As we reported a few months back, MINI has finally decided to give the US market a driver-side auto-up similar to the rest of the world. However it now looks like this software update will be delayed until after the first of the 2008 US models are on dealer lots.
If you have a 2008 MINI on order and were expecting this feature, we urge you to contact MINI and either make sure you’re car will indeed have the new feature, or ask that they offer a free software update that unlocks it in the future.
Since this is a software update, will it be possible to get this on an ’07 as well?
I hope to get lucky and get this already on my new Clubman.
Has anyone actually placed an order for a 2008 yet? An e-mail inquiry a few weeks ago to MINIUSA responded that they didn’t know when 2008’s could be ordered and I should check with my local dealer. I was told by my MA that I could not place an order for a 2008 until sometime in December. If anyone can enlighten me regarding a MINIUSA time frame for ordering and delivery of the 2008 MCS I would appreciate the info. Thanks.
In Canada, all new mini orders placed, will be 08’s. I know since I just ordered one, and am expecting late Jan, Feb delivery. Mini Canada has released no info that I know of regarding 08 pricing or changes in packages. The mini dealership here is looking quite vacant; little inventory.
Jon, as far as I can tell, 2008 production started at the end of the month of August. But I am not sure if this also applies to US spec production cars as well. The Clubman will be released in less than a month from now in European showrooms.
If the Clubman is to follow closely on the footsteps of the R56 launch schedule, US customers should be able to begin ordering 2008 MINIs (Including the Clubman) by late November.
Last year, the R56 configurator went up at MINIUSA on November 21st, 2006 and the official launch of the cars was February 17th, 2007.
Hope this helps.
My MA claims that MINI still hasn’t sent any info to the US dealers with regards to the ’08s. They’re still taking orders for ’07s up through November. You can, however, put in a pre-order and they basically just put you in a waiting list until they get an allotment of ’08 production slots.
This pretty much seals the deal for me as far as the ‘wait for ’08 or go ahead and get one of the last ’07s’ argument goes. Hopefully they’ll offer a retrofit for the auto-up. Hello new MINI, goodbye large amount of money!
@musicmn,
I doubt it… Folks with early build 07’s are already finding that flashing their cars to the latest and greatest software version doesn’t give them the newest features found in the later build 07’s (such as the new digital cruise control speed readout, etc.). Thus, I’d imagine that the same will be true for the auto up windows feature as well (i.e. if you don’t get them from the factory, then I wouldn’t count on getting them with a software update down the road).
MINI has a history of forgetting about folks who’ve already purchased their cars and only focusing on new sales. I love that they continually improve their cars over time (instead of waiting for the next model year), but it would indeed be nice if simple things that can be easily changed via software updates be made available for earlier build cars as well.
Would have to imagine that if there is a software update to allow this functionality I personally see very few reasons why this would not be available on all R56 cars. However if it requires component changes I would doubt it, the only component change I can imagine would be a sensor.
Canada already has auto-up for the driver.. not the passenger though..
I can tell you in 2 weeks if anything has changed – I should have my MCS by then.
Hmmm… my 07 has auto down, but not up. Could this have been a mid-year change? I got mine last April
Dave Mac, all MINIs have always had auto down – you can’t squish your fingers on the way down!
I’m sure glad that Ian Cull made the AutoUp. It’s still one of the best things I have bought for my ’04.
<blockquote>In Canada, all new mini orders placed, will be 08’s. I know since I just ordered one, and am expecting late Jan, Feb delivery. Mini Canada has released no info that I know of regarding 08 pricing or changes in packages. The mini dealership here is looking quite vacant; little inventory.</blockquote>
Richard, at MINI Waterloo in Ontario, Canada, you can still order 2007s and have them delivered by December. Just wondering what dealership/province you are in. Maybe there’s a delay in some provinces?
Congratulations either way!! If you are in Ontario, check out the <a>Southern Ontario MINI Club</a>. Happy Motoring 🙂
<blockquote>Since this is a software update, will it be possible to get this on an ‘07 as well?</blockquote>
Since MF has better contacts than most of us, any chance of getting a definitive answer on this?
I believe it has been answered <a href="https://www.motoringfile.com/2007/07/17/auto-up-for-the-us-in-2008/" rel="nofollow">here</a>.
I don’t see anything that one could call a <strong>definitive</strong> answer. Just speculation…
I never understood why this is such a big deal. I’m not too lazy to hold the toggle switch for a extra second.
Greg,
I’d be impressed if you can hold the steering wheel, shift the car, AND hold up the toggle at the same time, as when pulling away from a toll booth in the rain. 🙂