Just bought a used Mini from a dealer here in Philly. Its a 2010 manual, harmon kardon audio, sunroof. I'm loving it. And its a huge change from my last beast.. my '92 Toyota Land Cruiser. I miss my cruiser and the cruiser community over at IH8MUD, but just loving the driveability and the luxury of the Mini. (Luxuries to me are things like power windows that actually work, A/C that works, power steering, good MPG, etc). I'm 6'7" and I have more space in my mini than I did in my Cruiser!

I'm on here to keep my mini in top working condition, stay in the know with latest mini happenings and to post newbie questions about things.

Some questions

iPod Connection Next/Prev Control Has anyone figured out a way to get the next and prev buttons on radio/steering wheel to work with their iPods? I don't care about the song showing up on the radio, just want to be able to hit next on the go. I have my iPhone all hooked up via the AUX cable no problem. My mini did NOT come with a USB jack, only AUX. I figure there would be some aftermarket box I could hook up that would allow it. Not so experienced with these new cars.

Armrests What are your perspectives on arm rests? I really would like to have one but the OEM ones are like $300 and I hear you have to put them up everytime to engage the parking brake. Are they worth it? Aftermarket any good? The OEM ones do look slick..

And... photos

 

Welcome! Sorry don't have answers to your questions, but just welcoming another fellow Philly mini!

 

Welcome! I love the Pepper White with black top!

 

Welcome to NAM and congrats on your new MINI. I'm enjoying the pic of you with your 6'7" stature dwarfing that new MINI.

I have a manual with the armrest and never once did I have to put it up to engage the parking brake. Since it's a manual, that's every time the car is off and not moving.

 

Welcome!

 

I second this, I have a manual and have never had to move the armrest. I think you were told faulty information on that one.

Welcome, S or justa?

 

Welcome fellow tall guy (6'-6" here). I have more legroom now than I did in my F-150 so I understand...people wont believe you until they get in your driving position and cant reach the pedals.

You have a few options. http://www.newministuff.com/new/shop...roducts&cat=36
This company/guy in the UK has decent stuff that will usually just hook right into the stock system and function as stock but uses different equipment, from Parrot. It is not cheap, but you will get Bluetooth with the setup too. Until you retrofit some sort of bluetooth/usb setup those two buttons on the left will do nothing and the left and right track buttons will do nothing for you device when plugged into the AUX port.

Armrests, I have had both. The one in my current car is the OEM one and it is decent, but the top slides back. My first MINI had the euro armest and it flips up and is way way easier to install. Again, neither is really cheap though.

Good questions and keep them coming. Do some reading and you will be amazed what can be done to these cars.

 

I received my armrest from ECS this morning. Took about 10 minutes to install and can't believe what it difference it makes in my driving position.
http://www.ecstuning.com/Mini-2006-C...rest/ES253376/


Plus I think the car is a little quicker through the turns.

 

Thanks for the replies, everyone!

 

Maybe I'll live with hitting next on the iPod for now. Thanks for the info here!

For armrests, I'm thinking the OEM one is the way to go. Sometimes the aftermarket stuff won't aesthetically match. Just gotta find a good deal.

]rphox2003, is that one you found technically stock and resold by ECS?

 

Sorry, but I'm not sure what you mean. I do know that ECS ordered it from someplace else, obviously.

My Cooper (2 previous owners) did not have an original center armrest. Plus the armrests on the doors were this horrible blue fabric and the passenger-side was broken, so I replaced them with black vinyl armrests ordered from a Mini dealer. The armrest from ECS has the Mini logo on the front-facing button that releases the top cover for the storage compartment, so it might be "stock". The top is covered with leather, I think.

I also replaced the floormats with original Mini ones.

I know it's not much, but where I live, real "mods" are outrageously expensive. The ECS armrest was $200. The only place near me that had one wanted $1150 without installation!!!

IMHO, everything matches nicely. It's the little touches that can sometimes make a big difference.

 

The armrest that was installed from the person who bought it from ECS is also an OEM one. Maybe I wasn't clear enoguht. The one I was referring to as OEM has the slide top and two large tubes to connect it back to the rear of the center console. The Euro one does the same thing effectively but the legs are metal and the go under the seat rail I believe, using the stock seat bolts; still sold by MINI and this it is factory too.

Sorry if that wan't clear. I vote you look at and try the Euro armrest as it is way easier to install.

 

Yes, the Euro armrest is very easy to install. Just loosen the front bolts on both the inside seat rails and then completely remove the rear bolts. Slide the metal legs of the armrest under the rear of the seat rails, replace the rear bolts, and tighten the front bolts. Ten minutes tops.

 

Good to see you on here Mini Crusher, I think you know who this is. No idea you got one as well. I was totally thinking about getting an FJ and when I test drove one of these fine ladies I couldn't help myself. Good to see you on here.

 

Sup Sheef. Can't wait to come upstate sometime to drive around with our minis. It's so funny we were both lookin at FJ's before too. Pretty glad we went with the Mini's. See you on the road!

 

I prefer the Euro style too. Up until now, didn't know there were different versions that came from mini. I found one on this site.
http://www.outmotoring.com/fliptop-a...-for-gen2.html

Gonna start saving up..

 

Hi and welcome! Also in the Philly area here

 

Check the link in my earlier post. ECS is cheaper. I have a Gen 1, R50 and had no problem installing.