Mine is a convertible. I don't have the oh s**t handle!!! How, then, do I add the side-mounted visor???!!!

 

Tattman's Fix for the retro-fitting of the side-mounted sun-visor in your cabrio:

1) Buy a nice dressy men's shirt. Go ahead, do it - new clothes make me feel grand :smile: .

2) Open the package carefully to avoid damaging the cardboard to which the shirt is pinned.

3) Set aside the shirt (or if it's without buttons and made of good quality waffle weave microfiber, just add it to your detailing kit!

4) MOTOR somewhere sunny, holding your new shirt-cardboard sunvisor aloft in your left hand as you go!

It's late and I'm surly,
Tatt

 

Sure you do. On cabrio models, the oh s**t handle has been relocated to just aft of the rear seats, and a second one added, for the convenience of the other rear seat passenger. They are chrome-plated for easy identification in grabtastic emergency situations.

Now I know why the MCS/MCSc-a and MC/MCc-CVT have shift paddles on both sides of the wheel. It facilitates keeping a hand free to support the optional extra visor!

 

My Oct 02 build MCS had the rubber pedals, old style steering wheel and stiffer dampers.

I actually like most of the changes in the 1/05 build cars, with the exception of the clock placement. I wasnt too fond of the cupholder either. That came out as soon as I got the car home. I like how the new door armrests actually function as an armrest now, but it makes it harder to put stuff in the pockets.

 

My ex-2004 MCS (9/2003 build date) had the revised shocks, metallic pedals and 2 spoke sport (Raised thumbs) MFSW wheel with the thicker perforated leather.

I am not that crazy about the new 3 spoker wheel, but there are no other choices if you want a new '05.

 

Hmm, something in flannel, perhaps...

 

I'll take it!

Rawhyde

PS I'm serious...PM me if you want to sell it

 

My 03 MC has no turbo,the 07 looks like it will have one.should I get one for free
All cars change,even in a production year,ye gets whats ya pay for

 

Unless you are me! Ha! I'm kidding, please don't start another rant!

I am however annoyed my salesman told me the armrest was a MINI "dream" that was never going to happen, and here we are 5 weeks later there is a huge deal about it.

Since so many of you actually don't like it I feel a bit better!

 

Glad I'm not the only one who doesn't miss the armrest. Only been a few weeks, but I have yet to yearn for one, even during the 3,200 mile trip home. Thought about getting one when I saw it on Motoringfile, but the way they mount, they seem to take up space more efficiently than they provide comfort.

Phew, that was close. Guess I don't have to go to SoCal now, unless I'm visiting the in-laws.

 

I ordered my Mini Convertible in mid '04, but since I ordered it with Limited Slip this required January production (since it wasn't being produced until then). I just picked it up 2 weeks ago. Even though my order was placed with Mini BEFORE the $500 price increase, my dealer told me that Mini had raised the price on all Mini's BUILT after Jan. 1, even if they had been ORDERED before then. So I was charged the extra $500. My dealer claimed that Mini was charging him the extra money, so it was Mini shaking me down for an extra $500, not him. Did anyone else have the same experience?

As for those who get an armrest and don't want it, I'll gladly buy yours for a reasonable price. I didn't get the armrest either, and personally I do miss it on long drives.

 

Well, I had an '02 Cooper. Lowered it, changed the exhauts and wheels. It was loud & mean. No cupholders or armrest. I now drive a BMW M Coupe. Still no armrest, and absolutely NO PLACE to put cups. I don't drink in the car....any car goes through various changes. No need to rant - buy the car, don't look back.

My ownership of the MINI opened new worlds for me - worlds into perfomrance and modifications. And a world into enthusiasm, which I thought was long gone. If you never had the option, don't even think about it. Drive that MINI like the world will never end.

 

All I can say about arm rests is at the track I put my left elbow on the door as the window was down and the instructor said !#!@%&*&%$% (which translated was, "would you please not put your elbow there, thank you." I'm glad I don't have an arm rest or I might have been using it too.

I guess having both hands on the wheel and neither elbow touching anything I feel "I'm at the ready" in case some jerk cuts me off again. A while back I was driving in a light traffic area, me and two vehicles ahead of me in the slow lane, them going slow, I pulled out to pass quite a ways back and as I approached (at my usual speed) the rear car moved in front of me (now both lanes are occupied) and Jammed his brakes hard for no reason. Had my elbow been on the arm rest I may not have made it.

Earl

 

[QUOTE=So I was charged the extra $500. My dealer claimed that Mini was charging him the extra money, so it was Mini shaking me down for an extra $500, not him. Did anyone else have the same experience?

[b]No[/b], I bought my car (put a deposit down) mid-December for a January build (3d week) in order to get the LSD option and I paid the price that was in effect at the time of my order, no increase. I'd check with MINIUSA to see what it's policy was to make certain your dealer didn't con you.

 

My main concern is all the difference in the 05 model. Because I choose to be one of the first to get a 05 convertible I missed out on:


Options that should be retrofited for free -
Side Passenger Air Bag Warning.
Bigger Windshield Wiper Fluid Tank/And Indicator.
(I'm sure there is a few more I can't think of off the top of my head)



Options you would pay for -
Rear Fog Light
Arm Rest
Auto Head Lights
Autoamtic S Cooper


The way Mini/BMW has this set up its like I ordered a 05A, while others got an 05B

 

Why would you expect those items to be retrofitted for free? Were they announced, and did you expect them in your car?If MINI were to retrofit these later year items for free, would you give them (for 'free') the extra $500 that current buyers pay?

By your reasoning, would it be ok if MINI waited until the '06 model year to make these changes? If so, why the arbitrary (model year) deliniation?

Does it not make sense for MINI to upgrade/update cars with new features as early as possible?
Later built cars ALWAYS have changes/updates made to them. Why would yours be different?

 

If Mini waited till 06 to add these thats another thing, this is the same year model. And they raised the price because they were selling so well not because they added these few tweaks. We are not saying hey we bought an 03 and I want all 05 upgrades added for free. At least the first 2 things I listed are safety and convience issues.

 

LOL!

Doug

 

IMO the increases in the prices of cars from the UK and EU are a result of the falling value of the US dollar.

The UK £ is now about US$1.92

The EU € is now about US$1.32