I recently acquired a 2008 JCW Sidewalk Convertible. It came with every pkg and a lot of JCW add-ons but it did not have the convenience package. I love the rain sensing wipers in my
other MINI's and want it in this car. From digging around I believe the wiring for the sensor/mirror should already be present. So I have been searching for a MINI with the sidewalk pkg and
convenience pkg and I cannot find a one that is equipped with the package. In fact its hard to spot a convertible period with the option (although I have seen them). Since the wiring is hopefully
already there is there any difference between convertible and hatchback models regarding this option. Assume mirror is the same/stalks/sensor/windshield. If so, I will search for a
hatchback with it installed

 

A local friend has an R52 with the rain sensor. I’ll link this thread to him. What do you need to know?

The windshields are going to be different. My R53 Checkmate has the convenience package. Prior owner had replaced the windshield with a standard one, and never could get the sensor to work again. There is a prism included in the windshield that works with the Rain Light Sensor. This impacts function of both the rain sensing wipers and auto headlights.

There is an extra wire coming out of the headliner too for the sensor (not from the mirror). I realize the R52 will be a bit different though.

 

Found this with more info and photos

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...-retrofit.html

 

I do have an r52 with the convenience package. Let me know if I can answer any questions provide any photos for you.

 

@JackMac Thanks, I found that link , thats where I believe mine will have wires present. So it looks like I should find a convertible with working sensor in it for a donor. Then
grab stuff from it. Prefer to find another sidewalk just for other parts. Note that all three of my R53 JCW's have the convenience package

@Tgauk I will take any pictures of that area that I can get. Thanks. I am going to take the rear view off of my car in the next few days.

I have been looking for cars on FB and craigslist, found a Justa in NY on FB but someone was looking at it yesterday and owner was not sure if it had convenience pkg

 

Here are two photos for reference. Looks to be the same as a hardtop convenience package. Let me know if you need anything else.

 

Tgauk - Do you have homelink (3 button on rear view mirror)? Convenience package on my hatchback had homelink (on rear view mirror), rain sensor (with auto setting on wiper stalk), auto light (with auto setting on light stalk). Not sure what the convertibles have. Pretty sure my sidewalk has auto dip
rear view mirror. Not sure if that is compatable with rain sensor/auto light setup.

Agree that it looks like all components are same (except for rear view mirror?) between coupe and convertible. The windshield appears to
be PN 51 31 7146545 and price doesnt appear too bad. Might be easier to have glass place bring a new one and have it put in.

Now to find a parts car

 

Yes my mirror has the garage link buttons on the bottom left and the wiper stalk has the auto wiper as well as the auto setting for the headlights.

 

Thanks. I am still curious if a sidewalk edition could have the convenience package as an option. Think I need to find the sidewalk owners link

 

So I found a sidewalk mini in a salvage yard with convenience package. So that answers my question. Other things found, I do NOT have the wiring for the
rain sensor or additonal wires for homelink in mirror going to connector. I pulled out the interior (including upper dash pad) of the salvage yard car and quickly concluded that playing with wiring harness is going to be a pain. I am thinking of busting out the window in the junkyard car and get access to the loom that way. I can see from outside of the car
but getting to it with windshield in is going to be a problem. Hoping to unclip the harness from the BCM and maybe unraveling them and grabbing the wires that I need.
Then find a way to run them without having to strip the dash of my car. Additonal reason to do this is to get an uncut amplifier loom for my car. PO had an aftermarket radio
installed and shop cut the amp harness and patched the aftermarket radio into it (and yes it sounded like crap)

 

So an update on this whole process. I bought a project car with convenience package. I parted car out and removed the harness (lot of fun). I decided to
unwrap the wires to the rain sensor and homelink mirror.

So the homelink mirror actually only adds one wire (blue/yellow ?) that runs to a junction connector (with all the other blue/yellow wires) on drivers side sill. It appears that it is for autodip function when the car is in reverse gear. Guess the homelink function are all self contained in the mirror itself

The rain sensor has 4 wires. Power wire is violet/white and comes from fuse block on drivers side kick panel (X10200 connector). A white/red/yellow K Bus wires that
runs to connector (for all the K bus wires) on the passenger side sill. A brown/black wire that runs to drivers side sill (again in a connector with other brown/black wires). And finally a brown/green wire that runs to a splice in the main loom (splices with a wire to the BCM and wire to the wiper motor) behind the glove box.

I punted the idea of adding it to my sidewalk. Too much work. And I am probably selling all of my Mini convertibles