I just received another batch of 128 auto up windows MINI circuits from CMS; I don’t have a large number of pending names so I expect this batch to last a while.
I hope that someone with an ’05 MINI from MINI Peabody will contact me, so I can install a circuit in the newest MINI design and confirm any difficulties due to the new storage area below the toggle switch panel …
UPDATE: Much appreciation to Luke, who just installed a MINI circuit in his ’05 MINI. He did not remove the utility box trim piece – he simply unlatched it and reached in around it:
NOTE: Luke followed up with this comment: It was a tight fit and I have skinny wrists. I would think it would be much harder for anyone with normal wrists. 🙂 … I will have to try this; I definitely do not have skinny wrists 😉
M&I / GBMINI 
I guess I should install mine then and report back.
Difficulties? You know I retrofitted in the utility box and had no problems, didn’t you?
Josh,
I installed the new center storage without removing the downtubes. I also removed it without removing the downtubes – it is more difficult than removing the old panel, but it I think it is feasible.
But other ’05 MINI owners may prefer the downtube removal method – and I don’t yet know if they can still be removed just be freeing the center fascia piece (because the fascia panels have changed).
I just installed the circuit in my ’05 with no problem. Just unclip the utility box hole and fold it down. The torx screw can be removed if you need to fold it down more.
The hardest part was plugging in the ribbon cable. For that I had to get on the right floorwell and stick my right hand all the way up into the hole with the ribbon cable and use my left hand to hold down the utility box cover.
I found it best to place the circuit on the folded down utility box cover, to prevent scratching the left downtube and to hold it down with my left hand.
All thats left now is to buy from velcro to affix the circuit to the utility box cover to prevent rattles.
WIth the utility box in the ’05s, you should be able to unscrew it and then rotate it forward easily, granting access to behind the switches from the sides. A little tougher I guess but probably not that bad.
I think you should request MINI donate you a convertible for testing just to be sure though.
So, Ian, how many circuits are you up to now? I found it really funny that there are at least 2 of us in our local Triangle Area MINI Group that have them and there can;t be more than a hundred or so out there.
I still love mine and it triggers my garage door more reliably than pushing the button on teh remote did.
Lee,
You might be surprised. Today I shipped 13 (always a burst when a new batch is ready) and that takes me more than 270!
Ian, too bad you have a very very small markup from cost or else you could have really raked in the cash. 🙂
Makes you wonder why MINI don’t relent and enable it as stock. They gave in with fog lights and iPod connections after all. Not that I want to take the business away from Ian of course..! 😉
Cool banner ad too. Are you going to be getting click-through income now..? 😉
I don’t think MINI will change their position unless they also improve the “touch detection” which is perhaps difficult on a frameless door?
No “click-through income” – unless someone “clicks through” and actually orders a circuit 😉