The Auto MCS in the Flesh

Sections: Best of the Web Jan 28th, 2005 25 Comments

mini

Sean Bartnik has some great info and photos on the new automatic MCS and all the other subtle 1/05 interior tweaks at his weblog. Here’s an excerpt from the site:

The shift lever is really sharp-looking and feels nice in your hand. It’s a leather knob and the shift release button is really slick-looking with the red S on the side (I think it looks a lot like a full-face helmet with a face shield, and the resemblence is probably intentional — very sporty). The shift pattern layout is the same as in the Cooper CVT, with P R N D in the normal fashion, and then the SportDrive mode available by nudging the shifter to the right from the D position. The manual mode can be operated via the shift lever in the same manner as on the Cooper CVT: tap forward for downshifts and tap rearward for upshifts. Unlike the Cooper CVT (at least in the U.S.), the Cooper S automatic can also be manually shifted via paddles on the steering wheel, which leads us into…

rom previous photos and reports on MotoringFile, I was a bit concerned about how ergonomic the paddles would really be, but it turns out that my concerns were unfounded. In the front view above, it appears that the paddles are tiny little things that stick up above the horizontal spokes of the wheel and that’s it, but you can see on the side view that in fact the paddles are much larger and extend down behind the spokes. The paddles are perfectly sized so that when your hands are at 9 and 3, your four fingers fit perfectly on the part of the paddle that is behind the spoke, allowing you to pull it toward you for upshifts.

For downshifts, your best bet is to reach up with your thumb and press the top portion of the paddle away from you. Gabe at MotoringFile was correct in how the paddles operate: Each paddle does upshifts or downshifts depending on which way you operate it. If you pull it toward you, it upshifts. If you push it away from you, it downshifts. Since each paddle does both functions, you can operate the paddles with either your left or your right hand, whichever is more comfortable.

Sean goes on to cover quite a bit of the changes in detail. In all it’s a great read and well worth it if you’ve got a car on order or are looking for excuses to order another MINI! You can read the entire piece via the link below:

[ PHOTOS: Cooper S Auto/Other Jan. 2005 Goodies ]

FYI – We should also have an actual first drive review on the auto MCS soon.

Written By: MF Reader

http://www.alldigitalnyc.com drew

ok…NOW i’m getting psyched!

thanks for the link gabe – drew
Mike

Thanks Sean & Gabe…

GREAT STUFF!

I can’t wait for my new MINI to arrive. It’s on the boat right now and is making its way towards the Panama Canal. :-)
Vanwall
Great link! I was waiting for the aluminum pedals for Brooksie, and there was good info all around. One interesting thing was the advanced airbag set-up – when all my windows are open on my current MINI, and I’m by myself, I lock the passenger seatbelt because the wind causes the latch on the belt to slap against the inside door panel, and it scratched it a bit before I caught on. I never thought about it, but is this common for all? The new airbag would sense this and the light would go on, I understand. Hmmm. Good info!
```
     BCNU,
    Rob in Dago
```
Aaron Pailthorp

That shifter looks like it won’t be as cold or hot to grab onto in other than balmy conditions…
Michael Babischkin

That Bluetooth integration just begs all kinds of questions:

Is it compatible with the current MINI kit?

If not when is the new kit going to be released?

How difficult is the installation?

Price for the new kit if there is one?

Time to bug the MA’s! ;)
http://motoringfile.com Gabe

Michael – don’t get your hopes up just yet on that kit.
Paul!

I don’t remember exactly where I read it, but I seem to recall reading somewhere that the new bluetooth kit could be retrofitted, however, that would include fitting a new steering wheel!
http://www.thecarlounge.net Mike

Wow I have a november 04 production MCS and now I really wish I waited till January. The fact that bluetooth is now integrated along with the washer fluid warning light are really nice little touches. The LSD of course would be something I want as well.
Mike
what?

this looks rediculous, like one of those boxer puppets. not a thoughtful design. http://www.asseenontvandmore.com/bpunalpup.html
http://www.geocities.com/jaw0012/beetlemain.html MrV

I am eagerly awaiting that first drive review on this tranny Gabe. Thank’s for the link to the new info. Lots of good stuff.
Marcus

Gabe, anyway to get your hands on the new ’05 manual? Dying to find out how to operate those MFSW BT buttons. This April delivery for my MCS is killing me! :)
http://users.adelphia.net/~rocketboy/index.html Rocketboy

Looks good to me.. It’s like it’s saying, so what if i’m an automatic, at least I look cool… ;)
EBMCS03

Hey its Bomber Man!!
Brad

Got my ’05 MCS automatic from Mini of Charleston Friday, spent the whole weekend having a blast with the new shifter. As a die-hard manual lover I was at first bummed that my wife insisted that this car be an automatic as she has never been able to drive my car, but in the interest of marital bliss I gave in to her. WOW. This thing has everything but a clutch. It shifts down crisply at speed and holds the gear as high up the tach as you are willing to push it. anyway, works for me, still…. there is something about that third pedal that I miss…
http://www.alldigitalnyc.com drew

thanks for the info brad! how about the sound? does it still pop and get that powerful gurggle sound? the supercharger whine? does it zip like and s?

thanks – drew
http://users.adelphia.net/~rocketboy/index.html Rocketboy

Brad.. You should have made her lean stick! That’s why I did to my wife, and she wouldn’t think of buying an automatic again… :)
http://www.geocities.com/jaw0012/beetlemain.html MrV

Brad… you won the race for the first review of the MCSA (as far as I know). We all want to hear more.

I’m interested in your comparison….Have you driven the manual S?
Brad

believe me i tried to get her to learn on my 01 Wolfsburg Jetta, but she just wouldn’t.
Brad

Mini of Charleston told me it was the first MCSA that they delivered. As far as the sound goes, it sounds just like the other MCS’s i’ve driven when downshifting, I’ve driven a Turbo Jetta for 4 years and i’m addicted to that high rev whine, while i havent pushed the rpm’s up much past 5k yet (something about a break in period) the car is plenty zippy . You can really feel the engine pull the car down on a downshift, something I was fearing the automatic clutch would take away. I have some long term MCS driver’s that are itching to take a test run in it, we’ll see how they think it compare to the 6 speed.
Brad

Now I’m just waiting for the JCS works kit for the MCSA, anyone have a date for that to be available?
http://motoringfile.com Gabe

The MCSa JCW kit will be available late this spring.
Brad

Thanks Gabe, btw, your site it fantastic, I hit it every day.
http://users.adelphia.net/~rocketboy/index.html Rocketboy

Brad.. Heh heh.. my wife learned just so she could drive my mini.. for some reason she didn’t really care to learn on my 10yr old Chevy Cavalier…
http://motorwerksmini.com/index.asp ericb

Hello all, excellent comments on the MCSA. I am recently employed at a MINI dealer and would like to get some real specs on this beauty. Could you shed some light on links I could follow? Also, killer site! Love to visit. Thanks -_+
2005ly

Now, can the new shifter be retrofitted as well??? I’m diggin’ it much more than the metal topped one.

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