I've been driving a 2007 base Cooper with an automatic for two years (got it in '08). It's been a fun ride, but a few things that have always been annoying have started to get on my nerves. I'm considering giving up on MINI, but I'm curious if any of you who have later models know if there have been fixes to any of the following issues:

1) Automatic transmission shift points. In non-sport mode, my auto tranny upshifts far too early. I'm always getting in a situation where I have to stomp on the accelerator to get it to downshift so I can accelerate. In sport mode, it doesn't upshift untill 4000 RPM and there is a noticeable lurch when downshifting from 3rd to 2nd. I know the paddle shifters fix this (and are fun), but I don't want to have to always use them.
2) The "amnesia" of the rear wiper switch.
3) The seatbelt warning lights and beeps if you drive up to a drive thru window without a seat belt on (because you took your wallet out). Even if you put the car in park, it doesn't quit.
4) CD player only sometimes remembers where it was on a track.
5) Rattles and creaking in the dash and sunroof (I'm sure these are lost causes).

Thanks. Would love to know if I can get fixes for any of these, or just upgrade to a newer model.

 

What is that?

 

If your rear wipers are on, and you turn the car off, the rear wipers don't come back on when you start the car again. You switch is on, but the wipers are off.

That's not fixed as far as I know, its a feature.

 

The rear wiper feature also applies to the front wipers, and lights.

The shifting issue is because the base motor needs to rev up to get power which eats gas and they probably programmed the regular shift mode for economy. If you do not like those shift points, leave it in sport mode. Also the paddle shifters are for overiding the standard shift settings, so use them!

I drove both the base and S with automatic before buying an S. I thought the base was much noisier because the overworked engine had to work so hard to get and keep you moving at a reasonable pace and that the tranny shifted too much to keep things going. The S automatic engine is quieter and the shifting less annoying. I do move from regular to sport mode often depending on traffic and also use the paddle shifters to downshift, that is why they were installed.

As far as noise, they are noisey. I understand the 2011 or 2012 models are getting a minor facelift and interior (dash layout) changes. Also they upgraded the engine begining with March or April production, I think it has a few more horsepower due to variable valve timing. Not sure if this is both motors.

Most seat belt warnings quit buzzing after 5 minutes or so.

 

Not to hijack the thread, but this is the exact reason why I prefer a manual tranny in a car like the MINI. I have never, ever owned anything with an automagic that shifted when I wanted it to. My wife's Vue, for example ... it upshifts way too early in almost all conditions unless your foot is absolutely to the floor, and that's the only way to get it to downshift, too. But on the highway, it will downshift at the slightest incline when it doesn't need to. This is a V6 that has all the power it needs to handle any incline at highway speeds, but the lazy b@stards at GM couldn't figure that out. Funny how one little aspect of the mechanics like shift points can completely ruin an otherwise decent driving experience.

But I digress ... in all my years of driving I've come to the conclusion that the only way to get a car to shift exactly when you want it to is to shift it yourself. Otherwise, you're dealing with when some propeller-head at a desk - with urging from the EPA, no doubt - thinks it should shift. And paddles are not an acceptable compromise, so for me it's the stick or nothin'.

 

Even car will eventually start making noise with things poping and cracking but if it is more then a couple of times a day I wiould have it looked at but if you here like once a week it happens things settle and wear out and the just get old.

 

OK, thanks for the replies. Yes, in hindsight I wish I had gotten an MCS with manual transmission (which I would have to learn to drive) without a sunroof. Maybe I'll test drive one of those next time I'm near a dealer.

 

First learn to drive a manual transmission, then drive a manual mini. I doubt the dealer will let you learn on one of their cars.

 

number 1) Get a sprint booster............... I believe Waymotorworks sells the ones for 2nd Gen MINI's, and now it has three settings to choose from while on the fly. Some vendors offer 30 day money back guaranty if you don't like it. It may just clear up your described driveability issues.

number 2) This keeps from damaging your wiper and wiper motors if your blades are frozen to the windscreens.

number 3) I think most cars do this. In some other cars I have owned I removed the buzzer, but it is there for a reason. Not much we can do about that one I am afraid.

number 4) Can't help ya there sorry. I only know the HK set up in 1st Gen. it remembers though.

number 5) Sunroof in mine does rattle a scootch somtimes, but the dash can easily be removed and weather stripping installed strategically to keep dash rattle to a minimum. There are threads on this very topic here in NAM. Including both Gen MINI's. The fix is the same, with the only difference being how our dash parts are removed.

Good luck.

 

3. i don't think mine does this at a drive-thru. I usually unbuckle at an ATM and I don't recall it ringing. Or are you saying you unbuckle before you are stopped?

4. The CD player has a timer when you turn off the car. I don't know exactly what that amount is but if you get back in the car before the timer expires, it plays where it stopped. If you are gone for some time, it will play at the beginning of the track. This is REALLY annoying for me because music listen to can be 10+ minutes long and if I'm running errands, I will be listening to the same beginning of the song many times over!

 

Yes, I unbuckle it and pull out my wallet as I'm driving up to the window so I'm ready to pay. I don't mind the warning coming on, I just wish it would go off when I put the car in park instead of having to buckle and then unbuckle to put my wallet back. Obviously there's a simple fix for this one (i.e. wait till I'm stopped).

I'm glad someone else feels my pain on this one. The same thing happens to me. I'd ask Mozart to write shorter songs, but he's dead.

 

If you are moving when you unbuckle the drivers seat belt it will chime until the time limit of 5 minutes is up or the belt is re-buckled. It would be nice if it did shut off in park but that would add just another layer of confusion to the already confusing way it works now. But to let you know I have tested two Fords, one Dodge and a VW today (friends cars at work) and they all worked the same way and did nto stop chiming when put in park.

The timer is approximately 15 minutes -5 to +30 minutes depending on options. Basically the cars computers will go to sleep and when that happens it returns to the beginning of the track. The sleep timer has different times depending on the options such as Bluetooth. If bluetooth is installed the time is more like 30 minutes. The MINI WDS explains the time issues and why it has different timer times depending on the options.

 

Hey there,

Others have already posted and I can add my wife's Pontiac Vibe is VERY annoying when you are messing with the seatbelts. It drives me batty!!!

As for the rear wiper in the Vibe. It does remember and turns on again when you re-enter the car after leaving them on. In the winter it can cause issues for sure.

As for the rattle, my '10 is very quiet even with the sunroofs.

~MattS