Hi, I am new to the forums but am far from new from BMW, I have decided to sell my older heavily modified BMW in place of a new '05 MCS. But alas my BMW did not fetch as much as I would have liked so now I have to make comprimises before purchasing the MSC.

I am considering NOT getting the following on the car: rain sensors, cold weather package (I live in Atlanta... not really needed), Sunroof (dont use mine hardly at all), auto climate control (dont have it right now in my BMW).. thats about it

I am buying this vehicle to keep for a long time, and want to get the best resale value possible, so will any of these have a significant impact on that? I think the sunroof may, and I may actually get it.. not sure yet.

 

My opinion here:https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=39522

 

my personal opinion is get the car configured the way u want and finance it. there's nothing worse then the "i wish i had gotten that..." blues. i know there are some things i wish i got, but hey, it is what it is..

 

:smile: Welcome to NAM, Nate! :smile:

You will LOVE and USE the sunroof! My first Cooper didn't have one and when I ordered Wanda, my MCS, I ordered the Premium package, which includes the sunroof. I have absolutely LOVED using it and the climate control will be included in the package! I enjoy the climate control, as well.

I also got everything in the Sport Package ala carte because I wanted the 16-inch v-spokes, which are lighter and I like the looks.

I got the Cold Package, which includes the heated seats, even though I live in West Los Angeles, near the beach. I ABSOLUTELY recommend the heated seats to everyone. They are wonderful for keeping your back limber on long drives.

What color are you considering?


Clover

 

That was excellent. Concise by reference and cogent in content. Thanks.

 

Keeping it for a long time and looking for a good resale value seems contradictary. But in my opinion the best way to keep resale value, above the options you get would be to keep it stock. With everyone modifying their cars like crazy, a stock MCS will become a rarity and will actually command a higher price than a modded one.

 

Welcome!

I would definitely recommend the rain-sensing wipers. They have been quite the God-send. They allow me to focus on driving the car in the rain, and let the system worry about maintaining my visibility.

MINIClo is spot on: the heated seats are worth the price of the car. They keep you limber and really don't make you drowsy (some have complained of getting sleepy with a warm butt). But the cold-weather kit is more than that: it's also heated washer-jets and heated side-mirrors, which are automatic and always on (from what I can tell). That means I never ever have frost or fog on my side-mirrors.

Auto AC: Gotta gotta gotta have it. I can't praise it enough. I could write a poem about the AC, if you'd like. Would that help? :smile:

Sunroof: I love mine, but I sometimes wish I hadn't gotten it. It's rarely open. The wind buffets it too hard, and there's not very good noise-control, even with the plastic spoiler. There's also no way to completely block the light, and it weighs so much. Had I known that I would be into racing my car, I probably wouldn't have even considered it.

 

Go simple. The MCS is a driver's car and the less the better. The sunroof ads weight to the top. The Xenons add weight and complexity. The auto A/C features finicky operation. I would skip the "sport" Package. Those 17" "S-Lites" are heavy boat anchors that affect acceleration and fuel economy.

I just took delivery of my second MCS, a new 2005 1 week ago. Here is how I ordered it:

16" V-spokes with Dunlop SP5000 all season runflats
Manual A/C ----> works fantastic, this is my 3rd MINI with manual A/C and works perfectly everytime.
Harmon Kardon stereo
Halogen headlights
Front and rear fog lights
Chili Red solid paint/white roof ($0 cost option vs $420 for metallic paint)
Exterior chrome line package
Convenience package (Highly recommended)
3-spoke MFSW (A MUST!)
Panther black leatherette sports seats (Look and feel like leather, without the common problems of real leather seats. Also a $0 cost option)
Anthracite interior trim (Looks the business)
Union Jack roof flag
MINI iPod adaptor (A MUST if you are an Apple iPod aficionado).
ASC+T (Traction control)

That's it. Sweet, lightweight, fast, no frills. $22,850 sticker price and $24,721 after taxes and fees out the door.

I would say go for a "basic" MCS and get the MFSW and LSD + convenience package. You will realize you need no more and will appreciate the better acceleration thanks to reduced weight.

Resale value is mostly in the eye of the beholder. Back in early February I sold my 2004 MCS (Configured virtually the same as my new '05 MCS). Put 17K miles on the car and sold it for $700 above sticker price only 6 short days after placing my sale ad in www.cars.com.

You'll be surprised that some used MCS buyers are willing to pay top dollar for no frills models and cars that are kept essentially stock. MY MCS was 100% stock, plus had almost 3 years left on the warranty. Those were the 3 biggest selling points.

 

I'm in a somewhat similar quandry - what options to get? I'm primarily looking used as a second MINI and weekend track car, but still need a good streeter for commuting to work. My wife's MCS is loaded, and I got a little spoiled with all those options. I like the xenons for night driving, heated seats for the Colorado evenings, sunroof for open air motoring, etc. That said, I don't drive at night that often, I'm pretty tolerant of cool weather, I don't open the wife's sunroof that often. . .

The best solution would be to have THREE MINIs - the wife's, a nice loaded MCC or MCSC, and a stripped MCS for the race weekends. . .

Wasn't someone handing out winning lottery numbers earlier????

 

Regarding the sunroof: I don't always have it open all the way! I like to just pop it, or open it partially! Depending on what I do with the windows, that determines the wind noise. You can find just the right amount of window-lowering and keep the wind noise down. :smile:

For me, being so close to the Pacific, motoring up Pacific Coast Highway with the sunroof open and the windows down is just sublime!


