I just bought a 2006 MCS convertible. Loving it too! Wanted to ask you folks about the toolkit provided by the OEM. I want to verify all of mine are present and that they are accessible when I might need them. Here is my inventory:

Bag with jack and lug wrench.
Foam pack (stowed next to battery) containing an open-end wrench, a screwdriver, and two other special purpose tools.
The foam pack appears to have empty slots for a hex wrench (aka Allen wrench) and a socket of about half inch size.

Original owners out there, can you verify this is the correct inventory?

With respect to usage, I think at least one of the special purpose tools is for opening the trunk from inside the passenger compartment if the tailgate is stuck closed and locked. The trunk would seem to be a rather obvious place NOT to store this tool. (And I went and read the owner's manual after making this post and saw that the trunk opener is under the rear seat. So now I need to figure out what the other two tools in the trunk are.)

Anybody else who has experience actually using the tools from the toolkit have any good input to share?

With respect to usage, I think at least one of the special purpose tools is for opening the trunk from inside the passenger compartment if the tailgate is stuck closed and locked. The trunk would seem to be a rather obvious place NOT to store this tool.:aargh:

Unless Convertibles are different, there should be pull ring under the rear seat for manually opening the boot hatch.

Unless Convertibles are different, there should be pull ring under the rear seat for manually opening the boot hatch.Convertibles are different. The manual pull ring is on the tailgate itself, and you can't reach it when the rear shelf is in place. Under the rear seat is a hook tool that will reach the seat back release lever. You can release the seat back and fold it down to access the tailgate release. If your boot is packed full of stuff I guess it could be challenging :p. BTW, it is described in the Owner's Manual.

Here is my inventory:

Bag with jack and lug wrench.
Foam pack (stowed next to battery) containing an open-end wrench, a screwdriver, and two other special purpose tools.
The foam pack appears to have empty slots for a hex wrench (aka Allen wrench) and a socket of about half inch size.

Here's what RealOEM (http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=RE33&mospid=48021&btnr=71_0238&hg=71&fg=05) shows:

http://www.mini2.com/forum/attachment141840.jpg

Tool Kits varied by year.

My May 2002 build MCS only came with the following items:
2 - Tow Hook
6 - Hub Cap Puller (http://www.mini2.com/forum/attachment34015.jpg)
11 - Tool Bag
12 - Open End Spanner (10-13)
13 - Screwdriver
14 - Tool Bag Holding Strap

The Tool Bag is strapped in the left side storage cubby in the boot of my MCS.

I later purchased a Jack Kit which included a Lifting Jack (4) and Wheel-Nut Wrench (5) above.

That's helpful but it seems to include a lot more than the convertible toolkit. The foam pack in the convertible trunk is much smaller & is crammed into a nook on the side of the battery. I was able to identify the hubcap remover as being included in my convertible foam pack and I forgot to mention in my original post that the towing eye is there too. I still wish somebody who bought their convertible new would provide a pic or a list. Any takers?

I have a non-S Cooper convertible, so it is different from your S. I see no reason that toolkits should be different between convertibles and hardtops (but different between S and non-S). The boot space is narrower on a convertible but the cavity under the boot floor for the battery or spare tire is the same for hardtops and convertibles.

On my non-S, the tray over the spare tire includes these items from the realoem diagram:
1 - storage tray
2 - tow hook
5 - lug wrench
6 - hubcap puller
7 - spare tire release tool
8 - wheel chock
9 - emergency lug wrench
10 - tire bag
12 - spanner wrench
13 - screwdriver
There is an empty spot in the tray but I don't see what it could be for.

http://www.mini2.com/forum/attachment141847.jpg

By the way, from the toolkit I have used only the jack and only once, when my car was new and I swapped out the OEM wheels for aftermarket. The jack worked fine but I bought a cheap floor jack and stands to use for tire rotations, and they work better and more safely. The OEM jack is really intended for emergency use only.

There is an empty spot in the tray but I don't see what it could be for.

My guess would be the "key" for a locking wheel nut.