This is a forum. Not knowing the answer is practically a prerequisite for providing one! You've heard of Male Answer Syndrome? In the Internet age it has developed into Forum Answer Syndrome.

Also, the slot is clearly, um, left over from an abandoned design idea for a credit card swipe reader. That system was intended to work with BMW's proposed Global Satellite Telematic System that would create Pay As You Go MINI's, which you could drive for up to a week before a warning icon popped up on your display which would be cleared only by depositing additional funds into your account, via in-car credit card swipe. It wasn't deployed for various technical reasons so you must now go to the dealer for the credit card swipe and have the service department clear the warnings. Development continues, so you may yet be able to retrofit a reader that uses that slot.

 

 

My thoughts:

1. To strengthen the plastic to keep it from flexing
2. To help keep stuff from shuffling back and forth
3. To secure some sort of non-US accessory (warning triangle or first-aid kit)
4. A slot that is used at the factory or shipping to the factory to secure / turn / carry the door before or during assembly.

 

Heh... My inquiring mind wants to know!

I just went to the MINIUSA website and asked! :D

 

Got an email back from a MINI Customer Service Rep... he is researching the question and will get back to me. :D

If I get an answer, I'll post here!

 

My guess is that it provides additional support and/or vibration dampening. I think the slot just gives it a better appearance. A solid block would just look cheap....

 

Very interesting questions and answers so far.. But I have a tangent question.. what the hell is a " umbrella " thing some have mentioned??

 

As I was putting my car cover on the other day: I was unscrewing the antenna, which I normally just throw on the floor on the driver's side, and I remembered this thread--that's when it struck me. The antenna fits PERFECTLY in the slot. See the attached pic.

Works for me, anyway.

 

It is obvious that none of you park in city parking garages. It's a perfect spot to keep the monthly pass scancard (same size and thickness as a credit card) to get in and out of the parking garage.

 

DUH......it's to keep a hand rolled fattie from getting crushed

 

You're probably gonna say I'm a filthy frog eater, but I think it's just the perfect place to store a very usefull thing in such a long car as a Clubman... condom!

And don't tell me only one is a shame, 'coz that's what the secret compartment stands for...

 

Keep dreaming!

 

Yes, I'll be watching this thread for the answer too... I believe it's probably something from the Euro spec car, or a card holder, be it parking card, gas card, or whatever...