I saw a similar thread on here but it was for the Iconic. I'm looking at ordering the Signature Plus but would really prefer the carbon black color line (4C1) and black checkered interior surface (4DC) that are in the base Signature. I can upgrade to the cross punch leather easily enough but I do not care for the grey and silver that's in the Signature Plus. Has anyone on here had any luck ordering the Signature Plus this way?

 

I was wondering that too. Each tier has a different trim color, and the middle tier has the ugliest one

Edit: Actually, I like the grey soft touch bits, it's just the silver hard plastic that I think is terrible.

 

It doesn't make sense that I cannot get the interior surface and color line of the base model in the Signature Plus. The color line is the same for the Signature and the Iconic but as you say, the Signature Plus looks the worst. I've been tempted to step up to the Iconic because of the missing toggle switch but I don't really care for the flimsy looking HUD and I can't do those grey seats while wearing blue jeans all the time. I've been there, done that, never again. You can't even opt for the cross punch leather at no additional cost. They force you to go yet another $500 for the lounge leather. I just can't justify the additional $3k+ to step up to the Iconic.

 

I don't really get why they're so restrictive on the options vs the other models. It's all the same parts from the same factory, so why not offer all the options, especially on the Iconic trim level? It makes no sense to me why you only have two seat choices. I'm wondering how much the dealer can override when they build your order.

I would never order the Iconic trim level either. It has way too many options that I don't care for, and like you said, worse seat choices.

 

Another thing I find odd is that fact that they charge you $500 to swap to the Cross Punch leather but in the other MINI's, this is a no charge change. It is $500 to step up to the Lounge leather but that's understandable. According to the dealer here in Albuquerque, there is no way to override these restrictions. I'm having my salesperson send an email to the MINI rep to see if there is anything that can ben done.

 

Hey, you're in Albuquerque? I'm in Albuquerque! Who are you working with? I hope it's Frankie, she's my favorite

 

As a matter of fact, that is exactly who I am working with. Small world!

 

Well Frankie got an answer back from the MINI rep and big surprise, the answer is no. Here was the explanation that was given:

"In all instances, we always aim to appease these requests, especially when we're in conversation about a sold order. However, the "limitations" in ordering for the Cooper SE, is a central constraint and the back-end system for the SE does not allow for the same level of flexibility as is potentially possible on our gasoline variants. Keeping the above in mind, we do not have the ability to make those changes."

 

Seeing as how it looks like I am going to be stuck with this interior, does anyone happen to have any actual photos of a Sig Plus interior?

 

Thank you, Mr. Crabtree, for posting MINI's response to a customization request. At least Frankie got a response. I wrote letters to the head of BMW, the head of MINI, the head of the MINI factory, the head of MINI USA, the lead project manager, and more, begging MINI to take $1,500 to give me the less-expensive base MINI Cooper hood with no bonnet scoop. Crickets. In frustration, I created a 10-second slide show website to show an electric MINI was not meant to have a hood scoop.

I bought a scoopless base MINI Cooper hood and had a body shop paint and install it a week after I took delivery of my SE. The mod cost more than $1,500, but the cost will come down after I sell the original hood on ebay. I apologize that my hood-scoop rant doesn't fit the interior-trim option thread very well, but it does echo the frustration others share about MINI's refusal to perform what would seem easy-to-accomplish customization.


Electric cars don't need hood scoops

 

I know it wasn't cheap but WOW! What a difference. Perhaps someday that will start offering that. My frustration stems from their unwillingness simply to swap out an interior surface and color line that is standard on the Signature and install it on the Signature Plus. If they are not willing to even do that, then I can say I am not the least bit surprised in their unwillingness to swap out a hood for you. It's a shame to have a brand new car that you have to immediately go out and do body work on.

 

You could always wrap the silver parts with vinyl. I wrapped all the awful piano black trim bits in my Countryman with carbon fiber vinyl and it's much better looking to me. Piano black is a fingerprint magnet.

The grey L-shaped pieces you'd probably be stuck with though. I think people have tried swapping them out, but I haven't seen any success stories.

 

I was hoping I could find someone with pictures of the Signature Plus interior but apparently no one here on the forum has one...

 

Matt Shumaker, who received one of the first MINI Cooper SEs in the US has a Signature Plus trim version. You can see interior views of his MINI on his YouTube channel. Search YouTube for Tech Forum (when I tried to link it, the NAM system reported Video Unavailable). His forum is mainly devoted to his Tesla Model 3, but there are many videos about his SE, too. Matt participates on the very active MINI Cooper SE sub-forum of InsideEVs BMW forum. He decided his Midnight Black SE didn't have enough black on it, so he replaced the grille, headlight trim, and taillight trim with black pieces.

 

Thanks man! That was extremely informative! Watching his videos, the interior doesn't look that bad but I still think I will go with the carbon black leather seats over the cloth. I really learned a lot from watching a couple of his videos. VERY helpful! Thanks again.