I am having a crisis. There are buttons on the back of the steering wheel for the stereo controls, and the middle button on the left side appears to have no function. I have pressed it once, held it down, pressed it twice, pressed it while holding all the other buttons down, and even pressed it and yelled at it (this was on an isolated stretch of road-- yes and there are some friends who question sometimes why I am allowed to run free).

Last night I even had a nightmare, one was that I was one of the three final jeopary contestants, and had wagered all my money, and the final jeopary category turns out to be.... of course Mini Coopers, and the final jeopary question was the function of the button on the left/back side of the steering wheel--- I woke in a sweat.

So has anyone figured out what this button is for? I have a CD changer and it doesn't operate that. It did seem to help me delay the urge for 6 miles until I made it to the next rest stop, but I really think that was a subjective response-- probably button placebo... and someone will say if nothing else, maybe it can be my 'hold it' button....

Any other answers?
Steve

 

i couldn't say because i don't have a mini......... but perhaps it is to change station presets on the radio?? i dunno?!?!

Does it say anything on it in the owners manual??

 

 

I'm fairly sure that the middle button on the left has no function. I have the 6-CD changer, and it doesn't change the CD. The manual, if I recall correctly, simply fails to mention any function for it when it's describing the function of the different buttons.

I guess it was just cheaper to manufacture one kind of behind-the-steering-wheel controls and not wire that particular button into anything....

 

Dealer explicitly told me that button does nothing. It's just there for symmetry.

 

>>Dealer explicitly told me that button does nothing. It's just there for symmetry.

Good! Because I couldn't figure it out either. I LOVE having those buttons though. I always freak out my passengers when the radio stations mysteriously change. (If I don't freak them out with my driving first).

minimott

 

Can you change CD's in the changer from the wheel? How do you do it?

Pebble.

 

>>Can you change CD's in the changer from the wheel? How do you do it?
>>
>>Pebble.

Well yes... in a way... you hold on to the wheel with the left hand, and then with the right hand you can press one of the six numbers on the radio that correspond with the 1-6 cd's in the changer. For advanced users, you can hold on to the wheel with the left hand and reach across with the right hand (this looks much better when listening to an old Joe Cocker CD, but thats another story).



Sorry to be such a snot, but this pearl of wisdom took me at least an hour to realize (not to mention many, MANY permutations of pressing that darn functionless middle button). There is not a way to change CD's from the steering wheel that I have found except using the 'automatic hand' feature.

Steve

 

I think the middle button on the left side fires the nitrious if you have that upgrade...

 

I WISH! LOL

 

>>I think the middle button on the left side fires the nitrious if you have that upgrade...

Now THAT is an option that I would pay for!!! My dentist wanted me to stop in when I got the mini and give him a ride--- i'm gonna ask if he can recipricate at the same time-- give me a little ride while i give him a little ride-- he can leave the drill in the office though....

 

I'll have to double check tomorrow, but I'm almost positive that if you are listening to a disk and press the button, it takes you to the radio. Assuming you haven't removed the disc, pressing again will take you back to the cd.
Happy Tunes,
Jim

 

maybe it's the sooper dooper secret button that makes you invisible?




maybe it's the super-hero part of the car a la Wonder Woman.

 

>>I'll have to double check tomorrow, but I'm almost positive that if you are listening to a disk and press the button, it takes you to the radio. Assuming you haven't removed the disc, pressing again will take you back to the cd.
>>Happy Tunes,
>>Jim

Well, I guess almost positive wasn't enough. On the way in to work today, I checked it out and...NOTHIN'. I was thinking of the function of the right center button. A MINI Mystery!
J

 

That middle button on the back of the left side of the steering wheel is for a hands free cell phone that will be available as an accessorie in the next year for your MINI. Your MINI is prewired for it... thats what the little microphone is for thats located right above your rear view mirror. Happy Motoring!

 

Doh! How did you find out this bit of wisdom? I've been pushing that button every which way.

 

>>Doh! How did you find out this bit of wisdom? I've been pushing that button every which way.

It's because I have been fully trained in the MINI Cooper.

 

That button controls the ugly blind date ejection seat ...but mine won't work for some reason?

 

>>That button controls the ugly blind date ejection seat ...but mine won't work for some reason?


You wish!

 

>>That button controls the ugly blind date ejection seat ...but mine won't work for some reason?

 

>>That button controls the ugly blind date ejection seat ...but mine won't work for some reason?



ROFLMAO Well.... from what i understand you must use the "useless" steering wheel button, in conjunction with one of the "unassigned" toggle switches on the center console... also if you have a manual transmission you have to press down on the clutch three times to unlock the safety mechanism.... so that you don't accidentally eject the "pretty blind date" or..PBD.......once the clutch is pumped, and the switches are thrown THAT triggers "the ugly blind date ejection seat"..... or T.U.B D.E.S as the professionals say....... LOL If you've got an automatic transmission.... then you've got to use the mirror adjusting and you have to adjust the driver side mirror to a 45 degree angle from the car and that will deactivate the safety protocols!

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