Re: Driver's side parcel shelf: I was told that US models weren't crash tested with it, so we don't get it. Nevertheless, as I understand it, 36 or so cars were shipped to the US with it installed, this in late Jan, '03, and there was a factory recall. Mine has it, and I wouldn't give it up. About the only one that got changed on the recall were the cars that were still in dealer's hands. They got changed, on MINI's nickel, but the changed-out units mostly wound up on the sales rep's cars! It's a great place to park a cell phone.

 

>>I don’t profess to be an expert, but I think a few of the differences between the Mexican spec and US spec MINI may be due in part to our sue happy society and jurors that don’t have a collective IQ of 50. The auto up windows would be a great case when little Jimmy gets his neck stuck in the window while mom rolls up the window with one touch and is busy putting on her make-up, drinking a Latte and talking on her cell phone while driving.

I see your point and you're probably right, but what the heck is little Jimmy doing in the FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT to begin with? Only the driver's window is auto-up, so unless little Jimmy is a sixteen year old moron with a driver's license, I don't see how this could happen...

Think of it this way..the sunroof is also auto-close, so little Jimmy could also stick his head out THAT way, and yet nobody disabled this feature on the sunroof, right?

Unless...Wait....are you telling me U.S. MINI sunroofs aren't auto-close EITHER??!!!

 

>>>> Heard the same thing from my MA when I picked mine up. I believe the truth lies in liability. Since we are a bit more lawsuit happy in the US than in other nations, I think it wasn't allowed for fear that it could potentially lead to a lawsuit if someone got their hand crushed. Or perhaps some crusader got the USA to set a regulation against it for fear of crushed hands.
>>
>>That's not true (well, the part about Americans being more litigeous is true) but I just drove/rented a half dozen BMWs in Southern Cal last month and they all had auto up windows. There seemed to be no sensor, though I understand other brands have them with such a sensor. So it's all marketing gibberish.

Gosh, this was just idle speculation on my part. I can't exactly account for all car models available in the US. But let's think about this a little. Fact: It is more expensive to maintain two different versions of a part on a car in production. The more similar the domestic and export editions of a car, the cheaper the costs to make. Maybe in this case it's not so much a part as the way it's put together, either way, there is a different process and, by definition, is more costly. I can't see any reason to have a difference unless there is a reason. As it was pointed out in this thread, the US usually gets the most advanced versions out, hence why the MINI One isn't on sale here. So I must ask, do you have a better reason than fear of monetary reprisal for an accident? I'd love to hear it. The sunroof, which is far more unlikely to get an extremity in the line of, is auto close.

 

>>Re: Driver's side parcel shelf: I was told that US models weren't crash tested with it, so we don't get it. Nevertheless, as I understand it, 36 or so cars were shipped to the US with it installed, this in late Jan, '03, and there was a factory recall. Mine has it, and I wouldn't give it up. About the only one that got changed on the recall were the cars that were still in dealer's hands. They got changed, on MINI's nickel, but the changed-out units mostly wound up on the sales rep's cars! It's a great place to park a cell phone.

Just to correct this:
The "mini recall" was for the "cubby shelf" which is a little pocket in what is otherwise a blank panel like the standard one.
The drivers side parcel shelf is a full shelf - there has not (yet?) been any official response to this, but my take is that since it can be ordered by a US MINI dealer then it is (unofficially) OK.

 

I just checked out the MINI UK site for the hell of it and they do offer some interesting things such as chrome line on the S and deleted 'Cooper' badges. It also seems that the head airbags are not standard. They even offer a rear seat entertainment package with monitors in the headrests and dvd player.

 

>> It also seems that the head airbags are not standard.

Yep, that's why we don't get the 'Oh My God' handles in the states...

Rocketboy_X

 

>>>>>>Somewhere in the lit it talks about the non-auto up windows being a 'safety' feature. I always thought that was bogus.

>>>> Heard the same thing from my MA when I picked mine up. I believe the truth lies in liability. Since we are a bit more lawsuit happy in the US than in other nations, I think it wasn't allowed for fear that it could potentially lead to a lawsuit if someone got their hand crushed. Or perhaps some crusader got the USA to set a regulation against it for fear of crushed hands.

>>Having had a 1966 S with sliding windows, I guess I am always amazed that the new ones are power! And auto down is cool for tolls, etc.

>>But auto up? Jeez. IMHO just hold the button for another couple of seconds....

Holding the button for another couple of seconds works well! :smile:

My car previous to my MINI had the auto-up feature, and I miss it. It was as handy to me as the auto down feature.

Raven

 

>>>>But auto up? Jeez. IMHO just hold the button for another couple of seconds....
>>

Auto-up windows are really handy with a manual transmission car, especially when going through highway toll booths. It keeps your hands where they're suposed to be, on the shift **** and on the wheel, not on the window switch.

 

Calvin, are you going for the same color MCS you had or plan on changing this time around?

 

For clarification purposes: the US MINI's sunroof is autoclose. Just not the driver's window. This feature would be great when coming out of a toll booth (especially when it's cold) and you are trying to 1) close the window quickly because it's cold outside. and 2) Shift to second because you are accelerating to get onto the highway. I think in an automatic it doesn't make much difference but it would be nice in a manual. Anyone know if this is just a programming option that we might just be able to enable? I know I'd want it.
-Chris

 

>> Auto-up windows are really handy with a manual transmission car, especially when going through highway toll booths. It keeps your hands where they're suposed to be, on the shift **** and on the wheel, not on the window switch.

Not to mention at the bank drive-thru, at the fast food drive-thru, dropping off mail, returning dvd/games to the rental place, etc.....

Rocketboy_X

 

>> By the way, I've heard that U.S. MINIs don't come with the emergency kit (emergency reflective triangles and road markers) that my MINI came with in a compartment on the underside of the rear hatch shelf.
>> Is this true? It doesn't sound right....
>>

I believe they do not come on US MINIs because they are not DOT approved. A friend just took European delivery of his BMW540, and was told to take the safety kit and first aid kit if he wanted them, as they would otherwise be thrown away before shipment to the US since they were not DOT approved.

 

>>Calvin, are you going for the same color MCS you had or plan on changing this time around?

I'm pretty sure I'm going for Dark Silver/White with Lapis Blue again...
I love it!

Things would get trickier if they offered the MCS in Pepper White with Cordoba leather, but since they don't, my decision is pretty much made!....

 

Calvin,
Did you discover anything about being able to import Lapis Blue carpet mats?

 

>>Calvin,
>>Did you discover anything about being able to import Lapis Blue carpet mats?
>>

I asked about them at my dealer in Mexico City, he can order them for me and a complete set of four Lapis Blue carpet mats runs about $95 Dollars.
It takes about 20-25 days for them to arrive from the European MINI plant.

I'm thinking of ordering a few sets before I move to the U.S. and selling them to U.S. MINI owners who want original Lapis Blue mats for their MINIs.