MINIUSA has finally, officially, released the wood trim for the MINI. The accessory was first shown at the launch of the Cooper back in 2001 but until just recently wasn’t officially available in the US. In fact we reported (a bit prematurely as it seems) on the dash possibly coming to the US more than two years ago.
And for those curious, yes, the dash is genuine fake wood. You can read the official PDF release info below:
[ Wood Interior Trim & Wood-leather Steering Wheel ]
Update: For those that would rather not download the PDF, you can see a photo of the dash here.
<p>Egads! That’s <em>hideous</em>!</p>
<p>Not quite the <a rel="nofollow" HREF="http://brmoroni.com:80/mpc/docs/Site/Car%20Works.html">real thing</A>.</p>
<p>No. Not in MY car.</p>
<p>Only for ’05 MINIs</p>
<p>UUUUGLY!!!!!!!!!!</p>
<p>THAT IS THE WORST MINI IDEA EVER!</p>
<p>I was guessing 20 negative responses to 3 positive by 5pm CST. I may have to reevaluate that number.</p>
<p>At least you can be sure with this item that no one will be asking “is it available for retro-fit”! What is next? A genuine vinyl Landau roof?</p>
<p>Ack! Looks like something straight out of the JC Whitney catalog! Mleh!</p>
<p>True. I’ll stand by my initial thoughts. Since the dash is convex it’s not a natural shape for wood. Even if they managed to get real wood on that thing (which they didn’t) it would look fake. And them the fact that it’s glossed like nobody’s business makes it look even worse.</p>
<p>… ah but what do I know :)</p>
<p>remember MINI is about freedom of choice…thats a good thing!</p>
<p>Oh yeah, that is bad…but then I’ve never been a fan of wood trim in cars. I was once and a Jaguar dealership looking inside one of their cars and the salesperson says, “…and that’s all REAL wood in there.” I replied, “Yeah, I know. Can you get it without the wood?” I’m pretty sure I offended him. He was going on and on about Jaguar tradition and the REAL wood used. Yuck.</p>
<p>U-G-L-Y, it aint got no alibi, it’s ugly!</p>
<p>It looks like something that granpa would put in his 78 Dodge van. </p>
<p>I sit here and words just fail me. </p>
<p>With the recent news from Buckingham Palace, maybe MINI is getting ready to launch another special edition?</p>
<p>The Camilla Parker-Bowles MINI</p>
<p>Yikes!</p>
<p>What?! No elliptical panels for the doors?! So, even if you were into this hideous fake wood it would be terribly contrasted by whatever had to be left in the doors. Seems incomplete and half-assed, to me. Make that a quarter or even one-eighth assed. This is all-the-way-around AWFUL!</p>
<p>Is MINI so desperate to generate afterarket profits that they’re willing to sell things that are this terrible? Who’s in charge of protecting the manufacturers image?!</p>
<p>dc: Yes, we are free to make whatever choices we like — It’s a wonderful thing we’ve got here in America and with MINI. But sometimes just because a choice is a viable option it doesn’t automatically default it to a “good” choice. Yes, it’s true, we’re free to make as many bad choices as we like — And no one can do a darn thing about it! 😉 Let freedom ring!</p>
<p>Umm… No. Yeah, definitely no.</p>
<p>Hey wazzzzupp wit dat?! Hey Exibit, stuff to Pimp This Ride?</p>
<p>To each his own but for me they might as well put in captain chairs and a continental kit on da bak. Daz wat I’m Sayin!</p>
<p>+++RB</p>
<p>It looks like someone smeared–you know what–all over the dash!</p>
<p>I was terribly disappointed when I saw the picture. Sure, it’s Genuine Faux Burled Walnut (absolutely premium stuff), but what I REALLY wanted to see was a MINI rendition of a ’56 Ford station wagon with exterior paneling. Now THAT would really go with a the vinyl landau roof. MMMMmmmmM!
