. For example, I found out ahead of time that there is long term construction, causing a single lane closure on Route 50, between two points (which I forget), in both directions.

Originally Posted by Minidrivr

Everything you mention except the ability to turn on/off the Arrow display was in the nav system before the update.

I thought that may have been the case, but hadn't played with that stuff in a while.

Also that traffic icon on the right end of the map page turns red when there is traffic on your route.

Did you get a chance to look at the POI search function? Can you search without a category yet?

Originally Posted by pilotart

The metal key works both ways, it will also roll down the windows and vent the sunroof panels just like the fob.

Although the standard fob will not close windows (or sunroof) with lock button, won't Comfort Access fob do it?

Or is it just the black button that does the complete close and lock.

Originally Posted by pjo1966

I didn't know how frustrating the voice dial would be to use. I'll speak in a normal voice throughout, but when I get to "Would you like to dial John Smith?" and I say yes there's usually a long pause and then I hear "please speak". If I don't yell "Yes!" it doesn't hear me, yet it hears me fine for the rest of the process. I am by no means a low talker.

Originally Posted by daffodildeb

It might not be a defect in your car. Most posters are referring to USA-spec cars, and Australian-spec MINIs might be different. (I assume you are holding the button down long enough. In mine, it's at least 10 seconds.)

Originally Posted by mslatter

Those two plastic circles on the inside of the boot are handles for you to pull the hatch closed without getting fingerprints all over your paint.