[Kinster]

I currently have standard air con. I'm wondering if it's worth upgrading to climate control if I get a new car? Is it really worth the extra £230? or could that be put to good use elsewhere?

Regards

[Bilbo Baggins]

How hard is it really to reach over and twist a knob?

I can think of alot of better uses for $345.

[Kinster]

that's what I was thinking The climate control controls may be a bit too complex for me

[stryder]

Quote:

Originally posted by Kinster
that's what I was thinking The climate control controls may be a bit too complex for me

The better question is, how hard is it to twist a knob everytime you get in the car and its a different temp outside, and then twist again when it changes inside, and twist again, etc.

Its certainly a luxury, so it depends on your finances, but if you think of life in your current car and how often you adjust the temp/fan/etc, and compare it to set at 22 degrees and forget basically, its a big difference.

If its worth 230, that's the question only you can answer, but mine came as part of a package and I love it, its so much better then manual I had on my old car, and besides its in the shape of the MINI logo.

[Tom F.]

I like my standard a/c just fine. The controls are easy to reach, good sized, and very logical.

The system is very quiet, too. I have a friend with climate control, and apparently it often starts up at a very high fan speed, and has to be manually slowed down.

If I wasn't going to keep the money in my pocket, there are lots of things I'd add to my order first: autowipers, fog lights, xenons, maybe even MFS. If you want another Mini logo, you can buy the key fob.

Opinions vary widely on this...

[stryder]

Quote:

Originally posted by Tom F.
I like my standard a/c just fine. The controls are easy to reach, good sized, and very logical.

The system is very quiet, too. I have a friend with climate control, and apparently it often starts up at a very high fan speed, and has to be manually slowed down.

If I wasn't going to keep the money in my pocket, there are lots of things I'd add to my order first: autowipers, fog lights, xenons, maybe even MFS. If you want another Mini logo, you can buy the key fob.

Opinions vary widely on this...

Check the other threads on 'Must Haves' I fully agree the MFSW is amazingly critical, as well as fog lights (especially since they're cheap). Xenons are more expensive, so they're in a different line. I haven't met a person who says auto air con is critical, but besides the fan speed issues (which I don't really have) Its a good way down the list option if you have the money. If you have the money being key I think, especially since the UK isn't exactly the hottest or coldest place on earth.

Honestly, I'd probably put auto air con past all those other options, but there's nothing wrong with a car with lots of options, so eventually you'll get to it.

[David-MCS]

Quote:

Originally posted by Tom F.
I like my standard a/c just fine. ...
Opinions vary widely on this...

Definitely a true statement. It came as a standard option on my current car (Golf GTI VR6), and I thought it made about as much sense as automating the nite-time rear-view mirror.

Guess which two options are on my "must" list for my MCS? After living with the digitally controlled A/C (and rear mirror dimmer), I found them both to be "luxuries"; but VERY NICE luxuries! If you are at the point where those two options would force you to buy a Cooper vs an "S", then drop them. Otherwise, if BMW has implemented these options as well as Volkswagen; then I would talk to other people who have them. See if they are as enthusiastic as I am!

Good Luck-

[BruceK]

Before I got my MINI, I had high expectations on the way I expected the climate control system to perform based upon my familiarity with the top-notch climate control system in my wife's Nissan Maxima. However, once I got my MINI I discovered the MINI's climate control system is seriously lacking in intelligence compared to the Nissan system.

For example, on a cold day, when the Nissan is started, the climate control system will actually wait until the heater can produce heated air before the fan will start blowing it into the passenger compartment, in this way it mimics what a driver with a manual heating control would do. Compare that to the MINI's cruder climate control system; upon the car starting in cold weather it happily blows massive quantities of cold air at the driver and passengers for many minutes before the engine finally warms up and the heater can supply warmed air. Would it really have been that hard to program it to delay activating the fan until a
certain minimum coolant temperature is achieved?

My opinion of the MINI's automatic climate control varies greatly on whether the system is cooling or heating. I think it is adequate on hot days requiring air conditioning. It does a pretty good job in that regard
- keeping a good cooling temperature without input from the driver. However, heating is a whole other matter.

So, based on the climate where you live, I would suggest getting it if your car will use a/c most of the time.
However, if you live in a climate that doesn't require a/c or does require heating for large portions of each year, I would go with the manual system.

[stryder]

Quote:

Originally posted by BruceK
For example, on a cold day, when the Nissan is started, the climate control system will actually wait until the heater can produce heated air before the fan will start blowing it into the passenger compartment, in this way it mimics what a driver with a manual heating control would do. Compare that to the MINI's cruder climate control system; upon the car starting in cold weather it happily blows massive quantities of cold air at the driver and passengers for many minutes before the engine finally warms up and the heater can supply warmed air. Would it really have been that hard to program it to delay activating the fan until a
certain minimum coolant temperature is achieved?

My opinion of the MINI's automatic climate control varies greatly on whether the system is cooling or heating. I think it is adequate on hot days requiring air conditioning. It does a pretty good job in that regard
- keeping a good cooling temperature without input from the driver. However, heating is a whole other matter.

So, based on the climate where you live, I would suggest getting it if your car will use a/c most of the time.
However, if you live in a climate that doesn't require a/c or does require heating for large portions of each year, I would go with the manual system.

Its been around 15F here, and I swear the climate isn't pumping cold outside air into the car. How cold did you try it Bruce? I think it may need to be somewhat near freezing before it'll stop outside air until it warms up, but it seems to work fine for me in winter. Spring I didn't notice it either way, but I probably wasn't looking.

