Just new to the forum, and new MCS owner 07, my question involves cruise control, when we test drove the cars they had an S in the warehouse that was priced in an area we could afford so we didn't drive it, driving home I realized it didn't have cruise control, dumb on my part not to check into this before we signed on the dotted line, but I thought now days that just about everything had cruise.
My question is, can it be retro fitted? I'm thinking that the wiring is probably already there, just need the controls on the steering wheel and the motor for activation. I'm just basing this off of other cars that I have seen or been associated with. I talked to the service department and they said they weren't sure but it would probably cost around $2800 to do. I find that a little out of sight. They weren't sure about any of the wiring, but said they didn't think it was there. Sooo, anyone out there in any way familiar with any of this???

Thanks

 

I dont know how much it costs, but they made a really stupid decision of requiring the premium package or multifuction wheel seperately to get cruise control on the MINI. Because the buttons are actually in the steering wheel I would imagine its very expensive to retro fit it to have cruise control. I cant believe they ordered one at a dealer without cruise control. Its pretty hard to sell a 22k+ car without cruise control. But anyways they should have told you, my saleswoman made sure to point out the issue with that.

 

I have good news and bad news Knee Dragger. Yes, it can be retro-fitted to the Mini, but it is prohibitively expensive. I seem to remember my MA mentioning something along the lines of $1,000-$1,500.

When I bought my Mini, the only two "must have" options were Cold Weather Package and the MFSW. At first when I was looking at them I didn't think I needed one, but now that I've driven with it for 500 miles, I wouldn't have it any other way. I usually don't use the cruise control in any vehicle (I prefer to feel as connected to the road as I can), but the audio controls are a Godsend.

Just chalk it up to an "oopsie", and make sure you get it on your next Mini. I know there are at least 3 things I will do differently when I order my next Mini in 3 years.

 

Agreed. The MFSW should come standard on all Minis, even if it bumps up the MSRP by the amount of the MFSW. Same thing with the Cold Weather Package in us "snow states". My dealer had a PW MC on the lot that they had acquired through a dealer trade and it didn't have the CW package. I told my MA that it should be illegal to sell a car in upstate NY without it.

 

Well, I think the consensus is that I goofed, should have been more on top of it. The car's great on the twisty roads along the coast of Washington where I live, it's just when we get on the long sections of interstate, where you just drone along, that I get a little tired of holding the pedal in one spot, oh well. The last Mini that I drove was a 1965 S that had been modified quite a bit, but it didn't have cruise, air, nav and all that stuff, but man that little bugger would run.
Anyway, guess I'll use that right foot for what it's for, controlling the gas.

Thanks for the responses.

 

You can buy aftermarket cruise control units, they're really not that expensive. I put one on my Porsche 914 years ago, worked like a charm too.......

I just did a quick Google search, and it looks like you can get an all electronic one for about $200. I know they're fairly easy to install, after all, I did it!

 

MINIdave,
I've considered aftermarket, and I know you can get a pretty good unit for around $200, problem is, fly by wire throttle control, the way it would have to be hooked up to work doesn't hit me as being "real clean", so I've kind of shyed away from it. What units did you come up with on google? I'm familiar with Dakota Digital, I have a Hot Rod also and have considered cruise for it, they do a lot of stuff for older and custom cars and motorcycles.

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07 Mellow Yellow MCS, not optioned out, obviously

 

This question actually goes out to "Minisizd". What in the world does "MFSW" stand for??? I'm new to the forum, trying like heck to figure stuff out, but that one just flat gets by me!! Thanks in advance.

 

Dan MFSW stands for Multi Function Steering Wheel.
It has audio, telephone and cruise controls on the wheel spokes. Very cool.

Stay around NAM long enough and you too will be speaking MINI talk

 

kneedragger, good point about the drive by wire, I'd forgotten about that. I'm not sure how you'd set that up. I guess I need to spend a little quality time under the hood of my MINI learning about it's systems............I've only had my car a couple of months

 

MINIdave,
Just realized, I called it "fly" by wire. You'll have to understand that I used to work on F16's years ago and that's the way you flew them, it was all computer controlled. I guess you just don't forget those things.

The people I talked to a Dakota Digital said that with "drive" by wire the actuation cable would have to be installed to "pull" the gas pedal. I'd have to make all the brackets to install and find a place to put the controller. I even went to the CC mfg to see if they might, by chance, have a kit for the Mini, no such luck. I've kind of left it at that, mainly because of the cable pull on the pedal, and DD said they couldn't be sure of how it would affect the car in the long run.

So, with the way my car is, it would probably be a great start for a race car, not all that extra weight of added on options.

 

Is there a mini cooper club in Ocean Shores