My Mini is at the VPC in New Jersey, and I am starting to get the last minute jitters. I do not live near a dealer, and am picking the car up at MOTH, so I want to know what to buy while I am there.

First Question: Does the MC/S have a locking gas cap. With the price of gas going up, and the fact that someone once sugared the gas in my Triumph Spitfire which had a very attractive chrome quick-release gas cap with no lock, am I going to be unprotected? Is there some sort of accessory lock sold by Mini if there is no built-in one?

Second Question: Is this a one-key car, i.e. one key opens all doors, hatches and the glove compartment? And gas cap lock if there? My Honda Element requires a second big klunky key for the gas cap lock.

Third Question: Are the factory rubber mats of high quality, or is it best to go with the aftermarket kind. We have lots of mud around here and rubber mats are really helpful. Are the factory mats good quality? Overpriced?

 

Lucky dog, mine is still waiting to be born.

1) They do not have a locking gas cap. I'm sure you could get one though, but maybe not from the dealer.
2) There is in fact one key, best of all it is slightly smaller than the previous years.
3) The factory rubber mats are of good quality, as are most aftermarket mats. So if you want to look around and see what mats you like most and get those.

 

On the MCS the gas cap locks with the doors. The "valet key" only runs the car. I have had the rubber mats for two years and really like them.

Godspeed.

 

DOH! Thanks cooperbeagle, I forgot that the cap locks with the doors on all Cooper models.

 

I have an 02 so it might be a little different than the 05's but anyway:

One key will automatically open drivers door, press again and it will open passenger door, gas lid and boot hatch.

Rubber mats from MINI are a great buy.......I've had the carpet mats for about 2 years and the circle for my feet is wearing down and turning grey. Also they do tend to slide around alot (I didn't want to damage the OEM carpet by screwing in those fasteners that look like they would tear the dickens out of it). I lived with the mats sliding around until I got the nice rubber ones. They weigh about 3-5 pounds apiece in the front and maybe 1-2 for the rear. They DON'T slide around and it will keep my carpet underneath pristine and clear from tear marks. I've already had multiple drinks flail around and spill in the floor. The rubber mats also have a raised lip to hold a lot of water.........not a WHOLE lot, but it would hold probably a Route 44 from Sonic.......hope this helps.....

Don't worry about the jitters! You're getting a MINI!

 

The keyless locking gas cap is a ... gas... you push the unlock button on your key to unlock the cap. You can also, in an emergency, like no electric system, pull a cable inside the boot to unlock the gas.

I have carpeted floor mats. Very nice looking. They put a circle of tougher material in front of the gas pedal, to ease the wearing. They hold in place very neatly with "velcro-type" fasteners. Don't slip around at all.

The rubber are probably easier for spills and such, but we took Union Jack camping a while back, and the dirt came right out of the mats with a vacuuming and a go-over with a damp cloth.

We don't carry drinks in UJ.

Enjoy your new MINI! You'll never be the same!

 

Nope, just on the S, we run unsecured in the Coopers!

 

Are you sure? I could swear I had a locking door on my Cooper. I must be losing it. Sorry for all of my wrong posts, I'm going through MINI withdawl.

 

Maybe I'm wrong too but I swear the Cooper's gas cap locks also. We put a S gas cap on our MC & I know it locks. But I just can't remember

Lois

 

All Cooper Gas caps lock....If you cap or door is not locked when you lock the car you have a problem.

 

Whew! I thought I was really losing it!

 

The gas cap locks on MC's,and there is a manual release inside the driver side cubby in the boot.

 

Gas cap locks with doors locking; unlocks with driver's side door unlocking.

One key unlocks the whole car.
-Push once for driver's side door, twice for the rest of the car.
-Push twice and hold on second time for 'comfort opening' which opens both windows and sunroof if you have one. (My '03 MCS does this if I push and hold on the first try, but I learned today that it only does it on the second try with '04s). This setting usually comes standard on new cars, unless you ask the dealer to program something else.
-If you want to close and lock all windows/sunroof, put the key into the driver's side lock (there isn't one on passenger side or boot) and turn to lock the car. Hold the key in that position and windows/sunroof will close and if you have the alarm it will be set.

