The MINI Countryman’s rear cup holder setup changed around the 2014 model-year update, when MINI replaced the center rail option with standard double rear cup holders in the Countryman.

What changed

  • Early Countryman models used the center rail system, with cup holders attached as accessories rather than a fixed rear console setup.
  • In the 2014 pricing update, MINI said the full-length rail option would no longer be offered, and the Countryman would get standard double cup holders in the rear seats.
  • MINI’s 2013 announcement also says the Countryman “now also includes a double cup holder at the rear,” which lines up with that changeover.

Practical takeaway

  • If you mean the loose or removable rear cup holder/rail-mounted setup , the change happened in 2013 for the update announced then, affecting the 2014 model-year configuration.
  • If you mean a specific F60 Countryman cup holder issue, that is a different generation and later than the rail-based R60 system.

Forum-style answer

“The rail-mounted rear cup holder was basically phased out when MINI dropped the full-length rear rail option and moved to standard rear cup holders.”

TL;DR

The rear cup holder changed in the 2014 model-year update , announced in 2013 , when MINI discontinued the rail-based rear setup and switched the Countryman to standard rear cup holders.