[Paul]

Quote:

Originally posted by Rick
Paul,
Any joy on the tach upgrade being available as a retrofit

No idea.

[StevePSB]

Not sure if anyone has posted this already, I don't see them, so here's some official facts (assuming I've interpreted them right!) on 2004 - Week 36 build on - spec:



* New wheel trims for One/Diesel without alloys

* New body controller giving:

- Follow me home lights standard from factory
- Additional digital speed readout in rev counter
- Indicators flash once when MINI unlocked, twice when locked
- Doors relock after 2 minutes if not physically opened before that time
- Wipers change from 'slow mode' to 'interval mode' below 2mph

* Pepper white available for S

* Velvet red deleted

* Cordoba beige leather available for all MINI's with sports seats

* 'S' steering wheel now available on MINI ONE/Cooper with steptronic switches for gearbox. Also included with cloth/leather combination upholstery in ONE/Cooper. Included with Pepper pack for ONE/Cooper and Chili pack for Cooper.

* Rear spoiler (Cooper Chili spoiler) available for ONE D. £100.

* Magnesium grey door panels deleted on S

* OBC gains instantaneous fuel consumption. OBC included with Salt/Pepper/Chili packs

* Harmon Kardon loses Radio/Cassette due to incompatibility with new body control unit

* Pepper pack available for MINI ONE and ONE D



Like I say, that's how I interpret the news. I hope there's no errors, but don't shoot if there are!

[StevePSB]

Oh, and that is UK information. Can't speak for other countries I'm afraid.

[KatanaPilot]

Quote:

Originally posted by StevePSB


* New body controller giving:

- Doors relock after 2 minutes if not physically opened before that time

Oh no, this is one feature I really HATE on Hondas!!!!!! What are they thinking!?
I hope we can turn it off......

[Paul]

Updated first post to contain more of the 2004 changes we think we know about!

[StevePSB]

And it sounds like a new steering wheel (doesn't actually say 3 spoke)will be due December when the old (non sports) 2 spoke steering wheel is likely to be deleted.

[cheekymonkey]

Forgive me here, but these changes are SO SO trivial!! Nothing there that makes me regret or would want to wait?

Just picked up my car and I'm always facinated by the discussion around something as trivial as the key changing! LOL... sorry! But unless the lights, bumpers or engine changes it's not really worth worrying about delaying an order!

[StevePSB]

I decided to order a 2003 spec car due to wanting H/K with radio/cassette. I could have had a 2004 spec car for the same delivery time and to be honest I'm not too disappointed with what I'm losing out on by not getting a 2004. The £70 extra payable for CD head unit and the fact I didn't want a CD head unit outweigh the loss of not going for a 2004.

[davidac]

I see CD player playing MP3 encoded discs is added. I am really hoping for that. Is that confirmed now? As for waiting for a 2004, I could have had deliver mid Septemebr, I am getting delivery mid October. I waited. Not necessarily for features, but I am waiting 1 month when I have already waited 10, and I get a more recent model year which should be worth somthing when it comes time to sell, to get another Mini of course.

[StevePSB]

No mention of it on 2004 list for UK.

[MiniAdventurer]

Quote:

Originally posted by StevePSB

- Follow me home lights standard from factory

excuse the ignorance please :P but what are follow me home lights?

MiniAdventurer

[stryder]

Follow me home lights are a delay headlight turnoff, you can get the headlights to stay on (so you can see yourself to the door) for a minute or so, then they turn off. Check the FAQ on programming options: http://www.mini2.com/forum/thread6513_.html They're activated (if programmed) when you turn the headlights off after you've turned the car off.

[Chadwell]

Quote:

Originally posted by cheekymonkey
Forgive me here, but these changes are SO SO trivial...I'm always facinated by the discussion around something as trivial as the key changing! LOL... sorry! But unless the lights, bumpers or engine changes it's not really worth worrying about delaying an order!

Well, see, that's the good thing about forums like those here on www.mini2.com, you can find subjects that DO interest you and ignore the ones that don't.

Trivial changes or not, the changes are still worth discussing. This thread at least give you the chance to see if there ARE any big changes and then decide what you want to do from there. Different strokes for different folks.

