Please explain what and how to access the secret compartment above the glove box


thanks
MartyS
2016 F55

 

Mini discontinued it.

 

If you have it, you push on it.

Part numbers, BTW, ECS Tuning seems to have it in stock:
51459290340 Hidden Compartment.
Then you need a different trim piece on it:
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/show...diagId=51_9609
51459297776 Piano Black

 

No secret compartments from MY2016 :(

At least one person has successfully retrofitted it, but it involved some tearing apart of the dash.

 

I have it on my 2015 F56-S. I was driving a loaner 2016 4-door today while my cars in the shop for maintenance and realized it didn't have the secret compartment! Really odd they would do away with it.

Come to think of it thought... in the year I've had my car, I've never once used it. It's too small to even store a iPhone 6 in. Guess it's just made to hide your drug stash.

 

In a car with so little interior storage, you kind of have to take what you can get. I use it for my OBDII reader, charging cables and my insurance card.

 

fits my EZPass and works from there w/out taking it out or hanging it on the windshield.

 

My '08 and '12 had it and my '15 has it. I guess I'll have to keep my '15S a little longer.

 

Thanks for reminding me about the hidden compartment....my 2015 JCW has it & I just keep forgetting to use it....LOL! Glad I have it though, just like the driver's side visor! 2015's are GREAT!

 

I see all this crap about MINI s and especially the F's and if you like them, they just can't be beat. Today's highend sport cars are just too fast to really their qualities. MINIs hit the nail on the head on public roads and also have all these little idiosyncrasies that make them so unique.

 

I think I am going to add it, only thing is the checkered to match what I have now is $30 more than the Piano black, I doubt anyone would notice the difference or if it didn't match and only $45 more if it bothered me. It would be $125 I just wonder if it is worth it. I have been in a 2015 and thought it was cool but don't have my car now so not sure if it is worth it yet, thoughts? I am not about grinding parts down, anyone know how hard it is to remove that vent? The $200 upgrade to Piano black is a crock considering the parts cost $95 if purchased afterwards.

 

+1

 

Yes dropped in 2016. Use mine to hold extra pair of "Specs" (barely). My H&K USP won't fit.

 

But a P2000SK will.

Mike B.

 

So not worth $125?

 

I think it's well worth it. I use mine for all sorts of little parts, allen wrenches, and stuff that I might need and don't want to dig out of the took chest. Also use it to store the blanks from my bumpers when I mounted the front plate and the rear tow hook.

 

I ordered the parts last week from ECS last week and got them yesterday, and installed them last night. Took little over an hour, but if I had to do it again it would take 30 mins or so. The hardest part was getting that damn center cluster out at the top.

Parts were $179 for the compartment, piano black cover and the piano black piece behind speedo. Which is crazy because if you order the car with piano black it is $200 and no compartment, so that is some hefty markup on 2 plastic panels.

Instructions if anyone is interested, sorry no pictures but like I said not too hard, and I always forget to document things.
Tools needed: T15 screwdriver, Trim Pry tools, Towel or something soft to lay the cluster on, Screwdriver (I used flathead)

1. Pull the center channel grill off (trim pry tool)
2. Pull 2 pin clips from Center light ring thing
3. Pull the ring most of the way off, I could not figure how to get it all the way off, as stuck at top, but I pulled it far enough off to access the 2 T15 screws at the bottom.
4. Take out 2 T15 screws
5. **Tricky part** use screwdriver to push down the tab that hangs on for dear life under the center channel grill (center little hole under grill), pull the center cluster out at the top first until the tab gets past the hole, also 2 spring clips which pop easily on their own.
6. Shift cluster up a bit and pull it out of the hole and rest it on the towel or something soft, I didn't disconnect anything but I guess you could.
7. Take out single T15 screw that hold in vent.
8. Pop out vent there are little spring clips on other 3 sides (not one on screw side).
9. Pop plastic panel out 4 spring clips on back.
10. Pop Compartment in make sure it works before reassembly, stick new plastic panel on to check fit.
11. Put vent back in and screw.

Next 5 steps needed to switch out behind speedo.
12. Take vent out on driver side same way as passenger.
13. Take 2 T15 screw right below speedo.
14. Slide Speedo toward you and off bracket
15. Pop Panel off 4 spring clips.
16. Replace panel and reassemble speedo and vent.

17. Reassemble center cluster bottom in first and top second.
18. Put all screws and pins back.
19. Snap back on speaker grill.
20. 4 screws in panel on compartment and 2 screws for compartment.

I have not done the last step because I need the screws which I need to call the local mini parts dept or I can just wing it but would rather have real parts because I doubt they cost much. I will ad part numbers when I get them.

I am extremely happy with the outcome, as I don't think the checkered really matched the interior once I got it and I got the secret compartment for under the $200 Mini wanted for it without the compartment.

Let me know if anyone has questions as I just did it last night and I will try to answer them.

Part Numbers: 51459290340, 51459297776, 51459297772

 

Mine has a bunch of CDs in it I never listen to. Can't say I'd miss it even though mine will hold my GPS or fuzzbuster (which I also never use).

 

Very good! I hope people and MINI are inspired!

 

Thanks for the orders , well documented Heavy J

 

So does this mean that the fascia panel that comes on the 2016's will not fit on the compartment door if you decide to order it? Looks identical from the outside.

 

No you have to order a new panel, it attaches different screw (hidden compartment) vs spring clips (MY2016 piece) and there is a lip on the stock part that goes behind the vent. The lip is on the compartment vs the panel on the retrofit. But you can order any design pretty much, I just decided to do piano black to match the door accents and center piano black ring. I did the new piece behind the speedo to match.

 

I went with the fireworks interior and they say that you can't get the panel. I'm pretty handy...you think you could glue it on and shape the existing to fit?

Would love to see a picture of the differences!

;-)

 

Maybe, you would have to grind off the edge and sand it smooth and grind the clips off the back. not sure if it is an exact fit. I looked I think you can buy it outside of the country but not sure if it is in stock or not since most are not in English. I am assuming part# 51459292102


I will take some pictures of the front and back tonight for you, I still dont have screws to hook mine on since the dealership didn't know what the part is. I have not had time go to the hardware store and find something.

 

I can order from Germany but it costs as much as the compartment!
I can probably make it work. Thanks for your help!