Has anyone else run into this? I asked my MA if the "Convenience Opening" Mode could be programmed on my new Mini (Set to arrive in port on 10Mar06). This was his response:


For the record, my "neck of the woods" is Orange County, California and my dealer is Crevier Mini.

I did a quick search and couldn't find any mention of this issue. Any one ever come back to their car and find their roof down?

Phil

 

i don't know about your neck of the woods, but it sounds like BS to me.

my dealer wouldn't program it without the customer specificially asking. his reasoning was because of the slight chance of it opening because of radio interference.

i'm not worried about anything getting stolen from my cabrio because since it's a convertible, i don't leave anything in there that can be easily lifted.

if your dealer won't do it, take it to another dealer.

 

Just remember that if you do go to another dealer and have it programmed, you will have to pay for the change, it will not be free.

 

most dealers will charge you for it regardless unless you are getting some other work done. at least that's what i've heard.

 

Crevier programmed the Convenience Opening for me, free, while it was in for a warranty issue a few months ago. I have 2005 MCSCa, April 2005 build.

 

I requested the option to be delivered to me and it was done. Granted this was a year ago and I've seen ramblings that they were discontinuing the ability to get it done (at most dealers).

I've not ever once had a problem with the top opening unexpectedly and I sit 30 feet from my car for 10 hours a day (at work) with the key in my pocket and a cell tower 50 yards away.

 

It was programmed standard on my cabrio. I did not ask for it, but the car came with it programmed this way. Received my car in November 2005, and live in a major metropolitan centre (though not yours).

 

opening by itself, its from bumping your keys, not interferrence, the FCC code on the back insures this. The dealer is giving you the run around.

-alpinamike

 

They do charge for it, but because this will be his initial programming of the MINI it is done for free as part of the dealer prep. He should be able to get the MINI programmed any way he wishes.

 

AlpineMike,

I believe that you're right about this happening from keys being pressed while in a pocket or purse. It certainly seems more likely given the frequency range of cell phones vs. that of a remote key fob.

By the way though, an FCC Part 15 compliant device does not cause interference with other devices as opposed to the other way around. So in this case, cell phones would need to be Part 15 compliant, which I believe they are.

I written my MA back referencing the Owners Manual which states that this option is available and insisting that they program it for me when I pick up my car. I referenced the 05 manual since the 06 manual is not available in the Owners Lounge yet. Can anyone verify that the 06 manual also shows this option as available?

Phil

 

We were having an issue with my wife's '05 MCSa in that the windows would drop down a half inch or more and stay down even after you closed the door and locked it. It also had a nasty habit of moving the windows down a inch or so if you had left them cracked open (this inch was in addition to the minute amount the window had been cracked open at before you opened the doors). This behavor is bad when it rains and gets your interior soaked. This occured numerous times. I believe their fix was to disable the convience opening. The weird behavior of the windows has ceased since then (and yes the windows still do the slide down when you open the door and return to closed when you close the door).

 

I had the convenience opening feature enabled on my '06 MCS which was delivered 10/28/05. In fact I gave them a list of all of the programmable features I wanted when I ordered the car so they could all be done prior to delivery. They did make one mistake (they left the DRLs enabled, but I wanted them disabled). I didn't notice it the day I picked the car up since it was overcast and I had the headlights on anyways. When I noticed it the next day, my MA (Cori @ Habberstad) told me to bring it right over and they took care of it while I waited ~20min - that's service.

As far as getting your convenience opening feature programmed, you should be able to request it. While the default for that feature is disabled - you should have the choice if you want it changed. I think they are giving you a line of BS if they say they won't change it.

 

So here is my MAs response to my insistence that they program the Convenience Opening Mode on Emma as well as leave the front license plate frame loose:

Still a little bit of BS but nothing I can't live with. Thanks to all for the providing the feedback that got me to push my MA on this issue.

