What's the cost from the dealer?

 

I'll only stay there if it's not sliding down a hill...
Seriously though, in your original post you were irked because the cars 'cost the same'. But they don't. New owners are essentially paying $500 for their armrest. Sounds like a deal to me!

 

as that's the way it is whenever you buy something. Of course you could have waited and hoped for it to be an added extra, but I've a sneaking suspicision you would have found something else to complain about.

In a perfect world there wouldn't be people who whine at such inconsequential things.

 

I understand you loud and clear goaljnky, my purchase was 1/9/2005 and did I get an armrest? NO! Did I pay the extra $500 markup MSRP and for the Premium package? YES!

In addition to that my salesperson told me that armrest is somthing MINI has been promising for a long time but it will most likely never happen! Double . So where is my armrest? I want one too!

 

$204 + tax

 

Hmm, did not know that. That does suck... Of for a drive I go...

 

Ok, rsbell DID get screwed - more $ and no armrest.

No sympathy on the markup though. If all Californians would revolt and REFUSE to pay ADM on their MINI (LOTS of non-CA dealers selling at MSRP, just have it shipped for less than markup $, then no additional tax, license, etc) then they wouldn't be ABLE to charge ADM.

 

I didn't enjoy paying the $500 more, and I also don't want a lot of the junk they are "adding on"--- who wants my visor, behind dash storage box, and cupholder? I'm gonna chuck 'em all when it comes in... sorry, but at the time I ordered, the armrest wasn't part of the deal, or I'd offer that as well... !

 

It's not sliding down the hill. The hill is sliding towards it. Thanks for asking.

And thanks to everyone for the input. Now I don't feel as bad. Plus I like the last year's armrest better anyway.

 

Ohhhhhhh... I get it now!!!!


Boy, that didn't take too long, did it?

 

Great, I didnt even realize my 05 was gunna come with an armrest, I certainly dont want it. Please tell me its easily removable....

 

ahahaha!

thank god mine doesn't have an armrest. I can't stand all these "accessories" (I call them tchotchkes) that MINI is adding.. armrests, tack on cup holders, storage bins... ugh! Some nice shiny pedals would be nice though....

 

I can't stand the armrest. My A4 has one and it always gets in the way of everything. If my MCS comes with one, you can have it! I'll drive cross country if I have to and deliver it personally. Hey, any excuse for a road trip right?

 

Hmm, you know nothing about me, but are willing to make judgements? I guess people like you don't make for a perfect world, either.

 

I actually thought the armrest would be usefull as a small place to keep my phone so it doesnt fly around and when on a long boring drive it would be nice to rest your arm on. BUT when I installed it although it looked good and all it was nothing more than in my way and made shifting less comfortable. I kept it in the car a day or 2 and took it out. If it were auto MAYBE but with the stick its just in the way and makes you shift from the top..kind weird feeling for me. I sold mine to another NAM member that I am sure will be very happy with it.

Its a very nice unit just didnt work for me. I guess we are going into that "grass is always greener" situation

 

Armrest is one of those things I have not missed in these cars.

 

Ditto on being glad that I don't have an armrest and all the other new crap. I'm also glad that I didn't get the stupid glovebox auxiliary jack, since I like it much better on the parcel shelf.

 

What would be the difference between a updated 2003 MCS (the one that has the aluminum pedals and perforated wheel) and a october build 2004 MCS?

 

About a year?

 

haha. Like really-what were the changes in the late 03 to mid 04 production build?

 

Not sure when these items changed- some of this hinges on whether or not an Oct. 04 build is an 05 model year car, but possibly:

suspension damping
transaxle gearing
engine output ratings
optional wheel choices
head unit MP3 CD playback capability
rear exhaust mount orientation
front fascia
headlamps (reflector/projector assemblies)
rear lamps
hues of blue offered
clock moved from headliner to dash
driver side sun visor and passenger oh s**t handle added
anthracite headliner (?)
probably some other stuff I'm forgetting

I'll keep my high-mounted rear foglamps, center-mounted backup lamp, friendlier-looking Xenon headlamps, high-mounted clock, and indi blue paint, thankyouverymuch. Sounds like I missed out on the stiffer dampers, though. Thought I got in under the wire, but YuccaPatrol sez no (7/03 build.) May go JCW or KW V2 to correct this.

As far as fixing what the factory missed, I was the first person to order the rear fog retrofit from MINI of Sterling. I bugged the MA and service advisors about it for months before it was actually available. I knew about the existence of the kit before they did, thanks to Motoringfile and NAM. It's funny to watch what happens when you produce copies of MINI internal documents that dealer staff haven't yet seen!

Would have been the first to have it installed, too, but MINI sent them the wrong part (mislabeled on the TSB- not the dealer's fault, I cross checked it with my own copy of the bulletin when the parts order was placed.) So, one other car was done before the correct replacement for mine arrived. I am glad that 04 buyers got to order it from the factory, as all of us should have from the start. I'm not bitter about having to pay extra for it- what counts is that I got it!

What angered me about the situation was that MINI corporate had the gall to stonewall us '02 and '03 owners for so long. Before they relented and released the retrofit kit, the excuse MINI/BMW Corporate offered all but openly stated "U.S. drivers are too stupid to be trusted to use them properly." The lamps and the wiring were already in our cars- all we wanted was to buy the switch and have the dealer program the BCM to activate them! Meanwhile, I could walk across the hall at the dealer and test drive any of several BMW models that were equipped from the factory with a rear fog lamp option. So, I guess some U.S. drivers were judged worthy by BMW...go figure.

Lots of letters and an online petition from MINI owners ready to pay for the kit finally convinced MINI USA to change things for the better. Now, my biggest hope is that the MINI design team listened to the MINI enthusiast community, and won't let Chris Bangle put a Toyota rear end on the R56...

Now, if they'll just bring back Velvet Red...

 

My Dec. 02 build MCS has a driver-side sunvisor...

 

Sorry-i meant to say that the second car was an 04 model, but was build in october 2003. The first car is a 2003 model year but appears to be the "updated version". They look to be almost identical, and was wondering if there was any differences. hehe, sorry about the mis date indymini. I cant see any obvious differences, just a couple of months in production date.

 

Chances are the only physical difference at that time was the availability of the rear fog lamps as a factory-installed option- unless the revised (stonger) windscreen glass was fitted in 10/03 also.

One other difference between early and late 03 calendar year builds was DME software version. Mine shipped with v34 factory loaded. I went through the following additional revisions as soon as they were released, trying to fix assorted drivability issues (drove home the day of delivery with bog, stumble, and yo-yo):

35
36 (sorta fixed the stumble, but introduced intermittent rough idle)
37 (did nothing)
(skipped 38)
39 (running this now. only very slight yo-yo left, and I've grown accustomed to the rough idle thing. Blip the throttle a few times and it clears- no biggie.)

Do I dare go 4-0? I dunno!

How many times can a DME be reflashed before it won't accept any more updates? Not sure, but I read somewhere that it's finite. Hope I don't find out firsthand.

OmToast, I was thinking of a second, side-mounted driver's sun visor that's mounted above the driver's door opening (where the oh s**t handle goes on the other side) in addition the the ones over the windscreen header. My bad for not specifying! Or do you have that one? I might have to get jealous if you do!

 

Forgot about revised door handles, too. Supposed to help prevent them from jamming to due water freezing in/on them.

Can't vouch for that update's efficacy, since my littlie sleeps in a carport.