[Near Oxford Mini]

Odd question.................

Our new R56 Mini Auto gear shifter has what we think is an odd set-up.

The gear indicator P R N and D are on the passenger side of the box not the drivers so you cannot see them properly when selecting apart from looking on the tacho display or around the stick .

The manual clearly shows them on the drivers side so we are wondering if its a manufacturing mistake and they have fitted a LHD indicator plate; can it be fixed or is everyone else's like this?

Thanks for any help and will post some pics when we can.

[rayb]

Our is the same, on the passenger side.A real nuisance. I reckon it's cost cutting, they've used the left hand drive version for all markets.

[Near Oxford Mini]

Thanks rayb.

Well at least it is not just us; but we cannot say we are happy as it could be a safety issue. As the attached photos show you cannot see the indicators hardly at all from the drivers side.

Neither of us are that used to automatics, only having manuals before, so need to be reassured the stick is in the correct position and not by have to keep looking on the tacho display!

We think it is a manufacturing fault as page 81 of the brochure clearly shows the gear indicators on the drivers side and we will be raising it with Mini ASAP.

Otherwise the car is great, the only other issue so far is our ash tray is missing (very useful for change and sweet wrappers as we don't smoke!)

Will keep you all updated

[Scrogg]

Quote: Originally Posted by Near Oxford Mini (original)

...we cannot say we are happy as it could be a safety issue. As the attached photos show you cannot see the indicators hardly at all from the drivers side...

Surely looking down at the Gear Lever to see which gear you are in, regardless of which side the display is on, is far less safe than looking ahead at the road and seeing it within your peripheral vision on the Tacho?

Surely the only time you need to 'reassured the stick is in the correct position ' is whilst in Sequential Mode, as all other changes are done whilst stationary? In which case the indicator is useless anyway?

[Near Oxford Mini]

Thanks Scrogg and we would agree with you fully; it's more a comfort thing when slow speed maneuvering and changing between Drive and Reverse. We would also like to know why bother illuminating the gear in red when you can't see it?

You cannot go on 'position' of the stick as our other automatic has 5 positions + manual where this one has 4 + manual; it's just like some ordinary manuals where reverse is down and right or up and left. I'm sure we will both know instinctively once we have got used to them.

Just out of interest which side of the box where the old Cooper (CVT) and Cooper S indicators on? We are sure the one we test drove were on the drivers side.

Thanks for the interest.

[glangford]

Odd, when you go to the configurator on the miniusa site and configure the car with automatic, the picture created is of a LHD car with the indicators on the right side for a RHD car.

[the-ruff-puppy]

It's always been the same - My 2003 MINI One CVT has its PNRDM/S+- on the wrong side. Not so much a difficulty when you're driving, but when I first got the car, manouvering in tight spaces such as car parks was difficult. Especially considering my previous car had PRNDL (I always shifted R in N and vice versa)

I've just learnt to always check the speedo display to tell me exactly which cog (or not in the CVT case...) I'm shoving.

[jon423]

The auto gear shifter was probably made for the rest of the world...not England, Ireland, Australia, Japan and New Zealand. Don't know about South Africa. The rest of us drive on the right side or is it the wrong side of the road? You can always do like Sweden did some years back and switch sides over night. They saved a fortune manufacturing cars...eliminated the need for two assembly lines. One for Sweden and one for the rest of us.

jon

[dwdyer]

I'm not sure this is the "wrong side". My wife's 2004 has the PRND letters on the passenger side.

[mister.t]

My uncle has an E270 CDI Auto Merc, and the PRND is on the passenger side. Im glad someone has ponted this out, because that was driving me mad when going to work experience in it

[accce]

it is because you all drive on the wrong side of the road

[Hummer2k1]

the PRND is on the left side (sterring wheel on the driver side). and even if the PRDN was on the right side, it doesnt matter because the speed is also indicated on the RPM
so, who cares?