I know this sounds like a dumb question, but aside from the checkered fenders, my car is visually a checkmate. Any way I can verify whether or not it has the LSD? As far as I can tell, the checkmate is essentially a MCS with a bunch of options, + the LSD. Would it be labeled as a checkmate in the BMW VIN decoder?

 

go to www.bmwarchive.org and enter your Vin #.... as you look at the options list if there is a german word "Sperrdifferenzial" then you have LSD ... also in that list it will tell you if you have the Checkmate Package......Mine has LSD ..i have the Navigation like yours as well ...

 

Factory LSD tends to make a bit of noise....folks actually complained sometimes, think it was noticeable in first when turning or backing...a slight clacking if I recall..other non factory style units did not...
They are pretty easy to add to any car when you do a clutch....
Most relilabe way is to see if one tire spins more than the other on a HARD acceleration...
So sand on one side, clean on the other...or wet/dry...see how it goes.

 

Think checkmate cars got special leather seats if I recall....
You could get most of the items separate.....mc40 cars were preconfigured...and back in the day were $$..so they sat at so.e dealers....even when folks were ordering cars 6 months from delivery custom....
Think the "checkmate" was an attempt to make a prefered but cheaper package similar, but not a limited edition if I remember...

 

not to highjack this thread but My car literally does a peel...when i give it the gas at a red light at takeoff ...It feels like a rear wheel drive car. How can this be?

 

Bummer, doesn't look like mine's a checkmate after all :

 

This is great info! Thanks. I have an '06 Checkmate which I bought last summer but no dealer window sticker, etc so I went on the site (bmwarchive.org) and it does say "Sperrdifferenzial" but there are a lot of things listed and some have the English to the right of the text. This is what I see, does it mean I have the LSD?

 

Yep ...You sure do have LSD ! ....

 

The option code for the Checkmate Package is 7AN (P7ANA).

 

Your MINI is very close to the MINI Park Lane edition:

http://libraryofmotoring.info/facts/special_editions/


But if I remember right when it came out in the UK, the options ( not the edition ) was made available for the US.

One of the few with a silver top.

 

Checkmates were not "essentially an MCS with..." I had an R50 (non-S) Checkmate. They were only made in 2006. The sure-fire way to tell is with the interior. Regardless of exterior color, ALL Checkmates had Checkmate Blue leather/silver cloth seats. The steering wheel was dark blue/silver leather as well and the dash was Space Blue. They also all had "Checkmate" sill plates and "Checkmate" badges on the rear side windows. S cars had "Flame Spoke" (Horseshoe) wheels and non-S cars had "Bridge Spoke" wheels.

 

Ask your local dealer to run the chassis number (last 7 of VIN) and it should read out if it is a Checkmate which would be part of the options.

 

You're right! The Park Lane is much closer, but the description raises even more questions. For example, it says the Royal Grey Metallic color was exclusive to that model, which is the color of my car. Also, it seems like all Park Lanes were based on the R50, not the R53.

 

Yea, looks like most were R50, but I have seen R53 versions in certain markets.

I know allot of special cars in other markets where duplicated in order options at US dealerships , because that model was not available in the region. My guess is that it was a park lane type re-creation, or order list as.

Great color btw.

 

2006 Packages - Description and Pricing ...