Any regrets about the process of purchasing your MINI? I plan to take the plunge soon and I'd really like to hear about your experience and what if anything you would do differently. Are you happy with your options? Anything you wish you had added but didn't ?

 

No real do differently's here.

They've made Bluetooth / USB standard for 2013; I missed that option when I ordered my 2012 MCS and would like to have it (I use an aftermarket solution that gets me by).

The rear view mirror is a long reach from where I need to have the seat. I'd order an autodimming rear view mirror next time.

That's pretty much it.

 

I would have added the rear fog lights. I put my order in before I realized NOT having them left me with a blank toggle.

 

Eh, not too many except the satellite radio. That I wish I had. Otherwise, maybe the sport suspension and alarm system. I also did a pretty good job of loading my MINI up so I didn't leave too much off.

 

Wish I had ordered the HK radio. Also, the white sidelights/headlight option, because I had to change the yellow lenses in the scuttles and the headlights. Once I noticed how funky the yellow lenses looked in the headlights, it was a pain in the neck to change them, and would have cost about the same if just ordered from the factory. (see my avatar for how they ended up looking)

Enjoy your new MINI!

 

Oh, and I paid for a protective finish that the dealer snuck in, which works well but is not worth what they charged... and I would not have bought the LoJack because it is much more unlikely for MINIs (with their key fobs) to be stolen than most other cars. (since, if you don't know it yet, all of the engine diagnostics and stuff run through the fob, so you can't run the car without it. They would have to drag it onto a flatbed to steal it, at least with the new ones, or tow it away.) Those were both 'dealer options' that I could have refused to pay for, but I didn't know at the time that I didn't need them.

 

Xenons and HK stereo..So I did a retrofit and then traded for a MINI with HK

 

In my case, the thing I really wish I had ordered turned out to be the auto a/c -- which before I got my car was something I was adamant that I didn't want. What I didn't know at the time I ordered was how annoying I would find the manual system's thumb-wheel controls for the fan speed and temperature. The auto system uses up/down switches instead, which I find much easier to operate. I'm ambivalent about the rest of the auto a/c system, but am ordering it this time just for the different controls -- the auto a/c is not something that can be retrofitted to an existing car (and believe me, I asked. More than one source, and more than once).

One other thing that I'm adding the second time around is Park Distance Control. While most people would agree that it isn't really needed for a MINI, I want it for the cool factor -- in a car with MINI Connected or Navigation, the PDC puts up a "radar" display on the screen when you put the car in reverse. Slightly useful, to be sure, but primarily just a geeky gadget. I wouldn't bother with it if I wasn't also speccing the car with Navigation, which is another geeky gadget that includes the screen.

Stuff I ordered before, and highly recommend:

Xenon headlights -- almost a night and day difference, and while they can be retrofitted, it is really expensive.

Seat heaters -- Even though I'm in SoCal, I think these are great. They work better than the ones in my VW, and sometimes are just the thing for a sore back.

Good luck!

 

Auto dimming mirror, man thats a must have, however my window tint cured that problem. I don't have it

HK stereo is a must, xenon's is a must

Auto climate is very nice to have
Auto headlights is also nice but not nessasary.

 

I generally dislike auto AC systems, but the 2007 and later models do, I agree, have horrible manual controls. So I'm just as glad that my Clubman has it.

Pro tip: you can turn off the AC after hitting auto and it won't run the condenser. I hate running AC when it's not actually hot out (robs power from engine, reduces fuel economy), so that's important to me. Your mileage may vary.


Agreed on both. The factory HID lights are excellent. You can retrofit HID bulbs and ballasts into the halogen lamps, but clarity won't be as good. Worth the money. As for seat heaters, if you live in a cool climate, they can't be beat. Get the "winter package", as it includes those, heater washer jets, headlight washers and heated mirrors. These make winter much more pleasant.

Both of my MINI's were purchased used (and thank you to the previous owners who got all the lovely options). Things I think are worth the money, and why:
* HK stereo if you love music. If you just listen to talk radio or news, don't bother.
* Sport package if you love to drive aggressively. If you are a more relaxed driver, don't bother. Even the "just a" handles better than any other car! But the stiffer sway bars make a real difference.
* Armrest. Adds comfort on long drives.
* DSC disable button. If you do autocross or track days, it's a must have.

Things I don't think are worth it (to me):
* Sunroof -- adds weight up high, theres always light on your head, and probably will leak in a decade. (if you turn over cars more often that last may not matter.) my Clubman has one and I'd prefer it didn't. But my wife and daughter like it!
* 17" wheels -- heavier, don't improve handling vs 16". But are part of sport package, so you may get them anyway.
* nav system. It's a spiffy gadget but at $2000, I can use my phone and get more up to date maps in the bargain.
* auto transmission -- pay more for more weight and less control? Ymmv. If you do a ton of city driving it may be worth it. personal preference

 

We've no regrets about any of the 5 we've ordered. The last three have looked pretty similar.

