I just ordered an '08 MCS and I'm looking at my order status in the owner's lounge. It shows a picture of a key on the "on order" screen that I've never seen before. I've only seen the keys from the R56, so this could be from the R50, R53, or some other model I haven't seen. Can anyone tell me if this is the key I'll be getting with my MCS or if it's an old one and they haven't updated the picture?

 

It's the 05+ key. It's just an old pic

 

As you guessed, it's an old key and they just haven't updated the picture. That's from a 1st gen MINI. 2nd gens have the electronic 'fob' setup with start/stop button.

 

Yeah, the fob-style is a lot more fun--have given it to friends needing to move the car or take it for a drive, and it always gets a look of bewilderment.

 

You should have seen the look on the face of my window tinter.

 

Same! Cute story:

Went to my roommates house over Thanksgiving break and parked behind her Mom's Jeep in the driveway. I'm leaving the house for awhile so I give her Mom the key/fob just in case she needs to pull her Jeep out while I'm gone. Well she does and cannot figure out how get the thing started. It's an automatic and she figures out that she needs to put the fob in the slot, but doesn't realize she has to put her foot on the brake.

So she goes into the glove box (some of my friends can't even figure that out...), find the owner's manual, reads up on starting the car and figures it out.

My window tinter and both installers I've been to didn't have any problems though. My local detailer did initially, but he figured it out without asking me or checking out the manual.

 

It always amazes me how quickly state inspectors, auto repairmen and the like pick up on unusual keys or traits. Guess they are exposed to a lot more of these cars than we realize.

Give your mother some credit for thinking of looking it up first!

 

This is the fob for '08. Has the key inside it. Hopefully it won't be too uncomfortable in my pocket!

 

That's the same as for the '07 R56. Don't worry about the key "inside"--that's just a valet key. You won't use it. The round thing is your key, and it fits in the slot (I think MINI calls it a dock) on the panel. It's no more uncomfortable than a key--even less because there are no sharp points. I just keep it on the ring with my other keys.

 

Don't lose your key fob. A girl I work with just lost hers.........$334.78 to replace it!

 

Is that the key (fob only) only if you have Comfort Access, or are all '08s like that?

 

They're all like this--Comfort Access or "regular," but on Comfort Access you don't need to pull it out--just walk up to the car and drive away. I have heard of some people having problems with the car not recognizing the key unless the person is very near, though. Also, if the passenger changes place and becomes the driver, and the first driver walks off taking the key, you have a problem. That's a frequent scenario with me when I take my husband over to pick up a commuter van. I just know he'd drive off!

Personally, for the price I can pull out the key--no biggie to press the button and stick it in the slot...

 

I miss the old key, the buttons on the new one are too small for me to to be able to lock it without taking it out of my pocket.

 

I wish they'd not gone round and gone with the BMW style key for that reason.

It's #6 on the list here:

http://www.edmunds.com/reviews/list/...1/article.html

 

I think it's kinda neat. Must be the information needed to access, start, and drive is getting too big for the old chip size. It least it makes it less likely that people will just drive your MINI away.

 

The thing inside isn't really a "valet key" because you can't start the car with it, you can only unlock the door. It's for cases when you have the car locked and the battery in the fob dies (say you get it wet).

 

How many "fobs" does a new Mini come with?

 

Was it equipped with Comfort Access??

Because i was told by our Service dept. that the new fobs are actually about 5 dollars cheaper than the 05-06 keys, so around 135 ish or somthing, gosh don't quote me on price though.

Good news for 07-08 owners though, if you do lose your key and have to get a new one, there isn't a programming sequence at all, just "dock" it in the slot and the key is programmed, from what i've been told from service. Don't think we've had to do one yet luckily.

 

car should come with 2 fobs, though someof the early Comfort access equipped cars came with a plastic key that was smooth instead of a traditional "plastic wallet key" thats cut, that had the comfort access chip in it so that you can put it in your wallet and never need the Fob. Though it was only on the first production run.

 

That price would surprise me--I've been quoted "around $350" for a regular fob. It would make sense that it would cost more than the earlier keys--nothing is ever cheaper! And it's a more sophisticated chip, I've been told.

Whatever, let's all try not to lose ours, okay?

 

I'll check on it, funny enough i have two different prices from my parts dept.

so i'll have to talk to my parts manager to figure it up.

Aparently they even have a key fob that has no buttons for the 07-08, only starts the car, no keyless entry buttons, very odd, didn't know that.

I'll get back to you, the highest price i have gotten though is 250, though

 

One thing I've noticed is that different parts departments have different prices--even in the same town. Strange.

 

ha that is funy canadien price for mufler tips 179$ us price 79$ noting to
copare even whit shiping it cheper

 

The internal "valet key" has two purposes: 1) as described, it will unlock the vehicle in the event of a battery failure. 2) It can also be used to close all windows and the sunroof while locking the car. Just insert, twist, and hold until everything is closed and locked.

 

That's what I sometimes use it for since my MINI doesn't have convenience access. Very, errr, convenient.