Michael

[Chadwell]

Quote:

Originally posted by davidac
I see CD player playing MP3 encoded discs is added. I am really hoping for that. Is that confirmed now? As for waiting for a 2004, I could have had deliver mid Septemebr, I am getting delivery mid October. I waited. Not necessarily for features, but I am waiting 1 month when I have already waited 10, and I get a more recent model year which should be worth somthing when it comes time to sell, to get another Mini of course.

I waited for the same reason. I figured that for a month's wait (and maybe a slight increase in the cost of the car) I will have a year younger car, as far as resale value goes. Might not matter in the long run but it might. And honestly, it gave me one more month to save toward my down payment. Every little bit helps.

As for the MP3 capability, has anyone heard anything definitive on this? My dealer emailed me many of the 2004 changes last week but there was no mention of the MP3 rumor. I called to confirm and they had not heard about it. I wonder if the confusion has to do with the head unit adapter that allows you to connect your own MP3 player. I wish I knew for sure. If it doesn't play them, I guess I need to search some of the ICE threads for MP3 head unit recommendations. Hmmm, the Harmon Kardon optional head unit doesn't play MP3s, does it?

Michael

[stryder]

I'm nearly certain H/K is the same head unit. It just changes everything else in the audio system.

I think a big difference in Model year changes is the US' reliance on model years. Because that's not the case elsewhere, it probably is hard to understand why someone would wait an extra month, but there is a fair amount of money and some cachet involved in how 'old' your car is. My brother has an '02 WRX with 50K miles. It 'seems' like its only a year old, in fact he got it in April of '01, but because there's no registrations (52, 53 etc like in the UK) its not really obvious.

[LauSai]

When do all the changes for the 2004 take affect?
I'm tying to decide when I should order my MCS.

I know the rear fogs and the 3-spoke steering wheel don't start until December 2003. More specifically I'm interested in the when the: new key, mp3/cd-player, and the digital speed readout in tach start making into the cars.

Can the digital speed readout be programmed for older 2003 models?

What exactly is entailed in the retrofit kit for the rear fogs? Does the dealer install the 6th toggle switch and the rear fog? Is it extra?

For the new 3-spoke steering wheel...are all the buttons (from the 2-spoke wheel..for example...cruise control and radio, etc.) located on the back of the steering wheel?

Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[stryder]

If you scroll a bit, other people have mentioned digital speedout, no news on that yet, but its probably unlikely or expensive (a few hundred dollars).

No one knows what the retrofit kit officially will be. Since model year starts with Sept (Oct delivery in the US) builds, I would gather anything not specificed as Dec or another month can be expected in Sept. The rear fogs are already in place and wired up. All that's necessary is the toggle and software upgrade.

No idea about the steering wheel, but it'd seem unlikely to put all of the buttons on the back. That'd be 4 buttons on each side, I assume they'll be cruise on front, audio on rear like it is now.

[Chadwell]

Quote:

Originally posted by LauSai
When do all the changes for the 2004 take affect?
I'm tying to decide when I should order my MCS.

Most should start with the Sept builds. But the rear fogs are starting with the October builds and the steering wheel starts with the December builds (at least according to my dealer). Neither interests me much. But I am really hoping the head unit plays MP3. And what I really wanted for 2004 but won't get is more choices for cloth interiors. I dont want the feel (or cost) of leather but I would like choices other than black or grey. Some of the leathers are so beautiful, I wish they would bring some of those colors in cloth. Oh well.

Michael

[SharkReef]

I too am getting a Oct 2004 MCS (Sept Build) and just wanted to say thanks for a great thread! I just finished reading it and it definately helped me learn about the new changes. The only ones I knew of were the K/D, MP3, and no Magnesium. Either way I am quite excited to get me baby!

One question though to those getting a 2004.
Can you download the Owners guide on the Mini Owners Lounge? I can only get the Unathorized One. Or is that the only one that is actually available. I figured maybe since it was a 2004 they won't let you download the 2003 Owners guide. Anyone know?

[jmusicman]

I have the same problem Sharkreef... (not that I actually need the manual 2 1/2 months before I get the cars... but hey I am a freak like the rest of us here....