I am slightly confused about ordering parts for my Cooper S. It is a 2004 but was actually made in October 2003. When ordering things such as short shift kits, exhausts, brake pads, and several other things, it seems that the 2003 models are different than the 2004 and I am not sure which to order. Is there a cutoff date on the date of manufacture or on the actual registered year? Is there a serial/VIN cutoff number?

 

I believe the cutoff was December of 03. All of the Jan 04 and later models are what have the changes. Wait for a couple others to reply to make sure Im correct.

 

So cars made prior to December '03, even if they are '04 models, would be considered an '03 for parts purposes?

 

No, if you have an '04 is was built between Aug 2003 and July 2004. Even if it was built in 2003, as long as it was after Aug 2003 than you have a 2004 Model Year car so you order parts for a 2004 not a 2003...

 

Im sorry but I dont think thats correct. I know that you have an 04, even if you received it in October, but the changes for the 04 didnt go into effect until December 03 built cars.

Thats my story and im stickin to it! Why dont you call Randy Webb, he could answer your questions for you. Also, this sort of backs up my point:

http://altaminiperformance.com/produ...HORTSHIFT.html

 

There were a number of minor changes implemented in 12/03 build cars, but for major stuff like brake pads, I believe an 04 is an 04. A savvy parts guy should be asking you for your manufacture date if the part you want was changed mid year.

 

I had the exact same question last week, as mine has a Oct 2003 build date.
I wanted to get the B&M short shifter from Outmotoring, and in the description they
warn that the build date must be prior to Oct. 2003.

I contacted them and their reply was:

That is the cutoff, but we are not sure which week in the 10th
month the cutoff happened. We just had a customer that had
a 2nd week build that used the old size, but who really
knows? We have seen an actual production date change
from MINI.

The only difference is the diameter of the shifter at the pivot
as well as the diameter of the ball. the newer ones are bigger
by about 1/2" There is no way to tell unless you tear off your
exhausst and pull down the metal stuff and see what the ball
and shaft measure.

Or...try posting on northamericanmotoring.com to see if
anyone has the day that MINI switched...

Anybody have the day?

 

The MCS exhaust hangers were changed as of Feb. 2004. Anything produced in January 04 or earlier have the old style hangers.

 

>>The MCS exhaust hangers were changed as of Feb. 2004. Anything produced in January 04 or earlier have the old style hangers.

I have a 1/04 MCS with new hangers

 

Ok, there's really no "drop dead date" here. The Model Year starts in July/August. ALL vehicles built after July/August are part of the next model year... i.e. a car built in 9-2003 is a MY 2004 car, and a car built 6-2003 is a 2003 MY car.

However, just to make everybody's life miserable, MINI phases in changes throughout the year. For example... HK, and rain sensing wipers came in DEC 2002 build vehilces, DVD nav came in Mar 2003... yet they are all 2003 MY vehicles.

If there is some concern over parts, the issue is going to depend on what the specific part is. The only way to know for sure is to see if MINI will tell you when the switch was made... My experience so far has been that ASK-MINI will give you that information if they have it...