TL;DR - Top does not come all the way down with the key fob like my 2006 did. Service is claiming that it requires comfort access package. Is this right?

Brand new 2016 convertible, with most of the bells and whistles I wanted. I actually let the salesman talk me out of options because he promised I would have a better experience without them, one of which was the premium package. The comfort package was a cheap ($250) part on its own, and I had no need for the ability to open the door from outside without using the fob in my pocket.

What I do need, is the ability to drop the top all the way down when I am outside of the car. I have had that ability in my 2006 model for 10.5 years!

When I get the car, I specifically point out that the top does not go down with the fob. They ask the mini expert guy and he swears it should! They even state flat out that the ability for the top to come down is NOT part of the comfort package. They tell me to drive it home and the battery will recharge and it will work.

I drive for an hour and it does not work. I drive another 2 hours, no change. There is a scratch on the back window that they have to take care of and the salesman says he will call me in three days.

10 days later I call him. This is par for the course with these guys, but I will not get into it. I live 2+ hours from the nearest mini dealership and the seem to not need my business. He assures me that the top is definitely broken and they will look into it. Today I get the call from the service department telling me its a comfort access only issue and not something that can be fixed after market.

Anyone out there who can confirm?

 

The manual seems to suggest that opening the top requires Comfort Access and that without it, only the windows and sunroof open.

"Press and hold this button on the re‐
mote control after unlocking.
The windows and the sliding sun roof inte‐
grated into the convertible top are opened, as
long as the button on the remote control is
pressed.
With Comfort Access, the remote control can be
used to open the convertible top when in the
vicinity of the vehicle."

 

Thanks for taking the time to look that up.

I really should have thought to check the manual instead of listening to that salesman and the expert. Its right there online and everything.

Well, now I am a little sad. I will hope it is just a programming thing and someone comes out with a hack sometime over the next 10.5 years.

 

I have a 2016 convertible with comfort access. I could not get the top to open with the fob only the sunroof. I finally found the secret. I was holding the fob unlock button until sunroof fully opened, then releasing the unlock button and pushing again, nothing. Now the secret, keep holding the fob unlock button until sunroof open and keep holding for another 2-4 second until sunroof gives a little jump and a click. Now release unlock button and press again, top will now go down. I hope this helps someone else.