I just found out that I have a 12/03 '04 MCS and want to know what are the differences. I just bought a shift kit for an '04, which I have, but it won't work because of the 12/03 build date. So, I guess I have an '03.95 MCS

 

I've been working on cars for the better part of 30 years and the 6th month used to be the cut off date for the current year. Now thats all changed. I suggest looking into this one with the gearheads, as it seems they are on top of this stuff faster then anyone else. Or, try MINI USA, good luck there .

 

Model year changes occur in September of the preceding year. You have an '04 with a production month of 12/03. Some changes do occur during the production run of each model year. As an example the suspension in 02's is different pre-03/02 from 03/02 on. Maybe your shift kit has such a production month cut off date.

 

MINIs typically change model year in September. My car was built in September 2002, but is a 2003 model year car.

But, some things changed at times other than September. Most parts that are build date sensitive will list the build date that applies, not just a model year. The build date of the car is on the little plate in the driver's side door opening.

 

The '03 MCS transmissions were installed in the '04 models for a few months of production beginning in September of '03. Your build date would appear to be near the transition point for the changeover...but not quite.

The following information was blatantly copied from the Short Shift Kit description on this page of Helix Minisports product pages:

Helix also posts these pictures of the two linkages:






Hope this helps,

Theo

 

Thanks everyone, that really helps. That is why I love NAM.

 

Wasn't 2003 the only year when there was no power outlet in the boot?

 

yes, GRR!!

 

Ok, I pulled the bezel and it looks like the '04 picture Confused though, the sticker inside the housing says 11/03 Why would I have a 10/04 shifter if my MINI is built in 12/03

 

Jay,

I would contact the manufacturer of the shift kit and have them pass judgment on whether the kit will work, now that you know that you have the newer transmission.

What was it that originally caused you to feel that the kit wouldn't work?

Theo

 

You can decode your VIN here http://www.sjbaker.org/telamom/vin.html

MINI changed some things mid-year. For example, cars built from 2/04 on have the new exhaust hangers so going but the model year for exhausts can be a problem. You got to know the build date. 1/04 and earlier cars have the 03 hangers.

A 6/04 build date is a MY04 car ... a 7/04 build date is an MY05 car.

 

Why did they start building the MY05 cars so early (July 2004)? Was that just something they did that one year?

I thought they didn't start producing the next model year's cars until September-ish, to have them available in January or February.

For instance, I didn't even *order* my 2006 MCSC until mid-August of this year, which would have been impossible if the assembly lines had already changed over to the 2007 convertibles in July.

Scott

 

You caught them during an entire model change so the timelines dont count.

I can guarantee you that my car was an 06/04 build ... the last month, in fact, one of the very last 04s built (I looked into it). Car shipped around July 4th. Received at dealer around end of August.

When you consider that MINI changes thing in mid MY, it doesnt surprise me.

I cannot vouch the MY change was July for 03 or 06 cars. I only know the 04/05 changeover.

 

Keep in mind that decoding the VIN doesn't tell you what you really need to know - the build month.

When parts get changed in the middle of a model year, some manufacturers will publish the "cutoff VIN" for the changes, which is really just the chassis number for the first car to be affected by the change. For example, they may publish a notice that says "Starting with chassis #D64987, all cars will have the blue-green wiring harness tape, instead of the green-blue tape", or something like that.

If MINI is religious about only making running changes at the beginning of a production month, then either notification method works equally well (build month versus chassis number). I prefer chassis number myself, since it's a little more exact, but that's just preference.

Scott

 

Okay, that's what makes me think that MINI has changed the way they do business. I didn't think that a particular model year's cars have always been on the dealers' lots by August of the previous year.

And as for my car, 2007 isn't an "entire model change" for *all* MINI's. Mine is a convertible, so the 2007's will be largely unchanged. Maybe they *could* have already begun shipping 2007 convertibles to the States, but aren't doing it because they don't want the 2007 convertibles arriving before the 2007 coupes - I don't know.

Can anyone else confirm when the first 2006 Mini's started hitting the dealer lots? The impression that I got from my MA was that MINI didn't come out with the new cars in the states until January or February, but if the 2005's were on the lots by August of 2004, then I guess that isn't always the case.

Scott

 

Your build month is on the door jamb. You can also call MINIUSA and they will give you specifics.

Motoringfile.com has all the 2007 timelines. Yes, 2007 convertables will not be the new engine until later.

 

I knew that much - I was just confused because JustJay was asking a build-month type of question, and you pointed him to a VIN decoder, which wouldn't really tell him anything he needed.

That's still a cool site, and it's where I found out that my new 2006 convertible (along with 146 other convertibles) was accidentally given a 2007 VIN ('7' in the 10th digit instead of a '6'). Mini is still trying to sort that one out, and it's the only reason my car isn't here yet.

Scott