 

What happens and I had this happen, when you lock your car and bump the button twice, the signal delays then recieves then , opens,
Next time when walking to your car hit the unlock button , keep hiting it unlock and the pause, It send a distorted signal and just enough to lower the windoa an inch then the top rolls back a few...
then it stops , because the signal is not continuos, which it needs to perform the full function....
THIS IS THE problem, not other signals, towers, etc.
When i first got my MINI it happens alot if your not paying attantion to the buttons, the unlock one , after a while its signal will get weaker and will not do this.
Call my friends at Ask MINI , they will tell you what happen when you bump it, sometimes the signal will work far.

Hope this helps.

-alpinamike

 

My MA told me that he didn't recommend lowering the top unless the car was cranked because lowering the top zaps a lot of battery juice. That made me not program this option in

 

btw.. nice color choice pjschaffer

I didn't have the wisdom of an MA tell me this option was on my MINI. A week after getting my car, I was bending over to grab something (with the keys in the front pockets of my jacket) and came back out to find my Cabrio open in my driveway . Talk about freaking out I can laugh about it now... but this mode does drain the battery, like anything you use without the engine running. I have it, but don't use it often.

 

Here in FL, the Convenience feature is really nice to let the heat out of the car before getting in (also fun to watch the heat escape...). It was already programmed when I bought the car off the lot. I use it frequently and have had no battery issues. I despise DRLs (don't want to stand out any more than I already do) and made free shut-off part of the deal when it was being written up. My $.02.

 

In my mind, it's pretty friggin' hard to put down the top by mistake. I have the convenience programming and it really is a 3 step process that takes about 20 seconds.

Press once - doors unlock
Press second time and hold and after a few seconds the sunroof will open.
Press third time and hold and after a few seconds the roof will retract.

If during the hold process, you let up on the button, the process stops. (Also, if you open the car door while the roof is retracting)

Like another member, before my car arrived, I faxed to the MA all the options I wanted enabled/disabled and they were done prior to my picking up the car. If the dealership is so paranoid about you lowering the top in error, they should do away with the key less entry altogether. It's more likely, and more risky if you have a propensity to unlock your car (and leave it unlocked) in error.

 

What you say is true.


However, I have gone to my garage twice and found "Sam's" top down (all the way). I used to carry my keys in my pocket, but since, I now hang them on a hook on the refrigerator and the "self opening top feature" hasn't reared its ugly head.


And no, I don't drink...

 

but he does wear tight jeans!!

I use this function all the time, but only for the sunroof and windows so that when I get in I can drop the top ASAP. Never had it happen by accident . . .

cheers

 

Rev...

Actually, I should come clean.. I did find my top down once, not by my doing. However, it wasn't the keys in the pocket problem, it was the keys in my four year olds hand that was the problem. She had also opened the garage and the only reason we discovered this was that she also had my wife's keys and set off the panic alarm on her Explodition...

 

I was just introduced to the alldata site...

go to www.alldata.com/tsb

Select BMW

scroll to the MINI bulletin numbers (they start with an "M")


Look at the M61 01 05 (m610105) Convenience Opening Function Not Working.

It says AT CUSTOMER REQUEST it can be activated.

This is a USA site, so if you're UK, not sure if you're SOL.

Here is a direct link.

 

thanks to all for useful info!
my MCSC is somewhere between the high seas and Classic mini, so I am starting to plan for delivery.
would there be a list somewhere of all the possible programmable items for my car?
my extras will include the ipod adapter and the built in security system plus premium,sport and cold weather packages.

Caroline

 

Caroline,

Try this link. Not sure if it'll work for you or not, but it should take you to my ftp space that has a pdf of the programmable options (in a mini folder). I cannot test the link from my work computer, as the routing is different here so if it doesn't work, PM me and I'll send it to you.

 

[
I written my MA back referencing the Owners Manual which states that this option is available and insisting that they program it for me when I pick up my car. I referenced the 05 manual since the 06 manual is not available in the Owners Lounge yet. Can anyone verify that the 06 manual also shows this option as available?

Phil[/quote]


It sure does