I've never purchased a new car before and purchasing a MINI seems particularly complicated by the many bells and whistles available that are factory installed. So how do I proceed. There are things I want that the dealers don't carry, like the limited slip differential and maybe the JCW sports suspension. Does that mean I have to order a MINI? And if so, how much more will I pay? Thousands? And how much (ballpark) is a MINI convertible S with premium and sport packages? Someone on here mentioned going through a car broker. I've never heard of such a thing. Does anyone recommend that?

Do I really just build my own, print out the specs and take it to my nearest dealer? Is there a better method? Pardon me if these questions are so basic as to seem idiotic.

Thanks

 

Hey. Yes you can build your own MINI from the site then give it to your dealer. When you build it, you can see the options for LSD and JCW suspension and the price. I think with the JCW the dealership chrages for the installation. Go to miniusa.com then to build your own. Depending on where you live, some dealers may have a mark up, so you may want to call the dealers to see if they have a mark up. Hope this helps. Welcome to NAM.

 

'lo 'Nuts,

First things first, use the configurator at www.miniusa.com. This will show you manufacturer MSRP for the options and packages you desire. Notice that the configurator lists $550 Destination and Handling, this is all a Dealer should charge for those services. Anything else is padding.

As you work through the configurator, You will proceed to an "Options" section for Dealer-installed options. It's Step Five(5) under the configurator, and you will see a text box with a disclaimer regarding pricing and installation fees before you actually enter the section. The various John Cooper Works Tuning items are part of this. Please note that JCW componentry is expected to be a factory-install option in the 2006 line, so you might want to wait until the 2006 options list is out. With installation on the tuning kit running over $1000, this can be a significant benefit for you. Depends on how long you're willing to wait.

Dealers don't specifically carry the LSD since it's a factory option at $500. Aftermarket, labor alone would probably exceed $500, less price for the component itself.

Take a few turns through the configurator, and you'll get sharper. Talk to other MINI owners, they'll be happy to share their experiences.

Some things to look for:
You can get a Sunroof for $850, without getting the entire $1350 package it is included in.

DSC, bonnet stripes, Xenon lighting, and 17" wheels are all part of the Sports Package. Don't add them in the assembly process a la carte, if you expect to get the Sports Package.

If you want an OBC (On-Board Computer) option, note that the Chrono Pak comes with an OBC. OBC is $200 a la carte. Got the OBC functions I wanted without needing the entire package, and my Chrono Pak. Chromeline interiors seem a bit expensive at first blush, but understand that while most component trim rings can be retrofit, the Speedometer/Chrono Pak trim can only be installed by buying a Chrome-trim Speedo or Chrono Pak!

Rear fogs are a must; front fogs come with the Sports Package. No Rear Fogs means no full toggle row on the dash.

Here's the key on shopping around. Talk with others, and prioritize your options -- which are must-have, or factory-only? Once you've identified the must-have items, you can check with local dealers and see what current or future inventory cars have what you need. If you're ready to plunk down a deposit, you can overwrite an inventory order at a dealership with your preferred spec.

I'd recommend avoiding Auto Brokers unless you're at wit's end and can afford their fees. With most MINI's moving at MSRP, you won't be able to expect a price improvement, typically.

Finally, give Mike Kost at Classic MINI a call, if metro Cleveland is doable for you as a drive home. He took great care of my order, and I got what I asked for, without even visiting the dealership until the delivery date! Live in Cali? Classic regularly ships vehicles to Cali via enclosed carrier, at a lower rate overall than the typical "CA Mark-up" in-state buyers are encountering.

Good luck!
Matthew Z.

 

If its been said before then i'll just say it again

NEVER PAY A MARKUP!! NEVER! EVER! PAY MARK UP! NO!

Thank you, enjoy building your new MINI!

 

Check around for dealers that offer the price and allotment date that you need. I purchased my MINI 1400 miles from my home to get the price and low wait time I wanted. The trip out to get it and the drive home were something I'll never forget. A great time to bond with the car, and the dealership was great to work with (MINI of St. Louis).