I've had the rubber mats since I took delivery and I love them! I've yet to hear anyone who has them who doesn't like them!

 

Hey I didn't know the key in the door lock put up the windows.Have to try that in the morning:smile:

 

"My Mini is at the VPC in New Jersey, and I am starting to get the last minute jitters".

Funny...that's the same feeling I got last month before seeing my dentist. I missed my 6-mo visit so had not seen him in a year.

 

What I like is when I stop the car and pull the hand brake and turn off the car, everything unlocks! The 2 doors, the boot and the gas cap. Then when I drive off, after about 2-3 seconds, everything locks. and when I walk away, when I hit the lock button on the key, everything locks even the gas cap. When I return and hit the unlock button, only my door opens. If it hit it a second time, everything else opens.


When I bought my car they threw in a set of carpet mats. They are great. If I were in a place where my feet were always dirty, I'd get the rubber mats in a heartbeat!

 

Mine never has locked, and I've looked, there is nothing that could possibly latch the cap or the door. I don't have any latches on the door and when it comes to the cap there's nothing that looks like it could lock the cap in, or even blank cutouts where there should be something to lock the cap in.

 

So what I am hearing is rubber mats good, locking gas cap, who knows? I guess I will just have to wait and see if it locks and get back to you. With gas prices going up, I would certainly think that if the gas cap did not lock, BMW would offer a lock of some sort. This may be one of those features they snuck in without announcing.

 

The door to my Cooper gas cap licks via central locking. The gas cap itself doesn't...just the door...which is probably adequate.

Rubber mats.................very good. (I have carpet and have liked them, too.)

Very excited for you, Joe, with the soon arrival of your MINI. You will have a blast!!!

 

The door to the fuel filler locks on MC and MCS ... I have owned both. The door could be forced, then the cap does not have its own key lock, but if someone is so desperate, the fuel is probably your last worry.

One key does all - the 2005 key is the same size as the older ones, but a little thinner.


Don't know about the rubber mats, but the Canadian lapis carpet mats I got are not lasting all that well :(

 

My 2003 MCS had a locking gas cap, so I will assume the 2005 is the same. I flip-flopped on the mats and now I've decided on the rubber ones including the one in the rear storage area. By the way, I saw a Purple Haze MCS at my dealer the other day and it looked really good. It also had the white bonnet stripes. I've got a HB/W MCS due in tomorrow so I'm keeping my fingers crossed. JoeDentist, you did well with the Purple Haze.


Karl

 

JoeDentist,
Stop the concern about someone stealing your %&^* gas. Your new MINI will have a locking gas flap! If someone wants to break it open and steal your gas there's nothing you or anyone can do about it! No one has said to you, the new MINI doesn't have a passenger door lock, doesn't have a glove door lock, doesn't have a boot lock. The passenger, boot locks are electric, as is the gas door lock, as for as I know, the glove compartment locks (they don't lock) could change in the 05 MINIs, I don't know. You just need to CHILL. Just get a good alarm system. I believe you will LOVE your new MINI.
Charles

P.S.
What I mean in they don't have a lock is: You can lock and unlock them by remote. They lock and unlock... you just can't open or lock them using a key, there electric.

 

1. YES, despite mbabischkin's confusion, ALL MINI's come with locking fuel doors

2. Yes, one key. There is only one hole in the exterior for a key, and it's in the driver door. With '02-'04's, there is no locking glove box, so I can only assume the '05's use the same key.

3. The MINI Rubber Mats are of top-shelf quality, unlike the US-spec carpet mats, which are cheap and flimsy.

 

Ryephile,
Thanks for your pithy posts. You have been enlightening, hope everyone understands.
Charles

 

Thanks Charles. I guess I'm not often one for extraneous fluff - except when I'm in OT
Motor-On,
Ryan