Comments on: Advanced Airbags

By: MotoringFile » Archive » Seat Covers and the 2005 MINI

MotoringFile » Archive » Seat Covers and the 2005 MINI — Thu, 23 Nov 2006 03:14:21 +0000

[...] These new regulations are also partly responsible for the new advanced airbags which we posted about a few months ago. [...]

By: Steven

Steven — Thu, 14 Jul 2005 04:53:48 +0000

The way I get around the belt buckle smacking the side is to roll up the passenger window about 3 inches. No more smacky. Easier than buckling.

By: Ellen

Ellen — Fri, 11 Mar 2005 20:34:01 +0000

How does the advanced air bag affect the functioning of the driver’s air bag?

By: Barry / 10 Ball

Barry / 10 Ball — Wed, 02 Feb 2005 14:42:21 +0000

The warning light mounted between the map lights is really a hidden camera that records your every shift and move. The MPEG-4 video stream is downloaded when you go to the dealer and the diagnostics port connection is made...

B^)

By: TJKonarski

TJKonarski — Tue, 01 Feb 2005 19:36:35 +0000

Wow! My situation was small compared to yours. Good luck with your next new MCS! ;-) I wish you all the best!

And yes, 30 accumulative days in service qualifies for the lemon law in Michigan, too. I had been corresponding with an attorney regarding my car, but really just kept him on a back-burner. I love my car and just wanted it fixed. I really didn't want to go through the hassle of the lemon law, reordering and replacing my MCS Convertible. It's been about a week and the problem seems to be gone -- The longest time period so far. The past attempted repairs either worked for only a few days or not at all.

Keeping my fingers crossed...

By: Mike

Mike — Tue, 01 Feb 2005 18:09:41 +0000

I think that 28 days in the shop takes you pretty close to qualifying for the lemon law. In California (where I am), I think that the lemon law comes into play once the car has been out of service for 30 days or more. I guess it all depends upon your state though.

I only had my car for just over a week and a grand total of 168 miles. It has been “in the shop” ever since (it went in back on October 29th 2004 and I haven’t seen it since!). However, the dealership quickly agreed to replace the car and ordered us a replacement MINI within a week or two. They also gave us a loaner MCS to drive until our replacement car arrives (which is on the boat right now).

As for what exactly happened with our car, I have an old thread on MINI2 where I talk about it. If you’d like, you can read it here:

http://www.mini2.com/forum/showpost.php?p=1228076&postcount=85

By: TJKonarski

TJKonarski — Tue, 01 Feb 2005 06:22:09 +0000

Mike: What was wrong with your ‘05 MINI? I ask because my 4 month old MCS Convertible had spent 28 accumulative days in service. Last week they finally fixed the problem with this terrible creaking/ticking sound coming from the window. But until the recent repair I thought I might’ve been heading down the lemon road, too.

By: Mike

Mike — Tue, 01 Feb 2005 02:18:05 +0000

Hi Rocketboy,

Yes, that does sound like a good reason. However, my shoe is on the other foot from yours so to speak. I started as a late comer with a 2005 MCS and I really liked everything about it (the clock position, the larger rear view mirror, the shorter gearing, the three-spoke wheel, etc., etc.). Well, it turned out to be a lemon and I ended up with a 2003 and a 2002 MCS as a loaner for the five months it taking to get a replacement 05. While I like the older cars too, I started out in the 05 and so it was what I was used to.

BTW, I totally agree with you about the message boards. I think that Motoring file is THE place to be for sure, but the boards can still be fun too. I'm sure that I'll get tired of them eventually, and will visit them less and less as time goes on. For now, I'm still in hyper mode as I'm expecting my replacement 05 MINI to arrive around the middle of next month.

Thanks for your comments.

By: Gabe

Gabe — Tue, 01 Feb 2005 00:58:34 +0000

Ah that’s nice to hear :)

By: Rocketboy

Rocketboy — Tue, 01 Feb 2005 00:53:29 +0000

Mike.. ok, so how's this for a good reason... eventually, I'm going to buy another MINI to add to my collection. My '02 S then becomes the standard to which I will judge my future MINI on. Some changes, I like. Others, I don't. Added to that, the fact that MINI does read message boards, and does check out Motoringfile (heck, my little blog gets hits from a german BMW IP address on occasion). MINI/BMW is listening to us.

Erik...

(PS- I gave up on the message boards a LONG time ago, so I for one wouldn't blame you if you gave up on them.. which is why MotoringFile is the perfect place to read the latest MINI news, and still have our say/discussions).)

