I have a 2005 on order, and have been following whatever information I can get from the internet regarding the process. I have read somewhere that before the car is actually built, someone from Mini will call and ask about how you want the car programmed at delivery. Things like daytime running lights on or off, door lock at speed, even radio stations.

I have also seen people talk about things like fog light installs where the dealer wants to charge $90 just to flash the EPROM to allow it.

What options are there in reality upon delivery and what choices are made "in advance?" If I want the fogs activated (if they even exist on 2005's) can I request that in advance for free?

Those of you who have been through the process - is this just an apocryphal story, or the truth? What options are available?

I note that some people who have been following their 2005 builds have cars waiting for the boat, but have not mentioned any choices they have had to make. Is this done at the dealer or in the States when being prepped for delivery to the dealer?

 

Programming the options is the dealer's responsibility. Each dealer has a list of options that they know how to program. fwiw, I have yet to see two dealers with the same list of options and I've been to several.

If you're lucky, someone from the dealer will call you to ask your preferences. If you're really lucky, someone at the dealer will actually know about the options you want and how to program them.

There should be no charge for the first time the selling dealer programs the options -- there will probably be a charge if you decide to change options later.

Good luck...

 

As far as programming goes, all you have to do is tell your dealer before you pick up the car. They will program it when they prep it.

As far as the fogs go for NEW MINIs, they are a factory option. If you ordered them, there should be no programming necessary. The programming is only for the rear fogs on 2002 and 2003 MINIs - before that option was available from the factory.

Hope that helps!

 

There is no factory rear fog option for the 05. It has moved to the rear bumper where the reverse light used to be. There should be a dealer installed option later in the year. Blame California for this one. They say its illegal there.

 

OK, so if all the dealers seem to have different lists, what are the things I should ask for. Are daytime running lights a good thing when you have Xenons? What options are possible I might not be offered?

I like the doors to automatically lock over 10 mph - I think thats an option.
I ordered the HK stereo - are there additional options for that?

 

Hey Joe:

I'm waiting in line for my MINI as well. It was built last weekend and a few days ago I recieved an email from MINI USA that had a link to a page on its web site where I could "mind meld" with my MINI. There, I could set preferences for daytime running lights, keyless entry and radio station presets. I was even able to pick out a complementary CD that will come with the MINI. The email came a few days after the car was built, and according to the site, my dealer will be responsible for programming and customizing my car to my specifications.

 

So this choice is made at the MiniUSA level, not the dealer level.

 

This is a welcome development and this is how they should have handled it from the very beginning -- through the website. It should be very entertaining to see how they handle this. I'll be amazed if they can pull it off - almost everything Mini USA does is amateurish, if not incompetent!


JoeDentist:

If you do a search for "programmable options", you'll find lots of posts containing lots of lists of options people have discovered. Also, if you download the owner's manual, it will contain the official options, although they're scattered all over the place.

The trick is finding a dealer who knows how to program them (or who even knows about a particular option...). Don't be surprised if you're told "Oh, this software version doesn't support that option". They know that's one excuse you won't be able to challenge!

 

If you find options you want here on NAM and your dealer does not support the option have MINUSA give them a call on how to do that option. I did for the auto unlock on engine shutoff. That is a nice option to compliment auto lock at 10mph.:smile:

 

In Canada, Xenons are standard and daytime runing lights are the default option. I've had no problem with them.

What I have had a problem with but have not yet had changed was the double unlock click required on the key to open the passenger and trunk locks. This can be changed to one click unlocks everything.

My wife hates the auto lock feature and wants it disabled. The double pull on the inside door handle required to open a locked door seems to confuse people.

I was not presented with a list of options, but the dealer was prepared to reprogram my choices for free after delivery. I was happy with the defaults except for the two listed above.

 

That is how I want mine to operate and I know that it can be done based on reports from others (on this site and Mini2).

But nobody at Mini USA seems to know about it. The dealers either feign ignorance or surprise when asked about it. And of course none of the techs know how to set it.

It's a daily annoyance but I've given up trying to get it programmed.

Amazingly, they did know how to disable the automatic locking feature. (That "feature" was even more annoying!)

If they're not willing to let the Mini USA staff and the dealers in on the secret of how to program the options, they should let the customers do it for themselves through some sort of setup mode using the LCD display and pushbutton sequences. It would make it easier for all concerned...

 

I hated the autolock option too. Dealer was not able to unprogram it, but they DID program it so that the doors unlock when I turn the ignition key off.

They told me that the unlock-all with one button push was in a later version of the programming software than what they had. So I still have to double-click to unlock all the doors.

Also, I never received anything from MINI about the programming since I was buying what was to be a dealer stock car. So I emailed my MA and told her how I wanted everything programmed.

 

Joedentist, are you a member over on MINI2? Here is a link they have for tracking and order info. I found it much more helpful than the MINIUSA site.

http://www.mini2.com/forum/showthread.php?t=17488

They also have a link to the programming list. You need to be a member to view.

 

I'm with MINI USA. All MINI's come from the factory with the selective unlocking feature activated. This allows for the opening of the driver's door with one push of the button and then the passenger door and boot with a second click. I'm sorry your dealer had a problem deactivating this feature, but we are here to help. Please phone us at 866 ASK.MINI and be sure to mention Reference # 200421200322 so that we can help you more efficiently.

 

We only have xenon for the low beam for the 04' so the drls run off the high beam halogens at low power.

The one lock thing is cool. We don't have it and it requires a second press of the button to allow passenger door or boot access.

 

Thanks. I will try calling them yet again. Last time I called, they told me this couldn't be done, even though I had seen several reports to the contrary.

Although I appreciate your reaching out to try to help me in particular, it would be much more helpful to all your customers if you folks could send a memo to ALL of your dealers containing detailed procedures for programming ALL of the options. Thanks.

 

Meanboy



When you say that you only have Xenons on low beam on the 04's are you insinuating that it is different on the 05's. I was under the impression that the high beam on the 05 is still a halogen, not Xenon.

 

Joe... Great question! My Mini will be here w/in the week. My MA called me today to give me the bad news. No Satellite radio for '05. He couldn't tell me if it was not an option or just not in yet. I asked him about the programable stuff, like the DTRL. He said that he really didn't think there was anything to program, but DTRL. My mini will be here in less than a week and there is no "mind melding" going on here. Great info from MINIDivision... just get it to your dealer/MA's. I'm still looking forward to picking up the MINI early next week! I'll figure it out.

 

Joedentist,

Just stated that I don't know what the 05' has. The 04' high beams are halogen and I believe the bi-xenon have only one bulb and the reflector determines high and low beam.

Since you stated that the 05' are halogens then you have just answered your own question on DRL.

 

Care to share how you programmed the autolock at 10 mph?

 

You guys should all take advantage of MINIDivision's kind offer of assistance (see their post above). I'm sure whoever handled that response will also know how to program all of the other options.

Here's the salient info from the earlier post:

"Please phone us at 866 ASK.MINI and be sure to mention Reference # 200421200322 so that we can help you more efficiently."

 

When I picked it up I had the dealer program it in. So my car locks at 10mph and unlocks at engine shut off. My dealer was not aware of the unlock feature. So I asked MINIUSA to inform them how to do it.:smile:

 

All 05s come with Sirius preperation. I think that it just uses the antenna that is on the car. No more replacment.

 

According to ASK MINI, my dealer and Classic the old sirrius kit will not work with the 2005 setup, they are redesigning the system b/c of the new antanae uses different wiring or something.