Could someone post a pic of their new '13 with bench seats and the flat load floor? Someone on another board said the design changed...

 

What a whirlwind of confusion. When NAM can't figure it out, we certainly have no hope at the dealership level.

I fear Calsonic is correct in the summation.

My MA told me the flat panel came over the recessed boot space on bench models, and that the flat load was a module that fit to be flush with the back seats folded down.

The emerging trend among bench R60 drivers who picked up recent cars this month appears to be that there is no cover for the floor at all.

I'll definitely report what I experience, though that's two weeks out...

 

If your 2013CM has bench seats AND the optional $250.00 flat load floor was installed at the factory this may help. It is part number 51 47 9 811 135, and Your boot will now be exactly like the twin bucket seat boot flat load floor. IE .. two flat floors, one which can fold forward for lowered seat back protection.
The red "P" and all other non essential electrics ( am/f m radio etc.) will auto shut off at exactly 18 minutes. A factory spec.

 

I have a 2013 Countryman S, it's got the new lettering on the back. bench seats and paid $250 for the flat load floor option.

was surprised it had the lettering on it when i picked it up, but wasn't worth worrying about. if it didn't have the flat load floor that would have been a different story.

 

This diagram will help clear any confusion: http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...51&fg=65&hl=40

For bucket seats: Part #9 (the panel that covers the recessed hole in the boot) is standard/free. The $250 flat load floor option = part #10 (a second panel that serves to block the space between the two bucket seats). The lingering question in this thread is whether part #10 is still available for bucket seats R60s henceforth.

For bench seats: The $250 flat load floor option = part #9 (Yes, MINI has used the same description for two completely different parts!). If you do not order the $250 flat load floor, you do not get anything to cover the recessed hole. With the bench, you get the center seat, so there is really no use for part #10 (therefore, this part is not even offered for bench seat R60s).

 

sorry - i dont know how I spaced on that post, but i have bench seats, not bucket seats!! oops. updated my original post.

 

Calling it a flat fold floor is what messed me up. I though that was only with the bucket seats, so I didn't order it for my bench seats.

 

I believe you are right and wrong at the same time. Here is my 2 cents from my experience and research as I was confused after I received my Countryman as well. Btw, I have a 2012 Countryman S with Flat Load Floor Option. I'll try to explain it the best I can so bare with me.

FOR BUCKET SEATS: Part #9 does come standard/free. Part #9 is the part that can be used to block the space between the two bucket seats when up. When the seats are laid flat, the same board is used to lay flat across the seats to still cover the gap between the seats. However, in both positions, the recessed whole is then uncovered. You could cover it with the standard floor, however you will then you have the gap between the seats. So MINI offered the "flat load floor" $250 option (part #10). The reason is so the when you lay the seats flat, the standard floor goes over the seats to cover the gap and the "flat load floor" covers the recessed area, therefore making a complete flat floor from the rear seats to the boot. And when the rear seats are up, you can cover the gap between the bucket seats with the standard floor and the recessed whole with the "flat load floor" option.

*I hope I haven't lost anybody yet.

FOR BENCH SEATS: Part #9 DOES NOT come standard and I'll explain soon. For 2012, when the bench seat option was chosen/configured, MINI would automatically add the $250 "flat load floor" option (part #10). What I was told MINI's reason for deletion of the standard floor was because with the seats down or up, there would be no gap between the seats therefore no reason for the standard floor (part #9). But then you ask, "what about the recessed whole?" Well, that's where the automatic addition of the "flat load floor" option (part #10) comes in. The "flat load floor" option then would cover up the recessed whole with the seats up or down. Now, I think customers were complaining that they had to automatically pay for the $250 "flat load floor" option with no option to choose it or not and therefore MINI stopped automatically adding it to orders for 2013. However, if you ordered the "flat load floor" option, you should have gotten part #10. I don't see why MINI would take it out of the order or stop offering it as an option. For 2012 owners with the bench seat option, you will notice on your sticker that the "flat load floor" option is on there along with the $250 price tag. In other words, customers would be paying an additional $500 for the rear bench seat option and another $250 for the flat load floor option in which 2012 customers had no say in. Which I can understand why customers would complain. For 2013, it will only show on your sticker if you chose the option. So in short, the rear bench seat either came with one floor with the "flat load floor" option or no floor at all.

