This is just a rant, but I am peeved at the BMW/Mini. Bought my MC Open on 15 October, 04 of off the show room floor. Decided to go with the Cooper with all the options over an MCS. Personal choice, since this is a daily driverr that gets borrowed/stolen by the spouse on regular bases. Obviously no track time was in this Mini's future. One of the very few complaints I had was the lack of arm rest in the car. Don't want to start a discussion of whether a Mini should have one, let's just say I wanted one. Ended up ordering last years arm rest from Germany through my dealer. Now I find out that the new arm rest will be included in the premium package (which I have and paid for). So on a same model year car with the same options I am now on the short end of the stick.

Personally I think that sucks!!!

In the perfect world, Mini would offer people in my position either an upgrade to the new arm rest if the owner so desires, or perhaps a voucher for some accessories if they don't want it, or already had one installed. Only seems fair. But that's just me and I know the world is not perfect.

Rant over!!!

Otherwise, love the little Convertible. It's just needs to stop raining in Los Angeles, gosh dang it!!!

 

I'm moderately confused (it's 7:30am and the coffee pot is in the dishwasher [which is running])...

Are you upset because your MA never informed you that you would, in fact, have an armrest and you then went out and bought another one? You said you bought it off the lot, didn't you see the armrest in the car? Can't you return the superfluous armrest -- the one that you ordered?



As far as being miffed at BMW/MINI... I'm pretty sure there are membership cards available for that club. I'll see about getting you one.

 

I see it as the opposite problem, now in my '03 waiting for my '05. In a sense it is better than the cruddy add-ons to the '05 model, such as behind-dash storage bin and cup holder, which are things I will insist that the salesman rip out and toss into the trash before I even drive it from the showroom.

 

My early 03 MCS did not get the shiny metal pedals.

However, since I got the early 03, I got my MINI before they made the suspension softer, so I got the advantage of the better sportier suspension.

Although such things can be frustrating, we do want MINI to continue to make product improvements to make the cars better. . . .

Would you trade the past 4 months of happy motoring in your MINI for an armrest? I bet you wouldn't!

 

Yucca, specifically at what time did they stop putting the harder ss+ into the 03's?

 

I don't understand the rant?

Almost all cars go through small evolutionary changes during the production cycle. The manufacturer is not obligated to retrofit all existing cars or even cars made from the same model year with accessories or features that they have made later in the year, even if they are now offering them free. You bought the car at that price with the features that you saw. No deception or anything else. The fact that they decided to add a new feature or accessory, doesn't change anything.

This whole retrofit mentality seems to be pervasive much more in this community than any other car that I have owned. A lot of people want every feature ever added to the Mini to be fully retrofitable to every model ever produced. You got what you paid for. The car will constantly be evolving and that is how they provide a fresh face, fresh feature, and attract more individuals to the car.

 

Yeah I agree, I mean you recived the product as promised right? You were not told or led to believe that you would recieve the arm rest.

On the other hand I sympathize, It does kinda stink BUT nothing to get angry about.

 

I agree. MINI especially has made MOST changes mid-year. The Harmon Kardon stereo became available on December 03 builds - mine was Sept build. Also around Dec-Jan, they switched to the fake aluminum pedals - the cheap rubber ones I have suck. They can't cost more than $1 each. My clutch one falls off regularly. I still haven't found the right aftermarket pedals (the MINI gas pedal is too much for a pedal so I haven't upgraded to them. Maybe I'll just upgrade the clutch and brake pedals). They introduced the LSD around January and even the auto S around the same time. They also changed the original steering wheel to perforated leather several months after my car was built - I had to go aftermarket to replace my "leather" wheel that felt like cheap plastic.

Even with all that, I'm really not bitter. That's how car manufacturing works. Enjoy your MINI Open - with all the options you do have and even just the fact that it's a MINI, appreciate it, Maybe you should take it out for a spin now - you'll feel much better.

 

Same situation with the rear foglight on the S, product changes/upgrades. If you like the arm rest buy one and have it installed, no different than if they offer a new style of rim after you pick the car up.

 

greatbear can correct me if I am wrong (), but I believe the suspension change went into effect for vehicles produced may 2003 and later.

Just checked gabe's site and confirmed this

 

What he said.

 

I missed the arm rest by 2 days

 

Sometimes the mid-year changes (when they are announced early and then delayed) can be a bit of a problem. We dealt with it with our Nav system. We were promised the DVD Nav system, but it was delayed until a month or two after my build month of 1/03. In this situation, MINI gave us all the CDs for all the regions; instead of replacing the system with the DVD system. While we would have prefered the DVD Nav -- we found the solution acceptable.

However, I'd chaulk this up to you bought the car you liked. You paid a fair price for it. If you want extras, get them. Heck, I think they should offer the parcel shelf from the factory like they do in Europe -- alas, we put it in ourselves -- now I have MINI parts littering my basement. Do we think MINI would pay me rent for the space the parts are taking up???

Hugs,
PB

 

You think you're bummed about the arm rest: my MCSC is due to be completed Feb. 28. The armrest is available starting Mar. 1. How's that for a kick in the shorts?

Is it still possible to order the German-spec arm rest?

 

Who needs an armrest anyway? I wish BMW would just leave this car alone- sorry, but it just doesn’t and never will have cupholders/trays/storage/racks sufficient to make it a mini-suv. And who cares? MINI is for driving and hopefully a little fun- why would you NEED an armrest? I toss sunglasses, flashlight and stuff I can’t live without in the rear cupholder- I’m really not at all disappointed that the car doesn’t have bins for everything, that the cupholders won’t accommodate a 7-11 “Big Gulp” etc.--- neither did any of our BL cars we remember so fondly in that past have them either. Why would anyone buy this car looking for that sort of stuff? Also, the car has risen $500 in price since last year, and noting some of the changes, I don’t want to pay for some of the choices they’ve made anyway.

 

Well, I've had my coffee and I still don't understand. Is the problem that the car now has two armrests... or that it has none? It has to have at least one, right, since you bought one... And if it has one armrest and you have one right arm, I'm missing the problem.

And hwo was the armrest situation not visible from the lot.

I'm so confused!!!

(But on the brighter side, my MCS has both the aluminum pedals AND the stiffer suspension... )

 

No, I am peeved because mine didn't and I bought one. And now for the same price in the same option package you get more stuff...

 

Not for all the cup holders in the world

 

I agree with everything you said, but...

If you put two cars side by side. Both are the same make/year. Both cost the same. Both have the same options (on paper). But one of them all of a sudden has some features included that the other one doesn't, which one would you pick?

 

That's all I am saying.

 

It HAD none. He went and bought one, and is irritated that they are now included in the premium package.

What he neglects to consider, however, is that as of Jan 1, people are paying $500 more for the base vehicle.
*I* would certainly trade an armrest for $500 (and four months of motoring.) But if it would make goaljnky feel any better, he can give me $500 and his old armrest (less whatever he paid for it) and I will personally install a new MINI armrest in his vehicle. :smile:

Heck, I'll even motor down to LA to do the job!

 

OOOOhhhhh, I feel another rant coming on....

 

We do understand. . . I want my damn shiny pedals! :D

 

My dealer says there are plenty in the warehouse in Germany. Mine should be here in a few days (10 day wait for shipment).

 

Now I don't understand. You want me to give you $500, my armrest and you will be staying at my house? How did we get here?