We don't have our CM yet, but I was thinking about what I would like to be able to add in the future. When we test drove the CM the second time, I rode in the back and realized a center armrest would really be a nice option. I'm betting that will be one of the first aftermarket rail accessories to come out. Maybe an iPad holder would be nice. We are getting the single rail and I think an iPad would be great on the rail just behind the front seats for my daughter to watch a movie, if she doesn't want to hold the iPad on longer trips.

Thoughts?

 

Whoever brings out a quality rear armrest first will get a ton of sales! I would bet thats the #1 request.

 

Owner's Lounge had a little update on the rail accessories contest. Did you see the checker board insert? Super clever. I'm embracing the rail, lol, and love the design opportunities.

 

I'd like to know how to remove the arm rest and adapt it to use front and rear. It takes up a lot of rail room in the front and the only one that wants it there is the wife and she is in the car maybe 2% of the time.

 

More checkerboard!

 

I assume the owners lounge contest can only be seen by Countryman buyers? Can't see it with the OL login for my current MINI...

I love the center rail, here are some things I'd like to see:

1) Quality universal attachment. Some kind of really secure and solid feeling thing that would clamp on the rails, with a half-way unclamp that would let it slide. Then there would be some kind of coupling that would let you attach other things to that clamp, for one thing just a plain flat surface so any suction cup based thing could attach to the rail. For photographers, the thing I'm thinking of is basically like a quick-release kind of plate only it would attach to the rail, and then other things would attach to it.

2) Telescoping iPhone holder that would let an iPhone be raised to be roughly in front of the speedo, so that you could use a custom GPS app.

3) MINI bowling alley with small pins that could be reset with a button.

4) Tripod holder, that would have clamps front and back - you could slap a tripod down and it would lock in place automatically, with a single button release for both clamps.

5) Collapsable Partition to keep the rear seat occupants from being able to see each other.

6) Flat box (top at level with rails) to hold gloves or anything else that would take a small space.

7) Collapsable arm rest that could be raised to be used but flatten into the rail when not wanted.

I'm sure other ideas will come eventually... I'm really interested to see what people do with this. I can also imagine putting the same rails elsewhere in the car too, perhaps along the top center of the roof...

 

Here's the article

http://www.minispace.com/en_us/artic...mpetition/432/

 

The partition between the back seats would have been very useful when my kids were little.

 

That's what I was thinking of, though I suppose there's a lot of character to be built by having to tolerate your sibling on long car trips. Perhaps more what is needed is a soundproof front/back partition with a video camera for the back displaying on the Connected screen to monitor things. But then that's going beyond a MINIrail accessory...

 

Indeed. I could use it now. The only benefit to the XC90 was that when strapped in they weren't able to clobber each other.

 

-Cup holders large enough to hold standard items such as, I dunno, cups and water bottles.
-The rear arm rest should be a good bit larger than the front, and open to provide additional covered storage (like the front).
-A DVD (or iPad) mount in the back so the kiddies can watch movies.

 

So, who's getting on the list for the fire, kettle and hot chocolate in your Countryman?
http://www.bmwblog.com/2010/10/27/mi...as-prototypes/


I'd rather have an iPad mount for the kids, but it will have to work with the split rail, and I'm guessing that could be tricky since it's fairly short in the back. Doubt the winning iPad mount will work with carseats too, or as a movie watching orientation.

Ah well.

 

Oh, I like that!

Also, a DVD player, or portable DVD player holder, for the kids in back.

 

There just needs to be a swivel lock on the base and a way to raise the ipad with maybe some kind of elbow lift to raise and lower it and it would work great.
The real problem with anything and everything that could be made is that the rail accessories can pop out too easily. Get a 6 year old in the back seat with some curiosity and they are toast.

I think MINI should sell the bases to lock something in and let people build whatever they want to lock into it.

 

An ipad mount for the rear allowing for charging in the horizontal position.

Also an iphone mount for the front that elevates the phone out from behind the parking brake and allows the phone to be charged. (even though once the smartphone dock will work for me)

A snack tray of some sort for the back would be good for the kids in the back as well.

BTW the sunglasses case fits perfectly under the center armrest. that might be the only thing that was though out by the engineers.

 

I thought about something for food too. If you have the bucket seat option in the back seat it seems like you might be able to create something that acted like the trays in an airline if you are on the front row or are in first class. Each one would slide strait out and fold (left or right) out into a flat position over the seat.

 

i think most all the ideas on minispace that won are dumb " a fireplace, REALLY?" the dvd player holder that swivels seems useful. how about a heated coffe cup holder? or a change holder, or a storage box that isnt a tissue dispencer. or a elivated swivel that attaches allready existing attachments? or small laptop table for the rear passengers? a rear passenger armrest with storage? a holder for cd's. i could go on and on.

 

I'm thinking that it would be nifty to have some kind of a snap in holder for your iPhone that would interface with the entertainment system.

 

+1 for that! Have you submitted your idea to MINI?

 

i thought they already had holders for the iphone on the rail and in the arm rest as options?

 

Let me clarify . . .

One that gosh darn works as promised and doesn't cost an arm and a first born and doesn't require buying a gosh darn obscenely priced arm rest and works with the stoopedest designed hand brake handle ever to come off a drug-crazed designer's sketch pad.

Sealy - Who now feels better.

 

Don't hate me, but i really like the look and feel of the E-brake.....remember the purpose of a car is to drive........

 

You crack me up!
You're such a smart a*s.
Love reading your posts.

 

I agree! the e-brake does make using the rail up front allmost useless. so the best choice seems to be the expensive armrest option for now.

 

I love my CM!! However, I have found the rail system to be pretty useless. The cup holders don't hold anything but the smallest cup...the other attachments are very awkwardly situated. Don't get me wrong...I would still buy this car in a heartbeat...just can't figure out how to make the rail system useful.