The release date on my ordering guide is 02/09/2018. There is no pricing at all in the copy I have.

Is it a possibility that opting out of the sunroof for a credit is a MINI regional thing? MINI wants to build cars with sunroofs to sell in areas they are popular, so they want you to take the roof "because you are paying for it anyway", so unless you live in Arizona or the sun belt, maybe a credit isn't offered. Just a guess.

There are a few options you can remove and lower-priced options you can specify over the more expensive counterpart (sport seats, chrome lines, 16" vs 17" wheels). If everything came with a credit the packages wouldn't have a "package price" and ordering and pricing wouldn't be simplified. There has to be a net manufacturing savings for MINI by building packages in large numbers. I think some of the options before were outrageously priced ($250 for chrome line interior).

I do agree that eliminating the sunroof should net some savings to the buyer, that's an expensive option.

 

 

When I ordered my M240i I had the option to delete Moon-roof for $0. If Mini follows suit, I'd expect no credits. I'm just happy I have that option.

BTW, stopped at my Mini dealer yesterday and talked to Svc Mgr and was told that they (dealership) have lots of flexibility in deleting or adding items to a specific build.

 

It's interesting. If you go with the Iconic trim you basically have access to everything with a few extra up-charges for things like Mini Yours Leather and some standalone options. Besides normal interior/exterior cosmetic tweaks the only things I have found that can be removed are the Panoramic Sunroof, Wireless Charging and the Automatic Transmission at no cost.

 

Is MINI going the way of other brands - a few trim levels and few available options. Part of the fun of MINIs is how different each one is. Looking at the configurator, It looks like they are going to start making a pile of identical cars.

 

But there are still loads of colors, roof colors, wheel choices, stripes Isn't that really all you see when driving by another?

 

While the outward appearance of my car is important, I am more concerned with the inside, as that is where I'm located when driving.

I want the nice stereo, seats, tech items and appointments rather than have to settle for something less because it's not included in the model tier I select.

Fortunately (at least for me), the "Iconic", checks all the boxes (and then some) for me. Really do not care for the HUD in the mini, but if they throw it in, that's fine.

 

I agree, I'm really close to ordering up an Iconic packaged, sunroof delete, 6 speed manual S. I am still shocked how many wheel and interior choices Mini has for their models. Go look at a Mercedes or Audi, no where near the selections in any given model.

 

Yeah Minis are very different in that regard. I remember we bought a 2004 Mazda 3 and the only things you could choose were the color and transmission and maybe a sunroof. No seats, no wheels, no engine, nothing. Then I bought a 2007 MCS, and WOW!

 

There's a March revision that went out that credits for the moonroof and Active Driver Assistant if you remove from the Signature or Iconic trims. From what I understand, the credit ($650 and $350, respectively) is due to a parts shortage, so I wouldn't expect the credit to be an ongoing thing. Moonroof delete and manual transmissions will continue to be available.

There was also a revision that no longer includes Teleservices as standard on the smaller models and instead bundles them with the Navigation pkg, again, due to parts shortages.

 

I would not buy a MINI with this limitation in configuration. I'm glad I got mine when I did.

 

What would you buy? What cars are offering more customization at this point?

 

I'm confused what the limitation is?

 

I think the limitation that is being referred to is you have to option the Iconic package to get access to all of the customization options. Before if you wanted a certain color or interior you could just option it and pay for it without having to purchase something like the Fully Loaded Pack.

The flip side is, if you were to option an '18 out with the Fully Loaded Pack, a leather interior, interior surface and exterior color it was about the same cost as the Iconic Pack, so you end up getting more for your money if you want most/all of the options with the '19.

The issue with the Signature Pack is as soon as you add it and one of the other three add-ons (Premium, Tech, Upholstery), you might as well just go to the Iconic and get all of them included.

 

Yes, my '19 F57 is one of the cars affected by the parts shortage. I wanted the driver assistance pack that's standard on the Iconic trim, and MINI opted to produce my car without it and offer the paltry $350 credit. Grrrr...

 

 

I think it's a fair statement that all car manufacturers are working as hard as they can to deliver value while taking care of their own interests. And, as any other such enterprise, BMW/MINI is required to do whatever they can to increase the value for the shareholders. No matter how passionate engineers and designers may be about building great cars, it is, and forever will be, about the bottom line.

So, we are fortunate that somebody is trying to build interesting vehicles within this difficult context.

BMW/MINI has been unusually up front in explaining that the new configuration strategy is an attempt to get cars into the resale market that second buyers want to own. Their research tells them that all of the one-off combinations that we motorers love to create makes for resale challenges for MINI dealers.

So, taking a long view, we all have an interest in whatever MINI needs to do to survive as a special niche brand -- because in today's SUV culture, where Ford trucks are the best-selling vehicles in America, year after year after year, trying to get MINIs into the buying public's hands has proved to be challenging.

I will also speculate that if enough returning, loyal prospective MINI buyers give feedback to MINI USA that they want color and option configuration choices to broaden beyond the constraints of the new system, MINI might be responsive. ... Maybe.

 

If you promise to take the car to the grave with you, then will they let you customize it with polka dots?

I had push back on an oddball build last year, part of the reason I bought used.

 

GT86, WRX, GTI. I wouldn't say it's completely about customization. It's more about what I'm wanting for what I'm paying. I happily got my MINI because I got the car I wanted for the money I spent. I can't get my car without spending a lot more.

 

Well said.

I would also note that, while MINI is 'adding' value with the new option groupings, they are also encouraging heavily-optioned cars, and the price does creep up quickly.

$40,000 is a new price point that we are all supposed to get comfortable with. That's a lot of scratch for an item that loses half it's value within three years.

 

MINI,

What I would want is a JCW Cooper with no: sunroof, heated seats, leather, dual zone climate control or any of the luxury extras. Grey would be great but I want a red roof and mirror caps. It has to have a manual transmission and I would prefer to have all of the go-fast and stop-fast stuff.

What box do I check to get what I want?

 

You can get that if you don't mind the entire vehicle being red, just order the base JCW in Chili Red. According to the configurator you can even option DDC at no cost but I don't see where you can do that on the actual build guide.

 

Or vinyl the roof

 

Hopefully, it's just got the basic configurations up and maybe they'll update it soon with many more of the individual options... If it stays like this, it's REALLY gonna **** me off. The biggest problem I see is not being able to add the JCW Aero kit onto the hatch.


One of the best things about the MINI is the ability to select which packages and/or individual options you want.


How many times did we all see "Over 10,000,000 possible configurations" While the MINI configurator was loading?


If I wanted you select a car from only 3 options, I'd go back to Honda.


I'll keep my fingers crossed that the configurator will be updated soon. I miss the days when the configurator showed almost EVERY change to the image of the car on screen and almost every option was listed and available to add/delete... I can't see it with driving lights, racing stripes, aero kits, specialty side scuttles, etc... What's the deal?

 

Pretty sure the JCW packages are no more, want those models to be differentiated. I kind of agree, at least for exterior. Only way for cloth seats was with the JCW interior package, plus less noticable