June 18, 2005: UPCOMING: MINIsOnTop 2005 (click for more info)

February 19, 2005: UPCOMING: Plymouth Bay Or Bust (click for more info)



January 29, 2005

The first auto MCS at MINI Peabody

A cool blue MCS convertible at MINI Peabody is the first to arrive there with the new-for-2005 automatic transmission:

Here is a pic of the back of the steering wheel showing one of the shift levers; also the low fluid warning light:

The convertible also has the airbag warning light recently seen on MINI Motoring, a bit more obtrusive on the convertible than on the hardtop:

Posted by iancull at 06:17 PM | Comments (0)

January 26, 2005

"AFF" baffles too many MINI owners

Late last year, after requests from a number of people, I developed the "AFF" auto front fogs add-on to the MINI circuit. Since then I have shipped about 25.
But unfortunately nearly half of the buyers have at some time been confused by the enable/disable procedure. I did not think through the programming enough, with the result that it was possible to enable then disable the "AFF" function simply by "holding the switch for too long!"

The "AFF" has given me much more grief than the MINI circuit ever has, so I might quit making it - but first here is a clarification for any owners having issues:
To disable the "AFF" function, you hold the toggle switch (when the lights are on) for more than half a second.
When you click the switch, it turns the fogs on/off because it tells the car to do that - but if you click and keep the switch held for at least half a second, then the "AFF" function is disabled.

To enable the "AFF" function, you hold the toggle switch BEFORE the lights are on, then turn the lights on.
The circuit sees the switch is closed already when the lights go on, and enables the "AFF" function.

BUT:
If you keep the switch closed for too long after the lights are turned on, then the "AFF" will first enable but then because the switch is still closed for more than half a second with the lights on, it might be disabled again.

So:
#1. Enable "AFF"
Click and hold the toggle; turn on the lights - only need to rotate the switch to first position; release the toggle immediately. Watch to see fogs come on automatically just after.

#2. Don't hold the fog toggle for more than half a second - only give it a quick click to turn fogs manually on or off.


Also on the subject of auto front fogs, this thread on MINI2 has some enlightening comments from "back home" (England) ...

Posted by iancull at 10:36 PM | Comments (2)

January 26, 2005

MINIsOnTop 2004 - very late links!

 Honestly, I have been meaning to get round to this since, um, a very long time ago ... after MINIsOnTop last year, I kept track of the gallery links that everyone posted and intended to put up a final post with links to all the pics. But time passed ...
Then Josh badgered me. Repeatedly.
And with todays early snow let-out, and a need to look at cheerful pictures, I have put together all the links! I also collected a few links to good posts: So did you miss MINIsOnTop 2004? If so, maybe you should try not to miss it this summer!

Posted by iancull at 06:45 PM | Comments (1)

January 26, 2005

Oh Goody - snowing again!

Only light snow so far today, but "they" are claiming another possible 6-9"!

(for Al - stranded on Cape Cod with only beer to keep him comfortable:)
My new non-runflat tires are performing adequately; fine for driving reasonably plowed roads but I can easily lose traction if I accelerate or brake hard (experimentally - I don't drive that way!) The traction control & ABS are excellent at maintaining correct direction; without ABS I would not be happy in this weather.
It would be interesting to compare with real snow tires, as there are some places where I would like more traction - mostly on slopes which have not been cleared of snow; I know that if I had to stop I would not be able to go forward up a slope any more. And going down such slopes I am very careful to keep my speed low, in case the tires & ABS together cannot stop GBMINI (not happened yet and I don't want it too).

Question for any experts reading this: Would an LSD help with maintaining traction from a stop when going up a slippery hill? Or is it only beneficial on curves?


UPDATE: This is what the roads were like when I headed home (early):

Posted by iancull at 09:10 AM | Comments (6)

January 24, 2005

Digging out!

After yesterdays Blizzard of '05, Margaret & I spent a while digging out our two cars this morning. We had sensibly parked close to the end of the driveway to minimize the digging - but the road was only half plowed so we had to dig a few feet of road as well!

Driving GBMINI was OK; side roads were a little slippery because plowing had left an inch or so of hard packed snow (turning to ice) - but so long as I did not ask for too much acceleration, steering or braking, all was fine. Very predictable handling.
Initially on the way to work there was a lot of steering vibration - presumably due to the snow coating the wheels - but it went away after a while.


At lunchtime, a trip to MINI Peabody saw me meeting John, Rick, Chris, Ivan, Jeff and Diane - some service work, one new car order, and some great lunch at Legal Seafood. Good to see you all again!

Posted by iancull at 07:56 PM | Comments (4)