Talk Morgan Forums Community Vehicle Talk (non-Morgan) Technology gone mad :-)

In a move worthy of MMC itself, I had a phone call from my dealer yesterday telling me I couldn't collect my Mini Electric tomorrow as BMW has issued a "Delivery stop" on all electric vehicles. No reason given or timescale for resolution was given, but the Mini EV forums seem to think it's something to do with the app connection and SOS function.

But in the meantime, now that I have the VIN of my car, I was able to download the operator's manual, which is proving to be quite a source of entertainment, for example:

To help you evolve an efficient driving style, BMW offer a "Minimalism Analyser" which you can switch on if you want and displays on the centre 8.8" telly screen



Blimey.

Blimey indeed, If I drove it in that mode the poor goldfish would end up in the footwell

Trouble is, just about every manufacturer makes entirely decent and competent cars these days ... so they have to invent pointless 'lifestyle' add-ons and stuff like this in a vain attempt to catch the punter's interest.

I guess it's probably safer than gauging your driving by the mood changes of SWMBO in the other seat driven by the sloshing factor of her ninth G n T 🙂

K

Why distract the driver. I would turn that off but then I am a Luddite with stuff like that. I like a simple dashboard

I guess they have to cater for the lowest common denominator. Feel sorry for the fish though

Yes indeed, it has 'Gimmick' writ large. Fortunately there's a much more straightforward piece of information you can display, which is the Miles/KWh reading. And just like an ICE car with their MPG display you can choose between overall average, average this trip, or instant.

There is also the Power dial, which shows how much power you are using - or how much regen the car is producing. To do one-pedal driving as efficiently as possible, you just aim to keep the needle close to the 'neutral' position so you are neither using more power than you need or recuperating unnecessary additional kinetic energy. Just like hyoermiling an ICE car, you neither accelerate or brake more than is absolutely necessary. That is if you want to be efficient, of course.

To have fun you just stick it in sport mode and take no notice.

I can hear it already - Officer - and why were you swerving around in the road Sir, watching my goldfish Officer

Manufacturers seem to keep putting additional facilities in, that many don’t really need and so often don’t even realise they exist!
But, the one I would find useful is a windscreen rear view mirror that electrically changes position with different drivers, just like seat positions and external mirrors on many modern vehicles.
My wife always moans when I have driven her car and it takes her an age to reset it as she has to lean forward to reach, then sit back to view....
Anyone know of any cars with that facility?

I think the fishbowl idea is basically an insult to any form of intelligence, but worse, an incentive to take the driver's attention away from what is happening in the real world. I hope someone sues them.
Grump!

That's not really very well thought through is it.

1. Mini's are natural go-karts and you tend to end up driving them with a bit of vim.
2. With the additional torque and fun of leccy I suspect this will possibly be more common.
3. So the fish is going to have a rough life.

Why would they put in a feature that would detract from one of the main selling points of the car?

I guess the joke is that you end up bullying the fish and the trick is to see if you can do it faster than last time + where is that damn charger?

At least it is more fun than a typical red/green noddy gauge.