The "Sport Package" itself only really adds 1 sport item, DTC. It's the sport suspension (larger front/rear roll bars) and the LSD along with the DTC (eLDC) that I was after. The sport package to me just added weight related items (balast way up front for the xenon lights) or visual items (bonnet stripes and white corner lights) that I wasn't interested in and can be compensated for with aftermarket items.

My entire quest in building my MINI was lowest weight and best performance, thus the package I ordered. Some may argue I added weight by getting the Hi-Fi speaker package, but that weight is minimal, toward the rear of the car and down low...

 

Yeah, I had a similar philosophy.

The Sport Package on the "regular" MINI is different from the one on the S, though, because some of the items in the Cooper Sport Package are items that are standard on the S.

For instance, I knew I wanted:

-DTC
-Sport Seats
-Front Fog Lights
-White stripes (Wife)

... and all of those are included in the Cooper sport package, in addition to:

-16" Wheels (S-winders or Bridge Spokes)
-Rear Spoiler

So, figuring that the stuff I really wanted would have cost me $1100 a la carte, I figured $400 more for the Bridge Spokes (which I would have liked to have anyway) and the Spoiler... I might as well.

The Bridge Spokes are heavier than the S-winders, but I MUCH prefer the look and if I really get into the track days with this car, I'll leave the pretty white Bridge Spokes on the sideline in favor of some track wheels anyway. Oh, and the spoiler probably adds 1 lb of plastic

So, other than the wheels which wouldn't be used for track days anyway, the only added weight is:

- Sport Seat padding
- Fog Lights
- White Stripes
- Spoiler
- MFSW

So, I can live with ~5lb extra weight.

 

I hear yah, but if I'da went the way of the JustACooper, I'da had to have the Sport Suspension too (+500) and when all those were added up I'm only $2000 short of the "S" price I paid, hardly buy a Turbo for that price yet have one totally installed and configured...

And also, I'm thinking I'm using my MCS for something alot others aren't

 

Yeah, we skipped the sport suspension because I heard a lot of opinions that it wasn't that big of a change, so we figured we'd save the $500 and put it toward aftermarket or JCW suspension in the future.

As far as the price difference goes, it would have been more like $3k for us because we would have gone with with a metallic color on the S because Oxygen Blue isn't available.

So, we figured that our Oxygen Blue MINI would offer MOST of the fun factor, it would be our first color choice, and would be ~$3k cheaper.

Trust me, it wasn't an easy decision, though. We were VERY close to buying a BRG/LaserBlue MCS w/ just DTC and AH... but we ultimately chose the OB MC.

 

Yes the JCW setup would have been nice, but it would have kicked me out of the class I'm going for, so that wasn't an option

But yah gotta love the abundant of option choices!!!

 

G-Stock?


Yeah... there really are TOO many configurations when it comes to deciding what you want... and TOO many that we liked. In fact, originally we were planning to get JUST the MFSW and Anthracite Headliner on an '08, which would have been just over $19k... but after waiting too long to order an '08, we got the '09 (standard DSC = $500 higher base) and the Sport Package in order to get the eLSD and a couple other things we figured we should get on a car we planned to keep 10 years, we ended up spending ~$2k more.

I can imagine that people get REALLY carried away on options if they aren't careful.

 

Ask Mini Automated attendant says build complete- so that status is probably a little behind-

I found it a little odd the way they had the DTC listed on the website even though it wasn't yet available for build. Earlier they had it announced, but no pricing, then they posted it with pricing, and available as an add to your build. I actually placed the order at the beginning of Nov, not realizing it would delay the build- at that point I still would have opted to wait for it. Waiting only added a week and a few days.

I'm just glad to get in before the 7th- I would have ordered sooner, but I needed to sell my Pickup-That's not an easy vehicle to get rid of these days. I got $1600 more out of the private sale than MINI offered me.

 

I've seen a few posts over here that mention that they have ordered Limited Slip Differentials (LSD) with the Electronic Locking Differential Control (ELDC).

Is this possible? From the way I understand it the ELDC replaces the LSD.

 

Yeah, the automated is typically a little behind what an actual person at ASK MINI would tell you. The OL is what's ridiculously behind. After I figured out that my MINI had boarded the Undine, I checked the OL... "Scheduled for Production" ... and it had only been that way for a couple days.


