When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Try and find one certified pre owned, the warranty is awesome! Especially if you put on a lot of miles. Also, don’t be afraid to travel for the color and features you want. I bought my CM in Minneapolis and drove it home to California.
As for must have features, I wanted the more powerful S version and the JCW steering wheel.
I bought a used 2018 Countryman Cooper S All4 in July. It has every single available option (!) except for the power-folding mirrors, so I'm in a good position to tell you which options are must have. At least in my opinion. :-)
My must-haves after having used them for 4 months:
- 8.8" touch screen w/ wireless Apple CarPlay
- Wireless phone charging
- LED headlights: adaptive w/ integral cornering lamps
- Dynamic Damper Control adaptive 2-mode (sport and normal) shocks.
- 40-20-40 split folding rear seats with adjustable back angle and fore and aft sliding and fold-down centre armrest
- 8 speed automatic <--I'm sorry... I drive my track car extensively at the race track but this is a slick slick slick transmission.
- Heated front windshield (defroster wires integral with glass). I had this on my 1st Gen and it's awesome in freezing rain and just for clearing off your windshield in the AM quickly.
- AWD (of course)
Option Sheet
VIN Decoder bimmer.work
Standard Equipment
--------------------------
853 Language Version English
8R9 Refrigerant
481 Sport Seats F Driver/front Passenger
563 Lights Package
2VG Performance Control
1AG Larger-capacity Fuel Tank
842 Cold Climate Version
258 Runflat Tyres
850 Add Fuel Tank Filling For Export
992 Number Plate Attachement Management
645 Radio Control Us
8SM Vin, Visible From Outside
845 Acoustic Belt Warning
823 Hot Climate Version
Options
----------
693 Satellite Tuner Preparation
5AS Driving Assistant
838 Canadian Version
9AA External Skin Protection
534 Automatic Air Conditioning
7L5 Wired
431 Interior Rr Vw Mirror W Aut Anti-d
674 Hifi Loudspeaker System Harman Kardon
4F6 Picnic Bench
541 Active Cruise Control
386 Roof Rail
420 Sun Protection Glazing
4F1 Colour Line British Oak
548 Speedometer With Kilometer Reading
402 Panorama Glass Roof
319 Integrated Universal Remote Control
4G6 Mini Yours Interior Style British O
6AD Mini Head Up Display
6NW Telephony With Wireless Charging
4VA Mini Driving Modes
925 Shipping Protection Package
205 Automatic Transmission
497 Centre Armrest In Rear
5A1 Led-fog Lights
223 Dynamic Damper Control
459 Seat Adjustm., Electr. W. Memory
493 Storage Compartment Package
20F 18" Pin Spoke With Run-flat Propert
359 Visibility Pack
4FD Seat Adjustment For Rear Seats
8S4 Decoding Variable Light Distributio
4NE Blow-by-heater
494 Seat Heating F Driver/front Passenger
609 Navigation System Professional
473 Armrest, Front
346 Chrome-line Exterior
3AG Backup Camera
423 Floor Mats, Velour
2XB Mini Yours Sports Leath.steering Wh
6NM Mini Connected Mini Connected
508 Park Distance Control (pdc)
322 Comfort Access System
345 Chrome Line Interior
5DP Park Assistant
4V9 Mini Excitement Pakage
6NT Mini Connected Xl
382 Roof And Mirror Caps In White
5A4 Led Headlights W.extended Features
8KL Oelserviceint. 15.000km/12months
316 Automatic Tailgate Operation
249 Multi-function For Steering Wheel
927 All Season Tires
4AA Roof Lining Anthracite
1CA Selection Cop Relevant Vehicles
302 Alarm System
Where are you located and what is your budget? I see you only just joined the forum yesterday so your profile doesn't have much info in it...
We're getting close to selling my wife's CM. It's a 17 fully loaded Cooper S with the JCW trim package. About 15k Miles on it. 6 Speed Manual.
Sorry - I didn't really answer the question...
