Well, the new model information is up in place of the old configurator and it looks like you won't be able to custom-configure your vehicle anymore. You appear to have three choices and three choices only-- Classic, Signature and Iconic.

Manual transmission available ONLY in the Classic (strip) trim and mandatory sunroofs in all three trim lines, and very limited color combinations in the Classic.

I thought Mini's "claim to fame" was it's infinite combination of builds to make it "your" Mini.

Apparently not.

Well, it looks like it's now an M2 or nothing.

Grr.

 

Where are you located? I just checked MINI USA site and it still lets you build your own.

 

Denver, CO.

Here's the "new" 2019 information. Scroll down to the JCW Countryman and you'll see what I mean.

https://www.miniusa.com/content/mini...uct-trims.html

I'm mad as a wet hen and spittin' feathers! I was holding off for a 2019/2020 since there were rumors of engine upgrades. That plan is apparently biting the dust and I'm not quite in a position to buy, even IF the 2018's are still being built.

Kind of surprised that this sort of news wasn't all over the interwebs-- Mini's raison d'être was that they were infinitely customizable-- now it looks like they still are: as long as you buy one of three pre-configured models.

Hopefully I'm wrong, but it sure doesn't look that way at the moment.

 

I see what you mean. It does say they're coming out with a new configurator for the 2019. Maybe things will improve then.

 

This thread has info on some 2019 orders and modifications to the build -

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ml#post4382141

 

Well, that makes things clear as mud! I guess I'll have to wait to see if I can still configure a 2019 the way I want. It seems that the answer at the moment is "maybe yes, maybe no".

I've had my build sorted for at least six months now, and was waiting a bit.

Might have been a mistake. I emailed my Sales Advisor to see what he said since he left me a message the other day about the US Configurator going live at the end of this month.

Sigh.

 

If you are buying a MINI, you have all the leverage in the world. My nearby MINI dealer has turned over it’s entire sales department in the past couple years. They’re hungry.

So what does this have to do with ordering a custom car? Use that leverage. The factory can build any combination you want. The trick is just in getting the dealer to place that order. It can be done. (At one point I was seriously considering the F54 Clubman and wanted it in Volcanic Orange. No dice, they said. I walked away. I later got an email saying they could order one that way, since it is available for other markets. Bought an F55 off the lot instead though. Handles better )

 

That sucks. Manual only avail in the base? Lame

 

I ordered a 2019 JCW CM yesterday. They are still fully customizable, the Trims Levels are a result of people finding it to difficult with all the options. Also Manual is available for all trim levels. I was able to order a better equipped 2019 for less money than a 2018.

 

bmw forces people into trim lines now, and wont let you customize much, I hope they do not push that BS onto mini

 

GREAT!! That's good to know-- thanks for the head's up. My Sales Advisor was (is) still doing research. He was "cautiously optimistic", but hadn't gotten a definitive word yet.

Maybe my Mini hopes are still alive!!!

 

Still no word from my SA, but he said to give him until the end of the month to see how configurable the 2019's are.

My two "deal breakers" are a manual transmission and NO sunroof.

On the plus side, BMW just announced the new M2 Competition-- which is available with a manual transmission and no sunroof. Surprisingly, it's only $12-15k more than the JCW Countryman I'm considering.

Decisions, decisions.

I had an e46 M3 coupe once upon a time-- best car I ever owned, worst car I ever owned. I'm partial to the JCW hatchback, but I suppose it's going to depend on the Configurator!!!

 

If that’s your color combo in your thumbnail I like it!

 

Well, the new Configurator is live, and I have to say, I'm VERY unimpressed.

Sunroof: Mandatory.
Nav system: Mandatory.
Auto "open your trunk when its in the garage": Mandatory.

The JCW is pretty much three builds with minor variations, but it certainly appears that they've almost eliminated the ability to custom-build a car.

Every time I try to change something (like "Sport Seats" instead of the "JCW sport seats") I get a message saying that it's not a valid option.

So, I'm really, REALLY irritated. I was very much looking forward to a JCW Mini.

Mini's claim to fame was supposedly it's ease of configuration and it looks like they've just thrown the entire concept into the rubbish bin.

Time to start looking at the new M2 Competition, I suppose.

GRR.