And yes, the chrome Continental Kit would look great, too!</p>
<p>That would be $1,160.00 for the entire package, which looks like something that came from a ’55 Plymouth.</p>
<p>Umm, no thanks!</p>
<p>Regardless of the relative ugliness of the kit, I think the real travesty here is the cost!</p>
<p>I LOVE IT!!!! Not the stearing wheel though… just the panels. </p>
<p>It’s got the retro-style thing going for it and will look brilliant in my BRG/W with Cordoba and a whole lot of chrome. </p>
<p>This is a salute to some great british classics. Hat’s off to MINI.</p>
<p>I just threw up a little in my mouth.</p>
<p>-m</p>
<p>I’ve seen many a Classic Mini with a wood dash, but they’ve been made out of real wood–and looked it. This version looks as fake as it really is. The high gloss finish is just too plasticky. This looks like a kit you could get at AutoZone, right next to the neon tube license plate frames and shift knobs.</p>
<p>If you got this feature, you’d be trying to make your MINI dashboard into a Jaguar dashboard, (but why?).</p>
<p>It just doesn’t work for me, not in the new MINI’s. This car is not a Jag.</p>
<p>At those prices plus install – it this fir a Mini or an Aston Martin?</p>
<p>Do they give you a free bowl of soup with that?</p>
<p>In the immortal affected accent of Pauly from the Sopranos a few seasons back “DISGUSTING.”</p>
<p>I have been so waiting for this. I can’t believe you are finally reporting this Gabe. I just called my dealership and I will have it in on Monday for the installation. :)</p>
<p>I cannot believe this. Who works at BMW with a high paying cushy job that approved this for sale. They can’t get the Satellite radio to work for an ’05 until 6 months after the ’05 comes out, but they can release this. For all you people who think that BMW aftersales is spending time working on delayed products you are wrong. They are busy either releasing this stuff or discussing it in meetings. For every one of these that gets to the market, you know good and well 10 of them are routed through committees and people actually spend time on them in different phases.</p>
<p>Did Mini do any market research. Within 3 hours of you posting this 26 people totally hate it, and only one person partially likes it, but not the steering wheel. In three hours 27 people (Mini owners mind you from all across the country) have unanimously stated that the product stinks. What marketing survey found that this was going to even sell or worth the money to sell/market. I think 27:0 is a pretty strong statement.</p>
<p>Wood, fake or other wise, should not be used in cars built after 1960.
The word “Ugly” does not do enough to describe this look.</p>
<p>Wait! I didn’t even see the price yet. $1300 installed. Holy Cow, now I know someone has really lost it at Mini. Hmmm! Spend $1300 for the fake wood trim, or $1300 for an entire JCW suspension kit. Hmmmmm! Wow unbelievable.</p>
<p>Hey – I’m ready anytime MINI wants to contact me about doing some consulting on products :)</p>
<p>… wait until you see what’s coming next…</p>
<p>SUPER-NEATY-COOL!!!!
JUST like My Mom & DADS STATION WAGOn!!!!!!</p>
<p>FYI – Keep in mind this has been available outside the US for at least two years.</p>
<p>I’m wondering something… Markets in other countries are often different than the market here in America. It’s almost unanimous here on MotoringFile that we, as Americans, very much dislike the wood trim kit. However, I do wonder if this wood trim kit would be a big hit in South America, Europe, Australia, Asia, etc… Often, I see things that are popular in other countries that I could never see do well here in the U.S. I’d be interested in knowing how popular this is with people who aren’t from America. Perhaps they are the reason why MINI decided to manufacture this kit.</p>
<p>How funny — You and I were thinking and typing with the same thoughts in mind at the same time…</p>
<p>I think I want to hurl.</p>
<p>Throw in a bas relief western scene, perhaps some galloping horses, a cactus or two, a setting sun, and I’m there! :P</p>
<p>Well, I wouldn’t buy it; but I don’t think it’s as horrendous as some of you think.</p>
<p>I can’t say as I’m overly impressed with MINI’s interior plastic color schemes from two and three years ago. The $1300 wood trim looks nothing like wood and the $0 alloy patina looks nothing like metal. </p>
<p>At least the newly released $1200 JCW Carbon Fiber dash lives up to its name. As I recall quite a few people balked at the price of that dash option too.</p>
<p>The dash isn’t too bad, I wouldn’t get it though. Body color is so much better and it’s free!</p>
<p>The wheel however is horrible and the price. I wonder how much profit they’d get from the sale of each wheel. There is no way fake wheel on the outside of the wheel is worth $595 to 725.</p>
<p>:winner: </p>
<p>Cheesiest Accessory of the Year Award</p>
<p>Wow, you mean John Cooper Works wasn’t behind this release? MINI must be playing the same game they are. Release it first, ask questions later.</p>
<p>I really see this fitting in only with the Cordoba leather option. Anywhere else and it looks like the owner is just trying too hard.</p>
<p>Thumbs down.</p>
<p>I think some faux stone options are in order here… like maybe traverine or marble … oh wait- how about shag carpeting!?! ;p</p>
<p>Extremely Ugly!!</p>
<p>Well here in the UK it has been available for ages, and on most cars would only be about £160 for the dashboard and the steering wheel as a factory option, but it is horendous! I’ve seen it in the flesh and can’t see why anyone would choose to have it!</p>
<p>If you don’t want it, don’t buy it</p>
<p>IMHO I’m all for wood in the right applications (and cars) if it’s done well. I just prefer the matte look over the super high gloss looking wood. If the wood shift knob was actually wood (anyone know?) I’d be a big fan.</p>
<p>I don’t have to worry. If I asked the MINI parts department to order it, I would get the usual answer.
“They don’t make it for an 05” or
“They don’t make it”.
