Bought my '09 S in december '08, received the standard package in the mail a few months later and it included a mini accessories book. This is the official mini brand dealer installed parts and accessories. It included an item I'd never seen discussed called "independant heating"

A lot of us from cold climates have been waiting for something just like this, it is explained as a way to heat the cabin remotely without starting the engine. It is also on the mini website at the following link:

http://accessories.mini.ca/internet_...ePath%3D/CA/en

But when I contact my dealership, they've never heard of it, so I went to Mini Canada, they've never heard of it. Am i losing my mind? This thing is in their catalogues and on their website and I seem to be the only one who knows about it.... Anyone else heard of this product/have this product?? check it out if you haven't heard of it yet (ie anyone who works for Mini.)

Did a search and couldn't believe there wasn't a thread for this.

"Independent heating
Allows the passenger compartment temperature to be set to the desired level before the journey even starts."

"Pre-heating the cooling circuit reduces engine wear during the start-up phase, and reduces fuel consumption. Can be activated by ThermoCall, remote control (at a range of up to 1,000 m) or multifunction clock."

 

I think that is a European model option. I remember seeing in my 3-Series manual an option for heating and also cooling the interior before the car was started. Basically, you'd program it to turn on 5 minutes before you left work, for example via the multifunction computer. The vents would suck in outside air and cool the car, that way it wasn't 120 degrees inside if it was baking in the sun all day. All before you even started the engine.

Really nice feature that I would definitely buy if it was offered here.

 

that would work well for cooling too I suppose. My biggest issues are firstly, if this exists why isn't is available in Canada? It should be available ONLY in Canada (its cold here.) And secondly, why was I sent a package from Mini Canada for the car I bought in Canada with an accessory book full of cool things that I can't buy? And finally, why is it on the Mini Canada website??? Tease!

 

I would kill for that option here in Vermont in the winter!

 

I think we need to start a petition to get this thing available in north america by winter 2010.

 

That and a heated steering wheel