I got only two options, the alarm (for peace of mind) and DSC (for that unknown, ar$e saving event). Any idea how much these options weigh? Would I have gotten stiffer springs because of these options? Any input is appreciated. Thanks.

 

The alarm adds at most 3-4 pounds over not having it (the option adds a siren, two sensors and a replacement turn signal stalk, the wiring is there with or without the option in '03 and up). The DSC is a subset of the already in place ABS, so it adds only negligable weight, probably less than 2 pounds.

 

I agree your two options are very light (less than 5 pounds total over stock).
Stiffer springs?- No.
Usually the heavyweight options are-
Sunroof- 65+ pounds
Xenon lights- (rumored to be heavy but maybe not-see post below)
Auto AC/ Trip computer
HK audio (heavier speaker magnets/amp-DSP)

 

Thanks for the responses guys. I didn't say anything about my foglights, figuring that they couldn't weigh much more than a pound or two. So I guess my MINI is fairly light then. Thanks again.

 

What is source of your weight guesstimate?
I'm not trying to be harsh but let's not spread myth as gospel.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=28193
Quote:
Originally Posted by 427Cobra
Checking the BMW/Mini part number on the Xenons 2.12 pounds (yes, that includes the ballast) by BMW's information on the part. The Standard headllight weighs 1.45 pounds. Both the numbers are on left head lights.

Mike

 

Oops, I did not see that post about the weights but I am equally suspicious that the 2.12 pounds doesn't include all of the parts needed for the self leveling Xenons with built in washers.

Why would there be different springs for xenons if the difference were only 1.45 vs 2.12 pounds? Is that an error too? Why 12 spring part numbers? It doesn't add up.

So until further notice I will strike off the Xenons from the heavy items list-

 

The main item that adds an appreciable amount of weight to the xenon system is the washer, and that is probably due mostly from the fluid. The washer tank and pump, the hoses, the ancillary wiring and relay adds perhaps 5-6 pounds; the weight increase per headlamp assembly is perhaps a pound or two for the ballast, leveling motor and pop-up washer. 35 pounds seems awfully high, hell, pulling every single xenon-related part out of a car and into a pile probably wouldn't weigh half that IMO.

There are probably so many spring part numbers from the factory because there are some models covered that most here in the US arent familiar with, such as the ONE with no a/c (stripped car with non-sport handling), the ONE Diesel who's engine is quite heavy, etc as well as the more familiar ones such as the sport vs. non-sport Cooper, MCS with everything, etc.

 

At an autox on Aug 28th they had scales set up at the impound tent and we "drug" two very similar Cooper S's over to weigh them.

My car is a May 02 build -- it weighed 2540 lbs. 1/4 tank of gas, no driver, Sport Package, SSR Comps (16x7), 215/45/16 Azenis, Bilsteins, RDR Camber plates, Borla street, odyssey Battery, and h-sport Comp swaybars (front & rear).

The other S is a 2003 w/only the MF steering wheel as an option. It weighed 2460 lbs, but had almost no gas. It had SSR Comps (15x7.5), 205/50/15 Azenis, Sparco EVO2 drivers seat, Supertrapp, KMac Camber plates, KW coilovers, and an odyssey battery.

For the 80 lb difference I figure the differences were - Muffler ~20lbs, Wheels and tires ~16 lbs, Seat ~15 lbs, Gas ~20 lbs, remainder is probably DSC, Zenons, and fog lamps (sport package stuff)

 

That other car being mine, I figure the weight difference in our wheels and tires is 9-10 lbs. total.

Oh, Great picture Dave!

 

I weighed in at 2456 at Peru with no gas. I have xenon's, dsc, fog lights(sport pack)

SSR Comps 16X6.5 with Hoosiers
Alta Exhaust
Koni SA's
Leatherette

 

This is great information. I've been wrestling with exactly this issue. I plan to order an '05 once the 1/05 option prices are set. The car will pull double duty as a daily driver. There are several comfort features I'm looking at, but weight is a concern.

Where are you (those that have posted individual option weights) getting this information? Any info on weights for the upcoming center arm rest and the "sport chrono pack". Looks like I unfortunately can't get the latter without the trip computer.

Brock

 

Has anyone really weighed the sunroof? 70 lbs seems like a lot. I agree the glass is heavy, but the steel roof it replaced wasn't too light either. I just don't see how it is 70lbs heavier than the stock setup.

 

I think it might be more like 50 lbs or so, but sorry never actually weighed it. Hope to take it off as soon as the wife allows it.

 

Auto AC/ trip computer are heavy?????

I bet the 'trip computer' option adds a few ounces for the switches and a few wires, at most.

Probably auto air is similar.

Cheers,
Dave

 

The sunroof is mentioned in
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...=pound+sunroof
as weighing about 64 pounds.

