On Mini2.com, there is a DIY on how to "get into" the MINI's onboard computer system by pressing and holding the "trip reset" button on the speedometer while simultaneously turning the key to Position 1.

This allows you to cycle through an extensive menu of "functions" that report back to you all sorts of interesting information about your MINI. Plus there are several tests you can run, such as "gong test" and there's this one test that is rather wild...it makes every single idiot light light up, it makes the hazards flash, it makes all the gauge needles cycle from right to left and back again, and it does all these things SIMULTANEOUSLY. Then it stops after 3 complete test cycles... you can also retrieve info like actual idle speed (I think) and engine temp and other stuff....

And there's one menu function that does what's called a "Software Reset" but next to it says "Same thing as disconnected battery".

I tried it last year and yes, it was like "rebooting" the MINI! What was odd was that it mechanical sounds (like whirring/clicking) occurred in what seemed like would be directly behind the speedometer for about 5 seconds, then the car "went dead" for about 3 seconds and then like magic, back to "life" again. And everything was seemingly normal.

What I want to know is, why would MINI have included this seemingly secret "software reset" feature, and, if the same thing is accomplished by disconnecting the battery....then does that mean that all of us who have disconnected the battery for a radio install or whatever, have reset our MINI software without even knowing it? And also...so what? Is any harm done or vital information lost by either operation (software rest/battery disconnect)??

Thanks and rock on,

-boognish

 

The engine controller stores fuel adaptive maps in "non-volatile" RAM, which really is battery backed-up RAM. Nothing vital is lost, but you engine will run a little richer than normal until the long-term fuel correction and adaptive maps are set back to normal for your engine. While it's "learning" you will usually get bad gas mileage and more soot than normal but nothing harmful. If you quickly disconnect the battery you don't lose anything, you have to leave it disconnected for a longer period (more than a minute normally).