By: Mike

Mike — Tue, 01 Feb 2005 00:38:07 +0000

Hi TJKonarski,

Yes, indeed you are quite right. Thanks for pointing that out.

I just get a bit tired of seeing it as it happens over and over again and it really starts getting old after a while (especially since I see it here, on NAM, and on MINI2 on a daily basis). Guess that I'll just have to learn to ignore it is all. :)

Thanks!

By: TJKonarski

TJKonarski — Mon, 31 Jan 2005 23:21:20 +0000

You need to get over the fact that with all the good, all the fun and all the help here on Motoringfile that at times there will be a barage of complaints or criticism. Really, it’s quite normal and I think quite healthy.

By: Mike

Mike — Mon, 31 Jan 2005 22:25:06 +0000

TJKonarski,

I'm afraid that I actually don't have a problem with any of the vehicle changes (original or otherwise) and so there's nothing for me to "get over" as you've so kindly pointed out. Thanks for your very constructive feedback though as you've been a big help! :p

By: TJKonarski

TJKonarski — Mon, 31 Jan 2005 21:13:00 +0000

Our voices are how things get changed for the better -- But to some it would be considered worse. Not 100% of the people can be please 100% of the time.

Motoringfile is a place for all of us to bitch and complain, revel and praise, learn and teach. Hey, Mike -- Get Over It!

By: Mike

Mike — Mon, 31 Jan 2005 20:50:24 +0000

Oops! I meant Mark and not Ryan. Sorry about that…

By: Mike

Mike — Mon, 31 Jan 2005 17:24:44 +0000

I currently have two MINIs. One 2002 with the clock on the headliner, and one 2005 with the clock in the gauge cluster. I'm afraid that I'm going to have to agree with Ryan on this one. I can't stand having to look way up to the headliner in order to see the clock on my 2002 MINI as it is very distracting. I find it much easier to look at the clock in the instrument cluster on my 2005 MINI. However, I will admit that the clock is a bit too small in the instrument cluster (and so it is hard to see in direct sunlight). As Ryan mentioned, it might be better if MINI moved it to the OBC and made it bigger (although I guess that not every MINI has the OBC and so that would present a problem for making things uniform across all of the cars).

No matter where they put the clock though (back on the headliner, keep it in the gauge cluster, move it to the radio, etc.) someone will always complain about it. I find it really funny how people constantly complain about every single change that is made to the car (such as with the new air bag off warning light, etc.). They complain when things stay the same, and they complain when they change, etc., etc.... No one's ever happy! The one that makes me laugh the most is the center speedo argument. I can tell you that I really dislike having the speedo in the center of the dash for the same reason I dislike having the clock up on the headliner (i.e. it is very distracting for me to have to take my focus off of the road and look way over to see the speedo). Thus, I much prefer having the speedo on the steering column (and yes, I have driven both types). However, I don't go around complaining about it in every post I see where someone mentions the new chrono pack or the sat nav system as a lot of people tend to do. Instead, I simply take pride in the fact that MINI offers such a wide variety of options for the car and so if I don't like the speedo in the center of the dash I don't have to have it that way. Some view that the center speedo is so closely tied to the history of the car that it should be the ONLY option available (or they complain loudly when folks mention the chrono pack, etc.) and I certainly don't agree with that.

Just my $0.02...

By: Ryan

Ryan — Mon, 31 Jan 2005 15:23:49 +0000

Did you have a Mini with the clock on the headliner?

By: Mark Pierce

Mark Pierce — Mon, 31 Jan 2005 09:48:40 +0000

While I agree that the new light arrangement on the rooflining isn’t the most attractive, I wouldn’t want the clock back up there. I found it difficult to read and you had to look up and away from the road to see it. I much prefer the new location of the clock if only the numbers where a bit bigger. How about if they incorporated the clock into the on board computer display in the rev counter?

By: Ryan

Ryan — Mon, 31 Jan 2005 03:48:22 +0000

American regulations are always in the way of different options available to us here in the States. I have never liked this new revised lighting above the mirror. I don’t know why MINI felt the need to chage it. As for this new upgrade, it’s a cool new addition, but nothing all that special. Now, bringing back the clock to the top again – that my friend is something to write home about. (if only.)

By: TJKonarski

TJKonarski — Mon, 31 Jan 2005 01:55:24 +0000

Any other American MINI owners ever feel like the step-child? Our MINI’s always seem to be left out or ignored with some things. I wonder why… Is it expense? Is it manufacturing issues? Is it U.S. regulations? Is it a perception that Americans wants, needs and styles are really that much different than those in other countries? All of the above?…