I was rummaging around in the spare tire well of my new Clubman S and discovered two rubber tethers that appear to come up from the bottom of the boot and go over the inside part of the rear bumper, (sorry for the poor description). Can anyone explain what these two rubber strips do. I untethered them but nothing seems to come loose. Also, my dogs paws seem to have found the fold over flap between the back seats and the boot, any ideas about how to secure the cardboard flooring flaps when the seats are in the down position?

 

I would also like to know about these rubber straps and the little cubby between them.

 

Shamus, the two rubber tethers under the boot floor are there to hold an umbrella. (I just happened to try fitting a full-sized one there this morning and, IMO, it's kind of cumbersome and tight.) I prefer keeping a small one on the driver's side floor between the seat rail and the door frame.

As for the flooring flaps, you could try the rough side of some velcro on the underside which should secure them in the flat/laying down position, while still allowing them to release when you raise the seats. So far, my three dogs have not bothered with them.

Fiji, the little indented cubby back there between the tethers is for a rolled-up warning triangle which we don't get as standard equipment in the U.S. I stuck a small dust-pan brush in there for sweeping minor debris/sand/lint off the boot floor (until I come across something better ).

HTH

 

Thanks for the response and helpful hints. It never ceases to amaze me how much they try to put into such a "small package!"

 

I keep my umbrella in the netting in the passenger's footwell, on the left side.
Some say that net is for an iPod.

The straps(umbrella) in the boot are unusual.
How would one stay dry if it were already raining and one had to go to the boot to get the umbrella!

I suppose those straps can be used for something else.

 

Actually the rubber straps are to hold a Warning Triangle not an umbrella. I am not sure if the warning triangle can be ordered in the US but they are sold in Europe under this part number 71.60.6.784.336

It is a good place for a warning triangle but not an umbrella.

The Mini Umbrella an Holder is Part Number 51.47.0.403.512 and goes in place of the small cargo net that is in the front passenger foot well at least in Europe. Again i am not sure if that part number is available in the US.

Both of these part numbers are not really country specific so your dealer should be able to order them even if they are not in the US inventory system.

 

You're welcome, that's what we're all here for...and the learning never stops!

Just what I was thinking!

Now that does raise some questions in my mind, however on p. 79 of the owner's manual, under "In the cargo bay" it says, "Depending on your vehicle's equipment, you have the following storage options:

o Umbrella holder* under the loading sill in front of the warning triangle."

There doesn't seem to be any other way of attaching anything else in front of those straps, but with all their asterisks, exclusions, and disclaimers, the manual is confusing, at best.

 

That is funny My Owners Manual does not say that anything about a Umbrella Holder or Warning Triangle on page 79.

It does talk about Hooks for shopping bags, storage compartment under level load floor, removable box with lid under level load floor (mine did not come with a lid), storage compartments in split door and cloths hooks in the rear seat area.

And my manual is a US version as far as i know but maybe not. It does have on page page six "reporting safety defects" and lists both the US and Canada addresses and telephone numbers. So i think it is for the North American Market.

 

Wow, this is really strange! In my version, there is a bullet-point listed right above all the ones you mentioned, describing the "umbrella holder" (and FWIW, my box did not come with a lid either). I also have the same info. as you (reporting safety defects) on page 6.

 

Payback for dumping all that tea in Boston Harbor!