Board logo

Another mad idea?
JC - 5/2/19 at 05:42 PM

I have just acquired some Bini toggle switches. I have read the thread here about converting them with toggle switches.
My McSorley has a large cockpit and I must have T-Rex arms as I struggle to reach the dash switches with my harness on. I’m thinking of mounting the Bini switch unit in the tunnel top.......any thoughts?

Charlie_Zetec - 6/2/19 at 10:23 AM

I spent quite a while looking into the electrics of the Mini switch pack a few years back, and came to the conclusion that it wasn’t worth trying to get them to work in their existing guise (I believe some if not all of the circuits didn’t just need a delay, but were interlinked and were ECU controlled).

You’ve obviously seen that the housing can be reused with toggle switches, but a much neater solution IMO is to just buy individual switches and the hoops from somewhere like CBS and install them in a layout that best suits your needs rather than being restricted to having 6 switches ganged together.

JC - 6/2/19 at 06:51 PM

True indeed, but the whole Bini module cost me a fiver - less than a single loop from CBS - this is LocostBuilders after all!

nick205 - 7/2/19 at 12:36 PM

Is the "B"ini term highlighting the fact that new Mini's are actually BMWs?

Good selling car for sure and it's given BMW a way into FWD cars without them having to make a FWD BMW badged car as well.

JC - 7/2/19 at 02:42 PM

It's ironic that BMW got their FWD tech from Rover - the original 1 series was to have been FWD but when they dumped Rover it reverted to RWD, hence its challenged looks and poor packaging. They kept the Mini design team and it has evolved over the years and now FWD is underpinning not only the Mini range but the next 1 series, the 2 series, the X1 and X2!!!

And yes, Bini = BMW Mini! My favourite was the number sticker on a proper Mini saying 'Beware of expensive German imitations' - you could add 'large' in there too!!

nick205 - 8/2/19 at 11:40 AM

quote:
Originally posted by JC
It's ironic that BMW got their FWD tech from Rover - the original 1 series was to have been FWD but when they dumped Rover it reverted to RWD, hence its challenged looks and poor packaging. They kept the Mini design team and it has evolved over the years and now FWD is underpinning not only the Mini range but the next 1 series, the 2 series, the X1 and X2!!!

And yes, Bini = BMW Mini! My favourite was the number sticker on a proper Mini saying 'Beware of expensive German imitations' - you could add 'large' in there too!!



As I thought

RWD may be entertaining to drive, but FWD is certainly more layout ameanable for modern motoring needs.

James - 8/2/19 at 06:21 PM

quote:
Originally posted by JC
It's ironic that BMW got their FWD tech from Rover - the original 1 series was to have been FWD but when they dumped Rover it reverted to RWD, hence its challenged looks and poor packaging. They kept the Mini design team and it has evolved over the years and now FWD is underpinning not only the Mini range but the next 1 series, the 2 series, the X1 and X2!!!

And yes, Bini = BMW Mini! My favourite was the number sticker on a proper Mini saying 'Beware of expensive German imitations' - you could add 'large' in there too!!



Does that make the 1-series a potential donor for us in a few years?

JC - 9/2/19 at 11:56 AM

Yes!

The engine in my M135i would be amazing in a Locost.....if a bit big....