So my MA just called and said they have their allotments for August ordering. He now said I will be getting an '09 model and the Premium Pckg and Conv. Pckg changed. From what I can tell in the Premium pckg you lose the upgraded stereo. How do most of you find the basic stereo? I see no real reason to have 10 speakers in such a small car. Secondly, in the Conv pckg it seems you lose the armrest, and comfort bluetooth and not sure about the multifunction steering wheel. What is the difference in Bluetooth, and comfort bluetooth?
Little Bean
(evan)

 

Be aware that with all cars, when they say ten speakers or 6 speakers they don't mean what you and I mean... A basic MINI system with four speakers would mean what you expect, for single cone speakers, in each of four locations.

A 10 speaker system typically means you still have what you and I would thing of as four speakers, but two are triaxial and two are coaxial. See how the speaker below has a woofer, midrange,and tweeter? Car manufacturers count one of the unit below as 3 speakers.

Quite misleading. That having been said, having coaxial or triaxial speakers will yield much better sound. But you'll be paying way over what they're worth through a car company usually.

If you like weekend projects, save a ton of money and upgrade the speakers after yourself, for a fraction the cost and still get better speakers than the factory package most likely.

If you don't like projects like that, you can just pay MINI or take it to a aftermarket stero shop, though their cost can rival the dealer/factory.

I still have the basic stereo, I tend to prefer to listen to the Magnaflow. But I do plan to replace the simple speakers with something with more power handling, probably a winter project.

 

Besides the difference in the speakers, are the stereo options the same?

 

I am also confused about the convenience package. Is there a USB port in the 2008 Mini's armrest or is that a new option in the '09?

 

MMatarella, thanks for the info on the speakers. I don't mind weekend projects and that is a very good suggestion to do it myself. Better quality and cheaper.

Sid, I think the stereo is the same however, you get the different speakers as mentioned above and an ampliphier (spell) .

Desertmini21, On the 08' and 09' models there is a USB plug under the switches for the window in front of the cup holders. All the comfort bluetooth does is go into the armrest but only works on certain phones and it is a plug but not USB to the best of my knowlege. The USB ports are supposedly in the extra glove box (the hidden one) and under the center controls above the cup holders. So, I guess that is why for the 09' they took the armrest out of the conv. pckg and made it an allacarte option.
Little Bean

 

You do get two additional speakers with the HiFi- an ~1" tweeter on each of the A pillars of the car, these are not part of a multi-axial speaker. There's more details in the R56 audio specs sticky.

Lots of people go with the HiFi package just to get the molded A-pillar covers to install their own tweeters there. It can get pricey to order them separately.

While the Comfort Bluetooth option only has snap-ins for certain phones currently, they're pretty popular ones. RAZRs, Blackberrys, the iPhone (no 3G yet, but it appears to be planned)

The USB port is not in the secret compartment, it's down next to the AUX input, behind the cupholders.

New for 09 is also the $100 SmartPhone Prep package, which puts a USB connector for music in the armrest. Phone connections are still handled via Bluetooth. You'll still need a compatible snap-in adapter (sold separately) but I haven't seen any announcements on which phones will have compatible adapters.

 

Will I be able to upgrade the 08 armrest for the SmartPhone Prep package?

 

Not sure on this yet- my guess is that the physical USB connection is still provided by the snap-in, and that the SmartPhone prep itself is a charge for a different wiring harness between the armrest and the USB/Bluetooth module.

The person to check with is probably a service advisor... Although it's new enough it might be a bit of work to find out.