I know there is a separate section for the JCW but wanted to put this out to people who currently have an F56.

I am getting ready to place my order for a new JCW and have been on the Configurator all morning building it out. Looking at doing Thunder Grey with Red Roof and mirrors. Cold Weather Package is a necessity as a live in NH. Want a Sunroof and the HK so the Premium Package makes sense.

Where I am a little stuck is with the other options. I don't want the standard radio as I have the Mini Connected in my current car and actually do like it. My original build was with the Wired Package including HUD, but with the plethora of devices I have that can do GPS I am wondering if it is worth it to spend $1000 just to have the navigation and a slightly wider screen. And if I do not do the Nav, is the HUD worth it?

Please let me know your thoughts. I could really go either way, but just trying to find out what is worth doing.

Thank you.

 

No opinions for you as I am in a similar place making decisions; will be interested to hear replies so thanks for posting this.

 

I have a similar color scheme, but an R58 JCW. Nice choice. I decided not to spend the $$ on the Nav, I use my phone and the Nav is pretty pricey. In the past people complained that searching for nearby businesses was a PIA compared to your phone. I personally think the HUD is best used with the Nav, but I rememeber one person saying he loves his and has no Nav, he likes to see the speed in front of him, likes to way it looks in the dash. After reading that I might opt for it, it's not that expensive and you can always leave it down.

 

I have Nav, and truthfully, other than liking the way it looks, I don't think it's worth it. I would spend money on other things because I end up using my iPhone for Nav more often. Plus it will be more current.

I don't have HUD so I can't comment, but I don't think I'd spend the money on it. I wish I had comfort access, HK stereo, power folding mirrors.

 

The HUD for the JCW looks really cool, with the revcounter. I would opt for that.
Navi I did not take, and I do not miss it.

 

Both of those packages (Media, Wired) include the Center Armrest, if that's of interest to you.

 

Keep in mind that if you do spring for the XL with Nav, you are getting more than just a bigger screen and nav. The XL screen also gives you a split screen option, a 20GB hard drive for storing music, video file playback support (while parked, of course), and a touchpad.

The HUD without nav will still show you current speed, check control messages, phone functions (caller ID, recent call list), and audio functions (will show what station you're changing to, or track you're changing to). Supposedly the JCW will have a rev counter as well, but I haven't seen that confirmed anywhere. Just a picture that popped up on a foreign MINI web site.

 

Touchscreen?

 

Touchpad, on the iDrive ****. Let's you trace letters/numbers while typing in info, pan around the maps and pinch to zoom.

 

This is why I went with the Wired Pack, all of those extra features just make life easier while driving around. I have the HUD in conjunction, and the 2 work together so seamlessly. It's also so much easier just not having to deal with my phone or a plug-in GPS or anything when I get into the car.

Also, getting the XL screen if you plan on getting the backup camera/parking sensors is very nice. Having the extra screen space means the camera picture is larger/clearer, while still having plenty of room for the parking indicators.

 

I have the Nav. Bought a car off the lot and didn't really want it, but it made sense with other options I wanted. I don't have HUD. Couldn't see it with my polarized sunglasses.

I like the XL screen,
Hard drive is full of music... great!
split screen is good
like the center arm rest (some think it gets in the way with a manual, though)

You can set a preset (1-6) on the dash to be a Nav destination. I set one to my home address. So, now I use my iPhone to go away on trips, but the MINI Nav system to go home with the touch of one button. Odd, I know.

One other good thing for the MINI Nav is that others in the car can see it on the screen. It includes mileage, ETA and surrounding things like gas stations etc. No more "how long until we are there" questions.

Its a bit of a pain to enter the addresses in the MINI Nav. Seems very unsafe while driving, but with my iPhone, just use Siri.

So, if I would order my MINI now, I would not get the Nav. Its interesting, but it duplicates a function that I can get on my phone and $1000 is a lot of money for that.

Hope that helps...

 

You didn't mention the storage package. Get the storage package.

 

Agreed!

