The 'final' word on Auto Air Conditioning vs. Manual one??
Have read very mixed reviews on this option & am totally flummoxed as a result. ;-)
I've heard the Auto A/C looks nicer in the dash?
Enough of a difference to make up for what sounds like difficult operation?
I do care how things look, as I plan to keep this pup for a while,
if it goes w/out too many rattles. I know that shouldn't matter so much...
but for some reason...I'm getting into that big-time, as I attempt to purchase my very
first Cooper.
I may have the Chrono Package, above, btw, as when I saw it at night...it looked pretty interesting, truth be told. I realize that it's a non-essential, but
if I have that...I wonder if the Auto A/C might work better w/the 'look' or not?
'Course many here just hate that option, so I understand that. I need to see a Mini at night with a regular central speedometer as I heard that's pretty cool, too.
But, more importantly, can you operate the Auto A/C pretty much like a Manual A/C without too many bells & whistles, or will this option just end up irritating me? (as I'm not too technically inclined) ;-)
I've heard it can be *quite* noisy...and hard to regulate the way one would like.
The noise factor could make it or break it for me.
Again, I appreciate details on the operation of it, but can also gather quite a bit from other helpful threads here, re: the exact operation of it.
What I'm more looking for here, is what would be your final "say" on it,
if you've had both or not.
I've read gas efficiency questions too re: this A/C. That's also a big concern.
So....Auto A/C...a gem or complete waste of money?
I love the Auto A/C in my MCS, no hassle, just set the temperature, press the defrost button at the morning start when it's cold or damp, and press to auto button after that is finished. Very easy to use.
I don't know what you mean by 'noisy'. But I also have never had a Manual A/C.
I assume you also noticed that the Auto A/C buttons and display are in fact the Mini logo?
Last edited by Berthil; Jan 7th, 2005 at 10:07 PM.
Reason: Mini Logo
I used Manual and have had no problems and would get it again, must admit that Auto looks nicer but Id rather save the extra £ for something like heated seats, sat nav etc..
Thanks for pointing out the Mini Logo to me on the Auto A/C.
Never noticed that...\
a bit "thick" of me, eh? ;-)
All I could tell was that the Manual one seemed a bit dated in its look.
But, not dated so much in a retro way. Just sort of plain.
But, as was pointed out, I have to watch out for "form over function."
Will wait for a few more reviews, as the latest cars may have improved Auto A/C over earlier years. Not sure. Thanks again.
I live in Florida. We are accustomed to using the a/c in our automobiles. I read the same concerns I see mentioned here before I ordered my MINI.
As long term or take home test drives were not available I rented a MC for a day. The manual a/c in the rental worked fine. The noise was not remarkable. The noise (from the fan) was, however, easily influenced by simple manipulation of the controls.
Because I plan on keeping my MINI for some time and thought the controls of the manual head unit felt flakey, I opted for the auto a/c in the MCS I purchased. It does look better, too.
I like it very much. It does an excellent job of maintaining an even temp without intervention. I don't find it difficult to operate in the automatic mode. It is just a little indirect in the manual mode, though.
I think the references to noisy are related to its tendency to start of very strong with lots of fan if it thinks it needs to overcome a large temperature difference in the cabin.
Happy New Year.
When I was in college, I bought a really nice one owner 76 Cadillac Seville. That was the first generation RWD Seville, not the tacky FWD model that looked like it had been backed into a wall. SInce I couldn't afford a sports car nor sports car insurance, I decided that a luxury car was the next best thing....
That was a really great car. It had automatic climate control. Just dial up the temp you liked and leave it alone... Of course it could be overridden to defrost, vary fan speed, etc. It was a simple analog system, but it was really fantastic. It even activated recirculation mode as needed.
I haven't been satisfied with the HVAC controls on any car I've owned since then, but none of my later cars have had an automatic climate control available. I try to set some comfortable temperature, and it'll be OK for a little while, then it gets too hot or too cold... It needs to be fiddled with every few minutes.
I plan to order an MCS in the next few weeks (CR/W all but nav and automatic trans plus a Cooperflags UJ, driving lamps and white mirror caps to replace the ones that will come with the chrome line exterior...I'm getting anxious), but based on my prior experiences I'd get auto A/C (and xenons and driving lamps, but that's a whole new thread) if those were the only options I could afford to buy.
I've read some complaints about the MINI auto A/C, but think I'd be happer with it than without it. I've been on some road trips in late model BMW's, and I liked the auto A/C in them. The MINI system seems identical except for the panel's layout and cosmetics.
Rawhyde
PS The system may be a little fiddely to operate in manual mode, but I used the auto mode in the Caddy >95% of the time so I probably will in the MINI as well.
Well after a year of a MC with manual - I really missed the auto AC that I've had on previous cars, the manual is very easy to use of course, but I did find myself constantly having to adjust it
I've now just got my MCS with the auto AC and hardly need to touch it - as said before on here just defrost if needed then back to auto - never noticed any difference in noise but a better looking system where it always sets to your desired temp...it is a bit fiddly as people have said but as I never need adjust it - who cares?!?
You may loose a small amount of power for using it, however, it looks good compared with the manual version, and I personally have not found it to be noiser than the manual version.
Apple has done over 50k miles, and nearly 3 years old, and I have it on ALL THE TIME with both green LED lights on permanently, without any problem.
I have the auto A/C on my '05 MCS. Love it! First, I like having the ability to set the temp and not worry about anything. Secondly, the appearance that it brings to the inside of the cabin is very nice! I wouldn't think twice if I had to order another MINI!!!
I would never by a car without auto climate control!!! Manual controls are just annoying and need to be changed frequently. For example you would not want manual controls for your house heat and/or AC, and it should be the same with cars.
The auto AC in my MCS is always set at 68 degrees F and always stays that way I never need to adjust anything. I dont set it to defrost either because it automatically puts air on the windshield when its cold out.
Some patience may be needed when using auto AC. I have seen it many times that people get impacient when the car is very cold inside. You just have to wait for the coolant to warm up before it starts blowing hot air. Auto AC waits for the coolant to reach a certain temp before blowing large amounts of air. These impacient people often turn their manual AC to full blast fan and the highest temp, and all it is doing is blowing out cold air. So a little patience goes a long way. The same goes for the AC when it is hot, as it takes time from when the car is started and serious cold air comes out.
2003 Solid Black MCS
All options (except Nav and PDC), Milltek cat-back, red/white tailights, Whalen knob, Osram Silverstar high beam, 16" Dunlop Winter Sport M3
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