The Cooper and the JCW don't have the option of the LSD, so the eLSD is the only choice (standard on JCW). On the other hand, the MCS has both as options and you CAN select both, however the way in which they work together is not really known since no one has actually received a car with both options as of yet (at least that I know of).

I could certainly see a situation where one of them "kicks in" sooner than the other, and the other is rarely used. For instance, if the mechanical LSD reacts to the spinning wheel before it reaches the braking initiation parameters of the eLSD, the eLSD may rarely, if ever, brake that spinning wheel.

On the other hand, they may work together very well... we'll see, I guess.

I wonder if the DTC/eLSD programming is any different for cars that are also equipped with the mechanical LSD

 

WoohooT... Being shipped to port as I type!

 

Here's my DTC story:
- I spec'd out a 2009 Clubman in September, and realized I selected every option from the Sport Package except DTC (sport seats, fog lights, 16" wheels). I'm in no rush and
- I visited a dealer around that time and an MA told me that the Sport package won't be available to order in the system until December
- Early in October I get a call from the "business development" arm of the dealership and the guy on the phone says that the Sport Package is ready to order. I make an appointment to place my order and email the MA - he responds that the guy on the phone was wrong. I was almost exited enough to order without DTC, but cooled off due to the misinformation
- The Sport package appears on the MINIUSA configurator in late October, so I ask the MA if I can place an order yet - Nope
- Black Friday comes and I get an email from the MA that I can order the Sport Package now - I put down my deposit on Nov. 30. The MA says I will get the first car with DTC at their dealership (excepting JCWs).
- I got my production number Wednesday - as of now I already show Scheduled for Production and a VIN on the Owner's Lounge. I called ASK-MINI and my order did enter production on Dec. 3 with an estimated production end date of Jan. 6 (No worries about waiting, I wasn't expecting production to begin until after the holidays anyway. I do hope that my partially-built car doesn't get too lonely in an idle factory for 4 weeks)

I already have several motoring excursions in mind once my Clubman arrives. In the meantime I'll keep reminding myself to enjoy the journey

 

A little snippet of the JCW review I just read in EVO magazine regarding DTC and the EDLC (eLSD):

Sounds like fun to me! Can't wait for our MINI to arrive!

Here's the link: http://www.evo.co.uk/carreviews/carg...per_works.html

 

After doing some more research on the ELDC system used in the Mini I'm a little surprised they can advertise it as ELDC.
The Mini Website defines ELDC as "Electronic Differential Locking Control".

In automotive terms a Differential Lock is a device in the cars differential that make it so that BOTH the right and left axleshafts each get 50% of the available power. This is normally accomplished by installing a special differential. In most locking differentials there is a mechanical, electronic or pneumatic way to engage the lock mechanism. This gives the best of both worlds, a normal open differential where the right and left wheels can spin at different speeds for smooth cornering, and a way to lock the axles together for Maximum traction when demanded.

It appears however that Mini is not using a special differential, but is instead using a standard open differential, and a reapplying the brakes to the wheel that spins, (the one with less traction) this causes the wheel with grip to get the power.

This explains how the mechanical Limited Slip is available on the MCS and JCW in addition to the ELDC. Normally a locking differential and a limited slip differential would occupy the same space.

It looks to me like this is not as much a differential lock system, but more like a form of traction control.

Here's a WIki on Differentials.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Locking_differential

I'm not saying it wont help, Just not what I thought I was ordering.

 

Though it goes about increasing traction in a different way than a mechanical differential, it accomplishes the same goal, and is even superior in some ways than the mechanical LSD.

Instead of mechanically sending power to both wheels like a mechanical LSD (I'll call it mLSD), the eLSD will sense one wheel spinning faster than the other and use braking on that wheel to make the other wheel the "path of least resistance" for the car's power... so it accomplishes the same goal. ALSO, according to some sources, the eLSD can transmit 100% of the power to one wheel, if necessary... something than virtually none of the street-friendly mLSD's can do.

So, eLSD has THAT advantage over the mLSD, and the main disadvantage I can think of is that it works your brakes a little harder. BUT, if unless you're REALLY working your brakes (such as on a road course), it's really going to make no difference.

Hopefully that makes you feel a little better. If not... at least I tried

 

And then adding eLDC to a mechanical LSD that is 30% slip, you now have the best of both worlds. A locker differential and a Slip differential all in 1 package.

