As I was just wondering, is the Secret Compartment in the R56 illegal or legal?

 

<this selection deleted by moderator>...but is it illegal just to hold other stuff in it just random stuff as like gum or something ect. but I dont know if it is not legal in my state though

 

You're in a Free Country carry what you want, if you happen to be asked (Men in Blue) just tell them...it's not really Secret anymore anyway, on the 1st Gens some folks had it and some didn't. 2Gens have it!! I carry things that don't fit in my glovebox and stack nice and neat, Moistened Towels!!

 

Lol im just saying because im pretty sure no cops know about that, and its soooo good to see that no one finds that it is their and what not i think its cool stuff <deleted by moderator>

 

Umm, no 1st Gens had it. Thats where the passenger side airbag is on the 1st gen.

 

It is illegal. If you carry gum in the secret compartment you will be facing the death penalty. The Secret Service will hunt you down.

 

It is a safe place to keep your decoder ring!

 

Why would Mini put something into a car that was mass produced that would be illegal? Isn't the social contract w/ you and a car maker is that if you buy a car from the manufacturer they have done their research are are selling car with legal features?

 

What's so secret about it? That's the first question every person that rides in my car asks, where's the secret compartment? It's no more illegal than every hidden fuse panel on every car out there.

 

i swear.. That "Secret Compartment" is going to make me crash one day! I use it to store my CDs and the dang thing takes like 5 tries to open and CLOSE and it's just so hard/frustrating when i'm trying to drive because it takes so much effort. Especially since i wait until i'm at a red light to open/close it, i can't really do that because i have to focus on getting ready to start off since i'm a noob stick-driver.

Will it be something covered under the warranty to be replaced? Because i tested out the compartments on other MINIs at the dealer and they opened and closed with ease. If they refuse to replace the compartment door, then i will have it removed so i can put that dang compartment to good use. (theres not many places in the MINI to store stuff)


Edit: Oh and yes it's Legal.

 

Or in the boot on either side is a removable panel...my Amp is in there, but there is still plenty of room for what ever.

 

where is this "secret compartment" located?

 

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thanks! I needed that.....

 

There is nothing illegal about the secret compartment. What you choose to put in there is another matter. And finally...YES, the Police may look in there during a vehicle search, just the same as a center console or regular glovebox.

 

I know there are laws regarding "secret" compartments on vessels and I believe many states have laws are similar and apply to motor vehicles. If I recall those laws, the "secret" or "hidden" compartments are illegal if they are constructed with the intent to transport "things" in violation of the law. The "things" to be transported don't have to be illegal/banned themselves but the way they are transported is the catch i.e. transporting in excess of $10,000 in monetary instruments into/out of the country without reporting it...

The MINI "secret" compartment is in the owners manual and it's meant to carry perfectly legal "things" in a legal manner. If you choose to do otherwise, it's your criminal record...

 

Your 'Secret Compartment' will likey do the job of hiding your GPS or Wallet away from a thief, but is just going to cause you more trouble at a Border Crossing or Police Search.

A trained 'Search Dog' will find your 'Secret' in a flash and at the Border, they have the right to take your car (boat or plane) completely apart with no obligation to put it back together again.

 

It was reported that the very early "2nd Gen" 2007 R56's had problems with the Secret Door and were delivered with the door in-operable. Would expect that most were fixed under warranty, but if you have an early 2007 without a Secret Compartment, your Dealer should be able to fix it.

 

Ya but what if the police dont know that that is their?

 

I'd post this on April 1st if I was you.

 

I guess its not a secret anymore.....

 

As much as some would argue the following, cops in general aren't stupid people. If they have a reason to search your car or, if you consent to them searching your car and they come across the "secret" compartment that has tissues or CD's or your GPS in it, they aren't likely to say or think much of it.

That said, some cops out there are 100% suspicious of everyone and everything and they will give you the 5th degree about it. The wise thing would be to know where in the owner's manual it describes the compartment so they can see that BMW built the car that way.

This is just my .02 but after having been a sworn Deputy Sheriff for 6 years, I know LEO's. I'm not going to carry anything illegal in my car and I have nothing to hide but I'm also not going to give away my 4th amendment rights that protect me from unreasonable search and seizure. If/when I'm stopped in the future and the LEO wants to get inside my car to search for what he/she THINKS might be hidden and not in plain sight, he/she is going to have to come up with a reason that will stand up in court to do so. Exercising/Preserving my rights makes me guilty of nothing more than knowing and exercising my rights as a citizen but I know there are LEO's out there who feel otherwise and they will verbally coerce people into giving up their rights.

If you think I feel strongly about this, you should see my reaction when the Best Buy employee wants to inspect my receipt and package on the way out. I'm not sure what I they think I stole in the 10 feet between the register and the door and I know it's not "for the customer's protection"...

 

Ok, this thread is locked. The secret compartment is not illegal, but what you put in it may be. Just because illegal items are in the compartment does not make the compartment itself legal.