I am looking to possibly, finally, retiring my old Gen 1 MINI, and I am looking at a used 2016 F56. I did a decode of its VIN, and got a list of its options. While I recognize most of them, there are a few I am not sure about. I am hopeful that someone here could give me a quick, but complete, description of them.

• MINI Driving Modes
• MINI Excitement Package (I need an option for this?)
• MINI Connected
• MINI Connected XL
• Light Package
• Wired

 

Have you gone to the configurator on MINI USA and built a car w/ those options to see what they actually are? I'd recommend trying that which I believe will answer most of your questions, and then if you have a specific about one of them, post it here for some clarification.

 

They changed the packages and/or descriptions of them because I tried doing the same thing after I bought my 16.

 

Drive modes are the three choice, Eco, Mid and Sport w/ a ring around the floor shifter or found on the dashboard in newer models

Excitement package is the lighting in the mini that you can set to the color you want or have it cycle through the different color

Mini Connected:
https://www.autotrader.com/car-tech/...nnected-210715

Mini Connected XL:
Description. MINI Connected XL is the smart enhancement of MINI Connected with a series of standalone apps. These connect momentary, context-based, vehicle information with the outside world. ... In addition, events like phone calls and other route information can be planned in advance of the journey.

Wired - Wired Package: Center armrest, Navigation system, enhanced Bluetooth, Visual Boost XL, real-time traffic info

This is what I could find on the Internet. Some may or not be completely accurate, but should be close.

 

Excellent info thanks!

 

That is one thing I am still unclear about. I have the ring-around-the-floor-shifter switch, but the owner's manual shows it as being the lever switch up on the dash (center stack). Was there some other kind of Driving Modes option to have gotten it up on the dash?

PS: I have since bought this MINI, but these types of questions remain. Another is that it has the Satellite Grey Int Color and Satellite Grey Color Line, but still has Carbon Black seats?

 

In 2015, when I bought my first, the MCS has a ring around the shift lever (automatic in my case), which you activated to select Eco (green), Mid and Sport. The ring had a protrusion that you would press with your thumb and it would cause the ring to move (selecting the mode) Sometime thereafter Mini changed the mode selector, eliminating it on some models (I think the 3 cylinder model doesn't get it now) and they also moved it from the shift lever to the dash board as a switch . I'm not sure when this change took place or whether the dropping of the modes from the base and the movement of the selector to the dash was done at the same time or if it was split between years. I think the 2016 still came with the ring that you'd activate. If you have it around the shift lever, you won't have it on the dash

Back in the day 2015, you could order any combo of colors you wanted on door panels, seats, color line (dash piece). While a nice options, many people would order combos that could make the car unsellable later. So Mini now limits the "clash". I do believe your car fits the "non-clash" category as a grey headliner and color line doesn't clash with the black seats. My 2015 had black sport seats and an anthracite headliner (which I selected). My 2019 has Satellite gray headliner, Gray color line and Satellite gray leather seating Which I selected as a part of the Iconic trim I chose.

In 2016, I do believe a person could pick any combo of colors for their interior, so yours was chosen because the person liked that look. IN my 2015, I chose "black everything" so all would match.

Hope this makes sense.

A side note, my 2015 came stock with the "festival lighting"..where you select the color you want on the center ring and interior or have it cycle between colors. Mini made that a $250 option in later years, and now is available based on the trim you select now.

 

Thank you for the clarification

 

The Driving Modes (Sport, Mid, Green) were originally standard on all cars when the F series was launched. They were controlled by a collar around the shifter. MINI changed the formula, and for a while, Driving Modes were standard on the S and JCW and optional on the non-S. Then they changed again and made them optional on the S and non-S in some markets. The switch was moved from the collar around the shifter to a toggle on the dash in 2017, if I remember correctly. Around the same time, they also made the Excitement Package (multi colored interior LEDs) optional.

Other things have changed iver the years too. In 2016, the cruise control buttons were reconfigured, with different button placement and the secret compartment above the glove box was eliminated. Also in 2016, the window switches became lighted.

 

The collar location was a bit too practical and easy to reach, so bean counters got in the mix and moved it to a switch. Another reason to keep my 2014.

 

I think your best bet would be to look for product literature from that model year. I'd search something like "MINI Cooper model year 2016 product guide". You could try the Internet way back machine - look up the mini website from 2016 at archive.org.

 

My problem is, that even for the 2019 (the current model year for their website), it doesn't always give a full break down of what's included.

However, since I asked this question, I have bought this MINI. So, I learned what it has, and what it doesn't have, though I am still unsure about the "why?".

 

Often times car manufacturers and Mini in particular, make changes to save money (usually the main reason) or prevent buyers from configuring one with color combinations that would make reselling the car virtually impossible (Mini did this because they offered complete color choices up to the buyer). I'm sure many looked like "Clown cars" or something Walt Disney threw-up on.

I too am at a loss when I see some changes being made that actually made operation more complicated that it needed to be. Other times I find changes to be clever and well thought out.

Unless you can look into an engineer's head, some changes will always remain an mystery.

As one example. 2019 Mini has comfort access - can walk up to the car, grab the handle, press the little black button and the door opens. To lock, close door, press button and it locks; (no sound other than the locking mechanism activating) Car cost $36K

M240i BMW - comfort access - to open door, I just touch the handle and it senses my hand and open the door (no button), to lock the car, I have to take out the FOB and press the lock button. (I get a little computer beep to let me know it locked) Car Cost $52K

Both are BMW products - Why? - The world wonders................................

 

I was skeptical on the comfort access when the dealer was going through features. I honestly wouldn't have configured it into a factory built car. The car that I ended up buying came with comfort access and I have to say, I was wrong. It's a really nice feature. I never realized how nice it is to never have to grab your keys.

I also HATE when cars honk their horns after they lock. Horns are supposed to be for warnings, not reminders!

 

I don’t have comfort access now on my F56, but I did on my R56. My wife hated pressing the little black button, so if I didn’t immediately pull out the key fob to open her door whenever we drove together, I was in serious trouble. I don’t miss comfort access.

 

... How hard is it to press that tiny button? Maybe that's why the BMW M2 has their version which doesn't require the little button?

 

Yes, well, one man's ceiling is another man's floor...

Here's a screen shot of my next MINI, being built this week in Oxford, if they're not in the streets protesting Brexit. The Sales Manager at my dealer had to plead with MINIUSA to get this color combo approved.

The doors are open in this rendering because, evidently, all the clowns have run off...