Updated: This rumor has now been confirmed.
It’s strictly a rumor at this point but A long-time source just dropped a juicy detail on the US-spec 2008 MINIs. The rumor goes that all 2008 R56 Coupe and R55 Clubman models will have driver-side auto-up windows identical to those found in the UK and Europe.
As someone who has now owned three US-spec MINI’s over five years, I think I speak for all US owners in saying… it’s about time.
Would love if this rumor was true.
Sweet! No more trying to fight the window as you leave the toll booth!
I’ve always wondered why we didn’t have these. The “can’t do it for safety reasons in the US” doesn’t hold water – my wife’s Sienna minivan has auto up.
Yea what is up with my R56 not having an Auto-up feature. ” Duh…okay we’ll put an auto-down feature, for convenience, but we won’t worry about the auto-up.” ’cause people really don’t mind holding up the button with your right hand (which you use to shift) even in emergency situations (when you’re in 1st gear and it starts pouring). That happens to me too many times, just gets annoying.
The safety thing has always seemed absurd as several BMWs do it (e36 M3, current 328xi wagon at least). There’s a guy in MA who made a custom circuit board to add this to the original MINI which works great. Takes about half an hour to install.
So, does this mean that MINI is adding an anti-pinch sensor or are the lawyers just letting up a bit?
Finally! Speaking for those whose hands are too big (or brains are too small, I couldn’t decide which was my issue) to fit Ian’s circuit, it’s taken too long for that decision to be made.
<blockquote>So, does this mean that MINI is adding an anti-pinch sensor or are the lawyers just letting up a bit?</blockquote>
Actually, they pinched the lawyer’s fingers in the windows until they said, “mercy”. 🙂
I’d still like to see the rear windows on the hardtops go up/down like on the Verts.
Now if they could get that sunroof to open and close with one touch – they’d be all set. 🙂
hm… this is half good and half bad. I’m already getting a 2007 R56 so if I can’t retrofit then this will only hamper development for a circuit similar to those that were available for the R50/R53.
Any news/thoughts about retrofits?
I’m good either way.
Hey, how is Ian going to keep up his boat payments if that happens? 🙂
A call for speculation.
Would is seem probable/possible that after delivery the drivers switch could be ordered and replace the passenger switch?
As for the legal aspects, The Moron Factor applies here. I think that if you stupid enough to put your fingers into a closing window until it piches them, you deserve to get your fingers stuck.
Ian doesn’t own a boat …
You R56 owners, what’s up with the sunroof not opening and closing with one touch now?
That’s something that we can do on the R50/R53 models – when I test drove a R56, and mentioned this to the motoring advisor, he said that it was something that he was sure could be programmed at the dealership. I guess this is not the case?
Do European cars only have it on the driver’s side? I was under the impression they had it on both sides. If so, this is a step in the right direction, but give us both windows.
With Ian’s circuit I can easily put both windows up at the same time with thumb and pinky (great for when a call comes in and it’s too noisy with cabrio top down, or when it starts raining and both windows are down).
And Ian does not make a board for the R56. It would be nice if they had a software update for the 07s.
You have to wonder which is less safe. Getting your finger caught in the window, or putting your car into the barrier while you are distracted by closing the window…
About time indeed……..
Well, if you are dead, they can only speculate as to why you crashed into the barrier. If you make a boo-boo you are still alive to sue. 😉
It will be cool if it is done officially, even if it makes my MINI a little less exclusive with its Ian Cull circuit adding this feature.
A circuit for the R56 presents problems due to the much increased electronics in the new car, and the combining of toggle switches and heat controls in a single unit.
GBMINI circuits has additional development problems, due to the lack of an R56 (or boat, apparently!)
Not a rumor, it is true! Was told in a MINI meeting!
I had always assumed that all MINI had auto up at least on the driver side. This is the case on my R53. My sunroof one-touch closes to tilt. This is the case on the R56’s we get here as well – auto up driver’s side and auto close to tilt.
Are you really telling me that you guys in The States did not have auto up even on the driver’s side? And that you had no auto close on the sunroof?
Excuse my ignorance, but I always thought that Ian’s circuit was to remedy the lack of auto-up on the passenger side of the car.
Timmee,
Yes, that is what we are telling you. The stupid paranoid legal environment we had here meant that NEITHER the driver’s nor passenger’s side had auto-up on ANY US-bound MINI Cooper all the way from 2002 models up until today.
Ian’s circuit (as well as the copycat competition, MCAW) was designed to rectify this for -both- sides of the car.
Just checked my R53 RHD. The RH window (drivers) has the auto-up one touch feature and does not have an anti-trap (skinned fingers to prove this). The LH (passenger) does not have the auto-up one touch (or its faulty).
Does this mean that passengers can’t be trusted with this feature?
Could the RH side electronic gizzmo for RHD markets be obtained for LHD markets through parts depts? And vis-a-vie?
Oops I dont have an R53 convertible – just a R52 coupe.
I’m about to order a 2007 and I have to say I would love to have this feature on my car. (My current vehicle has it and I use it every single day in one way or the other). Do you think 2007 owners will be able to upgrade their windows to enable this feature (even at a cost)?
Although I’ll miss the tinkering aspect of popping in Ian’s circuit, this is welcome news. ‘Bout time, too.
What’s with Mini removing great features? I like the one touch sunroof on mine and would really miss it if I got a new Mini. Also, I took my 2006 to the dealer and asked for it to be programmed so the key fob would unlock everything with one push. They said no problem and then appologized because, apparently, some time during 2006 Mini stopped offering that option. They will all unlock with the key in the door but that is just as annoying as pushing the button 10 times until the doors unlock. Sorry if this subject is off topic and has been already discussed at length….
I was told by my MA that the programming for the auto up windows would be coming soon and they could update my 07 mcs at that time. Hopefully that’s true because it is annoying. Not sure if anything with the sunroof will change though.
Does anyone else have any more insight into this? I just picked up our 2007 and was very disapointed about the lack of auto-close features (our old MINI had auto-close on the sunroof – but still left it in the Tilt position).
If I can have my windows programmed (and hopefully the roof as well), that would be great!