I'd suggest getting the lowest mile vehicle in the best condition for your budget. Start there to narrow your search... Once you have 3-4 vehicles in your finalist list then choose the one you like most based on emotion.
There aren't really any "must haves" except for the motor - I wouldn't get anything less than the S model with the 2.0T...
too bad I'm so far away MrFunk! I like your strategy, "Once you have 3-4 vehicles in your finalist list then choose the one you like most based on emotion.". That makes a lot of sense to me. thx
I knew what I wanted, which was a 2017-2019 JCW Countryman. Instead, I bought a "service loaner" 2019 Countryman FWD in Signature S trim, for 30K, a very good discount off of list price...it had 3,500 miles on it. Over the next few months, I'd stop by the dealership just to see what might have been traded in. One day, I was lucky enough to find an AWD 2019 Rebel Green/Red top/Red Stripes JCW, Iconic Trim, in the back...not cleaned up. Slight curb damage to one wheel and the front spoiler. Only 1268 miles on it. Found out the owners bought it new in Dec 2018, and recently traded it in for the Biggest Lexus they make. They had the oil changed at 900-something miles because it was 1 year old, that's the only service record. Started negotiating with the dealership....they wouldn't give me enough for my car (22,000 on I car I bought for 30K and drove it another 10,000 miles). Called up Carvana, they wrote a check for 27,000. That 5K difference made the deal work for me. I bought the JCW for 34K, on a car that originally listed at a few pennies less than 50K. You can find deals like this, but, you must NOT be in a hurry, and MUST be willing to walk away. Really walk away. I walked away from my initial purchase, as well as the second purchase, until the numbers were good enough for me to proceed. Good luck, the deals can be found.
PS: they repaired the wheel curb rash and the front spoiler as part of the deal, too!
Last edited by Mini-Titan; Nov 25, 2020 at 11:49 AM.
Reason: addition
Mini-Titan - That's exactly the kind of deal (mini) that I would go for! I'm thinking that early in 2021 that I may be able to get a 2020 or even something a little older without too many miles.
Did you sell your car to carvana, but bought the mini from a dealer, unrelated to carvana? The reason that I asked is that I've considered carvana but I'm afraid of buying a car that I can't see and the fees to return it are high! I like the concept if I felt that I could trust them completely.
Did you sell your car to carvana, but bought the mini from a dealer, unrelated to carvana? .
Yes, Carvana paying me 5K more for my trade is what allowed the deal to be good enough to buy from the Dealer. That said, SELLING to Carvana is the easiest transaction I've ever done. It literally took 4 minutes from the time I drove up to the time I walked out of the building. I can't say buying from Carvana would be a good thing, because they offered me so much more than anyone else to buy mine from me. If you are patient, and get a bit of luck, you'll find something you are happy to get!
Yes, Carvana paying me 5K more for my trade is what allowed the deal to be good enough to buy from the Dealer. That said, SELLING to Carvana is the easiest transaction I've ever done. It literally took 4 minutes from the time I drove up to the time I walked out of the building. I can't say buying from Carvana would be a good thing, because they offered me so much more than anyone else to buy mine from me. If you are patient, and get a bit of luck, you'll find something you are happy to get!
That sounds nice! Did they even drive it? How did they check it out, or did they just walk around it and say ok!
That sounds nice! Did they even drive it? How did they check it out, or did they just walk around it and say ok!
They didn't even drive it. While I was signing papers, someone put the key in the ignition, started it up (to make sure no idiot lights were on), and were vacuuming it out by the time I walked out the door. I commented on how fast everything was done, and the fellow said, we already have it sold. Apparently you can request a certain car and they will look for it...may have been why they made an offer to me sight-unseen.
They didn't even drive it. While I was signing papers, someone put the key in the ignition, started it up (to make sure no idiot lights were on), and were vacuuming it out by the time I walked out the door. I commented on how fast everything was done, and the fellow said, we already have it sold. Apparently you can request a certain car and they will look for it...may have been why they made an offer to me sight-unseen.
That's really interesting and makes a lot of sense! Just reinforces the check-out they do before selling it to someone! They may have done more, but maybe not!
