I have a 02 MCS with the standard AC system. Has anyone converted the Standard to an Automatic system?? Parts from dealer or a organ donor car?? What is required? Is it worth the trouble???

 

No. The automatic air is a pain.

--Takes about 15 clicks to move from full cold to full warm
--Can't completely control which vents you select. The system chooses vents based upon heat/air selection temperature. (Like--I want windshield vents only during the winter without going full defog.) You can reach around and shut off the face vents if you want, but it seems like if you turn 'em off at the panel they'd stop blowing, eh?
--Selecting defrost cranks the fan to full (it's loud), turns on the air, and rear defroster. It's *very* effective, but unfortunately (as above), there's no middle ground. (Of course, turning on the a/c takes care of any fogging problems, so this isn't really a biggie)

All these are niggling complaints (and I have others) but I'd much rather have the simplicity of choosing a couple of vents, twisting the fan and temp ***** & being done with it. Overengineered.

Hope this cures you of any desire to "upgrade"

Jeff

 

When I ordered my MCS I opted out on only two options: the sunroof (a topic for a different thread) and the ACC. I much prefer the ease and control of the three dial system. I have ACC on my wife’s X5 4.4 and my M3 and would trade it in a second for the “old” three dial setup like I had in the MCS or currently have in my Chevy pick-up. Just my $.02 worth.

 

I love the auto air so I'll defend it. It's easy to use once you get the hang of it. Very convenient. And as far as the defroster goes, with auto air you still have full manual use - you can blow air wherever you want and you can have moderate or low fan speed on the defroster. Besides, instead of only 4 fan speeds, auto air gives you 9, I believe. Auto air gives you more control and more options. I like that.
Sorry I can't answer the original question though. I don't think it's possible or cost effective to switch. It cost like $300 for the rear fogs and installation. If they ever came out with a conversion kit for the auto air (which they wouldn't). it would be more like $1000.

 

Actually my experience has been the opposite of friedduck's.

I tend to set it from 68-76 which is a range of 4 clicks. If you select either vents, fan speed or both the computer stops changing that portion until you press auto again. I was annoyed with the defrost button until I ran across the one line in the manual about holding it down to select the defrost vent without going full blast. (page 72 of the '03 owners manual) On some occasions it will blow cold air before the MINI has warmed up, but the manual system would do that too. I find in general that I forget about the auto AC until I drive a car that doesn't have it, then I miss it.

bluedog, considering the lack of service manuals available to the public your best bet is to talk to a MINI parts counter person and find out if Auto AC is just the head unit in the dash or if it is a complete system. If all it does is automate the manual system parts it can probably be swapped and may be worth it. Otherwise look forward to an '04 with auto AC. :smile:

Sean

 

Hey thanks man. Haven't read the manual on the AAC, so you've solved one problem for me.

This also helps make my point. If you have to read the manual to figure out the operation of climate control they're making it entirely too complicated. :smile:

I'll have to break out the book to find out how to work around the other features of the system.

Jeff

 

I had AAC on my two GMC Jimmy's and loved it, so ordered it w/out thinking twice on the MINI.

When we first got the car I was disappointed with it, however after a few months and some reading I'm quite satisfied. The Defroster thing irritated me until I figured it out. Once I figured out what temperatures my "comfort zone" is in the MINI (very different from the Jimmy) I became much happier with the system. Now I do just set it and forget it, which is how it should be.

As for transplanting an AAC system into a non-AAC car. It might be possible to actually install the control head, but it probably won't be cheap. Plus you need to connect the cabin temp sensor (which may or may not actually be installed in a non AAC car) and potentially even reprogram the car's computer system. If it can physically be done, odds are the labor costs would make this a cost prohibitive job.

 

Well I guess I'll be the first to try it. I just won the head unit with the automatic controls in an Ebay auction for the princely sum of $10.50. I have had AAC in my Audis and always liked it so we will see what needs to be done. Any one have any contacts that are Mini techs that can answer the questions on the temp sensors or are they just in the head unit (it has what looks to be one in each bottom corner of the unit. The mini is so small that it really doesn't need sensors all over the car......