'Comfort Opening'

[inspection12]

ie. holding down the button on the key to get the roof and windows to open before you get in.

a feature i didn't know existed until i read these boards and have requested it to be programmed into my 02 Cooper S, which happens to be at the garage for wanton airbag light activity.

But should they really be charging me £50ish just for this? I thought that was a bit cheeky.

[Root Ginger]

No they shouldn't be as it's a 1 minute job especially if they already have the computer plugged in resetting the airbag.

Did you get your car from new? If so they should of run you through what options were available to be programmed on your car and activated them before you took it away. If they didn't it's their own fault.

However, even if the car is second hand, £50 is excessive.

[russ.mackay]

I asked for mine to be activated last time it was in for a service, they did it free of charge. £50 is ridiculous.

If I were you I would wait until you need a service and then ask them to do it for free while the car is in.

[inspection12]

i bought it with 20k on the clock from Hexagon BMW, who are doing it right now.

I'm still 2500 miles away from servicing.

I'll kick up a fuss when I go pick it up, maybe that will work. She tried to tell me that the airbag light would need 'rewiring' when we all know it's because it's a software issue.

[Paul]

The airbag light could be down to the very common problem of the wires/coupling under the seat coming lose/being over stretched, which does require a new part/wires.

They can charge for comfort opening and other options if they chose, it's a quick job so you'd hope they'd do it out of courtesy, but if not, they have done work and they're free to charge. If you agree to the work and don't dispute the charge before hand, in my opinion you'd be out of order arguing about it later. Better to tell them in advance you're not prepared to pay for the work.

No point getting in a bad relationship with your local service centre!

[Richard22b]

Cost me £10 from MINIMANIA in wales.

[Root Ginger]

Totally agree with Paul, if you've already said yes there is little you can do. Just put it down to experience. You're not the first person I've heard of getting charged that amount for changing programmable options but it is annoying when other dealers do it FOC when other work is being undertaken. TBH they should of done it for free or at least a nominal fee. £5 - £10 would be about right.

[inspection12]

sadly my 02 Cooper S is too old to have it, so I didn't get charged in the end.

they did charge me £30 for a new brake light though, doh!

[Paul]

It is? Strange as I've driven '01 (Y and 51 plates) that have had it, and so does Abi's March 2002 MINI One.

[inspection12]

apparently so :-(

[Paul]

I believe when Abi asked for this at first they said the same, but a software update fixed it. It makes no sense to me that 2001 and early 2002 cars can do it, and yours cant. As does our 2002 Cooper S (July build I believe). And so did my 2002 Cooper when I had that.

[inspection12]

right. I'll DEMAND it when I take her in to complete the service in a few weeks time!

Thanks Paul!

[Root Ginger]

...and make sure they don't charge £50 this time