Official MINI latest news by DPMINI Aaron

[Tunster]

Quote: Originally Posted by DPMINI Aaron (original)

Metallic Paint Changes:
From Week 50, 2008 Production the following paint changes will be implemented for both Hatch and Clubman models:

Deleted:
A25 Astro Black metallic
A63 Lightning Blue metallic

Introduced:
A94 Midnight Black metallic
A93 Horizon Blue metallic

Big shame the Astro Black is going! IMO, one of the best colours. Should be interesting to see a matt black again however this will make mine and all other AB owners unique and a good selling point if people prefer a metallic black .

[rogan200]

Quote: Originally Posted by Tunster (original)

Big shame the Astro Black is going! IMO, one of the best colours. Should be interesting to see a matt black again however this will make mine and all other AB owners unique and a good selling point if people prefer a metallic black .

Astro blackis being replaced with another Metallic Black!

[Tracie]

Quote: Originally Posted by DPMINI Aaron (original)

Exterior Changes:

From Week 27, 2008 Production MINI Hatch models specified with 7AR Factory Aerodynamic Bodykit, will be supplied with the wheel arches in body colour.


.

This interested me and when I went onto the MINI configuration, it comes up with the car with colored wheel arches.

[Tunster]

Quote: Originally Posted by rogan200 (original)

Astro blackis being replaced with another Metallic Black!

Really!? I thought the news we had a few months ago was that a solid black was returning in replacement of Astro Black?

Oh well, I got my facts wrong as per usual .

[DPMINI Aaron]

Just to confirm for everyone asking about the roof bars on their clubman.

The accessory roof bars for the clubman ( running across the car ) are not available nor have they been. There is a part no. for them 82 71 2 149 225 but this is on hold at bmw UK and may never be released. ( possibly after a test fit they may not be approved for their european or UK approval certificate )

The attached photo shows how the new car will look when ordered with Roof rails ( running the length of the roof ) onto which roof bars can be clamped when they become available.

I will give more info as I get it.

[schatzy62]

Quote: Originally Posted by DPMINI Aaron (original)

Just to confirm for everyone asking about the roof bars on their clubman.

The accessory roof bars for the clubman ( running across the car ) are not available nor have they been. There is a part no. for them 82 71 2 149 225 but this is on hold at bmw UK and may never be released. ( possibly after a test fit they may not be approved for their european or UK approval certificate )

The attached photo shows how the new car will look when ordered with Roof rails ( running the length of the roof ) onto which roof bars can be clamped when they become available.

I will give more info as I get it.

Part Number 82.71.2.149.225 is what part. This is not the part number for the OEM roof rack base support system. So what do these parts you are speaking of connect to.

Schatzy

[ontheroadagain]

Just sent a PM to Aaron with some more background on this issue.

[ItsNumptyBoy]

Quote: Originally Posted by DPMINI Aaron (original)

Just to confirm for everyone asking about the roof bars on their clubman.

The accessory roof bars for the clubman ( running across the car ) are not available nor have they been. There is a part no. for them 82 71 2 149 225 but this is on hold at bmw UK and may never be released. ( possibly after a test fit they may not be approved for their european or UK approval certificate )

The attached photo shows how the new car will look when ordered with Roof rails ( running the length of the roof ) onto which roof bars can be clamped when they become available.

I will give more info as I get it.

If this proves to be the case I will be seriously looking at my legal options!!!

At the time of buying the car, the published accessories brochure confirmed that the roof bars were available for the Clubman, along with the roof box, and in fact, went as far as to positively encourage people like me who need a greater load capacity at times, to consider the Clubman as a viable option!!!
Now, if these parts were never, or should never, have been available, then they should have been obscured within the brochures, or at least had an amendment sticker to that effect placed over the part numbers and pricing.
This is a ridiculous situation...something that BMW seems happy to allow its MINI customers to endure....but I am sure it would never happen with its 1, 3, 5 etc series owners!!!

[DPMINI Aaron]

Hi Schatzy
82 71 2 149 225 is the part number for the Clubman base support system. Originaly it was thought that the hatch versions could be used ( 82 71 0 435 846 ). But they are now bringing out new ones just for the clubman. I have just heard back from MINI that there is no release date as yet.

[ontheroadagain]

Well, that's pretty much where we were left with the April 17th missive, but thanks for corroborating. Very frustrating to say the least - even though we know many have done well with the hatch versions while others have not (and we don't want to beat that into the ground here ).