Where I think the miscommunication came from between MINI and its customers is explaining thoroughly the "flat load floor" option. I think that since for 2013 they stopped adding automatically adding and charging the "flat load floor" option, customers wouldn't choose it because they believed the standard floor option still came with the rear bench seats but that is not the case. Again, I can only speak for 2012 Countrymans, since that is what I have and can only speculate about the 2013. Also, as mentioned before by another member, getting the "flat load floor" factory option is very expensive to retrofit as it requires more than just the "flat load floor" board (part #10). Now I don't see why one couldn't buy part#9 to cover the recessed whole if you have the bench seat with no "flat load floor" option since the standard floor was suppose to be standard on all Countrymans there should be 2 inserts on where the board attaches no matter what option you have. I'll be more than happy to post pictures of what I'm talking about if anyone would like. My countryman still has the inserts, but mine didn't come with the standard floor since I have the "flat load floor" option with the bench seat. But I could easily get the standard floor and put it on if I wanted to, yet again there is no reason to. Oh and the standard floor (part #9) is bigger than the "flat load floor" option (part #10). I know this is a lot of information and am sorry if I confused you at all as my intent was to clear things up. Please let me know if you need more clarification.

Whew!!!!
Happy Motoring!

 

Just amazed MINI managed to make the damned FLF so confusing. I was forced to buy mine for my 2012 bench seat car and it's been in the garage collecting dust for the better part of the last year.
Read the posts about people insisting on the darn thing or cancelling order based on engineering change and it made me laugh. Just wondering how much value people think the FLF brings. If it had been a free option i would ave been OK with it. Being forced to spend $250 for it to get bench seat after the order was placed was not great and I would have not ordered it if I had the choice.

 

I transport a lot of boxes for my business and the FLF would have helped as the boxes sit awkwardly and don't stack properly when the floor is not flat. So far I'm managing but I plan on building something to fill the hole in the trunk to make it flat.

 

bmrguy03 - My bench r60 was ordered with flat load floor option, and it definitely came with part 9, not part 10 as you suggest. The panel on my car fits into those two small notches you describe. The panel also has the two circular indentations, as well as the crescent-shaped notch in the center, as shown in the diagram for part 9.

I think MINI really screwed up this whole thing!!

Since some people have claimed that new R60s no longer can get part 10, that might explain why your 2012 flat load option is part 10 and my 2013 flat load option is now part 9?!?

 

Big wanted the flat load floor so I could put emergency gear under it and not have a rubbermaid box in the back and so it would be more comforatble for dogs.

All the CM's the dealer has gotten in last week or so look like this even though they had flat load floor option ordered.

 

Can anyone who's taken delivery recently verify this?

 

I believe you may be right on that sense for the 2013. All in all, it's all very confusing and a shame. MINI should have just stuck with one design so customers wouldn't be confused or expecting for their Countrymans to come with something that they no longer offer.

Happy Motoring!

 

why not sell it? Seems to be a hot commodity...

 

The FLF on its own is worthless unless it comes with all the trim to slide into. Sale would have to include swap of trim from my car to buyer's and vice versa.
Wiling to sell it and have the trim swapped if anyone is totally dying for FLF in Bay Area or Reno or anywhere in between.

 

This is *exactly* what mine looks like and I (regrettably) didn't order the flat load floor.

If I could just get a part #10 to cover the hole to hide the emergency stuff I would be thrilled, but there are no holes to hook it into.

Our dogs are smaller and ride in the back seat. Last week, hubby and I saw a German Shepherd crammed into the boot of a Smart car! It could barley move. Poor thing.

 

Here's a pic of my non-FLF boot. Looks like the one MIminiclubman posted that was supposed to come with the FLF.

 

I'm willing to buy and swap the FLF the next time I'm in the Bay Area. Probably won't be til next snow season when I head to Tahoe or Mammoth for boarding.

Unless someone in SoCal is willing to sell & swap their FLF... Anyone?

 

bmrguy03 - Could you post pictures of your boot and the different floors? I am confused. You can see a picture of my '13 non-FLF above.

Thanks!

 

Here you go. With FLF, w/FLF halfway opened, w/o FLF

 

oh, man. I am really disappointed I didn't order the floor.

I am sure to try to retro fit it would be too expensive. :(

 

so too be clear the flat floor piece for bench seats from 2012 does not fit in 2013. So what do you do with this awkward shaped hole. The flat load floor is great to hide things in close and have a clean boot. makes no sense to change boot design.

 

I'm building something...

 

OK, so, we are saying that with the revised '13 design(with the COUNTRYMAN lettering), If you ordered the bench seat, and IF you ordered the $250 FLF, you will get the FLF shown in the picture, correct?