I found this item yesterday on the driver's side floorboard. It's made of plastic and has a MINI logo etched into the round part. The black string is made of elastic. It was just laying there on the floor mat when I got in the car.

Any ideas?

 

if ia m not wrong, its a spare key for the pocket?

 

It's made of plastic and must have fallen from somewhere in the car. I didn't get into the glove compartment before I found it.

 

Hmmm... looks like the valet key for an r50-r53 I have one of those (in black) that I keep in my wallet. Don't know how useful it is for the r56 will find out when Mrs.Zoom's arrives in the next couple of weeks.

 

valet key

 

first of all...nice car!
lol...i just think its funny how u found such a random object in your car.
keep that thing! it looks like it would make a nice necklace.

 

Try it in your door lock and see if it works.

 

I tried it, it doesn't fit in the ignition. Odd thing. It looks like it fell out from under the dash or something.

 

I just tried it in the door, no joy.

 

I dont know what it is but I also have one, it lives in my glove box. It looks like it has an rfid tag in the circle but doesnt seem to do anything to my car.

 

Its a key to to a secret mini treasure box.

 

I believe that that is the rarely seen "MINI" air freshener.. it makes your car smell faster

 

It was left there by a thief because it wouldn't start your car...

 

maybe its for a smaller minier mini

 

my 03mcs had that it was a spare key but ill b sure to ask the dealer about it when i pick up my r56 in two weeks

 

That's nuts. It is the identical shape of the r50/53 valet key only in white. So, you r56 folk don't get such a key?

Why in the world would that be in your car??

 

Put that thingy/key in the glove box.
Next time you visit the dealer, ask.

One Mini Dude I know thought it be some factory skeleton key used during the production phase. That's as good a guess as any.

 

It is a valet key...looks almost identical to my M Roadster valet key I keep in my wallet. Has yours been cut? Cant tell from the pics....

 

I can understand how a plastic 'Valet Key' might be able to open the door, but you would still need a 'Fob' to start the car.

I have always avoided hotels and resturants that require 'Valet' parking.

 

No cuts in the thing and it doesn't do anything. Doesn't work in the ignition or open the door.

 

R56's don't have key-ignitions, so it would be useless as a valet key... I am inclined to agree with the theory that it was used in production, possibly.

 

Those photos are the perfect example of when quality trumps quantity. As to why you found that "key" laying on your floormat, I don't know. I'm willing to bet the code on it is used to log into the car's ECU for the programming of new keys into the immobilizer. Just a hunch..

 

But do the 08 MCS come with a valet key for the door?

 

Unfortunately no.The only key for the exterior door lock is located inside of the key fob.