I know this was discussed before, but I couldn't find the thread and I don't know if anything difinitive was reached. What is the purpose of that hard block of plastic toward the back of the door pockets? And why does it have a slit in it? Just as I guess, I would think the block itself is to provide some rigidity and rattle-proofing (?), but why the slit?

 

That's the razor blade disposal slot like the old medicine cabinets used to have!

 

its not actually a slot - something you could drop a razor blade into - its more like a gutter.

 

I actually noticed this yesterday while getting out of my car. I think it's probably a slot to stick a road map or something...

 

Aint exactly convenient........

 

You beat me to it. I was going to start a thread asking the same question. There has to be a purpose for it...

 

I think NAM asked them to do it as part of a psychology/sociology experiment on posting.

 

It's to see who's paying attention. Mine came with a tiny folded up piece of paper in it that said "You're really looking your Mini over, aren't you bloke? signed Hugh Grant

 

This was pondered in an earlier thread - Things you did not know about your R56 - which came up shortly after the intro. There was never a good answer for what this groove, as I would call it, is.

 

never noticed it..going outside right now to look!!!

 

I noticed mine the day I picked it up, but still haven't found a good use for it....

 

Seems the slits are for papers/maps...you know, to keep them upright. Not sure if it works but I can see where it might in theory.

 

Its got to be a stiffner crease in the moulding process,

 

If it's for that, it's a pretty dumb design (not that that would make it unique for a MINI). You can hardly reach anything you put there. Plus, it's not very deep, if it's intended to hold things.

 

The Brits are sending all the defective one's over here. They are not supposed to have slits in them. First year production problems!

 

Normally, I like things with slits on them. But, I like it better when I know what the slit is for.

 

My own conclusion was it was meant to drain drips from a wet umbrella back into the pocket.

I know its lame, but thats the best answer I can come up with.

 

And what surpose would that perve????

 

Yeah, I didn't try it out...it seems to be in a very odd place. This might be a good question to migrate over to MINI2 since we have to figure it out for ourselves!! I think a photo expose is called for!!!

 

On checking out the Mini Cooper ads, I've noticed that Mini, unlike other car manufacturers, has a sense of humor.

That said, somehow I can invision a group of MINI design engineers huddled around the car's drawings asking, "What subtle thing can we incorporate that has no function whatsoever but will drive members of the various Mini forums nuts in attempting to figure it out?" And someone saying, "How about a shallow slit having functional looking bevelled edges mounted at the base of each of the door pockets". From there I can imagine mighty shouts of, "Eureka!" "That's it!" "Perfect!"

 

I thought it was a flex point for when they snapped it into the door. Not really convenient for maps and such as the bottom of the slit is angled.

 

I think that's it, Ken!!!

 

So, if that is true, what is the purpose of the block, upon which sits the slit?

 

Oh yeah, lets get their wheels spinning on that too. They'll never figure it out either. Its like that episode of Star Trek where they bring the computer to its knees by asking it to calculate Pi to the last digit...

 

I think it is to hold a wakizashi or kodachi. It seems the MINI is too small for a katana.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wakizashi