As for auto AC and trip computer-
These are optional and either have mechanical controls or are absent from the base MINI. There are both direct and indirect sources of weight for any option. "Direct" is how much more weight is the optional part while "indirect" could include something like an upgraded wiring harness (heavier than stock). One way to find out is to see what parts need to be ordered and how much time needed to install an upgrade to Auto AC and trip computer.

 

I believe the trip computer is just a replacement stalk with a small button, plus software reporgramming. Outside temp sensors are in all MINIs, and the car knows the current speed and distance travelled. The fuel consumption figure is simply looked up on the fuel injector fuel map table (thus it is not very accurate). The car also knows the current fuel level. It has all the info required for the trip computer. I would guess the replacement signal stalk weighs fractions of an ounce more due to the extra button.

 

Minihune, I fail to see how that thread has any more solidity to it than the statements made here. No one there is an expert, and no one there has claimed to have figured it out first-hand by weighing two MINIs, or talking to MINI, etc. So the fact that some other thread mentions 64 pounds adds no validity to that claim. The thread also mentions 54 pounds, other threads mention this or that, the point is no one seems to know for certain.

-mike

 

I agree. This option amounts to a lot less than can be detected by the scales used at SCCA road races. And it probably weighs less than the dollars used to pay for it ($200 for the switch and wires that gives you the 'trip computer' for instance), so the ligher weight of your wallet makes up for it!

Cheers,
Dave

 

Someone does know for certain and that's Sport Compact Car. They picked up a used MCS as a project. In the one article they wrote, they put the MCS on a diet. They had a CF panel made to replace the sunroof. The weight savings was 53 pounds. Read the story here. It is portly, and if you read an EVO MR review from the Nov 04 SCC, you'd see that Misubitshi is aware of the penalties for having weight up high. The MR uses an aluminum roof and special adhesives to save 8.8 lbs. That effectively lowered the CG 3 mm. And because the roof is larger, the sunroof in the Mini probably raises the CG 20mm. That's a guess but it's got to be close to that.

 

Glad to see something concrete from someone finally. Thanks.

-mike

 

One thing I should say though - a CF panel to replace the sunroof is going to be drastically lighter than the regular roof with no sunroof would be. So this still doesn't confirm anything about the weight saving of sunroof vs no sunroof and full roof. So what this tells us is that the weight savings is less than 53 pounds if you opt for no sunroof. But who can say how much less exactly.

-mike

 

Mike,


I agree. It is amazing how people claim 80 lbs on this option just from heresay. It is 53lbs savings between a car with glass and a car with nothing. Now someone needs to determine how much the steel weighed that was in the roof originally. I bet that the sunroof would be lucky to weigh about 15-20lbs more than a stock. The steel across most of the roof has got to weigh at least 30 or more lbs.

If we are talking 20lbs, I could care less. Heck there is more difference in drivers weight, and/or a few gallons of gas can make that difference.

This has always been my beef about posts and weights on this board. It looks like the Xenon weight has been busted. Now we just need the sunroof idea busted.

 

I seriously doubt the roof is that heavy... the car is a tin can up top.... now that glass is heavy....

 

Tin can up top? It is still Steel. And steel weighs more than glass. The same mass of steel will weigh more than the same mass of glass. So I don't think it is so hands down. The only difference would be related to the thickness of glass. Is the glass thick enough to start outweighing the roof? That I don't know, because I can't compare the two because I don't have a steel roof cutout.

I highly doubt the glass is twice as heavy as the steel. Even if it was, it would still mean that the steel weighed about 26lbs. So the glass only adds 26lbs to the weight of the roof, but I think that is pushing it. Even so, 26lbs is much lighter than the 70-80lbs people push on this board.

 

This claim has always sounded like ******** to me, so I did some research.

Now correct me if I'm wrong but read this page:

http://www.p1m.com/m-w.htm

The exact materials this site is referring to may be somewhat different than those on the MINI, but I don't think they could be they different. So, steel is listed as 490 pounds per cubic foot (volume). A 1/4"-thick plate of glass is listed as 3.28 pounds per square foot (area). So imagine 48 1-square-foot sheets of 1/4" glass stacked on top of each other - then you've got a cubic foot of glass, since 1/4" * 48 = 12" = 1 foot. Then you're looking at 3.28 * 48 = 157.44 pounds per cubic foot of glass versus 490 pounds per cubic foot of steel.

If my calculations are correct then we're talking about steel being more than 3 times as heavy as glass. Granted there are other considerations as there may be more glass than steel, etc., but with a difference that large, I don't think it's justifiable to say 'glass is so much heavier than steel, so obviously a sunroof will be tons heavier'.

Yes, we all know that glass is heavy because we've carried it around in sheets and what not. But when was the last time you carried a sheet of steel around? It's not light, and the numbers would suggest that.

-mike