Hello Folks,
I am considering buying a Mini Cooper S. I have a couple questions.
Is there anything I should now before going for it?
Is the Navagation system worth it?
If there is anything else someone may want to add, please feel free.

Thanks

 

Welcome, I suggest you go drive a couple of MINIs, choose your color and options and joing the fun.

Do a search for posts by Birdman to get involved with some creative debates on the the MINI Nav. Some love it, some do not. I don't have it so I cannot give you my opinion. Lots of folks like the Garmin and TomTom after market units for Nav.

Bottom line, buy your MINI, they are fun and a great drive.

 

I don't have the NAV system so I cannot comment on how great/not great it is. My decision was practicality: I could not pay what seemed to be an exorbitant price for the NAV when I could get a Garmin or comparable system for hundreds less.

Other than that...have fun putting it together! We'll look forward to hearing what you choose.

 

I agree to the whole test drive a few idea. I've driven a lot of cars, this car's amazing I promise. I dont have the NAV either, but I've heard good things. Besides all that, I'm way excited for you, cause I know what you're gonna do in the end! Have fun.

 

I have the NAV in a 2007 MCS. I quite like it. It works well, includes traffic congestion warnings (guided me around tie-ups in San Jose, CA, and Los Angeles), and integrates many other features in the MINI. If you get the Bluetooth option, it is managed (address book, phone dialing, and answering) through the NAV. The HIFI is also integrated into the NAV. If you get the iPod Integration, your playlists will show on the NAV screen. If you get the Parking Distance Control (I highly recommend it -- rear visibility is bad in the MCS) the NAV displays a graphic of where and how close objects are when backing up.

The Multi-function Steering Wheel is necessary if you want cruise control. It also has handy control buttons for the HIFI and phone.

With an MCS you would definitely want LSD (limited slip differential, not the drug). The MCS has a lot of torque for a FWD car. LSD gets it to the road.

DSC is an excellent safety option. It is not intrusive in the MINI and can save your butt if/when the car starts to slide.

I like the heated seats.

Leather seats have lumbar support. Cloth seats don't.

17" wheels are mainly for looks. You will get a softer ride with 16" and many of the racers prefer them because they are lighter. If you want other than stock wheels, probably best to shop around for third-party wheels. You can find good light-weight wheels for much less money than you would pay through MINI/BMW.

I like the keyless "Comfort Access" option. Leave the fob in your pocket and you can lock and unlock the doors with a small black button on the handle. Get in, push the Start button, and go. No need to insert a key or fob.

I think the HIFI option is worthwhile. Even if you want to swap out the speakers later, the HIFI option makes it easier.

Rear fog lights look good, are useful in fog (keep others from rear-ending you) and they fill the last slot in the bank of toggle switches on the center console. Without the rear fogs, you have an empty slot.

The factory arm rest is not worth having. It came with the Bluetooth option and I would like to rip it out. Gets in the way of shifting when down, and doesn't fold back far enough to be out of the way. To make it worse, its intended function is to hold a cel phone and connect it to an antenna and power for charging. Unfortunately, very few modules are available for current phones. So, it is pretty much useless.

Any accessories that have to be dealer installed will be subject to $100 - $150 per hour labor fees. Cost varies with different dealers.

Spend some time building your MINI at MINIUSA. You can learn a lot about the different options and accessories there.