I'm finally ordering my (first!)2011 MINI copper S countryman all4 tomorrow. I pretty much opted for all the options. It's going to be black on black, chrome everywhere I could get it inside and outside, anthracite headliner, black leather sport seats,cold weather package, convenience package + MINI connected, auto AC, Harman/Kardon sound system,auto dimming mirrors, Xenon headlamps, fog lamps, driving lights.
Sooooo....
Here's my questions...
Piano black or carbon black?
Black checkered interior surface?
Center rail...one piece or 2 piece?
Sunroof? (I never had one...does it warm the interior....not fond of 'warm')

Please help me decide...I'm down to the wire and still undecided on these issues! Thank you in advance!!

 

I love the sunroof on my Countryman, so I would 100% opt for that.

I also have piano black, which looks great, though I'm not sure you really get $250 worth.

I have the two piece rail, but the rail is essentially useless to the front seat driver if you have Connected (because of the armrest). So if you have the one piece, you might be able to put stuff just behind the armrest if you want that. Otherwise, it's just a cupholder area for the back seat.

 

Congrats! I'll be interested to hear if your order goes through since you have connected with nav on there. I'm looking to order as well with most of the same options as you've listed, but different colors and and auto tranny.

I've heard that with the disaster in Japan components for connected/nav & auto trans are delayed until the factories are back online (likely not until this fall at the earliest) or until another parts provider is sourced.

As far as your options, I'm going for the 2 part rail since it will allow my kids to exit on the same side of the vehicle without climbing over it and let them annoy one another by sticking their leg in the others space!

let us know what you end up getting and I'm looking forward to hearing if your order goes through. If it does, I'll order on Tuesday!

 

If I get the full rail...I know the ambient lighting would look great, and there might be extra space to put the little gadgets (?)...but, I was thinking it might make it harder for the back seat passengers to maneuver their seating posture...for instance if someone had really long legs.

 

OH no...I'm getting the automatic also ....crappity, crap, crap. I'll post tomorrow when I get back to let you know how I made out. Thanks for the tips!
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Here's my 2 cents, though you should definitely get whatever options you're feeling. But I'll share my experience.

Piano Black vs. Carbon Black: I saw both and chose the piano black. This is nothing more than personal preference. I loved the contrast it gave, while still being black.

Checker Interior: Again, this is personal preference. I chose something different because it didn't seem to go with my design scheme. With a different design scheme, it might look great. It's simply something I personally didn't consider.

Center Rail: I chose the 1-piece center rail, but ultimately it depends on what's important to you and what your needs are. For example, if you have children, it might make it easier to get them in and out of the car with a 2-piece rail, etc. For me, I saw both in action while test driving at night, and I LOVED the ambient lighting. I have the ambient lighting in my Clubman now, but it's a bit brighter in the Countryman. And since I really liked the lighting effect, I chose the 1-piece rail because the lights are exponentially brighter than the 2-piece rail. The cupholders in the rear block nearly all of the lighting. But again, this is just a personal preference and certainly not a dealbreaker on the car. Get what will work best for you.

Sunroof: I would base this decision on where you live. I have the dual-pane sunroof in my Clubman now, but I just ordered my Countryman without it. I live in a warm climate, and the sunroof SIGNIFICANTLY increases my Clubman's interior temperature compared to my cars without a sunroof. Not to mention, since I live somewhere with bright sun, there are times of the day when the sun is BEATING DOWN on the top of my head (and sometimes making me squint hard even with sunglasses on). So, for me, I just didn't want the sunroof again. However, I'm sure there will be times when I'm driving at night that I'll wish I still had it. And if I lived in a cooler climate with less intense sun, I would definitely get it again.

Hope this helps!

 

Ambient lighting looks great on the split rail. I think it probably looks better because it's doing the same effect in the front and back, looks very cool when on continuous cycle.

I don't really care for all the chrome on the exterior of the Countryman
UNLESS it's Black on Black. Man it looks so classy on one of these Black beauties....

 

Thanks...you helped immensely!!
I was afraid of the sunroof for that exact reason! Good...I'm getting rid of that!
I think the 1 center rail will flow better and look better....just worried about my once-in-a-while long legged passengers. My kids are grown up, so I don't have an issue with that. (I have lots of other issues concerning them, just not this one )

 

Thank you for answering! I'm getting the black on black, and love all the chrome...in fact I'm really unhappy the grill on the 'S' isn't the chrome one that I love! I don't really care for the black grill.

 

Not sure if this helps, but my husband rode in the back seat while I drove with our MA in the front passenger seat. My husband is 6'0" tall, and he said he was comfortable. He's a lean guy though, so I can't speak for someone who might be both tall and broad, but he said he thought it was a nice ride back there.

Keep us posted on your order. Congratulations!

 

I don't think a large passenger would have a problem with the single rail. I opted for the split since it seemed to make the car more versatile and between two dogs and lots of hiking friends, I want to be able to cram every inch of the car if I have to.

I also ride with the back seats down most of the time (dogs), so lighting back there wasn't important.

If you don't like the sun on your head, I can see opting for no sunroof. My CM is my first car with one, so I'm still in love with it. I open it pretty much any chance I get, and I also love cracking it with the remote when I leave work on a warm day.

