mini cooper lcd display not working pricelist

Originally designed by Britain’s Austin Motor Company in 1956, the Mini name has been part of the automotive scene for over 50 years. Throughout the decades, the little car always offered practical utility, oddly dramatic styling (‘boxy but cute,’ ‘powered roller-skate’ etc.), and a healthy dose of driving fun, particularly when considering the car’s performance variant the "Cooper S."

After suffering through a series of corporate mergers and acquisitions between the Mini’s 1959 roll-out and the early 90s, BMW finally took control of the product line in 1994. BMW introduced the all-new Mini in 2002. To the general surprise of no one, the eagerly-anticipated revival was a smash hit from the beginning, combining the best qualities of the old cars with modern safety, comfort, and technology.

While larger than its dimunitive forebears, the 2002-06 Mini Cooper is still a great example of how much pure driving fun can be stuffed into a small, neat package. There"s plenty of room for improvement in the factory sound system, so read on to find out how you can make your car"s sound as sweet as its handling.

The standard Mini Cooper sound system in the hatchback offers an integrated high-definition AM/FM/CD unit, stacked below the car’s primary instrument cluster, with remote receiver controls placed on either side of the steering wheel’s center line. In addition to the receiver itself, the sound system includes a woofer/tweeter configuration in each of the front doors, and rear speakers mounted in the rear side panels at hip level.

Regardless of which system you"re replacing, you"ll need a mounting kit to trim out the new radio, a wire harness, and an antenna adapter that"ll let you connect the Mini"s antenna plug to your new radio. These installation parts are available at a deep discount with your Crutchfield stereo order.

Installation note: The accessory power wire in the wire harness isn’t contained in the molded connector — it’s just a bare wire, so you can either tap into the accessory power wire behind the dash or run a wire over to the fuse box.

It"s relatively easy to retain the steering wheel audio controls when you install a new stereo in your Mini Cooper. When you enter your vehicle information, our database will choose the adapter you need to make your factory steering wheel controls work with your new receiver.

The Mini’s front door speaker system is a split-location configuration, with low-mid cones placed at the bottom of the doors, while highs are produced by tweeters placed at the top of the door panel, adjacent to the door’s latch. If you decide to install aftermarket tweeters, you may have to fabricate new mounting brackets. The tweeter opening is oddly shaped, and making a new bracket will require a little ingenuity. Of course, you can also use a set of our universal back straps, which is a lot easier.

You can install a 6-1/2" or 5-1/4" speaker down there or, even better, pick out a nice set of component speakers. You"ll have to drill new screw holes in the doors in order to install the mounting brackets, so take care not to damage the window or window mechanism when you"re drilling.

If you are only intending to replace the speaker system, the speaker configuration is the same as the standard system. However, no wiring harnesses are available for the MINI so you have to cut off the factory plug wherever you replace a speaker. Simply follow the instructions on the Crutchfield MasterSheet, and you should be good to go.

Unsurprisingly, there isn"t a ton of room for an enclosed subwoofer in the Mini Cooper. The available cargo area space measures 36" W x 13" H x 14"/10" D, so if you use your car as a daily driver, you"ll lose some storage space.

You"ll find iPod interfaces designed to integrate with the factory radio in the Mini Cooper, even with the Harman Kardon system. Some of the interfaces work with the DSP radio, some work with the non-DSP version.

Installing a security system in your Mini Cooper isn"t easy (security systems rarely are), but it"s definitely a good idea. Our Crutchfield Advisors can help figure out what you need to get the job done, but we usually recommend taking your car and new gear to a professional installer.