 

As I have been thinking about selling my 03 MCS and getting an 05 or 06 this would settle the issue strongly in favor of selling mine and buying an 06 w/JCW components. Please tell me where you got this info and post any links if you have them. Any word on exactly when in the model year the JCW stuff will become a factory install option?

 

I think BMW ought to offer an "M-Class" (Motorsport-Class) Mini S. One that already has alot of the upgrades that we already do. Tony Nuzzo made a comment that he wished that he could do half of the mods that we do to ours. He is, however limited by the GL-Class rules.

Nuzzo's needs more power and better suspension components. If these were factory options, then it could be used as a GS class racer and would clean up.

 

BMW has an M3 and M5. Why not a Mini MS?

 

surfacenuts-

You mentioned interest in the JCW Suspension and a convertable MCS. Just to let you know, the JCW suspension is not available for the convertable.

 

define MARKUP. If it's the suggested retail price from the miniusa site then I disagree. Most dealers have so many orders they don't have to go lower and if you badger them you'll just end up with shitonyourshoe when you need something done later. For a lot of us we have to travel a long ways to the dealer and it just isn't practical to drive back and forth just to save a few hundred.

 

I believe Thameth is speaking of the dreaded ADM (Additional Dealer Markup) this is the $1,000 to $6,000 tacked on to the sticker price. Paying the price from the configurator is reasonable (in this market.) There have been a few that are supposed to have paid under MSRP, but like aliens in Area 51 , they have not been confirmed.

 

www.motoringfile.com wrote about jcw as a factory option.

http://www.motoringfile.com/2005/04/...actory_options

 

I agree with the others who are telling you to configure your car on miniusa.com and bring it to the dealer. There are so many options for these cars if you try and remember what you want you'll end up forgetting something. Build it, print it, and walk in with the sheet in hand. You'll get less confusion and your MA should be able to to just take your printout and place your order. Do take note of the previous post mentioning install costs. I had planned on getting a bunch of dealer options with my car until I heard what they were gonna charge me in labor ($400 driving lights = $800 installed, $40 aux input=$90 installed) Get the things you want but keep in mind upwards of 100 bucks per hour to install anything that didnt come from the factory.

 

surfacenuts,
Aloha and welcome to NAM.
Use the configurator to set up an MCS the way you want it. Take that to your dealership along with any notes about what you want. It's likely that if you order a new MINI you can get it at MSRP but you will have to wait a number of weeks to months for it to arrive. Something like 90+% of MINIs are ordered.

Where do you live? You might be in a place that has higher demand for MINIs like in California where the wait times are very very very long like 10+ months for cars ordered at MSRP. Then you can seek your car or order one to your specs from a dealership out of state by calling around.

You do not need to go through a car broker for a MINI especially one that is being ordered.

 

Build one and print it, absolutely. I created a nice form letter/email and emailed the specs and the letter to all of the dealers within a two day driving distance of Phoenix and asked them for their current lead times, any markups, etc. I probably emailed 15 dealers and got phone calls back from 8 or 10. All of the Mini dealers use the same layout for their websites and usually have very good contact information so finding phone numbers and email addresses is very easy.

As others have said, go through the configurator a couple of times. You'll really educate yourself and learn a lot about the car doing that, and reading through great resources like NAM. You'll also save yourself some money in the long run and know what questions to ask and just feel smarter about your purchase

Dan

 

Nuts...

It seemed, from your initial post, that you were worried that building/ordering a MINI would cost you more than purchasing one "pre-made" from the lot. Everyone before me has done a fabulous job of answering that, though not in a very blatant manner so allow me:

You will pay exactly the same price for a MINI that is ordered as you would for a MINI that's been sitting on the lot (unless it's used/demo). There's no extra fee for "special ordering" a MINI. Just an extra wait -- which is well worth it when you consider that you'll be getting exactly the car you want. Besides, just about all of us round these here parts have been through exactly the same thing, which is why you see all the "Can't wait for____ club" posts.

The most confusing thing about the process is how non-confusing it really is. You tell the dealer precisely what you want and (generally speaking) 2 months later you drive it off the show room. No haggling. No compromising. It's great. :smile: