So I've started the long process on my quasi-impulse purchase of a F56. Lots of configuration options, so this may take me quite awhile to settle on one.

In the meantime, I'm finding it a bit difficult to find answers to some of my questions about what's available in US-spec Coopers. Does anyone know if the 2015s come with/offer as an option the adaptive cruise control and collision avoidance/auto braking? If so, what package is in it? My dealer can't provide me an accurate answer.

Also - I'm assuming that predictive drive-train is for the automatic only, correct?

Thanks, and looking forward to eventually getting my new Cooper!

 

I could never get an answer to that question. I ordered mine in the middle of June pretty well optioned up. Guess I will find out when mine gets delivered.

 

Glad I'm not the only one in the ambiguous boat with Mini. What's your delivery date?

 

It's called something like driver assist if it's available.

I don't think it's available, and it's been silent for a while.

 

It's available. I ordered it on my 2015 MC back in June. My VIN shows that it is on the car, but I guess I won't know for sure until it gets here. Supposed to get here this week - finally!

Anyway, it is on the dealer's price-list so they can order it.

 

The Driver's Assist required the Parking Assist option (not just the rear camera) for US cars when I asked my MA about this in August. Parking Assist was *expensive* so I didn't pursue. Not sure why the configurator isn't set up to show this, but a competent salesperson can get this info for you.

Welcome aboard!

 

Thanks!

For parking assist alone, that is an expen$ive option so I simply passed on adding it to my configuration. However, if it does indeed include adaptive cruise and collision avoidance, that's a different story for me.

$1000 to help me parallel park in a mini, meh. $1000 to automatically maintain distance and brake for me (I've had a couple of close calls in the past) is well worth it.

I'm learning that their configuration kinda sucks in that way.

 

So I just spoke with my dealer, who confirmed from corporate, that this is an option which is not going to be available until mid-year 2015. Good information to know for those that really want this option.

 

Well, that's really interesting since it is on my build that is supposed to be delivered this week. My MA talked with whoever they talk to and said if it's on the price list, it is available to order - so we did. When I look up my VIN, it is listed on my build. Someone is going to have some explaining to do if it is not on my car. Will let you know by mid-week hopefully. Some others in this forum have said they have ordered it already on US build cars too.

 

When I ordered my car in June to be on the week 27 built first week of 2015 F56. I asked about the Adaptive Cruise Control and Auto braking and the Sale Manager said I could order it but my built would have not been built until the 3rd week in August and I told him I did not want to wait that long. Looking back maybe I should have waited because of the EPA delay. Oh well!!

 

It really is a bit unnerving how so many of us can be told with 100% certainty by our MAs completely different things. I was not going to place my order until I could order the Driver Assist. So I ordered as soon as my MA said I could order it - only to have it sit for a couple months. And now I'm nervous about it again. I'm only 15 minutes from the dealer so I might drive down there every evening to see if my car arrived yet and see if I can peek with great trepidation in the window.

 

I think your build sheet is definitive.

or

I think your build sheet is definitive?

 

This makes me nervous as well. Not only are the MA's not provided definitive aligned information across all the dealerships, but the Mini site continues to be ambiguous on the details. No where does it say Drivers Assist, I only found out about this from reading some online reviews of the F56. If I didn't read about it, I would have ordered the car without it, therefore spending less money. You'd think that Mini USA would get their act together so we can all spend more money on options!

Becky1711: I sure hope that your build sheet is correct and that you get the Drivers Assist with all the goodies. I assume this was a separate line item from Park Assist (or did Drivers require Park?). I can't wait for your delivery confirmation!

 

Hopefully it is definitive and not defective.

 

No, they're separate options, it's just that one is a prerequisite to the other. $1000 to parallel park your mini. $2000 ($1000 + $1000, if that's what the Drivers Assist option costs) to nudge your brake for you if you try crusing up someone elses' tailpipe.

Cool technology, but I wasn't paying that sort of premium for what amounted to a toy.

 

It requires about everything under the sun (that I likely won't use much) as a prerequisite, but yes, it is a separate line item. I haven't had a new car in 11 years so this is an "I want" car. Not getting any younger and right now I'm post child rearing/pre grandkids. Heck, my last car still had a cassette player in addition to the cutting edge CD player.

 

I'm with you on that - get your 'want' car as loaded so you have no regrets. I'm thinking of doing the same. Sure it's an expensive option, but I don't buy new cars every few years. Might as well maximize your happiness for the life of your ownership! Plus if it saves me from some stupid driver error on my behalf (looking down at the wrong moment), it's worth the expense.

 

Wow, get ready for technology shock with the hard drive and streaming Bluetooth audio!

 

Confirmed! My car came in this morning and I was able to lay eyes on it and yes, the Driver Assist is on it. You can tell by the extra couple buttons on the left arm of the steering wheel.

 

That's so cool.

Having it read the speed limit and the crash detection would be worth whatever money it costs.

 

Sweet, congratulations! Please be sure to post your thoughts on Driver Assist once you get a few miles on it.

Now only if the US configurator would be clear and offer this.

 

Really wanted Speed Limited display so I ordered HUD, Nav Pro, XL this and that, no leather, Loaded Package, no auto park as I never parallel park in Acworth GA, tried to order adaptive speed control and lane departure told NA. Have looked into MobileEye which is pretty cool but only displays Speed Limit when you are exceeding it and bluetooths the info to your cell phone.


Anyone know of an app, add on device, etc. that would provide this info? I have Garmins that do the job, but am embarrassed to be driving an expensive car and run a $99 dollar GPS to get the speed limits.


FWIW I am playing with Trapster on my Android phone and it works for a while and then crashes. It has the potential to save me money!


It really seems to me that MINI would jump on the PR of providing speed limit info as a standard Nav feature rather than charge half a car....

 

.....

 

It's maybe not an elegant solution, but you could try Nokia Here Maps (beta) for Android. You need to download the maps once, and it works in off-line mode. You can set speed warning above whatever the current limit is. Put your phone somewhere and it'll make a ding noise every time you exceed the limit.


I actually like this better than GoogleMaps now. I'm thinking of installing a cheap $30 Boost phone I bought (Qualcom dual core, 480*800, 1GB RAM, Kyocera Hydro Edge) and use it as a navigation.

 

One solution is to keep a ELM327 plugged into the OBD2 port and attach it to your iPhone/android device. An app called dash command will give you a ton of information, including speed, mpg, torque, hp, MAP, intake temp and more.

ELM327 readers cost anywhere from $15 to $200. Some are just a cable; others connect to your device via wifi or Bluetooth. I'd be wary of the cheap ones as the one i bought on Amazon caused my car to stall a couple of times.

Get one based on others recommendations and you'll have a nice setup.