August 12, 2004:

The 2005 center storage console

Also today, I finally installed the official MINI center storage console:

You *can* install it without removing the downtubes, since it is very flexible and can be bent and twisted into place. I have not yet tried to get it out again without removing the downtubes (which I hoped would be possible for any 2005 MINI owners wanting to install the MINI circuit).
Now I have it installed, I don’t really think the official solution is any better than the Hot Pocket I had before (although the official part is a better color match) …