The One For All URC7880 Smart Control 8 is a simple, affordable remote for people who can control all their gear via infrared (IR). It can’t control Bluetooth-based devices like the Google Chromecast or Nvidia Shield TV, but it will work fine with the majority of AV products, including most cable and satellite boxes, Blu-ray players, soundbars, gaming consoles, and AV receivers. (If you’re not sure how your device is controlled, try this: Point the remote at the ground in the opposite direction from the device it’s supposed to control, and then press a button. If the remote still executes the command, then it’s using Bluetooth or radio frequency, not IR.) The URC7880 can control eight devices and has all the important buttons you’ll need—including five activity controls that let you group devices together to watch a movie, play video games, and so forth. But, like the Sofabaton U1, it lacks backlighting and a Help function. One For All says you can set up this remote using an app, but the app just lets you add devices. The majority of the programming takes place the old-fashioned way—by manually putting the remote in programming mode and punching a lot of buttons. It’s not ideal, but it gets the job done—and it means anyone can program this thing, even if they don’t own a mobile device.

As the latest generations of BMW models are progressively equipped with high-tech features, not a single detail or addon misses out on being modernized and perfected — including the BMW key fob. Its’ upgrades have mostly been in the last few years, when it went from having basic features such as simple remote unlocking, up to more advanced, like keyless entry for cars with Comfort Access. Yet, the most up to date key fob version so far is theBMW Display Keywith fully-featured touchscreen.

Ifyou need a replacement for your previous BMW Display Key, this short guide will help you decide where to find the highest quality Display Key that would be the safest option and suit your vehicle perfectly.Dig in!

BMW Display Key,introducedfor the G11 7 Series and now available for a few other premium models,is considered an unusual device, as it goes beyond what is expected from a standard key fob. It’s basically an advanced type ofBMW smart keythat has a full-colour LCD touch screen and 985 ft functional range. This remote control gadget, apart from letting you lock and unlock your doors, makes it possible to access plenty of information about your vehicle remotely.

The BMW Display Key was primarily built forthe G11 7 Series but now there are OEM versions accessible for almost all current G - Series models - their availability however may vary depending on the country.

What you can also find while searching for a Display Key are the aftermarket versions of varying quality keys offered for almost all current F and G Series models, including 3 Series F30, 5 Series F10, X5 G05 or X3 G01.

At BimmerTech we offer OEM replacement Display Keys for those BMW owners who already bought a car with Display Key but want to replace it. The keys that we offer are ordered directly from BMW, so are of the highest quality and suit your model perfectly.

Have you ever lost a track of your BMW in a crowded parking lot? This Display Key functionality will help you find your car among dozens of other vehicles. Just press the sound the horn button on the upper right side of the key and wait for your car to honk a couple of times. It’s a very simple way of identifying your BMW.

Another nifty feature of the BMW Display Key that can make any driver feel like they’re in a Bond movie is the Remote Engine Start. It allows the driver to start and stop the car’s engine from afar, only by pressing a start/stop button on the Display Key. Once pressed, the key starts the engine in about 5 seconds. Yet, if the vehicle doesn’t set off in 15 minutes, the engine stops automatically.

This Display Key feature really comes in handy whenever you’ve got your hands full and can’t take the BMW key out of your pocket or bag. If you are at a range of up to 5 ft from your BMW, Comfort Access will allow you tounlock your car by placing your hand inside the handle, or lock it with a single touch on the handle ridges.

Out of alltouch screen key fobfeatures, the most outstanding is undoubtedly remote control parking. It enables you to move your car forwards and backwards from outside the BMW only by pressing arrows on the LCD screen. What can be a little tricky about it, though, is the fact that while operating the vehicle with the arrows, you have to hold a button on the side of the fob throughout the entire process. Not sure whether you could manage the procedure unscathed? Don’t worry. The Display Key uses sensors to alert you about the distance of other objects or cars to your vehicle, so will keep your BMW from hitting anything. Also, the fob will move your vehicle at most 1.5 car lengths and at a speed of one mile per hour, minimizing the possibility of causing any damage to your BMW.

A great comfort about the BMW Display Key (which you won"t find in all standard key fobs) is a rechargeable battery. While standard key fobs are currently equipped with non-rechargeable batteries that last up to 3 years and require replacement, this revolutionary Display Key can be wirelessly charged in your car while driving. That’s surely a major treat for those BMW drivers who keep forgetting about buying new batteries, as now they don’t have to bother themselves with any of it.