[BruceK]

Quote:

Originally posted by stryder
Its been around 15F here, and I swear the climate isn't pumping cold outside air into the car. How cold did you try it Bruce? I think it may need to be somewhat near freezing before it'll stop outside air until it warms up, but it seems to work fine for me in winter. Spring I didn't notice it either way, but I probably wasn't looking.

I noticed it most last week when it was about 30F (which passes for really cold here ) and I simply started the car up and was greeted by the fan enthusiastically blowing air, but the engine hadn't begun to heat the coolant up, so the air was cold. If that is not what your car is doing when starting in cold weather, then perhaps my climate control needs to be examined by a MINI technician? I'll give it another chance tomorrow morning and pay close attention to what it does.

[IMAXMINI]

I didn't really want it aside from the fact that it seems to have a better filter: activated charcoal as opposed to just a paper particulate filter. It has been a while since I've been in one of the cars (mine is still on a boat) so correct me if I'm wrong.
On the US model, it comes as part of a pkg as mentioned earlier. If you want 2 or 3 of the options in just about any of our 3 available option packages, you'll spend about as much as the package price. You're definitely getting more for your money in the package here.
My main concern was that I wanted to be able to turn off the A/C without it coming on by it self and sucking away my gas mileage. As far as I can remember, that is possible. Can't give you any other first hand info though. For those that know, isn't it possible to override all the automatic stuff? That's what I remember from my test drive. I figured the automatic part would come in handy on the long road trips and that's about it. I wouldn't like to have "no air" in the winter, even if it is cold for a little bit. I'd have to sit in the driveway for quite a while if that was the case. Cold dry air works nearly as well as warm air around these parts.

I. MINI

[BruceK]

Quote:

Originally posted by IMAXMINI
...My main concern was that I wanted to be able to turn off the A/C without it coming on by it self and sucking away my gas mileage. As far as I can remember, that is possible. ...

yes, that is possible and easy to do. You just press the switch so the a/c light goes off, and, if you want outside air to flow in, just press the fan switch to choose how strong you want it to assist with moving air into the car.

[stryder]

Quote:

Originally posted by BruceK
I noticed it most last week when it was about 30F (which passes for really cold here ) and I simply started the car up and was greeted by the fan enthusiastically blowing air, but the engine hadn't begun to heat the coolant up, so the air was cold. If that is not what your car is doing when starting in cold weather, then perhaps my climate control needs to be examined by a MINI technician? I'll give it another chance tomorrow morning and pay close attention to what it does.

I'll look as well, I think tomorrow's going to be cold, unfortunately I'm taking the car in for a week's worth of removing a dent + bumper repainting (much more minor than your tire incident) from someone backing into me, so I'll only be able to check quickly. I really haven't paid tons of attention to it, but it doesn't seem to be awful like a normal car would be if you left the fan on when you turned the car off.

[erichui]

i got the climate control mostly becuase of the looks
but then i got used to the BMW 3series climate contorl and the 1 in the mini is pretty similar so i am happy with it

[bigbaddaboom]

I've had the S since September and hardly used the air con anyway. I've mainly been using the heating and 'manual' controls. The system is actually pretty easy to use when in 'manual' mode except when you press the windscreen air. It then goes into mental demist mode (full blast air and rearscreen demister). You can stop it doing that by pressing the windscreen button and fan speed button together for 2-3 seconds. Apart from that its easy. I'll be able to tell you in the summer whether the climate control is actually worth it. Right now it seems like an extra expense for nothing (apart from it looks not bad )

[Tonyt3]

I have the benifit of both options. My MCS has manual air. My wife's MCS has climate control. I prefer manual control, I don't want it deciding whether to warm up or cool down the car.... and I think the extra money is pointless and should be spent on other options...

However, I live in a cold climate. those of you lucky enough to live in the sweltering sunshine states of the US might have a different and equally valid opinion. I just thought that you might like to have the opinion of someone with both options...

[GAJ]

I have auto A/C - and although in the climate here it is probably not really neccessary - it does look cool!

[minicoopersgirl]

I love my Climate Control, wouldn't have it any other way! Since I do live in one of the "sweltering sunshine states of the US", I must say it is well worth the extra money

[CurtP]

Quote:

Originally posted by bigbaddaboom
You can stop it doing that by pressing the windscreen button and fan speed button together for 2-3 seconds.

If you hold just the windscreen defrost button by itself, it does the same thing -- at least it does on mine.

I do like the fact that I can keep it on "auto" mode without the AC being on just by pressing the AC button while it's in auto mode. I like the fact that I can keep my eye on the road and reach down and twist the only knob on the system to adjust temprature. I like how it adjusts the fan accordingly to quickly cool or heat the interior.

I don't particuarly like getting the cold blast first thing in the morning before the engine heats up, but it's not like it takes long for mine to warm up -- usually just a few blocks.

Compared to the Cherokee and my Formula, the HVAC system in the MINI is very nice. My Formula has a particular habit of freezing my hands to the steering wheel with the AC on, while not quite reaching my face -- and it takes forever for the heater to start working.

BTW, where is the HVAC filter located on the MINI?

[snoopy]

Service guy told me passenger side foot well you will see a big air box with some clips, undo the clips and the filter falls out. The reason is asking was I hade some mould/bacterial smell in the HVCA. Take out the filter and you can almost get your hand up and round to the evaporator unit to spray it to kill the mould.