For starters, I did search on some of these things to no real avail, but anyways, here goes:

Hi guys - Dave here, looking for a 2006ish MCS Cabrio... Preferably hot orange, but I'm starting to think I'll take black, too. Working on finding the right car for the right deal...

Questions I have about the car and/or addons/mods:

- Are all Minis warranted 4yr/50k?

- I saw the tailgate rated at 175 lb. Is this just from the cables? Can one buy stronger cables to increase the load capacity on the tailgate? I think it could make a great little seat for 2 with a little attention.

- iPod integration: Every iPod adapter I have read about, people talk about playlist selection and how to search folders and crap. I need four things: 1. to set my iPod to random/shuffle and hit play; 2. to be able to skip to the next song if i don't like what's come on; 3. to see what is playing at a glance if i happen to have forgotten the name of the song or what album it's on, etc.; and 4. for the battery to be charged while I use it, because it never leaves the car. I don't care if I have to push the buttons on the ipod itself or if I can use the steering wheel controls. I don't make playlists except for special occasions - in the car i want everything.

- being less than 100% able to be picky, as I'm in the used market, sometimes a car will come with or without something i don't or do want. If I can't pass up a deal on such a car, is it possible to:
* add the heated seats?
* get rid of the chrono or nav and put the regular speedo in (and reduce the dual pods over the wheel to the single pod)?

That's probably not *everything* but should be a good start. Can't wait, MUST... HAVE... RAGTOP.....

 

I know that the heated seats can be added, as for the speedo I am not sure that can be done, check with a local dealer and see if you can change the chrono oput with the speedo.

 

PM sent...may have something of interest for you!!

 

=0( No takers on my first three questions?

I have another now! If I get a car with boring grey dash, how much time and effort is it to replace with the orange pieces?

 

yes on question one. I dont know the other two answers, but would love to know if number 2 was possible

 

On #2, I'm pretty sure it is a combination of the cables and the hinges. I would not want to bend those hinges.

No idea on #3, don't use ipod in the car.

 

#1 - yes, AFAIK, unless something after market is added
#2 - no idea
#3 - a dice silverline can do that. It cannot make it shuffle on it's own, however, it will respect the shuffle setting that you lay into it. it'll skip if you like. it'll display on the radio as well. it'll also charge it. you can check out the dice thread in the nav&audio section.

 

First thing: good luck on your search. And good color choice on the Hot Orange!

Replacing these pieces is pretty easy if you can find the orange pieces. I'm not sure if you can still order them or not.

Open glove compartment, pull on lower edge of dash piece and it will pop off. Do the same on piece near steering wheel (although there is a rubber gasket that attaches to both the steering wheel and the dash piece that you will need to remove). You will need to pull down the knee bolster but that's no big deal. Then remove center piece. The center piece will have a couple of torx screws holding it in place if I remember correctly. Installation is the reverse process. There's a thread about replacing the gauge faces that explains how to remove the dash pieces. Here's a link to the thread. Check the first post, Step 2B.

One thing: if you get a MINI with the gray dash and are able to find the orange pieces to replace the dash parts, you won't be able to change the door ellipses without changing the entire interior door panel. The colored pieces on the door are not removable. You may not want to do this, but thought I would at least mention it.

 

The last one get a USA SPEC Ipod adapter. it has the new cable that will charge the new iphones and ipods as well as the old ones. Plus it has a hybrid mode where you have both controls from the factory stereo and steering wheel controls but also from the ipod itself. The factory ipod cable will not charge the new iphone plus you loose control of the ipod ie can't switch around playlist and so forth.

 

Howdy,

On your third topic, the factory iPod adapter gives no display info on the name of the song or artist, but it does shuffle, and a press to the button on the steering wheel allows you to skip or go back to the last song. At least that is how my 06 works.... I think the warranty is 50k miles, and I did buy the extended maintenance agreement (also to 50k miles).

 

OK, this is really disheartening; since the very first one I test drove (and loved, but had to sell my car first so as not to get shafted with tradein value) is now gone... I can't seem to find any HO MCSC Autos* for sale anywhere! I'm looking on cars.com, autotrader, asking my local dealers, etc. It's really ticking me off, as no other color is as interesting to me. I'm trying really hard to like yellow, but it's kinda not me.

(*I was leaning toward a manual, but after a week-plus of driving my GF's 6-speed TT in horrible DC rush every day, I've decided I should stay with an automatic for a daily driver.)

 

good luck with the search, and just remember patience is a virtue.

 

Believe it or not I saw a HO MCSC listed on Ebay. Check out the listing 370264984922 I think the auction is over but the car didn't sell. There may be more.

 

hey, thanks man - That one's a manual trans though. Keep on Motorin!