Hey all, I was wondering if anyone knew if I could add on the Parking Assistant feature after I receive my car as a dealer add on?

When I went to my MA when my car was still "scheduled for production" he told me that I didn't really need it because it was a small car. After I explained to him that it was for my Girlfriend, and not for me, he just told me to "you know, just smack her around a bit, she'll be fine without it".

 

Personally, I'd change my MA if he tried to tell me I didn't need something I asked for to keep from changing the order.

For your actual question, I'm not sure. If you're talking about the backup camera and parking sensors, I'm sure it's possible; probably just expensive. I've got a feeling the parallel parking assistant isn't available as a dealer addon. If so, it would be ridiculously expensive.

 

The parking assistance is for my wife and me useless.For such a small car you don't need one.Yes it was on the endless option list.

 

If you are worried about damage to the car at the rear - add the park sensor. A mini that parks itself is an embarrassment for the driver. It's a cinch to park.
That MA is an a---hole. He would lose his job in a second if management heard him say that.

 

Change your MA and also talk with the Manager that is BS

 

Adding Parking Assistant is not doubt physically possible, but I bet no dealer would be able to do it. I've not yet seen an F56 with it, but all other self-parking vehicles need front (and rear?) side-facing parking sensors to operate the system and even if you ordered front and rear parking sensors, the side-facing ones would not be included.

 

Whoa your MA told you to smack your girlfriend around? That's entirely messed up.

If you have the Rear Camera and PDC (back up sensors) you may be able to somehow activate the self-park feature. Contrary to what Angib just said, you won't need the front cameras for it, as park assist was an option on the 2014 models in the US and front camera was not, so clearly its not needed.
If you don't already have the Rear Cam/PDC as part of your order, its likely going to be very expensive/impossible to add the self-park option. You actually get different exterior plastic and hatch when getting those options, I think, unless they left strange cutouts for people without them?
I would warn that any adding of factory options after the fact ends up being a great deal more, if even possible, than ordering them originally. I think park assist was a $1000 option? Even if all that is needed is a software upgrade, the might charge more than $1000 to do. Like the SatRadio is built into all the cars, even if you didn't pick the $250 option for it, but to turn it on after the fact is $500+
You'll have to check in with your dealership, I'd hope after speaking to the manager and requesting a new MA, and see if / how the option can be turned on after.

 

Even if you had PDC and the rear view camera, I doubt they could add the parking assistant.

As far as I know...PDC on the Mini only includes rear sensors and not front sensors which are also needed...and there are other small sensors on the side of the bumper that only come with the park assist package as well.

Its probably (hopefully) cheaper to teach your GF how to park, than go through the trouble and cost of adding that package after the fact, if its too late to change your order.

 

Why does your GF thing she can't park the car? I'm sure she can... but...

I think as a compromise you could install the rear view camera which would greatly help if she does a lot of parallel parking. But it doesn't seem cheap. I plan to replace the rear hatch cover with a black one. I noticed there are two versions of the hatch cover, one with and one without the rear camera mount. So then I looked into getting the rear camera. Sewell sells it but it is like $350. Then it looks like there is a processor module. That was even more, I think around $500. I think this is what puts the lines on the image. I'm not sure if the wiring is installed as part of the standard wiring loom, if so that would certainly make things easier. Then after all the hardware is installed I think there is a software change to tell the car it has the rearview camera. Parts alone are going to cost probably $1000. Installation??? maybe a car stereo shop could install it, then you'd need the dealer to enable it. Probably a few hundred more there.

You can find these parts on Sewell.

http://mini.sewellparts.com/accessor...2014/6978.html

http://mini.sewellparts.com/oem-cata...-F56-2014.html

http://mini.sewellparts.com/oem-cata...-F56-2014.html


Honestly the car is pretty compact and I think it will be about the easiest to part car we've even owned. I'd give my GF a chance to drive is and see if she really needs it.

 

I have Visual Boost XL plus Nav, Park Assist Package, Fully-Loaded Package, plus others. You'd think I'd therefore have the back-up camera. NOPE!! Now, I have to wait for a retrofit kit for the back-up camera that I completely expected I'd ordered. I never thought it was even possible to have the Park Assist Package without the camera, but you can! I thought it was a $500 add-on TO the back-up camera! Those packages are tricky!!

I wrote to Sewell, and they advised me NOT to pursue this back-up camera retrofit at this time, because they haven't done one on the F56 yet, and it's too new, despite their listing the parts.

My MINI dealership told me there will be an official camera retrofit kit soon, but not for several months. I guess I'll have to make do without it for a while. Still, I'm totally bummed out that I don't have the back-up camera, of which I'm a huge fan, regardless of the car in question. Anyone who has had one before would feel the same. It's a must-have!

 

Thanks for mentioning this. Although I am fine without the back up camera, it would be a nice add on which would add to the value of the car years down the road, when they're all standard anyway.

I wonder how much it'll cost to purchase and tack on.

 

Attached is an option list that has been passed around the British Mini forums (OK, fora). It is actually from Denmark and so what is included in packages should be ignored as that tends to be country-specific, but the right hand column has lots of useful information about what option does what (for example, that the adaptive LED headlamps have a city mode "with more illumination to the sides, by activation of the dimmed LED cornering lights").

Everybody ought to get given a local country version when ordering a car, so that they know what is and isn't included in their car.

 

As a point of reference, I added an OEM rear camera to my R52 years ago. Parts were $800 (integrated camera in the hatch handle and video interface unit for the screen). I installed it myself and had to take apart the interior to add the wiring. Figure a full day of labor if done by the dealer. I think you should anticipate $2000 cost for retrofit.