I've had the distinct displeasure of witnessing one of the Mini's random meltdowns. It went something like this:
Unplug from charger. Drive with 100% charge to AAA office about two blocks away. Register the long-term Corvette. Get in car to leave, see nothing but 0% charge on the meter. Turn car off and on several times to no avail. Exit car, lock it, then unlock it, reenter and still nothing. Make phone call to friend to kill time, remember why I hate Twitter a few times, contemplate calling AAA from the AAA parking lot. Then, I try again and the car comes to life showing 99% charge.
The whole thing took about 15 minutes, no big deal. It did remind me though that when you're in an electric car and nothing works you're pretty much screwed. Then again, most modern cars are so complicated that's pretty much the case for everything these days. Oh well.
Ed Hellwig, Senior Editor, Inside Line @ 4,713 miles
cwc1 says:
07:02 PM, 02/17/10
Particularly since this is a consumer field test vehicle, doesn't Mini/BMW provide "free" roadside assistance if necessary?
It's also like being in a house that uses electricity for everything. When power lines are knocked down due to lots of snowfall, you're pretty much screwed too. And very cold.
tomm250 says:
07:21 PM, 02/17/10
Ed,
I've never seen anything like that before, nor has any of the other MINI-E described that kind of problem that I've heard of. One question though: Did an you happen to notice an hourglass appear where the time & temp is displayed? Occasionally, when you try to turn it on, nothing will happen but there will be a little hourglass icon displayed. When that happens, you need to wait 30 to 45 seconds for the hourglass to disappear and it will turn on. I think something in the PEU is resetting when it does that. It is more likely to happen if you turn it off and then try to turn it right back on. I can't seem to make it happen on purpose though, but occasionally like once every couple weeks it happens to me. Next time if you see an hourglass icon, just wait a few seconds till it goes away and the car will turn on.
Tom M
MINI-E #250 @21,000 miles
wobbly_ears says:
07:07 AM, 02/18/10
The perils of having computers in your car. Not a big deal.
msadventure says:
08:49 AM, 02/18/10
"... contemplate calling AAA from AAA parking lot". Oh, the irony.
fst1 says:
10:16 AM, 02/18/10
@tomm250:
Yes, I've seen the hour glass before and this was not the same thing. When that happens it only takes a few minutes for it to return to normal. This took much longer and I never saw the hour glass. Other editors have also experienced this same situation at least three or four times.
robert4380 says:
10:19 AM, 02/18/10
What about that big master cut off switch in the trunk? Could you try turning that off, waiting a moment, and then turn it back on? Maybe that would reset whatever was stuck. I'm basing this on almost no knowledge of the MINI-e.
tomm250 says:
11:32 AM, 02/18/10
Robert: That might work but as far as I'm concerned that's just putting a band aid on the problem. What Ed's describing shouldn't happen. I suspect there is a problem with the PEU. If it were my car I would demand a replacement before I got stuck somewhere. MINI has been very responsive of any issue that I have had so I suspect Edmunds would get the same level of service. You shouldn't have to wonder if it will run, I wouldn't accept it.
Tom M
MINI-E #250 @21,000
http://minie250.blogspot.com/
keijidosha says:
06:41 PM, 02/21/10
Was your foot on the brake and gear selector in "Park" when you hit the "Start" button? (Page 32). Have MINI check the data logger to see why power was inhibited when you hit start.