 

Isn't it funny how different people's choices can be? I wouldn't have a sunroof for anything... other people wouldn't be without it. Some people don't want the Nav because it is expensive and not as capable of being updated, others are giddy over the geek factor of it. I wouldn't bother with the auto AC, but then our weather is pretty consistent and I rarely move the dial on my manual AC. HA HA HA!! All perfectly valid, from the person's point of view. Just goes to show you that we all have different priorities!

Thank you, MINI, for giving us all of these choices!

 

Dealer options are an overpriced scam!!! I have heard of the following:
Clear coat
Under coat
Scotch guard for fabric
Leather protector for Leather
Security Dots
Nitrogen in the tires
LoJack
Other "security" features

Most of the time the dealer will tell you it is already installed and you have to pay for it. It is a huge markup, and not worth it. Some manufacturers now forbid dealers from doing some of them like the undercoating. In fact some dealer undercoatings can damage the car!!!

Some of the options are installed, and will be disabled if you don't pay for them, BUT THE DEALER ALREADY MESSED WITH YOUR CAR BY INSTALLING THEM! I had a ford dealer do that with a security "key" once.

Another scam is the the dealer paperwork charge, or filing charge or handling charge or whatever they want to call it. I like to call it additional profit charge!!!

I had a great Hyndai dealer in Nebraska that apologized that they had to raise their paperwork charge from $25.00 to $50.00. I was like wow, most dealers in Colorado and Wyoming charge $500.00!! By the way most dealers say that price is not negotiable. That is BS as well.

 

I would agree with that one. The wife has auto, and I do not, the thumb wheels are a pain.


I will second that!! The Xenon headlights are a must. Damn they are good, almost as good as my LED headlamp on my Harley!

 

Just a note, you need to run the condenser once and a while, so the oil circulates to keep everything from drying out inside. That is one of the reasons why in most cars when you turn on the defroster the condenser runs, the another reason is because in humid climates the condenser A/C will help remove the moisture off the inside of the windshield.

 

Thanks for the tips so far! They are giving me much to think about.

One thing I've added to my list for sure: All weather tires in place of the default run flats. With the run flats I could really feel the road. Like my butt was dragging on it. The All Weather set were much better in my opinion so I'll stick with them. Some times old tech is good tech.

 

Had I had known about the $750 rebate when ordering my car, I would have ordered upgraded wheels!

 

What are security dots? Also, do you know what MINI's policy is on the add-ons? Can dealerships put them on your car and force you to pay for them?

 

My dealer added the CilaJet before I picked the car up, without asking. Also the Scotchgard in the interior, which made it smelly. But I didn't even think about refusing to pay for it, being a passive and uninformed buyer (who was too excited to really think about it, you know... a salesman's dream) Another person in our club who bought at the same dealer and was in the same situation, simply refused to pay for it. The salesman struck the cost of it off of the invoice, so they got it for free. So... if you didn't ASK for or AGREE to any of these things, just refuse to pay for them. As far as the LoJack, I agreed to pay for that, because I didn't want my MINI stolen. BUT what I had not understood until later, is that MINIs rarely, rarely get stolen. You can google about it, and find that most of the ones that are stolen, are Classics. Our MINIs are hard to steal without having the key chip, particularly the new ones with the fobs. Without the fob, the engine won't run. You can't just hotwire the car. So, the LoJack is not as necessary as it seemed at the time. Lesson learned.

 

Only if you let them. Seriously. If you order a car, and they add stuff, then insist you pay, and you didn't contract for it -- you can walk out. And should.

More common is for these things to be done to cars already on the lot waiting to be sold, and they're included in the asking price. If that's the case, you can still argue the cost away -- if it has no value to you, don't pay for it. If they want to sell you a car, they'll make a deal.

I don't know if MINI USA has a policy on this, but the nearest MINI dealer to me, MINI of Peabody, doesn't seem to do this. Could be policy, could just be that they want repeat customers and word-of-mouth referrals from happy customers.

 

The Hyundai dealer in Grand Junction Colorado, told me they were ultraviolet dots, that are applied to transmission motor, and other major parts of the car. If the car was ever parted out, or the person caught, they would get a felony instead of a misdemeanor.

All of it BS, and wanted to charge me $500.00 for it. I purchased my Hyndai from another dealer because of it, then 4 months later my wife's car was totaled, and I purchased another car from the second dealer. So for $500 dollars of BS, the dealer lost two car sales!!

More info on dots in Australia: http://www.wired.com/science/discove...urrentPage=all

 

I know it's expensive, but I regret not ordering the MINI Connect/Navigation. Otherwise, no regrets.