Toi
Well-Known Member
If it sat for a 'long-ish' time in delivery without being used, or the AGM battery is just defective...
Mini Connected - Pre Conditioning Function
- Thread starter Tommy Electric
- Start date
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Puppethead
Well-Known Member
I have departure time set for each morning M-F, because I have a low-cost meter window. Someday I'll upgrade my EVSE with its own metering, but for now I use the car.
I find it strange that my car was plugged in and had a departure time set and still wouldn't climatize the cabin. Makes me wonder if the regenerative braking is instrumental to 12V battery charging.
That is puzzling. I've read that the BMW i3 starts warming the battery 3 hours before the set departure time and would expect the MINI Cooper SE to do the same.
Our Clarity PHEV has a DC-to-DC converter that charges the 12-Volt battery from the traction battery. However, the Clarity has to be "on" for this charging to take place. It wouldn't surprise me to learn that the MINI Cooper SE works the same way. I don't know how regen braking energy would be solely responsible for charging the 12V battery.
Some people have connected an inverter to their Clarity's 12V battery to power appliances during a power outage. However, they were unhappy that the car must be turned on to replenish the 12V battery from the big battery because it prevents them from locking their car doors.
MichaelC
Well-Known Member
I scheduled a departure time using the Central Information Display with preconditioning enabled today, then plugged in the EVSE.
The instrument binnacle said it would be charged to 100% by the scheduled departure time (5:15pm). The MINI Connected app said it would be done charging by 1:15pm.
It finished charging by 1:15pm, rather than "pacing itself" to finish charging right before the departure time. I haven't configured an off-peak charging time window (which this would have been well outside of), so I don't know if that's a factor or not.
At the departure time, I unplugged the EVSE and got in the car. The HVAC behaved as with my previous test: It was gently blowing "comfortable" air until I started the car, then immediately adjusted to reflect the separate driver/passenger side settings. Each side quickly achieved their target temperatures, so the preconditioning definitely worked.
The instrument binnacle said it would be charged to 100% by the scheduled departure time (5:15pm). The MINI Connected app said it would be done charging by 1:15pm.
It finished charging by 1:15pm, rather than "pacing itself" to finish charging right before the departure time. I haven't configured an off-peak charging time window (which this would have been well outside of), so I don't know if that's a factor or not.
At the departure time, I unplugged the EVSE and got in the car. The HVAC behaved as with my previous test: It was gently blowing "comfortable" air until I started the car, then immediately adjusted to reflect the separate driver/passenger side settings. Each side quickly achieved their target temperatures, so the preconditioning definitely worked.
Puppethead
Well-Known Member
Mine is working fine as well, I used it when leaving work today and my SE wasn't even plugged in. The odd behavior only occurred after a few days of not being driven. Almost as if the car was hibernating.
F14Scott
Well-Known Member
In the Tesla Model 3, the 12V battery is constantly being tapped by the computer, the sentry mode cameras and USB recorder, the WiFi and cellular radios, etc. It is therefore discharged and then recharged often by the big battery, so often, in fact, that it has a reputation for failing between 2 and 3 years. And, when it dies, the car is dead in the water. And when the car is DIW, you can't open the frunk to get to it. And when you jump the frunk open to get to the 12V battery, it takes an act of congress to pull it out to replace. And it's very expensive. Not a good design, IMO.
Puppethead
Well-Known Member
If you've looked under the hood of the SE (fortunately manual release), the 12V battery is under a cover that only exposes the positive terminal. Not sure how hard it is to remove, but I do know MINIs need their 12V batteries "tuned" after being replaced.
idrw
Member
The scheduled departure feature works great for me. I have enrolled in COMED's (electric utility) hourly pricing program so its cheaper to charge at night. I have set the off peak charging time as between 12 am and 6 am and normally set my departure time as 7 am. The car remains paused after plugging in and says would be charged to 100% by the scheduled departure time. The phone app also shows as charging paused. It starts charging after 12 am and then the app shows exactly when it gets to 100% vs the instrument cluster just showing fully charged by departure time.
The HVAC preconditioning also works great but I am unsure what temperature it sets itself to.
F14Scott
Well-Known Member
Is there a way to make the driver and passenger commanded temperatures sync? Other cars I've owned usually have a button to make them match with the driver as the master, but I haven't figured it out in the SE, and the manual doesn't mention it. OCD Scott has to have them the same unless there's a passenger.
MichaelC
Well-Known Member
I am also desperate for this answer for exactly the same reasons!
Puppethead
Well-Known Member
Just found this, not official but seems reliable:
The cabin temperature is fixed at 22°C for pre-conditioning
That works out to 71.6ºF.
Lainey
Well-Known Member
My current Mini hardtop (2016 with seemingly identical climate controls) does not do this. I often drive alone and adjust for the seasons. If I want them the same I change both. Max AC will adjust both. I tend to run cold and my desired temps are different than my passenger. I never realized single climate control was desired until this post. I asked my husband and he said that's how he runs his Honda. I must be the oddball lol
You just needed to pony up for the Iconic Plus trim 
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Puppethead
Well-Known Member
Another three days sitting in sub-freezing temperature (plugged in and preconditioned departure time every day), and I got the preconditioning warning again. The car didn't seem to ever wake up, the app never showed an update past the time it first hit 100% SoC.
I'm starting to wonder if I'll want to heat my garage. But the car is driving fine and it showed 103 miles and 100% power. Although it seems I'm losing 10%-15% of range with these cold temperatures. The real test will be in winter when it hits -20ºF.
I'm starting to wonder if I'll want to heat my garage. But the car is driving fine and it showed 103 miles and 100% power. Although it seems I'm losing 10%-15% of range with these cold temperatures. The real test will be in winter when it hits -20ºF.
Puppethead
Well-Known Member
Puppethead
Well-Known Member
Not driving for three days seems to be why preconditioning doesn't happen, irrespective of weather or battery condition.
Maybe I should read the manual carefully instead of just looking at certain things I'm interested in.
Maybe I should read the manual carefully instead of just looking at certain things I'm interested in.
Lainey
Well-Known Member
That's good to know. I think I should start reading the manual now. I don't always drive every day so this could be more annoying in the winter for me.
MichaelC
Well-Known Member
I interpret that part of the manual to mean: If you set a departure time for each day of the week, but don't actually start/drive the car at the scheduled time 3 consecutive days, it will cancel all subsequent scheduled preconditioning.
So I would expect preconditioning to occur under all of the following circumstances (assuming it's plugged in or has adequate battery power):
- You schedule a departure time for each day of the week, don't start/drive it for 2 consecutive days, but do start/drive it on the 3rd day.
- You schedule 2 departure times, where the second departure time is 3 days later (or longer).
- You schedule 2 departure times, where the second departure time is 3 days later (or longer), and don't start/drive the car at the first departure time.
- You schedule a departure time after the car has been sitting (not started/driven) for over 3 days.