To charge your Display Key, all you have to do is insert it in the charging pocket with the lock button on the key fob facing upwards. You’ll find the charging pocket under the center console, on the side closest to the driver’s seat. Once your key is properly set, make sure that the blue LED light turns on — it’ll indicate that the Display Key is charging. If the light is not on, try to reposition the key until it lights up.

If the Display Key won’t charge at all, it may mean that your battery has completely died. If that happens, first check with your dealership for options. Some BMW models may allow for battery replacement while others will require replacing the whole key.

If you’ve got a used Display Key, or one produced for some other BMW, you’ll not be able to program it with our services. Most of the key fobs sold on marketplaces such as Amazon or eBay fall in this category.

For security reasons, your BMW allows activating key fobs only with one of a predefined list of identifying keys. This list of validated OEM Display Keys is unique to every BMW, so it prevents thieves from pairing other key fobs with your car. Reprogramming your BMW or a second-hand Display Key to allow for pairing them would require modifying main parts of your vehicle’s anti-theft system, leaving it less secured.

The pricing of Display Keys can be misleading. When searching for one on the internet, you’ll see that many Display Keys are sold for $250 or less — do not be deceived by those prices. If you’re searching for a high-quality OEM Display Key fob and you see it priced at $250, keep in mind that it is USED and may be reprogrammed for another vehicle. Lower priced key fobs may also be aftermarket ones that don’t guarantee good performance.

So, if you’re keen on having an original and secure Display Key for your BMW, you’ll most likely have to spend more than $250. In return you’ll have the safest and most unique pairing with your vehicle.

If you wonderhow to get a BMW Display Keyor prepare for aDisplay Key fob replacement,we definitely recommend ordering it only from a BMW dealership or a legitimate third-party reseller, such as BimmerTech.

As a precautionary measure, all BimmerTech customers are required to send evidence of car ownership before we can ship a new Display Key. In order to do that, just email a copy of your BMW’s registration document and driver’s license with the same name to[email protected], complete with your order number.

The technology package doesnotinclude Enhanced Bluetooth (S6NSA), which was sold as a standalone option. Enhanced Bluetooth is designed for smartphone integration, letting you browse your phone"s music library over Bluetooth, pair two phones and use BMW"s Mobile Office feature to check your texts, emails and calendar events on the iDrive screen.

Standard F30 key fobs without Comfort Access come with non-rechargeable batteries that should last up to three years. If your fob has stopped working, or you"ve just noticed your remote range has got worse, it could be time to replace the battery.

BMW does not make the remote closing feature available in all markets. If you can"t close your windows by holding the lock button on your F30"s key fob, you will need to activate this option through coding.

The possibility of adding CarPlay & Android Screen Mirroring to the head unit is in fact the biggest improvement of NBT Evo ID5/ID6 over the older iDrive systems.Apple CarPlayallows using all your apps right on the BMW factory screen without the need to engage with the phone, not to mention without taking your focus from the road; Siri makes it possible to manage all apps through voice commands.

F30s that don"t allow activating BMW-original CarPlay will be compatible with BimmerTech"s CarPlay MMI Prime retrofit, a hardware upgrade that adds support for CarPlay and Android Auto. CarPlay MMI Prime is fully wireless for all iPhones, however you do need to use the cable if you have an Android phone that does not support wireless Android Auto.The CarPlay interface is also displayed full-screen by default, as opposed to the split-screen display of the factory CarPlay option. Check which CarPlay option is compatible with your F30.

Another area where expectations changed during the run of the F30/F31/F34 is rearview cameras. While a park assist camera was an optional extra when the car was launched, all new vehicles in the US and Canada will now have a backup camera as standard.

