Hi Everyone,

I am still very much in the learning stages of MINI ownership and enjoying the NAM experience and learning all the time. While my car was not a bare bones MCS it sure didnt come with every available option. I have been searching archives, threads and posts for various answers to questions with somewhat frustrating results at times. For the inexperienced new owners like myself I thought it would be a good resource to have one place on NAM that owners could go to find a description of what OEM options could be added to your car if your car didnt come equipped with them from the factory. A few examples. Obviously, adding a factory sun-roof while technically possible would be far from practical. A better example would be that it is possible to add OEM foglights and they sell a retro fit kit to do exactly that.

So, towards that end, can people list the mods they have done to their car where they have added OEM options to their car?

Sort of fill out the following information:

1. OEM option added or even what OEM options are impractical to add and why?
2. Completed yourself or dealer added?
3. Approximate cost of addition?
4. Difficulty of installation?
5. Approximate time needed to complete installation?
6. Any links to NAM or web information about the process?

Sample Options might include but not limited to: Heated Seats, Xenon lights, rear fog lights, front fog lights, Nav, Auto Temp control, etc.

I am not looking to duplicate information already on the site but would like to offer one stop shopping for people to be able to easily find the information that already exists.

Thanks in advance for everyone's advice and insight.

 

one thing i know that CAN'T be added is the dimming rear view mirror. i just had mine at the dealer and inquired about addidng one, i was told that it would need to be wired from the factory.

 

I thought this would be a good idea. Guess not. Anyone have any other information they would like to add? Am I duplicating a post that I couldnt find when I searched?

 

Interesting about the mirror. There was a thread a few months ago where someone did it and the wiring was there. I think it was an '06 though.

 

What about adding driving lights?? Is the wiring there? I know the switch pannel would have to be changed

Cheers
Rob

 

I think that this is a great idea, I hope that this thread stays alive and people contribute!

-Chase

 

Basically everything on page 5 of the configurator is dealer-installable. Obviously that's a bit tougher now since the configurator has been updated for R56s...

...but you can still look at the convertible (R52) options to get some idea of the dealer-installed options.

 

This is just a quick post but...

I installed an OEM armrest was about $200ish at the time and took about an hour.

JCW carbon Dash and shift **** $700ish and about 30 min install.

Will be doing the JCW Alcantera steering wheel this weekend cost $400ish and hopefully less than an hour install

 

Rear fog-in some cases an easy install. Early models require adding the wire harness and is a major task.

 

I installed OEM mud flaps on the front, took about 15 minutes.

Here is a link for OEM part numbers.
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/partgrp.d...id=48018&hg=51

Mark

 

I added oem mud flaps, a few chrome pieces, The euro parcel shelf, pedals and fog lights(front and rear and swapped out the switch panel for these). The rest of my mods have been aftermarket.

 

Forgot, I installed the Aux. input jack for the Ipods, that took about 20 minutes.

Mark

 

Driving lights - Big silver lights mounted on bonnet, used in addition to high beams - Wiring must be added, switch installed in knee bolster or euro parcel shelf

Fog lights - small lights installed low in bumper, used in addition to low beams (or parking/running lights) - wiring must be added, activated by toggle switch, new toggle panel and BC1 programming needed.

I've added rear fog, driving lights and power folding mirrors (partial OEM)

Rear fog required new toggle panel and reprogramming
cost - $70 + $70
Time - 20 minutes + dealer reprogramming

Driving lights
cost - $150 from ebay ($350 from dealer)
Time - several hours for wiring and several days to get up the nerve to drill holes in my grill for the lights.

 

Eric...Thank you X3. Your post is exactly what I was hoping people would do. I hope that others will follow your lead and contribute in a like manner.

Aaron

 

Can a multi-function steering wheel be added if not included as original equipment? If yes how involved?

 

new guy to the mini here too. i'd like to know about adding a navigation eventually to an 2003 R50. nice idea with the thread.

