Must-have modifications

Irish Mini said:
I get the announcing bit early. But is there a difference between a '23 Mini and a '22 Mini? Is this just marketing gone mad and will the '24 Mini be released in '23 and so on?
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As I understand it, the differences between the '22 and '23 are cosmetic (such as the addition of the Resolute color + trim package), and the elimination of the base Signature trim.

I'd expect the '24 model to be released in the latter part of 2023
 
Some of us got “transition period” cars with features and options not available before or after, eg. I got Island Blue body (23) and black roof (22) and mirrors, and heated wheel (22). Some features are no longer offered, but my car is a 23 colour.

When models are completely new, it’s more obvious. Sometimes, we get new models after EU/UK, like the Golf Mk8, and they arrive early in the year as a following model year car. There really is no rhyme or reason. The only thing I know is my 2023 MINI is legally registered as a 2023.
 
Irish Mini said:
But is there a difference between a '23 Mini and a '22 Mini? Is this just marketing gone mad and will the '24 Mini be released in '23 and so on?
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It's marketing madness and also actual changes, but not always both every year.

Let's keep things simple and stick with MINI. In North America the model year is determined when they do a production switchover, which is usually around March (I believe) of each year (for MINI), and after the switchover the new model year is used. So after March of 2022 MINI started building model year 2023 vehicles.

Sometimes they have no differences, sometimes they are completely different. The SE was officially introduced as a 2020 vehicle, but model year 2021 is identical in every way. Then in 2021 they introduced the 2022 LSI model (life cycle impulse), where the front end was changed and a bunch of new features like ACC and heated steering wheel were introduced. The 2023 model year cars are just now being delivered, but are essentially identical to 2022 models, with maybe some trim changes and deleted features due to supply chain issues.

What's going to be offered for model year 2024 (think March 2023 timeframe) is anyone's guess.
 
Puppethead said:
It's marketing madness and also actual changes, but not always both every year.

Let's keep things simple and stick with MINI. In North America the model year is determined when they do a production switchover, which is usually around March (I believe) of each year (for MINI), and after the switchover the new model year is used. So after March of 2022 MINI started building model year 2023 vehicles.

Sometimes they have no differences, sometimes they are completely different. The SE was officially introduced as a 2020 vehicle, but model year 2021 is identical in every way. Then in 2021 they introduced the 2022 LSI model (life cycle impulse), where the front end was changed and a bunch of new features like ACC and heated steering wheel were introduced. The 2023 model year cars are just now being delivered, but are essentially identical to 2022 models, with maybe some trim changes and deleted features due to supply chain issues.

What's going to be offered for model year 2024 (think March 2023 timeframe) is anyone's guess.
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Thanks for the feedback. I think I am taking from this that it is purely a marketing slant on how Mini categorise their car models. I guess calling a car a '23 car that is sold and delivered in '22 has some benefits from a sale and generating demand. In Ireland, our car registrations have the same sort of impact. We don't have vanity plates. The 1st 2 digits of a reg are the year, the 3rd digit is either 1 or 2 signifying 1 for Jan to June or 2 for July to Dec, then there is a letter to signify the county the car was registered and then an incremental number starting at 1. For example, if I register a car in June this year it will be 221-D-43426, I live in Dublin, hence 'D' and lets say I get the 43,426th car registered since Jan. If I register a car in July it would be something like 222-D-5234, So the 5,234th car registered in Dublin in the 2nd half of the year. People like to wait for the new reg when it comes to Dec/Jan or June/July
 
I think it’s a bit simpler than that here: whatever model is available January 1 is of that model year; the makers know if changes are coming (new or deprecated colours, features, perhaps a whole new design, or just a facelift) well in advance, and if they plan that these are changes that will persist through January 1 of the following year, they designate it with the model year of that following January 1.
 
