I got a new used MCS this week and love it! I was in the market for an "economy car" since I have a 60 mile drive to work one way every day. I was coming out of a 98 Suby Outback which I loved but was killing me with the mileage. I was apprehencive about the MINI because 1) I am over 6' tall and 280 and 2) there are no dealers close by. As if by fate my MINI showed up on the Suby dealer lot. Since I trust them as a dealer (how many dealers can you say that about!) and I found out the the MINI is a cavern inside I bought it. I love the performance, but that hurts my economy a little .

I do have a few questions however. First, and this is a dumb one, where is the battery located on my car? I know on the MC it is under the bonnet but I am not sure where mine is. Second, Part of the deal for me to buy the car was that the dealer was going to get me another key since the car came with only one remote function key. They have since said that they can only get me a "master key" without the remote. I think they are telling an untruth and want to know what to tell them needs to be done to get the remote key. My last question concerns aftermarket gauges. I was kind of amazed at the lack of instruments in a sporty car like the MCS and wanted to add at least an oil pressure gauge. How difficult is this to do?

 

Congrats! Welcome to NAM!

The battery is in the boot, under the mat.

I think the dealer is pretty much the source of keys. You can try calling a good locksmith company (not just the key cutter at Home Depot)

Scangauge is a pretty neat solution for gauges (no oil pressure), search the forums. You'd have to tap in a pressurized oil place-check out the available kits from the vendors listed.

 

Welcome, britania!
I'd call a MINI dealer and ask them. I'm pretty sure they get the new keys from New Jersey - the Scooby dealer probably just wants to get a key cut. Thing is, you need the chip in the key for the engine to start - that's why you can't just get a new key cut. I think a new key runs close to $200(!)

An OPG is a bit of a pain. Some tap the oil canister cover. Others T into the the stock oil sender location. This thread should lead you in the right direction.

 

Hiya and Welcome Aboard - looks like your questions have been answered already so - Congrats on your MINI purchase..

Donna

 

Congrats on your new toy.
A few years back when my wife and I purchased a PT cruiser we needed an extra key with the chip inside. We had to buy it directly from the Chrysler dealer.

 

MoS quoted me a price of $35 for a new non-remote key; the remote version was somewhat more, but not $200 as some have speculated. But you definitely have to go to the dealer, who gets them cut and encoded from MINI HQ.