 

I've been really interested in this as well, and have done quite a bit of research. So far it seems like if the wiring is already there in the steering wheel, it is just a matter of getting the retrofit kit and adding the panels with the buttons and then convincing the dealer to tell your Mini to recognize that it is there. I think the retrofit kit is about $400, and you should be able to install in about a half an hour or so.

If your steering wheel doesn't already have the wiring, you can replace the whole wheel, but that seems to be not really worth the effort, since the whole process then would cost more than the package that includes the MFSW when ordering from the factory.

That is what I've learned in my travels through NAM, hope it helps!

 

Its been a year plus, anyone want to add any of their experiences to this thread?

 

05 here. I switched my mirror to an auto-dim recently. No wiring changes needed, it was plug and play.

 

Appreciate the post. Hope others will follow suit. Thanks.

 

1. OEM option added or even what OEM options are impractical to add and why? OEM Alarm
2. Completed yourself or dealer added? myself (no previous experience)
3. Approximate cost of addition? $250
4. Difficulty of installation? 1-10.... 3
5. Approximate time needed to complete installation? 1 hour or less
6. Any links to NAM or web information about the process? Yes, several.


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1. OEM option added or even what OEM options are impractical to add and why? Anthracite Interior (only available on 05 and newer models, but I made it work on my 04 although it is much harder.)
2. Completed yourself or dealer added? Myself
3. Approximate cost of addition? +$1000
4. Difficulty of installation? 1-10... 8
5. Approximate time needed to complete installation? Couple days, but took me few weeks get past snags, ordering parts, that popped up etc.
6. Any links to NAM or web information about the process? One post I started, no other information existed beforehand.

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Also, JCW carbonfiber dash can be had for less than $350 now, and downtubes are down to $180.

 

Gosh thats alot of typing, maybe scan options available might be easier, from 05-06 Options catalog, 06 JCW catalog, and the 06 MINI brochure
Nevermind, thought you just wanted to know what options are out there.

 

Does anybody know if the MFSW retrofit kit includes the parts needed to add cruise control to the car? I'm assuming it's a lot more involved than just swapping the steering wheel out.

Also, has anybody ever done a 2002 R53? Is the swap plug n play in these cars as well?

So far, I've found these cars to be pretty easy to work on...
In the month that I've had mine:

• I replaced a couple of the wheel arch trim pieces
• I replaced the reverse light switch
• Replaced the passenger seat outside recline lever (there's a design flaw on the original that makes them prone to failure, fixed on the replacement part)
• Swapped out the stock shift **** insert with a Union Jack insert
• Swapping the stock reverse light bulb with a halogen upgrade tomorrow.
• Ordered and plan to install new Union Jack Mirror Caps (not covers)

Future mods I'm considering:

• MFSW with Cruise Control...depending on how hard it is...
• Bonnet Stripes
• XM Radio and iPod Harness
• OEM Fog Lights and Driving Lights (new wiring harness and switchbank)
• Heated seats would be awesome (how much of a pain is that?)

 

JCW Steering Wheel, Shifter, & E-Brake in Alcantara
Aux Plug, gonna remove after iPod Interface install
Sirius & Antenna, disconnected, gonna remove
Harness
GPS
Armrest, removed
R56 Shift Light
Start Button Panel
Euro Shelf
Cabrio Braces
Reverse/Back-Up Light, white-want to do RKW mod
R56 JCW Tips
iPod Interface Adaptor, gonna install
Investigated oem cabrio chassis stiffener, but cannot do it due to GP under panels, not sure of JCW aero kit fitted MINIs, but MCS it's possible.
I am considering oem R50 CVT oil cooler and 02-04 JCW "kinkless" Exhaust and investigating R50 vibration dampener.
Also want, Antenna Rear-View Mirror and try both Aspherical and Convex Driver's Side Mirrors to see which I like better

 

I'm gonna add a B-I-G second to the request for knowledge about Cruise Control.

My Mini came with very few options, which is fine by me, but I really miss the cruise control. It saves me from getting speeding tickets on long trips.