SameGuy said:
I think it’s a bit simpler than that here: whatever model is available January 1 is of that model year; the makers know if changes are coming (new or deprecated colours, features, perhaps a whole new design, or just a facelift) well in advance, and if they plan that these are changes that will persist through January 1 of the following year, they designate it with the model year of that following January 1.
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The registration I described is for the legal registration of the car and that is the number that is displayed on the plate on the front & back of the car, it is government-issued and has nothing got to do with model variations. Model variations are very simple over here. If u get the car delivered in 2022 then it can only be a '22 model. We can't purchase a model variation for the following year in advance. It is all just marketing to create a demand for something. I guess marketing a car as 'next year's has its appeal. It is interesting how different markets react to different marketing techniques
 
Correct me if my memory is faulty (somewhat likely). In the old days (good or not-so-good, depending on your viewpoint), the US car companies made a big pitch to sell the next year's cars in September. Everyone got excited about the new bigger-and-better features and the modern styling. So, for example, the cars you looked at in the fall of 1954 were called "1955 cars". Then, there was a gradual change to only introduce new models, while some old models continued as they were. Soon, it was decided that small changes might be introduced at other times in the cycle. And we progressed to "new features" available at any point. It's hard to keep up. My '22 SE was delivered to me in July of '21. Go figure.
 
revorg said:
Correct me if my memory is faulty (somewhat likely). In the old days (good or not-so-good, depending on your viewpoint), the US car companies made a big pitch to sell the next year's cars in September. Everyone got excited about the new bigger-and-better features and the modern styling. So, for example, the cars you looked at in the fall of 1954 were called "1955 cars". Then, there was a gradual change to only introduce new models, while some old models continued as they were. Soon, it was decided that small changes might be introduced at other times in the cycle. And we progressed to "new features" available at any point. It's hard to keep up. My '22 SE was delivered to me in July of '21. Go figure.
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In an article titled "When Do New Cars Come Out, Cars.com reports:
"Federal regulations allow manufacturers to sell vehicles for a given model year as early as January of the prior calendar year. That means that shortly after the ball drops to signal New Year’s Day 2021, manufacturers can start selling 2022 models."
 
Rexsio said:
Is this normal I have side sun - visor on driver side and grab -handle on passenger side was no side visor on my 2014 i3 and SE is 2022 signature.
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I am not an Mini Expert. Base on what is available, I think it is normal for Side Visor on the driver side and pull handle for the passenger side.
For us US based drivers, we have the side visors for the left side and pull handle on the right side.
For the UK drivers, their side visors are on the right side with pull handle on the left side.
 
CastleWolfenstein said:
I'm excited that my order finally got picked up by the factory last week! I want to see all of the mods you've done to your Mini. Currently I have the following bookmarked to order when the time comes closer:
xpel ceramic coating PRIME XR PLUS
FitcamX front and rear dashcam
Beltline Blackout Kit

What are some must-haves that you recommend?
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Suggest you use black vinyl electrical tape on your Beltline. (or any other color?)
 
Has anyone filled blank toggle switches with dummy ones? It might be a bit on the OCD side, but I really dislike the unbalanced look missing the parking assist switch. My initial search hasn't been very successful.
 
LittleWoods said:
Has anyone filled blank toggle switches with dummy ones? It might be a bit on the OCD side, but I really dislike the unbalanced look missing the parking assist switch. My initial search hasn't been very successful.
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Question... Are you an engineer? Seems like the engineers and tech types here have the same issue, and yes, I am an engineer and one of those that hates blank switches. When I purchased my SE, I made sure I had the options so I had no blanks. I also ordered the European headlight switch so I can code the rear fogs like the way it was meant to work. As for blank center toggles, I believe the all five switches are one assembly, not 5 individual switches.
 
MarkSasaki said:
Question... Are you an engineer? Seems like the engineers and tech types here have the same issue, and yes, I am an engineer and one of those that hates blank switches. When I purchased my SE, I made sure I had the options so I had no blanks. I also ordered the European headlight switch so I can code the rear fogs like the way it was meant to work. As for blank center toggles, I believe the all five switches are one assembly, not 5 individual switches.
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Lol, not an engineer, but 25 years in IT. Well that stinks if it's going to take replacing the whole assembly as I suspect it will be much more expensive that way. I'll expand my search to include that. But now I'm starting to regret not getting the Iconic trim. :D
 
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