I got my 2011 MCS without auto a/c. My last MINI and my BMW both had this feature, but I did not think that I would miss it as much as I do.

Has anyone looked at or done an A/C retrofit? Is it something that the dealer can do?

Thanks in advance.

 

I believe it's a tremendous job. I know of one person that attempted it, but I believe the end result was that the wiring did not match up from the Auto AC unit to the opposite end connector.
Also I think there has to be some software work done at a MINI dealership for it work. Not to mention the cost of finding a 2011 Auto AC center piece.

 

Sorry but it's a bit of a pain (much like installing OEM HIDs).

Seems like Mini's aren't the easiest to retrofit OEM options (from what I"ve seen). Then again most newer cars seem that way.

 

After owning a car (still do) with auto A/C and getting a loaner car without, I would have to say I wouldn't get another one without it.

 

It can be done. Anything can be retrofitted into the MINI, (2nd gen specifically) it will just be expensive and it will be time consuming. I am speaking from experience. I have had MFSW retrofitted into my MINI and I am about to add bluetooth and rear fogs.

 

Thread Revival!
Don't think this pdf was ever available for the 2nd Gen MINI's but I have added the official R50/53 Auto Air/Con Retrofit PDF File here for future reference purposes when searching for info:

 

Most likely, it would require a replacement of all of the A/C equipment (not just the controls). MINIs tend to have different wiring harnesses based on the options (for example Xenon headlights), and trying to add a major feature might require a different harness. There is also a sensor for the auto AC in the dash, so it is likely that the entire dash would need to be replaced to accommodate adding the auto A/C.

As someone mentioned previously, most things could be added at a later date, but the expense is ridiculous. Xenons, which are a $500 option from the factory would be over $2000 by the time you swapped everything out and had the car re-coded. I would imagine the same would be true of switching to auto A/C. You're probably better off trading the car for one that has the feature you want already.

 

Hearing this makes me all the more glad I chose my options carefully. The only ones I didnt get that I'll want to retrofit are autodimming rear view mirror and an upgraded sound system. I can see the appeal of automatic a/c even though I've never had it since it's a pain constantly adjusting the ***** to regulate the temp, but I'll suck it up.

 

I looked into this very issue with my 2011 after I ordered it with the standard a/c system. Long story short, I ended up ordering a 2013 to replace it because the manual a/c controls bugged the carp out of me. Clearly a very expensive way to go, but less hassle and more assured outcome than trying to retrofit the auto a/c.

As someone has already said, any retrofit is theoretically possible, given sufficient time and money. I spent some time comparing the two systems on RealOEM; there are virtually no parts that interchange between the standard system and the auto system. The controls and wiring harness are different, some of the ducting is different, even the fan motor is different! I researched salvage yard parts, and even so the necessary parts were going to cost a lot. Ordering from the dealer parts dept would be stupid expensive - like thousand-plus. Don't know if a dealer would be willing to do the work if you brought in a box of used parts. My dealer said that they didn't have the information to do a swap - there's no kit or instructions from MINI. And at some point, you'd almost certainly have to have a dealer service dept involved to reprogram the car. There are some independent shops that probably could do it, too, if you could talk them into taking it on: maybe Way in Atlanta or Detroit Tuned.

 

I liked the comment on another Mini forum to this question - it suggested it was easier to buy a car with auto a/c, swap the bodies over the a/c and then sell the now-manual a/c car........