I know i saw this news come by a month or so ago but I got an email today.
Has anyone done this or know what is involved. Also average cost, only 1 dealer in town so they seem to charge whatever they want without much competition?

The MINI Remote Engine Start is currently available for:

2015–current MINI Cooper Hardtop 4 Door models.
2014–current MINI Cooper Hardtop 2 Door models.


Sorry if this is a duplicate, I looked, but found nothing

 

I know parts run about $845 (requires purchase of an extra key) and install takes about 3 hours, so I would estimate about $1300.

You trigger remote start by pressing the lock button on your fob twice and then holding a third time. Runs for 20 minutes before shutting itself off. Auto trans only.

 

Seems a little high compared to most nicer cars that is standard equipment. I understand not going to be free but $1300 seems high. Why the extra key just for an added expense, I hope all 3 keys can work with the remote start then?

 

The way I understand it working is that the 3rd key actually stays in the remote start unit in the car so it always has a authorized key for starting present. How that affects user profiles, I don't know. Seems a weird implementation, but if you really need it, it will at least be available to anyone with a F-series MINI.

 

If this refers to a way to start your Mini FROM WAY FAR AWAY my wife's son had one installed on his 2010 Toyota Tundra last summer so he could get the AC running when he got off work at the nuclear power plant west of Phoenix and was walking to the parking lot. Cost him $500 installed. He said it shuts off after about 15-20 min.

 

This would have the same range as the keyfob, so only 30-50 feet at best.

 

Great idea, remote detenations of cars in parking lots of nuclear facilities. Who thinks up and implements security?

 

I heard about this in the morning and got super excited. Let's see how much it will run, and how good and option it's capable of being.

 

You can't park a car anywhere near the reactors. Security there is huge. He's actually a reactor operator, which is what he did in the Navy. The remote starter works, he used it when we went skiing. Car was toasty warm when we got there from probably 1/4-1/2 mile away.

 

So let me get this straight. You are doing that Mini charge $2k do your car is warm when you get in it?... They have the programmed venting for when it's hot.

 

Anyone reach out to their dealership about parts and labor cost?

 

How about this kind of idea? There are plenty more if you search them up.

http://newatlas.com/car-interior-preheater/20575/

I must admit the idea of starting the car early so it can be warm seems stupid and a disaster for the environment. Especially when the car shuts off at the lights to save gas/stop pollution.

 

He did it to cool the car off in the Phoenix summer. I doubt whether more than a handful of people in Arizona actually have one of these things. They cost $500 after all. And you really have to be in motion for the compressor to really cool the car off well.

 

Dealership called me back and told me about $1,400. No thanks.