The first shopping point is getting a good MA. Trust me. From there, I'd go ahead and build, unless what they have o/h is very close to what you want, OR any leftover '08s have features that aren't available on '09s (such as lifetime Sirius radio), or that have increased in price. You can research the variables on final price elsewhere. As for my experience, going through the options, and spec-ing out the car exactly the way I wanted was a big piece of the fun. But, as I said to start with, get a good MA. A bad one can sour the whole process, and an incompetent one can mess up your car.

 

Very nice!!!

 

Congrats, and I'm so jealous

 

Yes I bought it from Eastbay Mini I ended up with MSRP minus $250 and some floor mats this was the final break down.

Thanks again guys

Chrome Line Exterior
White Roof/Mirrors
Lightning Blue Body Color

Cold Weather Package
Convenience Package
Rear Fog Lamp
6-Speed Auto w/Agitronic Mode
16" Bridge Spoke
Automatic AC
Anthracite Headliner
Leather/Cloth: Pacific Blue
Computer Nav. System
Alarm System
10-Speaker. Hi-Fi Sound System
Union Jack Roof Graphic
Sport Stripes - white

 

Very cool, I'll keep an eye out for you

 

Sorry guys one more question. I'm I crazy not to have ordered the Xenon headlamps ? I still have time to change it before they put the order in this morning, are they worth the $500. Reading up it seems that most people like them

Thanks in advance

 

I got the regular lights on my Clubman and have no problem seeing the road. I am sure the Xenons are nice but $500 for me seems a little high. They look cool. Normal headlights are less expensive to replace as well.

 

Do it. Worth every penny since they are bi-xenons And they are one of the few MINI options that's dropped in price over the years. I paid $550 for them on my long-gone 2005 S, and they werent even bi-x's!

you will NOT beleive the light these headlamps throw off, esp. on high beams. and maybe yeah they are more expensive to replace, but instances of this are rare. What is NOT rare are those who opted for halogens, but regretted their decision, like my bud wandrur: (scroll down, post 724)

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...-group-29.html

 

Get the Xenons. Definitely worth it.

 

I'm an 'audiophile,' and in my opinion it's definitely not worth $500 for the "hi fi" sound. You could get a full set of Infinity or Boston Acoustics speakers put in for about the same price, if not less.

The problem with any of the factory speakers is that they're paper instead of plastic. (I could be wrong on this with the 2009 models, but this was true of the Harmon Kardon systems.) This not only affects the sound quality, but the longevity of the speaker itself. I blew a speaker on my '03 within the first year of ownership. It only cost me about $300ish for a full of set of eight Infinity Reference speakers installed at Best Buy. Another local audio shop quoted me closer to $500 for some Bostons installed. I've had those Infinity's in my car for about five years now and they sound just as good as the day I bought them.

If you really want a nice full sound (not the "bump"), you might also consider a 12" woofer and a lower wattage amp. Either way you go, the sub would have to be purchased separately. The "bass" on the Hi Fi system is a bit better than stock, but it's still not the same.

So... I would suggest getting your own system installed... better quality, better sound, lower price.

 

From the perspective of someone who has studied perception...

The Xenons are really a matter of your perception. Light perception is a weird thing to study objectively because of individual differences in brightness perception, but I won't go into that.

Technically, there is no difference in visibility between halogens and xenons. It's purely perceptual. The xenon bulbs work similarly to the flash on a camera, producing a light that is true white (which often perceived as "blue" in relation to the actual warm yellow that is produced by halogen bulbs). Though the actual output of light intensities between xenon and halogen bulbs are generally the same, the true white light produced by xenon bulbs is often perceived as being brighter. So in all reality, the retina is not receiving any more light input, though it may be perceived as such.

What I can't attest to is the effects of the projection lens as far as perhaps distributing the light more effectively.

I'm not suggesting either way due to the use of the projection lens, but it's something to consider, and I thought it might be a interesting lesson in the psychology of perception.

 

MoxieMini, if you don't mind I'd like to ask you about your system.

Since the base system has 6 speakers, where are the other two speakers from your after market install? How are they powered, just off the base amp or did you have to have additional hardware installed (and if you needed extra equipment, where's it located/how much space are you losing)?