Tried to get advanced order on a JCW exhaust and the answer was “Only MCS get JCW parts”!</p>
<p>Bud – you need to out whatever dealer and whomever said “only MCS get JCW parts”. Most non engine specific JCW accessories fit both the MC and the MCS.</p>
<p>Well, if nothing else, it’ll appeal to the older people :D</p>
<p>Barforama! It’s not for me, but to each his/her own.</p>
<p>Gabe, I understand the shifter is real wood, I passed on that though as it has the chrome ‘cap’ applied. </p>
<p>The reason the panels are plastic is for safety; wood splinters are a real drag in an airbag deployment. </p>
<p>Matte is 100% prefered, but alas, shiny plastic faux wood is preferable to shiny plastic faux metal (and look ma — no fingerprints!).</p>
<p>This would look great in CR/W or BRG/W w/Cordoba a tons of chrome. Need the anthracite liner and interior though.</p>
<p>The effect looks nothing like Jag(??) — had some of those, as well as 5’s and 7’s (and others with wood). And, BTW want to bet how many of the 100K+ cars have ‘fake’ wood on airbag areas too? </p>
<p>This is what it is, I like it … lone voice in a crowd here.</p>
<p>I’m not American, but I’m not old. Hmmm, maybe I am old…er. </p>
<p>This wood trim will find a loving home in: ’05 BRG/W . MCS . JCW+Suspension . Premium . Sport . Cordoba . HK . Chromed-In+Out . Anthracite-Up+Down . 17″Alloy . iPod . Armrest . FogLamps-Front+Rear . AuxDrivingLights . HeatedMirrors+Washers . WhalenShifter | [I]coming soon[/I] WoodDash + JCW-Brakes+CrossBrace. zoomzoom.</p>
<p>As a devotee of the original Rokee dash in Minis, there is a place for this in any vehicle, as long as it’s either discreet and subtle, or if not, at least very well chosen grain. Personally, I’ve never been a fan of the silver plastic dash – it looks cheap and anything looks better, IMHO – and I wish it was more modular in conception, to add or subtract design elements to give each owner more choice. I might go for a wood dash in my BRG, altho I’d have to see it in person to make a decision. I wouldn’t mind a horizontal insert of good cherry wood along the dash, or a reasonable facsimile thereof, either. </p>
<pre><code> BCNU,
Rob in Dago
</code></pre>
<p>Real or fake wood is totally out of place in the new MINI interior, it just doesn’t work. The kit is grossly overpriced, but I am sure thare are a couple of P.T. Barnums out there waiting in line and ready to plunk down cash on it.</p>
<p>Instead of wasting time on junk like this, why not try to fix the “alloy Patina” that looks so good on pics but a total let down in person.</p>
<p>I still contend the best dash interior trims to date are the optional carbon fiber JCW and the $0 Anthracite trim that looks the business.</p>
<p>I haven’t seen the carbon fiber kit in person, but I am not a big fan of that “latest rage” style.</p>
<p>I agree that the Anthracite looks great, especially since you get the change in other bits like downtubes, but I think the body color dash makes the car look great, no matter what color you have. Matter of fact, now that I think about it, anthracite could almost be called body color for a Dark Grey exterior.</p>
<p>BUT…… Am I the only one that is decidedly perturbed by Gabe’s “… wait until you see what’s coming next…” comment?</p>
<p>Quote: “Am I the only one that is decidedly perturbed by Gabe’s “… wait until you see what’s coming next…” comment?””</p>
<p>Me too. I’m guessing….a front bench seat?</p>
<p>Well, I don’t feel so bad after reading all this. I already know I’m in the minority — I think carbon fiber is beyond hideous. </p>
<p>Gabe’s comment was intriguing, I know I’ll be checking regularly to see what IT is!</p>
<p>I know what it is. I can’t wait to see people’s reactions.</p>
<p>Well you got 60 comments so far on this and over 80 comments on the JCW spoiler, so how about a prediction from you guys on how many comments this next shocker is going to get?</p>
<p>Well, it seems that those in the know cannot say what “it” is. (I feel like we’re all waiting for the unveiling of the Segway again — Anyone remember that?!) So, since none of you can say WHAT it is, can you tell us about WHEN we might be seeing what’s next?</p>
<p>An insult to my aesthetic sensibilities</p>
<p>Oh heck no! NO WAY… its UGLY!!! </p>
<p>I’m not getting any wood…. over that wood</p>
<p>Hey, as long as it’s an option, MINI can make as many wood dashes as they want. And you know, there’s always goimg to be someone ready to buy a set. Not my cup of tea, but hey, isn’t that what makes MINIs so great?</p>
<p>“This wood trim will find a loving home in: ’05 BRG/W . MCS ….” – Grumpygills</p>
<p>For the love of God, Grumpy!! NOOOO!!</p>
<p>Ok, I’ll take a wild guess that the next thing coming is a matching wood kit for the exterior.</p>
<p>Hopefully I’m wrong!</p>
