2022 Mini SE - In Focus: The Humble Key Fob

Excellent video! As always, very professionally made. I learned things--I've never tried to use the key.

The only key-fob topic not included was showing how to change the battery (or at least mentioning it might be good to have a spare 2032 in your kitchen drawer). There are already other battery-changing videos, but if you do one, you might mention there are 3rd-party key-fob housings that can reduce the size of the key fob. I keep my eye open for a 3rd-party housing specifically for the MINI Electric (perhaps in Energetic Yellow).

 

Warning on the key cover...the cover fell off my 2015 Hardtop while in transit (so it was lost), and the whole handle had to be replaced. Dealer said it happened quite a bit. Hopefully MINI has replacement covers only now, or have fixed the problem of the cover popping off. Ever since then I've been wary of taking it off.

 

Thank you GvilleGuy, You do a great job with your videos. Much better than reading the manual, can't wait for our Mini to arrive in the next couple of weeks.

 

Graceful Leader coming up the Mexican coast, off Baja California. Scheduled to arrive in California on June 10 and then transport to Colorado.

 

Great video! Looks like the 2022 includes a few extras (lock/unlock sound, panic button) that my 2021 sig+ does not have. Also nice to see how the manual key works with the car.

Video request: the traction control system. This really separates the Mini from the rest of the FWD pack. The others are, in my opinion, annoying to drive spiritedly! The Mini SE/i3S traction control is really something special.

Looking forward to the rest of the series.

 

Great video! It was very informative, and I especially enjoyed the history lesson! I think I'm really going to like having the power folding mirrors and the ability to open/close them with the fob.

 

???? A happy feeling when you press the button and the mirrors fold/unfold?

 

The traction control system's brilliance is what it prevents from happening. That's tough to depict in a video. "Look, I can't do a burn-out in my MINI Cooper SE!" The car just goes with no drama, no matter how hard you press the pedal. Also, it increases tire life by a bunch of miles.

 

I was a bit disappointed to learn that my signature does not have the option to beep/honk when locking/unlocking... I thought that was a pretty standard feature?

 

Yep, not there for some reason. There is a blank in the fob where the panic button would be (lol).
Still, I much prefer the silence to an obnoxious tone or horn that you can't adjust. (anyone hear the Mach-E horn on lock? It's like a train horn)
One nice thing about the silent lock is the car will only flash the lights once rather than rewarding those that press the lock button 68 times as they walk away from their car.

Yeah, it's just really nice. There's the perfect blend of 'locked down' with a bit of playfulness. It feels like it's cutting just enough power to stop the wheels from chirping (unless you really want them to ). I drove a Bolt and Niro after we picked up the Mini and their systems were downright annoying. Apply too much power and the wheels just spin helplessly until you ease up.

My thought for a video was a gopro mounted at the driver position with some spirited driving. You and @GvilleGuy are right in that it's a tough thing to show on camera.
I could be wrong, but I think the i3S and Mini traction control has some predictive system at play. It's more sophisticated than the average traction control.

 

I think its just actually designed to take advantage of the electric motors. ICE cars can get away with relatively slow traction control systems because they wouldn't be able to get all the moving parts in the engine to slow down/speed up quickly anyway. Electric motors have less rotating mass, precise control, and a large instant torque response. A fast traction control computer with a simple algorithm can take advantage of that and appear "magic" by seeing the slip and reacting before you even know what has happened!

 

Wow.

I'm quasi-relieved. I knew everything in the video except the way to get into the car without the fob working. Man, removing a key-cover, that seems ... cheap.

Personally, the fob never leaves my pocket anymore. I just find it too convenient. Plus, I got a slim-line outer case (sure, the roundness is a solid echo to the other design elements, but who wants to put that in your pocket?). So now, it's just the little button to open the car for me!

 

Which one did you get? I just want a slim black plastic one to match the factory finish but can't really find that. I'll probably just print one myself and spend some time sanding and finishing...

 

Would this one work?