There are plenty of reasons to have a backup camera, but if your vehicle is missing one, BimmerTech makes it easy to add an aftermarket BMW F30 rear view camera retrofit to your car. All three of our camera models — MMI, OEM Integration and OEM — mount the camera discreetly in the trunk handle, and use the factory dashboard screen to display the image from the camera. It"s also possible to add a camera to our MMI Prime kits, to use alongside CarPlay or Android Auto.

Still notsure which camera to add to your 3 Series? Enter your VIN on ourBMW Rear View Camera retrofitpage to see which options are compatible with your car.

It stands out for its lease-friendly design that lets you attach the camera module without the need to make any alterations to your bumper. What’s more, this aftermarket camera overrides the native iDrive mode when activated, displaying a full-screen view, and can be turned on either automatically after shifting from reverse to drive, or by pressing a button on the iDrive Controller or steering wheel.

The first difference you’ll notice is the new layout of the user interface, which enables easy access to each part of your iDrive. There are 6 sections listed on the menu:Media/Radio, Communication, Navigation, ConnectedDrive, My Vehicle and Notifications — you can control each of them simply by tapping on a chosen option.

Another major difference is that NBT Evo ID5/ID6 is a lot more responsive and much faster compared to older iDrive generations. Having a higher resolution screen and being equipped with a 400GB hard drive and 4GB of RAM, it provides improved 3D maps and more accurate navigation. In some BMWs with an NBT Evo touch-sensitive display, you can even move the maps (zoom in and out) using the touchscreen.

If you own an F30 without the larger 8.8” screen but want more room for menu and apps on your iDrive, a great option would be a Panoramic Screen Upgrade. It’s one of the easiestBMW F30 screen upgrades, as it is made specifically for F3x (F30, F32, etc.) vehicles withthe ENTRYNAV head unit, giving themdouble the resolution of the smaller factory screen. Panoramic Screen packs a sharp 1280x480 display, OEM quality, fits perfectly into your dashboard and matches our CarPlay MMI Prime —check whether your BMW 3 series is compatible with Panoramic Screen.

One of the premium retrofits from BimmerTech that makes people"s eyes light up is the 6WB OEM digital cluster. It’s an entirely digitized instrument panel that has 3 driving modes (Comfort, Eco Pro, Sport +) and can act as your tachometer, digital speedometer, navigation, oil temperature display and more. Apart from its dashing modern look, the panel is perfect when it comes to displaying the most important information while driving. You can have it customized according to your own needs to show the real-time car data you want to see. A great thing about the panel is its illuminated screen, which makes it easy to check the info at different times of the day.

SLI is a very popular display option — it helps the driver get immediate updates on specific road limits and avoid severe fines. To update the speed limit data you just have to update your iDrive map regularly, so that your indicator is as accurate as possible.

A day before the Easter break of 2015, I drove a deep-blue metallic, bug-eyed F55 MINI Hatch out of a local dealership and it was all smiles ever since. I called her "Little Angel Wings". She was from a time before MINI redesigned their logo in 2017 to its simplified fishbone form. In my opinion, the older logo was prettier and resembled an angel"s wings. Hence, the nickname stuck. I was so enamoured with the car that I wrote a 100-day review of it on my blog. It was a fruitless exercise amounting to as much good as shouting into a void, because nobody read that article. But I digress.

Currently in its third generation, the BMW-owned MINI Hatch was launched in 2000. Although its design is said to be inspired by the original that was introduced in 1959, the two are certainly worlds apart in terms of size, appearance, age and technology. The MINI Hatch is infinitely customisable and back in 2015, was still exclusively assembled in the Oxford plant in England. BMW, its more mature sibling, promises to deliver customers the "ultimate driving machine". But MINI is the more youthful stablemate, offering oodles of fun and a rebellious attitude, often for less money. But that doesn"t necessarily make it cheap to buy or own.