<p>I’ve seen an earlier version of the wood dash in the ‘flesh’, (it’s always been available here), and it didn’t look anywhere near as bad as I thought it would. (or should that be wood). It didn’t have the wood on the steering wheel though, which looks hideous.</p>
<p>I’m betting that the next option is the cloth sunroof. It’s been up on other countries official accessory pages for a while now. It’s like the glass sunroof, but made of a retracting black vinyl. Maybe not, but go to mini.com and try to find accessory pages on a few different country sites.</p>
<p>Interesting side note… On the MINI mexico site you can option an 05 Cooper S in Indi Blue and Solid gold. Very peculiar, but it is an 05 because it shows the updated headlights. </p>
<p>That vinyl sunroof can be seen in english at the Thailand MINI page, under accessories-Picnic. That’s just my guess though.</p>
<p>OMG………..looks like the whole damn Ugly tree fell on it..hope they do not offer wood panel insert for the body..damn..that be ugly</p>
<p>Just think of what it would do to the resale value if you install it…fubar</p>
<p>Was the vinyl sunroof ever offered here?</p>
<p>My ’57 small window bug had one plus semaphore turn signals.</p>
<p>I would buy it if offered.</p>
<p>Nice that, so far most, have keep their comments non personal.</p>
<p>+++RB</p>
<p>Huh??? It’s “just now” becoming available in the US?</p>
<p>At the risk of making everybody here heave (except grumpygills) I’ve had the factory wood dash (minus the steering wheel) in my BRG/W since I took delivery in June ’03. Frankly, I like it. Frankly, I don’t give a rat’s patootie whether anyone else here does or not. I think it beats the pants offa “patina”. Ewwwww! Now <em>that’s</em> butt ugly and plasticky looking.</p>
<p>I had Whalen make me up a special, smaller shift knob that I had covered with brown sting ray leather to compliment it.</p>
<p>I’m sure I won’t convince anyone here that it looks OK, though.</p>
<p>Mike.. You know, the carbon fiber dash looks much better in person than in pictures also. Granted, unless a bag of money hit my head, I wouldn’t be buying a CF JCW dash anytime soon, but if someone gave me one, I wouldn’t complain one single bit. Which is why i’m really tried to stop judging MINI changes based on pictures. Unless it’s something that just can’t look good, like the airbag warning light….</p>
<p>Erik…</p>
<p>wasnt this already an option of european MINIS? is this something cool over there? i dont know about you guys, but i’m not one for fake plastic wood. and at the price you have to pay, its almost like MINI is playing a joke on us. is it april already?</p>
<p>I’ll take my carbon fiber over this crap any day</p>
<p>Well I live in Amsterdam, but I haven’t seen anyone with it, or know anyone who has it or like it.</p>
<p>It’s funny how fake, plastic metal is so much more acceptable than fake, plastic wood…</p>
<p>I won’t judge until I see it in person, but agree that it may look very classy in a BRG</p>
<p>does it come in knotty pine? </p>
<p>Gabe/Matt,</p>
<p>Please clarify… is “IT” the blue ignition wires?</p>
<p>Inquiring minds must know :)</p>
<p>As a guy who works in something related to the wood industry, I can understand why a fake wood version is the only one offered.</p>
<p>It’s the norm now to walk into highly trafficked areas (retail stores, for example) and see acres of wood that is just plastic laminate (Formica, Pionite, Nevamar, et al.) Why? because of cost and because of wear-related issues. Yes, there are exceptions (Barns & Noble is a really good, really well done one), but even they have melamine interiors on their cashwraps.</p>
<p>A real wood veneer is really cost prohibitive for the application they’re offering. Wood, especially when highly figured or burled is just too finicky to work with in a reliable, repeatable manner for an affordable car. Veneers can split or have holes, solid pieces need to be properly dryed, then sealed in a way that is both aesthetically pleasing and functionally acceptable. </p>
<p>Higher end vehicles can subsume the increased cost into the price, but a $20-something dollar car simply can’t afford it anymore. </p>
<p>I would, of course, love a bit of wood in my car. I’ve spoken to aftermarket guys and gotten pricing on it. But the cost just doesn’t justify the improved looks in my mind. Maybe if I was a little more flush…. :)</p>
<p>Edge – yes “it” was :)</p>
<p>Hey, it wouldn’t truly be a British car if they didn’t at least offer wood stuck to the dash. </p>
<p>Of course, it’s not real wood, and the car isn’t 100% British, so there you have it.</p>
Wood grain dashes suit mini’s down to the ground – um, real minis that is
The reason why a woodgrain dash doesn’t look good in this mini is because it is not a Mini its a NEW Mini.
Its retrofitting classic with the modern!
No No NO (shaking head)