Hey everyone, i noticed that the cabrio has a locking glovebox, while the hatch and clubman do not... can the locking glovebox button be retrofitted to the other cars? Has anyone done this?

thanks!

 

1st gen requires a new door.

will look around for 2nd gen.

 

The Owner's Manual (2nd gen) explicitly says that the glovebox lock is for the convertible only. Is the key lock on the glovebox door or the pushbutton? The current online RealOEM doesn't list a lock mechanism.

In the 1st gen, locking glovebox was introduced in 2005 and became standard for all models. The retrofit replaces the entire glovebox.

 

the key cylinder is right in the chrome button, thats why it caught my eye and got me wondering whether it would just drop right into a R55/R56 glovebox (i snapped a pic of it at the autoshow i as at, i have to get it off my friends cam)... also assuming the cylinder could be rekeyed to match the key in the fob

thanks guys!

 

here is the picture i took of the cabrio button

 

sure seems like they might be exchangeable. Im sure it just stops it from pressing right at the button. very simple

on realoem it shows the coupe and vert as the same odd. just a simple little button

 

interesting, thanks for the diagram

 

Hmmm, would love to lock my glovebox since I keep my carpc in there.

 

Part numbers appear to be different. The part number for the R57 is 51162756623 while the part number for the same button in the picture for the R55 and R56 is 51162752837. I might have to call my dealer tomorrow about ordering it, looks like the R56 part is like $12 but it does not show a price for the R57. I hope this helps a little. I am very interested in this if it can be done!

 

crown auto shows the non-locking button for $9.26 but comes up blank for the locking button.

 

Keep us posted

 

yes let us know if you have any luck with the dealer!

 

Yeah, I can't find that part number on any of the sites that sell BMW parts.

 

The locking button would get in the way of my "Do Not Press" sticker.

 

Very intriguing, however my big hangup with it is going to be the key for the lock, if it's designed to match the key that came with the specific car (as in a cabrio this could be considered an outside lock) then it may be an issue, if it's just something generic across the MINI brand that any MINI will unlock it then it could be great success.

 

just store everything in the secret compartment ha

 

That would make it like the glovebox lock of the 1st gen. So what's the issue? When a car from any manufacturer has a locking glovebox, the lock is normally keyed to the specific car. Isn't that what you'd want?

The current online RealOEM is out of date (it says 02/2009 catalog) and the part number for the R57 button probably doesn't match what is actually shipping in R57's. Your dealer should be able to look up the proper part number. There should be a note that it is ordered with a key code, like it did for the 1st gen glovebox (item #20 here: http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...72&hg=51&fg=30).

By the way, in both 1st and 2nd gen cabrio, the rear seatbacks also have lock mechanisms and they can be locked to prevent the seat from being folded down.

 

I figured it would just use any MINI valet key to unlock... Kind of assumed that that general shape could unlock it... Being keyed to the car would be a PITA

but w/ what rkw mentioned, it must be keyed and that means no button for us coupes i bet

 

I think it just means the dealer orders a button that matches your key pattern. This is like the glovebox lock in the 1st gen. The key that pulls out from the fob is for a traditional mechanical lock. Why do people see matching the lock as a problem?

 

I guess i figured they would only match vert keys lol. Does the first gen coupe have a locking GB? i guess i was under the impression they didnt

 

Physically the lock should be compatible with both hardtop and convertible keys because they use the same type of keys. The fob's slide-out key has a groove pattern with an associated code number. So it is only a matter of obtaining a lock that matches the groove. If the dealer is required to order the lock button through VIN number rather than key code, I suppose it's possible that the BMW parts system may block it for being an invalid part (not a convertible).

Locking glovebox was introduced and became standard in the 1st gen starting from about 2004.

 

Did anybody ever figure out if this was possible and how much difficulty it was keying it? I'd love to have a locking glovebox for storing my, ummmm..., sidekick... when I'm going into places that don't allow it.

 

Ditto the above. My GPS won't fit in the secret compartment so I would love to be able to lock the glove compartment as added insurance against theft.

 

Has anyone done this retrofit on their R56 Hardtop? It appears the parts will fit but there's a question of whether it's possible to get the new lock cylinder physically coded to the key. Is there an actual key code one can refer to or can one only use the VIN# to get a lock coded?

 

Parts guy at my MINI dealership said they just go by the VIN. He was willing to try to order the parts for me. I'm still not sure if I want to drop the $70 unless I hear of someone doing the retrofit sucessfully.