Let"s pore over these 2015 prices for a hot minute. While the little 5-door hatch has a list price starting at $25,227, it was the options that rapidly sent the driveaway price north of forty grand. Ludicrous for a car of this size and quite spendy, despite the MINI brand cachet and its unashamedly good looks. A 6-speed automatic ($2,136), metallic paint ($727), sat nav ($1,000), park assist package ($636), alarm system ($545) and reverse camera ($427) were among the list of options.

Now, this is where it gets interesting. In tight inner-city spots, the diminutive MINI is up to the task of weaving through traffic and negotiating the smallest spaces. Its retro circular headlights and bonnet stripes are a playful statement against a backdrop of rigid grey skyscrapers, brooding luxury saloons and people in their unimaginative black power suits. However, the car feels fidgety at these speeds and it is on the open road where it really shines.

Settle in and a cheerful cartoon car graphic greets the driver from the instrument cluster. Push that prominent START/STOP dipswitch and the car springs to life, the high-resolution central display with its ever-changing LED ring adding pizzaz to the interior. Multiple toggle switches are scattered throughout the cabin, which is generally adorned with quality plastics, a tasteful combination of matte and glossy surfaces.

While the interior appears basic, everything feels sound and well crafted. The doors open and close with an enviable level of solidity and most other cars would sound tinny in comparison. Five and a half years old. Parked outdoors rain, hail or shine. Driven 85,000kms. Not a single rattle anywhere and bar expected wear and tear, everything still looks good as new. Those seats are comfortable too, even for the long haul, and you get a meaty three-spoke, multi-function steering wheel with hand-stitched leather. Speaking of leather, it"s beautifully hard-wearing with lots of natural grain, none of that seemingly over-processed soft stuff that becomes sticky with time.

Under the bonnet is BMW"s inhouse 1.5L, turbocharged 3-cylinder powerplant with a lightweight aluminium turbine housing, a world first. For a small engine, it"s quite loud, making a pleasant thrum at low revs while creating an exhaust note like a toddler blowing the sweetest of raspberries. Floor the accelerator and the cabin is permeated with an increasingly high-pitched squeal, matched only by the delight of the driver.

The 3-pot makes 100kw from 4,400-6,000rpm and its full 220Nm in a fat band from 1,250-4,300rpm, taking the F55 hatch from 0-100km/hr in 8.1 seconds. So the MINI is a little like a half-trained working dog: earnest, not particularly fast, but a couple of notches quicker than "slow as molasses". Adding to that, the engine has a tendency to lag when pushing off from a standing stop. Those default 15-inch alloy wheels have narrow tyres and can struggle for grip, especially with the original Hankooks, and a heavy right foot at the traffic lights just burns rubber.

Shift quality is generally good and downshifts are really quick. The transmission has an uncanny ability of being in the right gear all the time, with rapid access to the engine"s power band. Needing a quick lane change? No problem. Twitch-steer, jab the pedal with a confident foot. The revs jump almost instantly, and you"re done. For more control, I thump it into Manual/Sport mode, which improves fuel consumption by about 10%. But I"d be kidding myself if I chose to fumble with a stick shift for imagined or miniscule differences in driveability.

Part of the fun of driving a MINI is in its precise handling and predictable performance. A well-weighted steering wheel points the car accurately within a centimetre of where you need to be, while the engine delivers in a remarkably linear fashion. Not to mention that tremendous chassis with a low centre of gravity which just tempts the driver to carve out the asphalt everywhere. It has gotten me out of (and into) numerous tight spots in moving traffic without much trouble, save for a prolonged toot (plus a flip of the bird at me, for good measure) from the very odd ill-tempered people who flog their gutless rides and drive like it"s got no brake pedal, tailgating every driver on the road.

With an additional two doors, the larger MINI Hatch is more grownup, and now about as practical as most compact hatchbacks. That sounds like a mixed opinion because it is. However, it"s marvellous to finally get two small-sized adults in the back without some acrobatics on their part. As expected, legroom in the rear seats is compromised in such a small car especially if the front passengers are taller or of size. There is also the risk of bumping one"s head on the door frame on entry.

