I have read my owners manual more carefully than a math text. It shows a first aid kit and a warning marker in the back, but I have found neither despite some hard-core searching. There are two rubber straps on the rear sill which also mystify me. And- anyone know what that rotating hook is for on the starboard side back there? Does the cargo net really reach the ceiling and form a barrier between the back and front as shown (sort of) in a photo?
I did manage to find and then change, the angle of the rear seats which gives my Boston Terrier more room back there on his frequent rides However, he has scratched the rear bumper (black) by his jumping up and into the compartment, so I use a cloth threshold for him each time.
Also- related:
I took my spare wheel out, having run-flats and wanting to save the weight, & gain an extra storage compartment for a blanket and my own first aid kit. I kept the towing hook from the tool kit.
You can spend a whole afternoon back there exploring... but trying to match it to the book is vexing at times.

 

I can't answer all your questions, but the first aid kit and warning triangle are standard in European models and absent in US models. There are a couple of vendors here that you can order these items from if you want to 'complete' your MINI.

 

My Boston Terrier (http://www.dogster.com/dogs/614109 ) has managed to scratch the back of mine, too Poor little thing jumped up to get in before I had the door open, bonked her head.
I think the little hook is for grocery bags - at least that's what I use it for, even though it doesn't really work too well.
I just leave my back seat down 99% of the time and got a cheap piece of carpeting to cover the whole area.
I haven't messed with the cargo net yet..

 

That cargo net is to put over things that are lying down in the back area...there are four little chrome looking triangles (2 on either side)...often they may not show because whoever installed the flat flooring piece must not have been paying attention in the factory ...but if you lift it up (it is removable) you can pull them out...the cargo net can hook on...it's more of a tie down..not the kind of thing that you use to prevent dogs from jumping from the boot to on to the seats. I've been told that it talks about the kind you're thinking of in the manual, but it's not fitted out in our version of the Clubman, that's for sure.

These little aberrations are what make MINI ownership such an adventure - even off the road.

 

The Clubman manual shows all the potential features and equipment across a number of markets. We don't get some of the goodies, as you've discovered. You can order the first aid kit and the triangle from MINI, or, for a lot less money, you can get a small first aid kit at any drug store, and a warning triangle at any auto store. It all depends on how important it is to you to have the genuine article. It doesn't matter at all to me.

 

You don't get 'em in the UK unless you spec 'em - probably because we aren't in Europe in someone's eyes!

More seriously: I think these are standard only in MINIs supplied to countries where they are mandatory.

 

Yes, someone please explain those rubber straps! What the heck are they for?!

 

Let the double entendres begin

J/K - I think they're for the optional umbrella right?

There's also that little indent which I'm assuming is for the warning triangle...

 

As all said, Euros get some things we don't.
Safety laws and such.
example: A US Clubman has reflectors inside the rear doors and on the wheel well moulding.
I don't know if they're on the Euro version.

 

Yup, I never noticed them before, but those straps ARE indeed for holding an umbrella (pg. 79 of the owner's manual) and the indented slot is for the warning triangle, neither of which come with our cars. How about the missing receptacles in the headliner for hooking the partition net into (pg. 87 of the manual)?

BTW, does anyone else feel that this is one of the most difficult owner's manuals EVER to try an understand? It's like reading Greek!

 

Sort of difficult (my MCS). BMWs come with a DVD (VHS before DVDs) introduction well they used to, not sure if the new ones do.


I wonder if the Greeks say the same thing... except it's "It's like reading English!"

 

Not sure about the Greek - my wife's family is Greek and getting a read on them would baffle a cryptologist .

I agree that the manual is complicated but I think the root cause is the damn car itself!

For example: after several rather vexed calls from my wife while she was getting lost around Disney World and couldn't figure out how to turn off the windshield wipers - upon her eventual grumpy return I decided to investigate the system as I hadn't been able to tell her how to turn them off over the phone. I fiddled around with them for a few minutes and successfully smeared all of that morning's highway bug squash over the entire windshield but couldn't figure out for the life of me how to activate the squirters. The barn doors were completely doused as were the HID's and most of the bonnet but I still couldn't figure out how to get a drop on the windshield. It was dark, I was sitting in an Orlando hotel parking lot after a long hard day at the parks w/2 Sierra Nevada's in me and I was absolutely convinced that I was going to have to call my dealership to schedule a warranty visit for defective squirters. Anyway - to cut to the chase - the next morning w/a clear head and a quick burrow into the manual I was able to figure out that the only direction I hadn't tried yanking the stalk was towards me. My next trip to Wilbur even revealed a pictogram on the stalk that I'd missed in the dark the night before...

Sorry for the rambling but I really think the iDrive engineers may have had a hand in some of our cars' control systems

 

I thought the netting in in the sub-storage was for toddlers. My bad.

There is an unbrella net next to the passenger's left foot. Well, it holds a nice 40 oz, too!

 

I had a local vinyl lettering/sign shop put Invisishield on the rear bumper to eliminate the paint getting scratched. But only after my Black Lab (Christie) scratched it her first time in the car.

I had the light scratches buffed out at a detailer, cost me 10 bucks and then $100 for the Invisishield but that is better than having a scratched up bumper.

Schatzy

 

That little net by the front passenger's left foot is great for the integrated ipod, if you have it, which connects by USB right above the lighter in that open space (as in my photo a few posts up), and/or the cell phone on its charger cable, if you don't have the phone cartridge that snaps into the armrest.
I will get that cartridge when my iPhone arrives :-) Anyone using that snap-in phone cartridge yet? It lets you utilize the roof antenna apparently.

 

It only allows use of the roof antenna if your phone and cradle have the antenna connections available. Many phone do not have an external antenna connection available.

I use it with my Motorola E815 and in the fringe areas i really helps the reception.

I have found mine rather difficult to use though with my phone. The way the armrest cover slides back and lifts makes it hard to get the phone in and out. I hope this weekend to see if i can find an easier way to have the armrest cover move. It may just need a slight adjustment. i know it only snaps in place but the movement is rather stiff.