Clover

 

hk stereo would be nice, but stock sounds pretty good if you've never had a nice system before.

 

I have to disagree with the people who say the heated seats are a must. I have them, and never use them. Even on the lowest setting, it just gets too hot, feels like my legs are on fire, especially if I have on dress pants. Even in jeans it is just unbearable. I don't know if the heat is adjustable by the dealer or anything, but mine are unusable. And if you live in Atlanta, I'm pretty sure you'll never use them.
I don't have the sunroof, and don't miss it, but it might be one of those things that once you have it, you can't live without it. I have had sunroofs in previous cars and almost never used them. One thing I love that I had no idea I would is the Multi-function steering wheel. I will never get another car without the radio controls on the steering wheel! I don't use the cruise control that much, it's just too crowded here in New Jersey to maintain a constant speed, but the radio controls are the best!
You will get differing opinions on pretty much every option, so you have to choose what is important to you.

 

I suggest that if you are planning on keeping the car for a long time to configure the car with as many factory-only options as you can. Anything that only the factory can install must go on the car; anything that is retrofittable does not go on the initial build. I'm planning on adding the JCW kit, brakes, intake, and suspension to my car when I save some more cash for these options.

In the list of options that you mention, the only one that I can see that you should definitely add is the 'Cold Weather Package'. The heated seats alone make the package worthwhile and you get some nice extras for only another $100. The seats really come in handy on those brisk mornings and nights with the sunroof open and windows down.

ST

 

See, now, I'm in principal agreement with STSO: get tons of factory options. You can always take them off (except the sunroof - and there are some options for that) if you don't like them, but it's much harder to go back after the fact and add some of the factory goodies.

Plus, adding them afterward costs more (in most cases) than having factory additions. You usually have to pay someone to shoe-horn a Auto A/C into the car, whereas it's a minimal price difference when totaling the initial costs and applying for the loan.

I'm all about the fog-lights, but not crazy about the rears on the 05 (I should say "the rear", as there's only one).

Again, anything that the dealer would be adding, you should either try to do on your own, or find someone who charges less by the hour than the dealer. And, you'll pay less for the components by purchasing them at the parts counter than through the service shop. I found this out when I got the rear fog-lights: the toggle-switch panel cost $15 less from the parts counter than from service, even though it was the same man standing at the same window.

 

Wouldst that be so sweet in a car by any other name?
Yonder breaketh the waves and
Herein breaketh my wind--ergo sunroof option.

 

OK, here comes another $.02. I want things to make my driving (Motoring!) a better experience. So:
1. Sport Suspension is a must, S-Lites, no. Love the look, hate the weight.
2. DSC is not ( I usually have mine off- thanx Ian)
3. Xenon lights, yes. Safety.
4. Auto A/C, Big NO. Have to look at it way too much (her choice). Gimme 3 ***** I can turn without having to look at.
5. Sunroof, whatever. I don't need it, but she wanted it.
6. Cold Pkg/Heated seats, yes! Helps even if it is only down to 50.
7. MFSW, Big YES. Hands on wheel where they belong.
8. Stereo, HK is fine. Not a must.
9. Fog lights, not too much bad fog, not a Must. Yet nice.
10. Supercharger - BIG MUST!!!

Enjoy yours.

 

I typically finance my cars for not more than 30-36 months, so if not careful with the amount of options ordered, I can end up with a very high monthly payment.


Most people here seems to order their new MINIs fully loaded and embark in 60+ months loans. Nothing wrong with that per se, but I simply hate commiting to make car payments for that long. I prefer to pay off my cars within 1-3 years of purchase and be done with it.

 

Are the wheels that heavy? I have 17" wheesl on my E36 I just sold, and was truly thinking I wanted the same size on this vehicle.

As for the sunroof, I am still really on the edge with that option, I want it, but not sure if its worth the money for me+ the gas mileage will be brought down because of the weight.... so I am leaning towards NO, but then again, a car with a sunroof for resale purposes will do better when selling it... I just dont know. The only use I really got out of mine was popping it up during the hot days to keep the car cool, which helps a lot, so that may be a good reason right their.

Na, the auto AC I am no go for, I have numerous friends with cars with auto ac / auto climate control systems, and I hate them, they usually kick on full blast when starting the car to cool it down or heat it up, and normally I keep the fan speed on 1 set to about 68 - 72 F and I dont use the AC too much so, this option isnt for me... and I dont like too many things being automated.

I had the heated seats in my BMW and I can say I used them once... maybe twice ever, I dont normally drive long enough for them to get up to heat for them to be of any use, and heated mirrors and nozzles, probably not needed, never had them before, and actually I had non-powered side mirrors so even that will be a treat.

For leather VS. vinyl Well, I guess again I am spoiled by my old BMW, I had a black luxury interior with Nappa leather for seats and door panels, so I am stuck with leather forever now. That and I love the smell of leather when you open the door of a car... just makes me smile every time.

Xenons are a must for me the BMW E36 was known for having the worst lighting ever in a BMW, so its time to get past that and have it right this time around.

Color... this is where I am straying the farthest from my old BMW I had Alpine White on it, I want to get Dark Silver with either a body color or black roof. Also I am getting the black mirrors and a 20% tint all around

 

If you're tinting, I'd go with the black roof. The dark silver just looks so sexy with a black roof.

 

Zaino make a great product called "Leather in a bottle." If it's the leather smell you like so much, get the leatherette, save the $1700 and buy a bottle. I hear the leatherette lasts much longer and stays looking tight and beautiful.