The engine proved quite frugal (although preferring a minimum of premium 95 petrol) under most circumstances, and a full tank would last well over 550km even with some spirited driving. In daily suburban trips with its associated school zones and traffic jams, it averaged between 6.5-7L/100km. On a good day, 5.9L/100km. A bad one? 7.8L/100km. I have managed a low 4.9L/100km on a day trip of combined suburban and country driving and have seen a high of 10.8L/100km on an evening in horrible inner city Melburnian traffic.

Over a 66-month period, dealership servicing totalled $3,561. This included general servicing, replacing the brakes and related equipment (twice for the rear and once for the front), and replacing a dead battery. This does not include a full set of new tyres installed by a third party. That"s pricey, considering I had optioned in a service pack ($850) at the time of purchase. On the flipside, the car had zero cosmetic or mechanical faults and proved reliable.

Second-hand vehicles of the same age and similar mileage are currently listed between $20,000-22,000, which means purchasers of a brand-new MINI hatch expect to lose about half its value within 5 years. In my opinion, this makes them good value for money if you buy them used, especially for a car that scores this high on Fun, while having serious points in Style.

Bigger? An unreserved "Yes". Better? Well, that just got a whole lot more complicated. Today, I"m a little more senior (read: older) and a fair bit greyer on me noggin. But the memory of Little Angel Wings lives on in my heart. The spirit of a MINI goes fast and always has a blast. Now that, my friends, never gets old.

Note that this second technique will cause all files within a given application to be compiled in debug mode. The first technique will cause only that particular file to be compiled in debug mode.

Note that this second technique will cause all files within a given application to be compiled in debug mode. The first technique will cause only that particular file to be compiled in debug mode.

Compare MINI Cooper Convertible MINI Countryman on basis of price, offers, detailed tech specs & other features. The price of MINI Cooper Convertible S and MINI Countryman Cooper S JCW Inspired is ₹ 51.82 Lakh and ₹ 46.00 Lakh respectively. The claimed mileage for MINI Cooper Convertible S is 16.3 kmpl. The claimed mileage for MINI Countryman Cooper S JCW Inspired is 14.3 kmpl. In technical specifications, MINI Cooper Convertible S is powered by 1998 cc, 4 Cylinders Inline, 4 Valves/Cylinder, DOHC engine. MINI Countryman Cooper S JCW Inspired is powered by 1998 cc, 4 Cylinders Inline, 4 Valves/Cylinder, DOHC engine.

Apparently, when a Mini resides in the country, it gets fat. The new 2011 Mini Cooper S Countryman looks positively portly, a puffed-up version of the little car that so many people know and love. But in its Countryman guise, the Mini Cooper S gains all-wheel drive, a higher seating position for the driver, and a little extra ground clearance.

Although larger and weighing approximately 500 pounds more than the standard Cooper S, the Countryman uses the same engine as its smaller sibling, leading to a reduction in performance. Similarly, its fuel economy is not quite as good. And in a major design flaw, what is intended to be an innovative rail system down the center of the cabin, convenient for attaching cup holders and other accessories, divides the rear seats, making the car strictly a four-seater.

Mini manages to keep the Countryman surprisingly nimble despite its greater size. The Mini Cooper has enjoyed a reputation for go-kart handling, and the Countryman doesn"t lose much cornering ability. That excellent handling is partly due to the new all-wheel-drive system.

By default, Mini"s All4 all-wheel-drive system splits torque equally between front and rear wheels, but can shift 100 percent to the front or rear as needed. Taking the car through tight turns on a mountain road, it performed very well, a solid connection between steering wheel and front wheels leading to precise turn-in. The electric power steering unit does not interfere significantly with road feel.

Because of the Countryman"s different physical characteristics from the standard Cooper, it is less forgiving in the corners. At times, too much speed into a corner or the wrong amount of initial turn-in led to awkward handling, as the car"s many electronic road-holding systems took over to preserve balance.