The parts numbers do get confusing. One post over on NAM that gives an overview is here: North American Motoring - View Single Post - Rack on Clubman - Issues??

Quote:

Quote: Originally Posted by EAVclubbie (original)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim Ray
Morristown MINI, Phone order. The item ordered was Item # 82 71 0 398 321
which is identified on their online catalog as being the R56 rack.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim Ray
My rack came in a box marked R56.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim Ray
Below is the info from the Morristown MINI site, this is what I ordered.

(MINI website content clipped)
This item fits years: 2007 - on

Item # 82 71 0 435 846

You ordered either the 398 321 or the 435 846 and received a box that said "for R56" which fits your R55 to your satisfaction. Based on a limited knowledge of the BMW part numbering practices, the 435 846 is either Clubman-specific or is a modified part intended to replace the 398 321 for use on both R55 & R56 models... suggesting in either case that there is some reason why BMW/MINI is not satisfied with the use of the 398 321 for the R55. Looks like this summer will bring us a third rack for 2nd Gen Coopers.

My question is... if someone orders a 398 321, does that part still exist, or is that customer then sold a 435 846?

I think there's no more dead horse left fo me to beat...

It appears that EAVclubbie was right in the assumption that those base racks were really for the R56.

Any updates that you hear, DPMINI Aaron, I hope you'll post about. Many thanks thus far!

[schatzy62]

Quote: Originally Posted by DPMINI Aaron (original)

Hi Schatzy
82 71 2 149 225 is the part number for the Clubman base support system. Originaly it was thought that the hatch versions could be used ( 82 71 0 435 846 ). But they are now bringing out new ones just for the clubman. I have just heard back from MINI that there is no release date as yet.

Then explain to me why in the USA the 82.71.2.149.225 is not even a part and that the 82.71.0.435.846 is being sold as the Base Support System for the Clubman when you say it is for the coop but the coop number is different 82.71.0.398.321. See pictures attached for part number to vehicle type.

Also when i purchased my base support system 82.71.0.345.846 it also stated it was for both the 07+ Cooper and the 08 Clubman. Another this is that i also looked at the part number 82.71.0.398.321 which is listed as the base support system for the Cooper and it was also marked as being usable on the 07+ Cooper and the 08 Clubman.

So what exactly then is the 82.71.2.149.225 if it is not the part number listed for either the 07+ Cooper or the 08 Clubman. I am very confused.

[DPMINI Aaron]

What I can tell you is that the 82 71 2 149 225 is in the very latest accessory brochure just released here last week. It is specifically for the R55. The original brochure showed that the 82 71 0 435 846 would fit both the R56 and R55, but when ordering with BMW a note on their system says the 846 is for R56 only and that for the R55 to order the 225 which is on hold.

The 82 71 0 398 321 was for the R55 which is no longer available as some veicles required a retrofit roof rack preparation depending on their chassis (on cars built after 14 nov 2006). This roof rack could be fitted ok but could not be "adequately" secured without this repair kit which had an approximate fitting charge of £650 + vat just for this preparation.

The part number now listed for the R56 is the 82 71 0 435 846 and gives no mention of any fitting problems.

My advice Schatzy is to get your local dealer to check these part numbers with BMW US as it seems the UK has the upper hand for once and we are ahead of you. Haa Haa !

The long and short of it is though is that if someone asked me for a roof-rack for their R55 I would tell them that it is a 82 71 2 149 225 but it is not available yet. At their own peril they can buy and fit a 82 71 0 435 846 but that MINI do not approve it.

Hope that settled this topic for a while.

[ItsNumptyBoy]

Quote: Originally Posted by DPMINI Aaron (original)

Hope that settled this topic for a while.

Brilliantly factual update...........thanks.

The only thing that it leaves me wondering is..........when

[SteveM3]

Quote: Originally Posted by Paul (original)

'All MINI models will now have a 160 mph Speedo (to fall in line with the John Cooper Works models).'

How cheap is that, when it was one of the promotional points of the JCW.

I couldn't believe the cheek of all the fuss they were making over a new speedo for the JCW. They had no choice but to change it. I never use the analogue speedo in a Mini anyhow.

[ONED]

I need more info on : A93 Horizon Blue metallic!!!

light or dark? ......bring back indie!