 

Thank you so much! I'll post tomorrow after I've ordered!

 

Thanks for the great info!
The dog is not going to be allowed in this car! He will be driven in the Explorer, in which he has already very generously gifted us with his white hair puffs!

 

He he. Fair enough. The flat-load floor is pretty awesome for dogs. I've always used a large towel (72"x72") with a shower curtain underneath to protect my cargo areas from the dogs. The flat floor is awesome because I can pin the towel/curtain down in the back with it and I can tuck it in where the seats fold into each other. It's rock solid (used to slide sometimes in my Jeep) and protects the car reasonably well.

I know you already have a dog car, but if anybody does wonder how dogs and CM work together, it's pretty great.

 

I'm 6'2" with long legs and don't have any problem sitting in the rear with the full rail (which I ordered). Regardless of having the rail the rear floor has a small "lump" that prevents you from sliding your feet over anyway, so the rail is not a problem.

Also on the sun roof, just to confuse you, I have read before it has a heavier tint than on the Clubman and so is less warming on the inside of the car - but it will always be somewhat warmer. On the other had with it open you can clear air out of the car faster....

I also vote for Piano Black where possible, I have the carbon black interior with piano black trim and the shiny Piano adds a very nice contrast to the Carbon. Don't go cheap though, if you get Piano put it everywhere you can.

 

Don't get the checkered center console unless you are already aware the center console in checkers = piano black on the door trim. I love the checkered center console, but do not like the piano black door trim. My MA failed to update our order properly so I ended up with the checkered console which comes with piano black door trim.

I just picked our car up yesterday. One option I really wish I would have gotten is the chrome exterior option. The Harmon Kardon upgraded system is great. I love the sunroofs - - -do plan on getting them tinted at something around 10% as I do live in Arizona.

 

I spoke to the salesman at the dealership this past week to check on my order. "Track Your Mini" no longer works for me since since I ran into the Connect without Nav issue. I made out well though as they are giving my navigation at no cost. However since it modified the order, I have a new order number which I can not track via the web site.

However he did verify that my car was included in the last batch of Countryman with an Automatic transmission that would be coming from Japan. He did not mention what the delay would be if I had no made the cut off for the order, but I have been hearing three Months.

In all honestly if I had missed the cut off, I would have canceled my order. I like the car, but would not wait three months for it.

I dont know if this comment helps you at all, but I just wanted to put in my two cents.

Take care.

 

Have to get the sunroof.

Tint it if the interior is too warm.

I live in SoCal, tinted the sunroof, and wouldn't have gotten my CMS without it.

 

Of your list of concerns, we decided to pass on the sunroof - we've had a couple of cars with sunroof and we found them to eventually fail and not be that wonderful. Driving around since we got the CM4, we're happy with the solid roof.
We also chose the 2-part rail since we often use the space behind the front seat in our (larger) similar vehicle for carrying bigger things and wanted that space to be available for use again. It was a good choice for us.

Our 2 cents

 

I really wish you could get the checkered pattern on the door trim as well. My wife's Clubman has a slightly different checkered pattern all around, and it looks great. I'm hoping they add it for the 2012 models, but I'm not overly optimistic.

 

I *love* the checkered interior, but also wish I could have gotten it on the door trim and on the cockpit as well. It makes the interior feel a bit sportier and more fun.

I went with the split rail, and am glad I did. When I have the ack seats down, I storethe cargo cover between the back seats and the front seats, and it fits nicely below the cargo line. The full rail would interfere with that, so the cargo cover would have to go on top of the cargo line. Since I usually have the seats down for my bike to fit in, I need every inch of length. Also, the split rail is easier for rear seat passengers.

That said, I love the interior lighting and bet it would look fantastic with the full rail. Practicality >> Cool factor for this one feature only.

 

Thank you for the excellent advise! I gather the 'Piano Black' has a gloss to it..which I would like. I'm going to look at it in person today....the configurator doesn't really show details accurately.Good point about putting the piano black everywhere!
Good to know the center rail isn't a problem for long legs!

 

Thanks fo helping!! I hope the dealership has some the checkered console with the piana black so I can look at it. I do like the piano black, though, so maybe it won't be that objectionable.
I've pretty much decided no sunroof. I hate to be hot more than anything....so even if the sunroof increases the heat inside a smidge, I'm going to be miserable, so it's best to not get it in the first place. So many people have told me that it doesn't work eventually, and that would get to me, even if i'm not happy with something, I want it to work properly. Since I've never had one, I won't miss it.

 

OH NO! My salesman didn't tell me there would be any type of problem!
Now he'll probably want to sell me one off the lot, which I don't want.
Never even thought that would be an issue.
Happy for you that you made the cutoff though! Congratulations!
Thank you so much for the heads up. I'll get my sadness over with before I get to the dealership. I'll let you guys know what went on when I get back!

 

Hi! Thank you for the suggestion. I think I have pretty much nixed the sunroof. I'm not a sun worshipper anymore, and I hate to be warm, so I think it's probably not going to be an asset to me. It would be nice in the fall, but the summer would be awful.
If the sunroof could be completely closed off (not just with the mesh screen), I might reconsider.
Thanks, again!