Curious if anyone has the Park Distance Control on their MC. Given the size of the vehicle, not sure if it would really be needed; seems more practical on the Clubman.

 

Since you can pretty much reach back and touch the back window, I think it is overkill. There are better things to spend my money on.

 

Because of the coveted built in really poor rear visibility feature of the MCSc, the little backup beeper is a valued companion especially when parallel parking topless. But then mine is not a MC so we have to ask the obvious...

 

We have it on our clubman. The barn doors look cool but have a big blind spot in the middle. We also have the nav system so it paints a picture of what is in the back of the car that goes from green to red as it gets closer. Its saved me from backing into a pole.

 

I think it's a waste of $$ besides the weird hole thingies on the rear bumper look ridiculous on carrs (the sensors they install).

 

Waste of $$ until you back into a class IV ball hitch on an F350 flatbed.

Real glad to have it on the MINI.

 

I think the cost is justified if you consider the cost of a mistake while backing up - not just to your car but to whatever you may miss from your limited vision.

 

I added the Nav at the last minute to my order. I keep kicking myself for not adding the PDC. The graphic display makes it worth the extra $ to me.

 

I totally agree. After reading all these threads about people not satisfied with the HIFI sound system, I should have swapped it for the PDC.

I wonder if there are any retrofit kits you can get to install PDC. I mean, it's only the rear of the car. Is there a button on the console to activate/deactivate the PDC like in the BMW's???

I had a BMW e39 and there are retrofit kits, but it's a pain to install because of the front and rear sensors as well as the console button.

 

The 3 dealers I've asked claim they can't add PDC after the fact. I personally don't see why they can't. The sensors mount in the lower valence, which is easily removed and replaced. The car is already wired for it. It needs the PDC control module and a reprogram of the car's software.

 

I like mine and feel it was money well spent. I have it on all my cars and it is better piece of mine when backing up I use it to get closer so I don't have to do the rock back and forth in tight area's. It is a bummer when I drive other peoples cars that don't have them so I don't know how close I can get.

 

I'm sorry, but if you need PDC on a Mini, maybe you don't need to be driving. The Mini is one of the smallest vehicles on the road, come on.

 

Yeah, Pinky Demon, you're right. I think the only reason I wanted it was because it displayed the back-up distance on the navi screen.

The back of the window is pretty much the back of the car, so there shouldn't be a need for PDC.

 

I don't need it either but I like the display and the added warning. This helps also incase you are backing into a curve or other obstacle that you don't know if the car is high enough to clear the back bumper, you can't tell by looking out the back window.

 

BMW parts websites show PDC retrofit kits, so it should be doable.

Kinda like this part number: 66200415488

Link (might work)
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...27&hg=66&fg=95

Oh, and I got PDC in my config - never had it on my car (except for a rental Excursion), so decided to give it a try.

 

I ordered the PDC on my MCS (due feb 18th). The price is a bit much, and the MINI is a small car... but I figured it would pay for itself the first time I don't back into a short post or back over some kid in a grocery store parking lot.

When you think of it that way, I think everyone should consider getting it (unless your MINI is a track day car or something).

 

Ask Cabriopilot where his rear bumper would be without PDC. We parked at Nantahala Outdoor Center. Lots of bolders in the gravel lot. Backed up to park bonnet out and his PDC started to go off. He stops, but looks behind him and the boulder he saw looked pretty far back. Puts it in reverse, PDC kicks in again. So he stops completely, we get out and look, and sure enough, ninja boulder ready to carve up his rear bumper.

Not everything is at window level in the world. No, it's not a necessity, but it's quite a nice helpful addition. Not to mention it doesn't look bad at all, especially compared to the Gen 1 style.

 

Ibid the class IV ball hitch on the F350 flat bed. Fool me once.....

 

Seems to make sense, maybe, on the Clubman, but on the hardtop, especially as someone pointed out you can literally turn around and touch the back window, might be a waste of money.