So the eLDC has the ability to enhance the mechanical diff on a straightaway for a perfect 50/50 to the ground ratio. On turns, the 30% LSD can now be varied by the eLDC to a higher degree depending on the turn. This is all in theory, but BMW has had a few years of practice with the eLDC so I think I'll be more then satisfied with the results, if not you'll surely here about it from me! /

 

Thanks.

I have a friend who had a Saab Station wagon with a similar traction control system. We almost burned out the brakes one night trying to climb an icy hill.
Hopefully the technology has improved since 2001!

Too bad the LSD isn't available on the plain Cooper. I'd have added it!

 

That is where BMW thought this through. They have 3 different settings for the DSC/DTC/eLDC. I will be using it in full off where only the eLDC will be on, also known as full "Sport Mode". The other modes are full on and partial slip so wheels can be spun for certain situations such as climbing slippery hills.

You can read about it up on the configurator, they have all kinds of info about how it works and when to use each mode.

 

I'm thinking of purchasing a Cooper S off the lot, and it was configured before the the Sport Package/DTC was available. Does anyone know if the DTC (EDLC) parts can be purchased/installed by the dealership? Since this is all electronic, you'd think it would be possible.

 

BMW is very protective of their source code in all their electronics, it may be possible in the future, but I doubt if it will be available soon if ever at all. Only a few MINI eDLC's have even hit the streets, so if possible I expect it may be awhile!

 

Well I've purchased a new 2009 Cooper S off the lot, so now we'll see if I regret the decision of being stuck with a spinning inner wheel. I did test drive a Cooper S with LSD, but I noticed some torque steer so I decided against it. Unfortunately I do see that my speedo is missing the indicator for DTC, so this means it's really not "just a software upgrade". Knowing Mini/BMW, I'm sure it won't be offered as a dealer added option due to a low overall demand for features like this. Congradulations for all your patience in waiting for your DTC Coopers! I'm sure the wait will be worth it!

 

I picked my Mini up on Wed-right in the middle of a decent snowstorm. It's 120 Miles from the dealership home, so I had a chance to spend 3 hours with the DTC activated. I didn't do much "Testing". Traffic was heavy, and I'm still getting used to the controls and basic MINI handling.

Average speed on the trip home was around 33Mph. I can say that the MINI did very well with traction even with it's all season radials. Conditions ranged from packed snow to slush and ice. It has been quite some time since I have driven a front wheel drive vehicle in any kind of weather. My other vehicles over the last 14 years were either 4x4 or AWD. I felt almost as confident in the MINI on the way home as I did in my Wife's '07 RAV4 AWD. I'm pretty sure the shorter wheelbase helped as much as the DTC.

My next trials for the DTC will have to wait for our next big storm. I'm looking to test unplowed "Deep" snow, steep inclines, getting stuck, and glare ice. I probably won't have to wait long.


Windshield icing was a severe problem. Not just for me though, there were cars pulled over under each overpass and more chiseling ice off and freeing stuck wiperblades. So why is it that windshield heaters are only a Canadian option? I'd have gladly paid for the option, I did after all, spring for the Cold Weather package.

Here's some Pics of the trip home.

MA Dusting off the MINI


Visibility


Windshield icing

 

to quote myself from 12/06/08 on this thread:

since then, it's been traversing the world on the traviata and should have reached port in california by now. my MA told me i am likely to meet my baby sometime mid-to-late part of this month. if so, that will be about a four month wait from my placing my down payment/order to taking delivery. whoo--i wonder if real pregnancy will make me as antsy as car pregnancy has?

 

After waiting 6 months, I have to say that I think it is worse.. At least if you are pregnant you can go to a doctor to see if everything is going ok.. With the MINI, you have no clue till it is right in front of you!
Seeing you new MINI may not be the same as a baby in the same way but the first sight is pure joy!

Donkey has been in repair since last Monday and I feel like a part of me is missing...

 

Well it's been 7+ months and 18 races since I received my LSD/DTC MINI Cooper S.

Results:
- 18 races and 18 1st places
- 1 was an SCCA National Tour event
- 1 was a SCCA Divisional Event

I also won the SCCA NORPAC Divisional Championship for GS.

I think I made a good choice!!!
Happy 50th MINI, you rock!

'nuff said!