 

To do over,

Must haves:
Storage Package (Seriously a no-brainer)
PDC
Back-up Camera
LED Headlamps with cornering
Sport Seats
Winter Package (unless you're in the South)
Visual Boost XL WITH Nav & Harman Kardon
Auto Headlamps (Standard? Very accurate)
HUD -- I love it.


In a do-over, I'd have not gotten the self-parking. It's cool, but not necessary.

Except for botching the back-up camera, I have ZERO regrets with the choices I made.

 

Ooo...yeah...another vote for the Storage Package!

Looks like OP is getting the Premium Package, which includes it though.

 

Having an iPhone and a regular GPS I just don't see getting nav and for that price. I do see that there are some additional items like the 20GB HD and split screen (though I don't know why that would be useful) but I already have all my music on my phone + Pandora.

I then looked at doing the Premium package and the Media package so I would at least still have the screen. Then I found the Loaded package, which is a combo of these two packages only $300 less. So now I am just looking at Cold Weather and Loaded packs, + a few extras including the HUD.

I talked to the dealership on Friday and will be placing my order today.

 

I went with the Connected XL kit and could not imagine not having it at this point.

 

I have never been interested in Nav as an option. I didn't use nav in the old days, and once i had a capable phone, if I DID use it, I used the phone. Never more feasible than with this iPhone 6+++++.

HOWEVER.

I concede they are handy, if you can keep them updated, particularly as more current and useful info is onboard. It used to be you didn't have live traffic, that sort of thing, so I'd always prefer the phone... but if they do, awesome. If you're in a bad coverage area on your phone? Car nav is a great back-up.

And on the new car, because of the packages, nav came with it anyway, so I will be having it in about 7 days...

 

What I really wish I had added was the Comfort Access pkg. Nothing else except I wish the JCW had been available when I ordered my car.

 

The only thing I wish I'd gotten is the rear fog lights for $100. May not have used them often but not that expensive to factory fit to car.

Rear backup camera would be great to have, but personally couldn't justify the cost.

 

I got comfort access on the last many simply because with two small children I found myself stumbling towards the car with my hands full and the prospect of not having to fish my keys out seemed interesting. Having had it now for a few years I have to say it's one of my favorite features. It feels so indulgent but I just can't help it.

I got the backup warning system on the countrymen in order to help with the prospect of toddlers racing out behind the car which always worries me. Now that the backup cameras available I have both Spec'd on the new car.

I pulled the trigger on the new mini a few weeks before the JCW was officially available in United States. I hemmed and hawed on that one for quite a while before biting the bullet. I always say I'm going to get it and then I never do, four MINIs in a row. At least this time I'm putting some stuff on the car to tweak the performance a bit so that will be fun. I haven't done any under the hood mods to a mini since my first gen one back in the day...

 

My order has been placed. I am the first JCW order the dealership and its related one have had so far. Was told it will be a July -August timeframe due to the manual transmission delays.

I did not get the nav as I stated above due to the wealth of other options that I have available. Did get the HUD, and went with the packages I mentioned, Cold Weather and Loaded.

The other things I removed from my order is the JCW stripes. I am working on sourcing some third party stripes as I want to do red sport stripes on the bonnet and boot, and either black or dark grey on the roof bits that are not sunroof. If anyone has suggestions on a place for the stripes, please let me know.

Now the long 4-5 month wait for the car.

 

Awesome! Congratulations!

 

It sounds like you want striping like I have (JCW Coupe, Eclipse Grey with red roof/mirrors), and mine came from the factory like you want. Weird you couldn't get it too. I have red stripes on hood/boot. I had grey/black on the top but had them removed, they were fading badly. Too bad about the long wait for the MT. For the first 2-3 years of the R56 fJCW you couldn't get an automatic tranny. Mine's pretty good I think. I had a manual for 7 years on my MCS.

 

The configurator only shows the black and red JCW stripes as an option, no red sport stripes. Best selection I have found so far has been Might Stripes but I will need to email them as they list a lot of years and models, but none of the 2014+. Want to make sure I don't order and get stripes that are an inch too short or something like that.