Question about the 2013 Mini

I will look into this right away.  Thanks.

My wife's 2013 Mini has the same problem with the voice control button namely it does not do anything.
After spending a lot of time trying to bring it to life we left it to the dealership to figure out what is wrong. Likewise they spent some time on it and obviously in desperation eventually claimed 'you don't have this feature' but did not know what feature needs to be ordered. From what has transpired from this forum it appears Mini deactivated the feature, eliminated reference to it in the user guide, but left everybody in the dark about it. The Germans have an adjective for sneaking a rotten egg into your shopping basket without letting you know about it  which is 'hinterfurzig'. Well, what help is this to you? Maybe don't waste further time in trying to make it work because it doesn't.

Thanks, BrownPenny for shedding light on a rather interesting issue - NO VOICE ACTIVATION for the "hands-free" Bluetooth we thought we had with our 2104 MINI Cooper S Countryman - All 4. We too were advised by the dealer that a "software" update is forthcoming ... when, who knows?

What is more interesting is that when I contacted the Mini USA "customer service" folks, both representative and his supervisor never knew about this "voice activation" issue. However, they were unable to assure me that I would ever get a "call back" from someone who may "know" about this issue; they could only take down my comments and "pass it along" to someone....

Frankly, I am going approach the local news media to see if they may be interested in having an "investigative" reporter look into this issue to shed some "light" on it. Unfortunately, unless the media gets involved this issue will remain in the dark. Not a  "happy" first-time MINI buyer experience.

Again, great comments.  

Pat, although I understand your frustration I do not think the issues are solely German.  I bought a new 1994 GMC 3/4Ton Suburban 4x4 with all the bells and whistles.  When it worked it worked great, with the exception that the drivers seat was 1" offset from being in line with the steering wheel.  It took several very long drives to figure out why I felt uncomfortable.  But the main issue was similar to yours, defects that were not acknowledged by the manufactirer.

The ABS was terrible and worked when it wanted to and not when it was necessary.  I cannot tell you how many red lights, stop signs I cruised through, not to mention the wrecks that ensued!  The NHTSA site under Customer Complaints quickly showed that from 1993 through 1995 or 6 that the brakes were a big issue.  With hundreds of formal complaints they did nothing.  With a Class Action Lawsuit they got it dismissed.  AFTER the warranty expired I managed to scare the hell out of a Service Manager in a parking lot when I reproduced the brake failure at 30mph, and his comment after his mechanics looked at it was "them seem to be working normally".

No, it is not just the Germans.  I unplugged the ABS brake control unit and drove it without ABS for several more years, very successfully and predictably, before trading it in (after reconnecting that lovely ABS unit).




Edited by SMOG - December/31/13 at 5:19am

There is something to be said for testing a vehicle thoroughly before turning it loose on the unsuspecting or uneducated public.  In another incident I had a Ford dealership sell me a 3/4T van that they had rebadged as a 3/4T that was actually a 1/2T.  That was a dealer issue not a manufacturer issue.

The fact that dipsticks are disappearing from engines are another sign that the customer is to not be responsible for their actions but instead rely upon the corporation.

And then, cars that drive themselves??!!!??  Further disconnect from consumer responsibility, like learning how to drive and put down the cellphone, burger, makeup and razor...  God forbid one should take responsibility for one's own actions.