Do you think Mini'd use the after market setup to deny, say, an audio problem (along the lines of "Well, the speakers could be installed wrong and caused the head unit problems so we won't fix it")?

When I get my Mini it'll be the first car that I've any interest in moding in any way and so I'm trying to select options strategically (either that I can add in more cheaply after purchase - or better for the same price - without giving Mini room to deny warranty).

Thanks

 

Where did you hear that from? 2009 models have been selling for weeks now with paddles on the auto.

 

Saw it on a dealer bulletin, but it wasn't something I focused on so I didn't notice when the date was (other than '09). Before I posted though I did a check and a similar comment showed up on the MINI2 forums (referencing motoringfile.com).

 

I should further say that it's a coming change in the options for 09 models, I think Motoringfile stated March.

I don't recall the bulletin that I saw saying that it exempting the Cooper S, but I could easily have missed it. Since I'm getting a manual I didn't focus on the details, but the change surprised me and so I remembered it.

 

Here is a link to the Motoring File article from last week: http://www.motoringfile.com/2008/12/...om-the-cooper/

(they say the paddles only disappear from standard engine Coopers once the new convertibles start rolling off the line. Sounds like Cooper S automatics will always have paddles)

 

well, my "perception" is that they do very well for me, and I need bright lites at night It is near impossible for me to drive my old beater Toy PU with halogens at night.

 

They better, I would not have my current MCSa w/o them. Major bummer, man. but then all oem wheels will have a black option starting in March so I guess that makes up for it??

 

Well... *deep breath*

The other two speakers are tweeters that were built in to the the 5.5's speakers in the door panel. So total I have four tweeters, two 5.5" door speakers, two 6x9's, and one 12" woofer. So, nine total. The only thing that is powered is the woofer. I have a Fostgate 900w amp. The new 10 speaker "hi fi" system couldn't even begin to compare. The sound is rich with extra highs to get rid of "mudiness." It just has a very comprehensive range. Something else to note is that my system isn't designed to "bump" (although it can). Everything was selected for a full, rich musical experience.

Other than a box and the required cables and such for the sub, you shouldn't need any addtitional hardware. On my '03 I'm using about half the boot for the sub, but there are more space efficient boxes out there if that becomes an issue. My amp is bolted onto the back of the back seat in the boot as well.

As far as the dealer holding it against you... it's a toss up. I installed my sub as soon as I got the car back home, and after that speaker blew the dealer wouldn't replace it under warranty because of it. That doesn't mean it would be the same for the head unit though. You shouldn't have any trouble with the head unit anyway. I kept the stock unit in mine (it's an Alpine, doesn't get a hell of a whole lot better than that). I haven't had any problems for nearly 6 years. I think if you're careful about who does the intallation work, you shouldn't have any problems.

Let me know if I can help out anymore!

 

"Of course the Cooper S model of each of these cars will continue to offer them when equipped with an automatic.We don’t have confirmation on this but we believe that this change may have been put into place to give greater differentiation between the Cooper and Cooper S model."

Well I'm glad I have mine.

 

Thanks for the Info Moxie - it's very helpful I didn't think I'd literally have a problem with the HU, just a piece of equipment that I wouldn't want to have to replace ('cause good grief does it seem to be attached to everything!) that I could think of off the top of my head.

I suppose if the audio system one has installed is warrantied, that'd cover the gap. Probably just comes down to picking a reputable installer who's invested in making sure that their customers are happy (in other words, I expect Best Buy would be looking for ways out of any 'warrantied' installs they offer as well).

 

Yeah, I would go with a smaller local shop. Try to find some of their customers and find out some more info on the shop. I usually have a local shop do my audio work. The Best Buy thing was just one of those "deals" with a discounted installation after the purchase of the speakers, it was just cheaper than going to "my" shop.

 

One thing to consider on the HI/FI system is that the wiring harness maybe different from the standard. Adding to it later maybe harder and add to warranty issues. Taking out and upgrading parts of the HI/FI may avoid a lot of wiring work, just a tought!

 

Yeah, this is something to look into. I'm not as up on the new Hi Fi as I am the old Harmon/Kardon stuff. I doubt the harnesses are drastically different, but it's definitely something to look into.

 

Yeah, it's entirely possible that the projection lens better distributes the light resulting in better visibility, but that's something you'd need to take up with a physicist not a psychologist.