 

The. new configurator is VERY buggy right now and is easy to break, don't let their poor website design/testing irritate you. I suggest talking to a MA, mine was very helpful with my 2019 JCW Countryman All4 build and order. Sunroof and Nav Systems are not mandatory, you can still get a custom build.

http://www.motoringfile.com/2018/05/...ator-now-live/
"Has MINI USA Reduced Choice? In a word yes. But in reality not really. The choice previously was almost mathematically limitless. Now there are just 100 million different ways to order your new MINI. Compare that to say, a Honda Accord which has a total of 85 different ways to spec and it would seem MINI is staying true to its customization roots."

 

I've reached out to my MA, but no response as of yet.

 

seems some MAs are better at understanding the new systems then others. maybe ask another at the dealer or another dealer if that is an option

 

So-- I had a nice long talk with my MA today.

You can order differently than the Configurator, but you can't.

I gave him my proposed build, and while he could do some things (e.g. delete sunroof), he couldn't do other things (e.g. when he tried to delete JCW seats, add regular sport seats, the system started adding and deleting packages that I didn't want. And, it looks like Nav is pretty much mandatory with any build.)

Considering my biggies were no Nav, no hud, no sunroof, "regular sport seats" and a MT, you see the problem.

Oh-- I had spec'd Lapizluxury Blue-- and that screwed everything else up as well forced additional unwanted packages on the vehicle.

So, for the moment, I'm skunked. My MA is going to contact MotherShip Mini directly to see if there's a workaround, but he's not hugely hopefully. He's fairly irritated as well as we could have built this exact car with no drama four months ago.

Sigh. I guess I'm back to putting the M2 Competition and X3M on the "Go look at" list.

R.

 

 

That's where I'm at, I can't get an F55 S for less than 38k or an F60 JCW for less than 50k configured half way the way I'd like them, so I have my deposit down on the M2 Comp now. Hopefully we get pricing later this week.

The X3M is still at least a year off, that's going to be a long wait. The X2 M35i starts production in Nov, and it'll likely start cheaper than an Iconic pack F60 JCW.

 

Well, on the plus side, the JCW was (and is) a "want", not a "need".

Although rebuilding the suspension of my 2005 Honda Element just got bumped up the priority list.

I'm perfectly content waiting until 2020 if need be. Stopped by the local BMW dealer on my V-Rod the other day-- got looked down their nose at me and told me I could look at/discuss an M2 IF I put a deposit down-- basically, they wanted me out of there.

Next dealer, please.

Personally, I'm not a fan of putting a deposit down on a car I've never even seen-- too much potential for gouging and unhappiness on my part. I'll wait a year or two for the favor to die down, and then fly to Europe or somewhere else in the country that wants my business to get one if need be.

The Seattle Auto Show is a pretty good place to look at all of the new/current models for sale in the US-- that's probably a good place to start.

But I'm still *PISSED* at Mini-- I could have ordered the exact car I wanted two months ago, but now it's impossible? You already have the mechanism for individual builds in place-- call it a "Bespoke Program" or something like that and motor on. Sheesh.

R.

PS: Wife mentioned the X2, but I'm pretty sure that's AT only? Did I miss a memo?

 

Murray/Downtown or Schomp? Honestly though demand is so high you're not going to get anywhere without a deposit at any dealer.

That's the way it goes with any newly released vehicle. They're going to require a small deposit put down to order it. I've ordered a few site unseen and sometime it pans out and sometimes it doesn't.

Any large cities show should be good, just check before hand to see if the manufacturer you want to see is going to have a decent presence.

You would have had to have had your order in by January at the latest if Schomp still had a production slot open. 2019 production started in March.

Most likely it will be auto only on the M35i, just like the 28i is right now, same 8 speed Aisin box. I don't think they have a transverse DCT capable of handling the torque but maybe that's coming too.

 

Not willing to put a deposit down on a car I've never even seen.

But, I'm patient and in no real hurry.

Schomp was the dealership. Their attitude wasn't rude, but sort of that they didn't want to talk to me and just wanted me out of the dealership. The impression I got was "Why are YOU in here bothering us about a car you obviously can't afford."

Maybe a mistake on their part, since the last time I bought a BMW it was a new M3-- and I paid cash.

It was little surprising, consider I wasn't "Pirate" dressed-- just jeans and a nice leather jacket, carrying a helmet, but they made it fairly clear that they didn't really want to talk to me about a M2 and thus put up as many road blocks they could to make it clear that I was looking in the wrong place-- as in "You'll have to put down a deposit to talk about the car, and the list is too long so goodbye."

Maybe I should have shown up in a suit and driven a car instead of one of my bikes?

Interesting way to sell cars.

Now, if only MINI would accept my build for a car that they were building a few months ago......