What does this little round button do?

I emailed this pic to my MA and asked her and she said she was told it was a sensor but didn't know what the sensor sensed.

 

I don't think it's supposed to move...

Mine doesn't (although I didn't push that hard) and it's hard to tell from the picture but mine also appears to be sticking out more.

Maybe it's just held in with friction? Does yours actually spring back like a button?

 

An AI-based eye, mouth, and head and occupant tracking imaging technology that provides driver monitoring, occupancy detection, featuring distraction, drowsiness and incapacitated driver detection.....

Actually its an IR type sensor that improves HVAC performance significantly. The sensor detects thermal radiation emitted by the front seat occupants and their surroundings. The sensor values are used by the proprietary HVAC algorithm. Many higher line vehicles used them.

 

I was hoping it was the button to pop the hatch. Is there one, or just key fob only?


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There's a hatch release button by the drivers left foot (right above the hood release lever)

 

Really? I will check this out. Every week I learn something new about the SE. I’m afraid of losing my man card. I keep telling my wife I know everything!!!


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Actually, I had thought it most likely would be a sensor for HVAC purposes, but one that controls the car's remote interior conditioning function when neither a driver nor passenger are physically present in the car to turn the HVAC on or off, set the cabin temperature, etc. Or, maybe it performs multiple functions, including both a remote-related function and measuring thermal radiation for any front seat occupants there may be?

 

The sensor is probably used as an input to the control algorithm anytime the HVAC is operating, regardless.

 

So that why it says "Good morning Dave" when I get in...

 

I asked my dealer about this and he says it is a sensor to sense the brightness of sunlight in the cabin and turns on the interior lights when the cabin goes dark.

 

Turn on the interior lights when it gets dark? If your dealer is going to make something up, they should at least make up something plausible.

 

I know, right. It will be pretty hard to drive at night with interior lights on bec it is dark.

Just wanted to share the another concept re this button.

 

Ha, ha -- you are right, of course, but as Dave I have always associated the many & varied sounds of the MINI SE on start-up with the old theme from Rod Serling's Twilight Zone (mp3 file attached for those not old enough to remember the TV show & its theme music) "... a dimension of sound, a dimension of sight, and a dimension of mind...."

 

I covered it with my finger today and the navigation map did not switch to night mode, so that can be ruled out. The map must use the outside camera for light detection.