As a Cooper S Countryman, this car came with a turbocharged, direct-injection 1.6-liter four-cylinder, an efficient little engine using BMW"s (Mini"s owner) latest power-train tech to churn out 181 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque. The Countryman can also be had as the standard Cooper, with a non-turbocharged engine, which would not be nearly as fun.

The engine for the Cooper S Countryman not only gets BMW"s Valvetronic technology, which uses valve lift to control acceleration, but also a twin-scroll turbocharger. This turbo tech minimizes lag by separating cylinder exhaust streams, keeping the turbo spinning at constant speed.

CNET"s car came equipped with a six-speed manual transmission, the choice for anyone who really enjoys driving. With that transmission, the Cooper S Countryman is rated at 25 mpg city and 31 mpg highway. It loses 1 mpg city when equipped with the optional six-speed automatic. Over a week of city, freeway, and mountain driving the Cooper S Countryman turned in a respectable 28.5 mpg.

Lacking controls for locking the center differential, the Countryman isn"t designed for serious off-roading, a point made even clearer by the low hang of the front air dam below the bumper. But Mini"s style sense is undeterred, expressing the car"s supposed ruggedness with a big brake lever between the seats that looks like it could be used to shut down a nuclear reactor.

Mini sets the ports for iPod integration at the front of the center rail, with a cable trailing back to the inconveniently placed cell phone holder. But most people will find it easier to drop an iPod into one of the cup holders in front of the rail.

With the Mini Connected option and an iPhone, drivers can also listen to Pandora and a set of Web radio channels. Along with music, Mini Connected adds apps that bring Facebook and Twitter feeds into the car, and integrates Google Local Search when the navigation option is present. Currently, Mini Connected only works with an iPhone.

The Countryman sent to CNET was not equipped with Mini Connected or the available navigation system, both of which would inset an LCD into the speedometer faceplate. In previous experience with Mini"s navigation system, its DVD-stored maps make it a bit clunky, but it does include traffic information. Mini has updated its navigation system for the 2011 model year, moving to a flash-based navigation system, which should operate more smoothly than the former DVD system.

CNET"s Mini did come with the optional Harman Kardon audio system, which includes 10 speakers and an upgraded amp. The sound quality from this system is not bad, but it lacks a strong bass punch. Midranges come through muddily, which makes vocals sound uninspired.

Mini changed up its cabin tech interface for the Countryman, putting a small module with two knobs and plastic buttons at the bottom of the speedometer, below the wide, two-line radio display. These knobs follow the standard radio paradigm, with volume on the left and tuning on the right. The right-hand knob also works for selecting items from a list, such as phone numbers or music from a connected iPod.

Mini makes the most of the radio display, a limited space for showing iPod music libraries and phone contact lists. Although you can see only two items at a time from a list, scrolling through a list is quick. Buttons across the bottom of the display access different menus and options.

The Countryman"s Bluetooth phone system, another option, offers useful features, such as making a paired phone"s contact list available on the radio display. A voice command system also gives control over the phone system, and allows dialing by name.

Even as it upscales its models, Mini maintains its style and excellent handling character with the new 2011 Cooper S Countryman. As is typical for Minis, the Countryman shows off cool retro styling and can be configured with attractive colors and details, such as stripes and patterned mirror covers. Although the aesthetics hold up with this larger Mini, the cabin suffers from some bad ergonomic design, mostly where the armrest conflicts with the brake lever and cell phone mount.

Performance tech is the Countryman"s high point, benefiting as it does from BMW engine innovations. It uses an advanced electric power-steering unit with a sport mode, set using the Sport button. The suspension may not employ high-tech features, but it is well engineered, contributing to the Countryman"s handling. The all-wheel-drive system is icing on the cake.

The available navigation system for the Countryman is saved from mediocrity by its integrated traffic data. Phone and audio systems are good, but don"t reach for technical nirvana. The real high point in the cabin is the available Mini Connected app integration, but that feature is limited to iPhones.Tech specs