Just bought a used 2006 Mini Cooper S. The guy I bought it from took great care of it to the point that the car looks brand new and it only has 11,500 miles on it.

Anyhow, the car comes with the standard steering wheel (no audio controls), no Auto pilot nor AUX jack or the on-board computer. I was wondering how hard it would be to add those things to it and what the best options are if any of them can be done. I'm mostly interested in the steering wheel with the audio controls and the AUX jack.

On another note, the car came with the big fog lights (if that's what they're called!) in the very front of the hood but I have no idea how to get them to come on. There's a button close to the hand brake that I pushed but it doesn't seem to do anything. I also tried a little silver switch that's next to the power window controls but that one turns another pair of smaller fog lights on. Any ideas?

Thanks for all your help!

 

Welcome!!

I also have a 2006 S, bought a few weeks ago. I have 58,000 miles on it and thought that was great...11,500 miles is hard to imagine....sounds like a great deal.

Those larger lights in front of the hood are the same lights that I had on my 2009 S. If I remember correctly the switch for those lights is not on the main toggle switches in the center console but on the dash, left side of the steering wheel.

I can't help you on the steering wheel questions....but there will be someone that can. This forum is a great source of information.

When do we get to see some pics of your 2006 S ?

 

I think the steering wheel may be more of a hassle then it's worth unless you're good with electrical.

 

1. Did it come with an owner's manual? (I was gonna send a link to one but MINIMANIA'S links to this appear to be dead . . . )

2. The 'multi function steering wheel' can be retro fitted but the process is involved. You can search here for threads from folks who've done it

3. I'm not sure what "auto pilot" is on a car .... boat or airplane I got it, but car? You mean cruise control? Adding cruise control to today's computer driven cars can be a challenge. You need to research this outside of MINIdom. My daughter has a 'base' SOUL and adding CC is nearly impossible.

4. The fog lights are mounted low in the bumper, and the switch for them is the toggle down near the window controls (back to that owner's manual thing)

5. The lights higher up and hanging from the bonnet are 'driving lights'. There should be a button to the left of the steering wheel, near your knee. When you press it, the button should light up or an LED on it lights. This means the DLs are 'active'. Factory driving lights will only come on when your high beams are on, and only then when 'activated'. Try turning your brights on THEN hitting the button by your knee; they should come on. When you turn off the ignition the DLs should return to an 'inactive' state (IF they were installed by MINI and/or wired correctly) {btw .. 95% of the driving lights I see have NEVER been aimed properly, so be VERY careful using them with approaching traffic}

6. AUX input is an easy add and available from multiple sources
http://www.outmotoring.com/mini-coop...p3_hookup.html

but you might want to compare this to the full iPOD interface

 

Thanks everyone for all the input... Great information and very much appreciated. I will post some pictures of my mini soon. 😄