So, I do know about the secret compartment in the dash. (The panel above the glove box that you push on to open... how about that one, establishment!?)

I picked up my 07 yesterday and that panel won't open! I don't know if it matters but the car has that checkered flag trim... sorry, can't think of the name of it.

I want my secret compartment! Ideas?

 

Maybe it is just stuck. Mine is hard to open sometimes.
I'm assuming you bought this used. You know you push it in
to open it right?

 

silly question but, 07 hardtop or ragtop?

a ragtop would be a GEN1 and then no compartment . . .

 

Hardtop. The compartment is there for sure. I just pried on it a bit and I was able to get it open about half way. Seems to be getting stuck somehow. I don't want to take apart the dash but I really want this compartment.

 

By uttering anything about its existence, the establishment sent the secret MINI signal to prevent it from opening. Don't mock the establishment.

 

I fought the law and the law won...

 

The original owner might have done something to it that jammed it. Some of the earlier second gen ones rattled and people got annoyed. I remember reading about that on this forum, in the early second gen threads, and if I recall correctly, some of them came from the factory unable to open, or actually sealed. Then the factory fixed them somehow, and a few people took them back to the dealers to retrofit. That is, at least, my memory of what I read. You might be able to search the subject.

 

Yeah, I think the PO did it. I found all sorts of stuff from him. He screwed a little plastic tab in front of the sunroof to keep the screen closed. He put two machine screws up through the armrest into the cover to keep it from sliding open... I severely dislike this guy.

 

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...yes-or-no.html

 

If it is an early build 07, it might have come 'locked' from the factory.

 

Not an early build. 08/2007 from the sticker on the door jamb. Am I looking at a dash teardown to figure out what this PO(s) did?

 

Well, if you can get it open enough to unscrew the lid (two screws I think, you need one of those Torx screwdrivers) then it pushes upward and out, you might be able to figure out what is jamming it. I've taken mine off to paint it, not hard to do but you do need to be able to reach the screws. If you have to take the dash apart, you are looking at a lot of complications. I'd try to avoid that.

 

I'll assume the screws for it are on the back side of the lid? I can open it enough to get my hand squeezed into the compartment so I may be able to get some sort of driver in there.

 

I would tell you, but it's a secret

 

Oh thanks!

I got the screws out but the lid cover still wouldn't come off. I guess I shall have to attempt to conquer it another day!

 

Sometimes the compatment's door gets "stickey." I suggest you push on it, and then release pressure quickly--almost like you are giving it CPR. It may take a few tries but that should pop it open.

 

I've been pounding on it for a while. I literally have to get behind it to pry it forward, push it back again to "unlock" it then pry it forward again and yank on it till it opens... and even then, it only opens half way.

 

At this point of this thread what is called for is this guy

 

Haha thanks for the constructive help Giggles. I want my secret compartment! I will make it happen. Even if I have to - *shudder* - go to the dealer!

 

Sorry about that, I just really like that emoticon..sent you a message!!

I LOVE my "secret" compartment. My husband found it accidentally after 3 months of ownership. I was thrilled Can't blame ya!

 

Bugler, would taking photos of it help? I can take mine apart and show you. After you remove the screws, you have to push the door up and off of the clips that run along the top. You will be left with the hinges and sort of a structure that holds it on the hinges.

 

I wonder how many of us are driving around not knowing about the secret

 

Well, if we keep this thread going, more will know about it, and do we really want that?

 

I took mine off and took photos of the removal. Here is what it looks like from underneath before the two Torx screws are removed:




See that black line of separation up along the top (nearest to you)? You take a flat screwdriver and you have to twist it in there to pop it off of the three tabs on the front. In doing it, I found that you might not be able to succeed if you can't get something up in there. But if you want to try it, here is where the tabs are located:




There is one immediately adjacent to the drivers side screw, one where my finger is, and one more in the middle. You sort of have to twist it so that the door moves toward you, and then pull it up and over the tab. It takes a bit of doing, but it does come off. Then you push it toward the dashboard, and it will lift off of the back tabs. Then your hinge looks like this:

 

The problem is, that the rest of that black plastic part can't be removed that I can see, so you don't gain a whole lot. It gives some more access to the hinges (which are what must be jamming) but I can't see how the hinges come out. Maybe the whole thing slides out somehow. Sorry, that's as far as I know how to go with it.