We've had our 06 for a couple weeks now and I've been keeping track of all the changes that are new for 05/06. Here's the list I have so far, have I missed anything that is common to every MCS? Are any of these 06 specific?


Changes that affect all 05/06 MCSs
-----------------------------------
Increased power
Taillights
Rear fog light moved
Grill chrome
Washer fluid level light
Blinker click is louder
Mp3 CD capable cd player
Passenger airbag will auto turn off
Garage door opener
Lights auto off and on
Larger rear view mirror
Exterior door handle pulls
Door armrests bigger
Door pockets are bigger
Led in inside door handle
Light under doors
Clock moved to speedo
Ambient lighting above dash
Abmient lighting behind shift lever
3 piece dash panels
Upper dash is a single piece
Airbag deploys thought eh top of the dash and not the front
Tach plastic attached to upper steering column
Storage under parking brake
Low tire pressure button moved
Key shape
Key opens just the hatch
Oh shiznt handle for front passenger
Side flip down visor for driver
Tiedown points on the backs of the rear seats
Map lights for front seats
Exhaust note
Rear wiper sprayer
Red button on top of dash is no longer red
Locking glove box
Rear cupholder is bigger
Gas door hinge (the back side)
Seatbelt chime stays on
Antenna base is larger
Radio **** is larger
"Smart Airbags" with sensors installed in both front seats.
Front seat belt lower attachment points (In B-Pillar) have a torx screw instead of a solid metal rail like in earlier build cars.
Toolkit is now in the battery compartment
The 05+ has standard plug-in fuses. My friend's 04 has the ultra-small plug-in fuses. The 04 has the bigger fuses for spares and the tiny ones in the actual fusebox. I noticed this when I retrofitted heated seats in my friend's 04 MCS.
Chromed part of the shift **** is plastic instead of metal
Driver's side front exhaust hanger redesigned

Changes that are specific to certain options and not found on all cars
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Xenon headlights
Lower gear ratios in the 6spd
LSD availablilty
Anthracite headliner
Auto climate control missing off button
Auto climate control **** different
Seat foam (non-sport) is more supportive
Leatherette feels different
Anthracite tach ring
Anthractite parking brake lever
Beginning 1/2005 production, MINI offers a 6-speed Aisin automatic transmission with sterring wheel mounted shift paddles in the MCS
Availability of body color coordinated interior dash/door plastic trim
Checkmate/Parklane/Seven trim packages available
Royal Grey/Space Blue exterior colors
2 spoke steering wheel discontinued

 

Dont the 05+ have less grille slats, at only 3?

Anthracite headliner: I dont think is an 05-06 feature i think it was availible before. I may be wrong
Exterior door handle pulls: Just out of curiosity whats different?
Anthracite tach ring: I think this is 06 only
Gas door hinge (the back side): Just out of curiosity whats different?
Red button on top of dash is no longer red: Whats that for again?
Key opens just the hatch: What do you mean, my 05 unlocks my doors.
And lastly what was the tach plastic attached to before?

I never knew there were soo many differences, thaks for pointing them out.

 

My 2003 MCS has a rear wiper sprayer.

 

I was told 06 mini's have just gone into production this week or do you mean 06 plated?
cheers
michael

 

True, but the newer ones have a different design

 

I'm talking about the 06 model year.

 

-I believe both cars have 3 upper and one lower grill slat.
-The part that moves behind the chrome handle is bigger. It is easier to pull and may have been changed in response to some earlier cars having problems in freezing weather.
-I think the gas door is different but I'd haven't compared them to be sure. I think the pre 05 doors are a solid piece and the 05+ cars have a two piece door. They look the same from the outside.
-I can never remember
-There is a 3rd button on the newer keys that unlocks just the hatch. Pre 05 cars had a 2 button key.
-It is hard to explain but on the 04 the plastic piece the tach sits on is separate from the steering column plastic. On my 06 it is molded into the steering column plastic.

 

The new antenna base is larger too.

 

Good one

Also added Radio **** is larger

 

WHAT THE HELL!!

When did they add mp3 capable cd player????

 

Mp3 = '05 My

edit: freakin' software won't let me capitalize two letters! S/B M P 3 = '05 M Y

 

Is that an MP3 capable HU or just the 6 disc changer?

 

H U

 

Sweet Now I don't feel so bad about not ordering the changer

 

Yes but remember you folks in Germany get a different boost stereo than US Spec cars. In the US we only get the Alpine MP3 enabled boost HU. In Europe and elsewhere, you guys get the VDO Boost stereo which looks slightly different from the Alpine version, but it is also MP3 capable.

Check with your dealer to make sure you are getting the right thing.

 

You need to add to your list:

Beginning 1/2005 production, MINI added "Smart Airbags" with sensors installed in both front seats.

Beginning 1/2005 production, MINI offers a 6-speed Aisin automatic transmission with sterring wheel mounted shift paddles in the MCS

MCS has the Eaton generation II supercharger with coated splines (Same one as used in the JCW upgrade package)

Buttons for bluetooth enabled hands free phone kit in cars equipped with MFSW from factory

Availability of body color coordinated interior dash/door plastic trim

Factory installed rear fog light mounted in center rear bumper (Optional)

Revised front and rear bumpers for Cooper model.

 

did you mention the driver sider sun visor (now there are a total of 3 visors)... perfectly placed so your helmet will hit the visor...

 

He did. Read the list.

 

Also, the rear center cupholder is bigger.

Front seat belt lower attachment points (In B-Pillar) have a torx screw instead of a solid metal rail like in earlier build cars.

 

Good stuff. I think the supercharger coating in standard MCSs happened in 03 or 04. Can you verify it is 05+?

I'm focusing on MCS changes only so I didn't add the MC bumper info.

 

That one is already there. It's a long list

 

The generation II Eaton supercharger was made std equipment beginning MY2005. Older MCS' have the generation I supercharger with no coating.

 

Cool. It is easy to repeat stuff as the list is pretty extensive.

 

"Washer fluid level light"

That must be new to 06? My 05 MCS doesn't have one. (That I know of )

"Red button on top of dash is no longer red"

That must be new to 06 too. Mine is red. Someone asked what it is... it's a sensor. I forget what it's sensing though. :-p It was listed in one of the little add-on for-fun manuals they send you.

 

Strife, I missed that one. In fact the orange "Washer fluid level light" installed at the tip end of the wiper stalk control was made standard equipment beginning January 2005 production. If your '05 MCS was built between July 2004 and December 2004, it is likely it won't have it.

My '05 MCS was built February '05 and it came with the low washer fluid warning light, along with the other "Mid-year" improvements just introduced the month before.