You heard it here first! I just received some information from a very good source regarding changes to the US spec MINI for 2004 model year:

“MINI USA is pleased to announce the changes for the 2004 model year beginning with the recently received September allocation. Little has changed from MY03 in terms of the vehicles,..but a lot has
changed in the way you can order them.”

For MY 04 the Cooper and Cooper S will have the following changes:

  • 850 – Pepper White for Cooper S
  • 903 – Velvet Red deleted for Cooper (need to make room for future convertible colors)
  • T3CB – Cordoba Beige available in sport seats (Cooper and Cooper S)
  • 255 – 3 Spoke Leather Sport Steering Wheel (Phase in 12/1/03 for Cooper and Cooper S)
  • 240 – Leather Basic Steering Wheel (Phase out 11/30/03 for Cooper)
  • STD – Rear Power Socket will return as standard
  • STD – Digital Speed Read-out in Tach will be standard (switch between Temp and Speed)
  • 550 – On Board Computer will also include an instantaneous fuel consumption function
  • 476 – Magnesium Door Casing will be dropped for Cooper S

    • “Other Key points to note are that as of 12/03 Rear Fog Lights will be a factory orderable option
    (Option # TBD) and in the mean time a dealer installed accessory Rear Fog Light kit is being
    developed to coincide with the September MY04 changeover.”

    “All of these new items will complement the existing options and packages,..and pricing will be
    announced shortly.”

Wow – some very interesting news there. BTW for those interested in option 255 you can check out that new three-spoke steering wheel here.

The bigger news in this latest MINIUSA bulletin (at least to dealers) is a brand new online ordering system. It looks like MINI dealers will be getting the new system by October 1st. “This new system changes the ordering process slightly in an attempt to minimize dealer Stock complexity.”

All told this will be a fairly quiet year for MINI. With the Cabrio coming in late '04 as an '05 model and a possible facelift scheduled for the MINI sometime in '05 this year could be considered the calm before the storm.

[UPDATE 7/27] I've posted some additional changes that have surfaced in regards to the '04 model year MINI.