[MarkW19]

Just looking at a couple of options for my already-ordered Cooper

Rain-sensor and auto-dip mirror (£100)

Visibility package (£170).

What does the visibility package add? Apparently you have to have RS/ADM to be able to add visibility package.

All I want is for the wipers to come on automatically when rain falls on the windscreen (if poss) and then for them to get faster/slower according to how much rain there is. Which option should I get? Bit confused

[Big Dave]

I have the visability pack on our March 03 cooper S. What you get is automatic wipers, auto dipping rear view mirror and also heated front windscreen.
In my opinion well worth the money, the auto wipers work excellently, they got agood testing at the peak district run last weekend.
Dave

[MarkW19]

Dave: so the visibility pack is all 3 inc. heated screen? Basically heated screen for £70 then.

How do the wipers work? Do they come on automatically when rain's on the windscreen and speed up/slow down according to how much rain is on them?

Do they turn off when it stops raining? Do you have to have the wiper stalk in a specific place in order for them to be on?

Does the rain "sensor" change the appearance of the car at all, inside or out?

:-)

[adgrimes]

I think the visibility package also includes heated washer jets too... useful on those cold winter starts coming up...

[adgrimes]

Oh... and heated wing mirrors too... I think this is a part of the Visibility package...

[MarkW19]

I thought heated wing mirrors were standard? :-)

[adgrimes]

Maybe so... I cant remember now...

[MICKEY]

The Vis pack unfortunately does not include heated mirrors or washer jets, you have to pay about another 40 quid for them.
As to how do you turn the rain sensor wipers on, you move the wiper stalk up to the int. wipe position (one click) the wipers wipe when raining and stop when it's not and so on.
When you turn off the ignition the wipers reset to off.
So when you start the car up the next time and you have not put the wiper stalk into the off position, to get the rain sensor wipe back on you have to off/on the switch to reactivate them.
Bye the way having had 2 MINI's, one with and one without rain sensing wipers I must say they are worth every penny

[nickworld]

Erm - sorry to contradict you Mickey, but I picked up my Cooper last week (with vis pack) and the heated mirrors ARE part of the pack. Washer jets aren't, but they are cheap and well worth it from past experience!

[MICKEY]

Quote:

Originally posted by nickworld
Erm - sorry to contradict you Mickey, but I picked up my Cooper last week (with vis pack) and the heated mirrors ARE part of the pack. Washer jets aren't, but they are cheap and well worth it from past experience!

I picked up my MCS 7/8 weeks ago and they wern't part of the package then ?????????? bit confused now.
The Vis package was heated windscreen, rain sensor wipers and auto dipping rear mirror, 170 quid.
heated mirrors and jets were a seperate selection at 40 quid.
may be things have changed?????.

[nickworld]

Maybe - or maybe I got a bargain, because they are certainly heated, but I didn't spec them!!

[MICKEY]

nickworld, just had a look in your MINI profile and it say's you have heated washer jets, if you have ordered them, then you get the heated mirrors as well. As far as i know you can't get the heated jets on there own.
anyone out there confirm this.

[Paul]

The heated mirrors and washer jets can only be ordered together, so if you got the heated jets, you get the heated mirrors. They are not part of the visibility package.

[dinlo]

Quote:

Originally posted by MICKEY
The Vis pack unfortunately does not include heated mirrors or washer jets, you have to pay about another 40 quid for them.
As to how do you turn the rain sensor wipers on, you move the wiper stalk up to the int. wipe position (one click) the wipers wipe when raining and stop when it's not and so on.
When you turn off the ignition the wipers reset to off.
So when you start the car up the next time and you have not put the wiper stalk into the off position, to get the rain sensor wipe back on you have to off/on the switch to reactivate them.
Bye the way having had 2 MINI's, one with and one without rain sensing wipers I must say they are worth every penny

Good note, the rain sensor works exactly like MICKEY said.

It work great on my MCS, the only thing is I have to reactivate every time after I turn off the engine. If they can stay on all the time, it will be even better.

[Robert Moreau]

Quote:

Originally posted by MarkW19
Dave: so the visibility pack is all 3 inc. heated screen? Basically heated screen for £70 then.

How do the wipers work? Do they come on automatically when rain's on the windscreen and speed up/slow down according to how much rain is on them?

Do they turn off when it stops raining? Do you have to have the wiper stalk in a specific place in order for them to be on?

Does the rain "sensor" change the appearance of the car at all, inside or out?

:-)

The rain sensing wipers have been my favorite feature of my new MCS so far. They function very nicely. You must move the wiper stalk one click up to activate the system. The system remains active until you turn the ignition. When you restart the car you must recycle the switch to reactive the rain sensing feature. This is to protect the wiper blades and motor from damage in the event that the blades have become frozen against the windscreen while the car was parked.
They do change speed automatically when activated. As I stated above I have owned my car a week as of today and it is my favorite feature so far. It has been raining here in Norfolk, Virginia on the U.S. east for the past six or seven day. I have been able to give the system quite a test and have found that it functions flawlessly.
The only visual clue that the car is equipped with the system is a very small black rectangle located in the center of the windscreen at the uppers edge of the glass centered in front of the rear view mirrow stalk when viewed from outside of the vehicle. You don't notice it from inside the vehicle and it is very unobtrusive when viewed from outside.
I can't recommend this feature highly enought. Spend the extra bit and treat yourself. You will have no regrets.
I hope that this information helps you!
Cheers and happy motoring!

[MarkW19]

They sound cool, good advice guys, just added it to my Cooper spec. Not gone for heated screen though :-)

I'm paranoid 'cos I've just added 2 options since my order (this and cd changer prep) and all the guy says is "yep, no problem". With reading the complaints about wrong spec turning up etc., I'm a bit worried cos I've got quite a big spec list

A note about auto-activation though:- imagine this:-

It's raining, and wipers are on auto. You pull up to a carwash, go inside to pay - rushing about because of the awful weather - come out, go into the car wash, and your wipers start while in the carwash. Damaging the wipers, screen, who knows what else. I guess it's a good safety precaution. It's no harm to do one click before setting off if it's raining or looks like rain. Also, it's a good idea 'cos I hate it when it's been raining heavily and I get out of my car, then get back in it at night and it's totally dry and my wipers turn on on full. That's the end of that I spose

[Torino Paul]

Glad to hear all the positive comments about the Visi pack, auto window wipers and heated windscreen etc!

I've ordered my MC (arrival Sept!) and with living in Glasgow, thought all of the above would be a sensible investment since rain, cold and snow standard in Scotland November to April!!!!!!!

Roll on September - the wait is killing me!

[Fullupo]

yeah ive got it coming on mine too on 16th june. pretty sure it doesnt come with heated mirrors tho, or isnt supposed too anyways! my only worry about the vis pack was the fact that mini's seem notoreous for cracked windscreens, and figure if its heated etc, its gonna cost a fair few quid more

[cogent53]

I went for the Rain sensing wipers, but not that happy with them. Basically, they are fine of you are doing 60mph on the road, but if you are town driving and stop/starting or in a traffic queue, mine just do not wipe often enough! Does anyone know if there is any way to adjust the rain sensitivity of the sensor ? ie to make it MORE sensitve and wipe more regularly?

I am guessing this is a dealer adjustment, if it IS possible.

[Red Dwarf]

I doubt too that they are adjustable, but I would get the dealer to check them out though in case there is a glitch in the system. Mine are perfect whatever the driving. I don't quite see how they can be fine at 60, but not at 30 as they should operate based upon an amount of water on the sensor. Therefore the only difference at different speeds should be the length of time between each wipe, not the amount of water on the screen at the point it does it.