Hi All,
Received delivery of my 2007 Cooper S with Ipod adapter installed on Thursday.
By Sunday I was dying to know what was in the hidden compartment. Saw what looked like velcro holding the door down so I gently pried on the door with a screw driver and viola!!!!!!!!! Door popped open and however in the process I broke the locking mechanism :(. Dealer had done the install on the Ipod adaper and they put some black putty around the edge of the door which I assume was to prevent the door from being pressed in to release the locking mechanism to open the door. Once I had the door opened I removed the 2 black trim covers on either side of the box, the 3 screws under the trim piece with the lower glove box button and the assorted screws holding the upper storage box in place. Once I reomved the box I noted that I must have knocked some pieces off because I could operated the door but once locked no matter how much I tried I was unable to get the door to release again. My assumptions are if you have the black putty try heating with a hair dryer to allow the putty to soften and then try pressing in firmly. Prying is not the answer . Also the service guy showed me a piece of paper that says once you have the Ipod adapter installed they are supposed to keep the upper area locked so you do not have access to the unit. There is enough room left over inside that area for the adapter and my ipod so I am going to try and order just the box and reinstall myself if I can. if this does not make sense or if anyone wants further clarification ask away and I will try to help.

 

The thing that doesn't make sense is that MINI is unable to fix a rattle on a storage box mechanism. Good thing the doors don't rattle, or they'd have us climbing in the boot! Come on! Is this thing really made by BMW?????

 

Picked up my MCS on 3/24/07-My compartment opens freely and does not rattle.

 

Cool! I'm still hoping, DyeLooper. Mine should be here in about 3 weeks.

 

Same here. Picked mine up 3/29/07. My MA said it was glued shut but would probably be the first recall announced for the R56. I didn't try to open it that evening, but the following morning pressed firmly on either side of the door........and up it popped!

Let my MA know and he said it looks like they've added 2 larger foam circles to stop the rattling...

 

So you are saying that the cars that have the compartment door locked, it is held locked with velco and black "putty" Can you give us a photo showing where the velcro was located, and where the putty was. I have a feeling that if I knew where this was I could dislodge it with a an "L" shaped piece of wire rod.

 

The sheet I have says the installers should put velcro. There was no velcro only the black putty. If you are sitting in the passenger seat on the left side by the air vent there was a larege gob on the door and then smaller pieces of the black stuff all around. The wire loop is a good idea.

 

picked up my MCS on Friday, and the hidden compartment opened up just fine.

one of the first things I checked.

 

According to my MA, the secret compartment issue is resolved. I picked up my MINI last week and it opens nicely.

 

I picked up my MCS on March 17th. My compartment opens and does not rattle.

 

Looks like I am going to have to buy some useful accessories to go in there!

 

can you shoot a pic pls. . thx

 

I picked up my Cooper on 3/31, and they compartment opens. My MA said they just started re-opening the ones they had.

 

mine opens and doesn't rattle either..it's fine. I like it.

 

I just emailed my MA about this, and the response was this technical service bulletin from MINI:

Topic: Dash Storage/CD Changer Compartment
STATUS: As of 1/31/07 the dash storage/cd changer compartment has been installed 100% at the plant.
Correction: A retrofit procedure will be issued in a service information bulletin when the required parts are available

Looks like we early birds (I'm week 3) are the only ones with the problem!

 

If I bought off the lot, how do I find out what my build date was? Mine doesn't open either.

 

Not that simple, daff. In a prior thread where I asked about it, some got it open, some got it sealed. Some were told it will be open when there is a fix and some were told it won't be. It has only been today that it seems everyone is saying they are getting theirs open. I sure hope mine is.

 

Can't wait to have mine open...

 

Same here!

 

I can see the edge of some velcro tape at the right bottom. Its not sticking out into the gap anywhere else that I can see. Its stuck down good! I tried prying up on it, but it does not feel like its going to let go without a fight.

 

Mine is stuck down tighter than a ....well nevermind the not so clean analogy...

Really wishing MINI would hurry up and get this fix out there.

 

I had my MINI in for bonnet stripe installation today and asked about the compartment. I was told that the only MINIs that will have the doors unstuck will be those that order the CD changer or the ipod adapter. That seems rediculous. If cars are being delivered with them opening today regardless of whether they have either accessory why would such a feature be denied anyone that ordered the cars earlier. Especially since it was locked down as a result of a defect.
This service tech must be wrong, right? It's seems completely dumb otherwise. -- rant over :impatient

 

Lynn--this was the word as of today's advisory--direct from MINI.

 

I'm glad to hear that, daffodil. Of course, my MA said they got their info from MINI, to. But I have my doubts.

 

Deb - do you think your dealer would be so kind as to give you a copy of that official correspondence? If you could scan it and post it then people like designer whose dealer is hoping he will give up will have some leverage for getting his storage door fixed.