quick question: will my MY '08 MCS have the "secret compartment" door that opens? I'm ordering a proclip mount for my iPod and there is a different part for the open vs. closed compartments (the one to the right of the R air vent). Was it just the early '07s that did not have this compartment or what is the deal? thanks!

 

That's exactly what the deal is. So your '08 should definitely have it.

 

Excellent, thanks!

 

OK, what about my '07 that is almost here?

 

You're welcome!

It should have it as well. It was only very early build 2007's that didn't.

 

We just our '07 MCS about 3 weeks ago (fresh off of the boat) and it had the secret compartment. Yours should too.

 

what exactly is this secret compartment? or where i guess would be a better question.

 

Ha ha ha that's the secret...















Jokes, it's just above the glovebox. Push on the (in my case) brushed aluminum trim and ta da! Secret compartment.

 

Ours is a week 45, and it's there!!! Picked it up last night (the 29th). We have the wavy checkered (not checkerboard) above the MY color line. What a cool "feature!"

Perfect for storing... wait a minute... I'll let that be a secret too!

 

For those that have one that doesnt open take it to your dealer and they will replace it with a working one for free !

 

Check this out-- it's the law in Illinois, I kid you not. We're all going to jail, and the cops will be driving our R56s!

(625 ILCS 5/12‑612)
Sec. 12‑612. False or secret compartment in a motor vehicle.

(a) Offenses. It is unlawful for any person to own or operate any motor vehicle he or she knows to contain a false or secret compartment. It is unlawful for any person to knowingly install, create, build, or fabricate in any motor vehicle a false or secret compartment.

(b) Definitions. For purposes of this Section, a "false or secret compartment" means any enclosure that is intended and designed to be used to conceal, hide, and prevent discovery by law enforcement officers of the false or secret compartment, or its contents, and which is integrated into a vehicle. For purpose of this Section, a person's intention to use a false or secret compartment to conceal the contents of the compartment from a law enforcement officer may be inferred from factors including, but not limited to, the discovery of a person, firearm, controlled substance, or other contraband within the false or secret compartment, or from the discovery of evidence of the previous placement of a person, firearm, controlled substance, or other contraband within the false or secret compartment.

(c) Forfeiture. Any motor vehicle containing a false or secret compartment, as well as any items within that compartment, shall be subject to seizure by the Department of State Police or by any municipal or other local law enforcement agency within whose jurisdiction that property is found as provided in Sections 36‑1 and 36‑2 of the Criminal Code of 1961 (720 ILCS 5/36‑1 and 5/36‑2). The removal of the false or secret compartment from the motor vehicle, or the promise to do so, shall not be the basis for a defense to forfeiture of the motor vehicle under Section 36‑2 of the Criminal Code of 1961 and shall not be the basis for the court to release the vehicle to the owner.

(d) Sentence. A violation of this Section is a Class 4 felony.
(Source: P.A. 93‑276, eff. 1‑1‑04.)

 

Correct! All R56's should have the compartment.

 

We took delivery of our 08 MC yesterday and we have the compartment

 

Cool!

 

I will hide a firearm in mine. So the cops dont find it.

 

And Gabe from MotoringFile will spend more time in the slammer than anyone since from Chicago he's been encouraging people to buy the illegal car.

 

MB,

Your post is scarier than most here realize. The last section spells it out quite clearly. Just don't tell the cops about your secret compartment, or maybe you should tell them, then it won't be a secret any more. Maybe we should send all enforcement agencies a letter and let them in on the secret, but then it won't really be a secret, will it?

Man I'm confused now! eek2:

 

If the manufacturer puts it there, it's NOT secret, is it?

 

if it's not sealed, it 's NOT secret..

 

"means any enclosure that is intended and designed to be used to conceal, hide, and prevent discovery by law enforcement officers of the false or secret compartment"

That definition of concealed would get you off on a technicality if you tell an officer it is there, then how can it be intended to prevent discovery ?

 

No kidding. I don't get it. What's so secret about it? It's not any more secret than the glove box below it. Most passengers in my car ask how to open the glove box. They don't know that oval thing is a button. Forget even the "extra" compartment, which was designed for the CD changer.

 

Seriously, If all the Minis (post early 07) have these compartments, by definition, they are not secret. Just because they aren't easily discerned, doesn't make them "secret". If that were the case, that would make ALL glove comartments out of view, secret, and all the drawers storage areas under a seat secret. What about those cool hidden gas filler caps in the tailights of '57 Cadillacs?

 

Good point, it's really no different from the drawers under the seat, something many vehicle have.

Filler cap in the taillight??? Cool! And here I was thinking that the ones behind the rear license plate are about as secret as they get.

 

Cheech and Chong knew this and that is why they made their entire van out of marijuana... no secrets there.

Seriously, the law is about someone who fabricates or creates the compartment with intent to hide or conceal illegal substance. I do not think the MINI compartment falls into this catagory simply by just having it, however if someone were caught using the MINI secret compartment to hide illegal substance, they may be charged with the secret compartment law since the compartment is not obvious.

 

But if they thought to look in the "secret" compartment, then it wasn't a secret.