My wife owns a 2006 MC PW/B that we have fallen in love with. I am going to get one for myself soon and my two boys {both in the US Army, one on each front} also are going to eventually become MINI owners. Since I'm, well, old I want a car that is utterly reliable so I have pared down my option list to: 2010 MC, CR/W, CWP, SP w/ Bridge Spoke White, rear fog lamp, 6-speed auto, B/G leatherette, comfort Bluetooth, HK sound, and Auto AC. I was told by the St. Louis MINI guy yesterday that I would have to order this configuration from the factory. Questions for you experts: Do I need to add anything else to this order? I intend to add a great many additional accessories as time goes by but will do so myself for cash without having to finance the acquisition. Most importantly, can I DELETE the rear spoiler? I have never liked such a useless add-on, I think the car looks better without it, and I am, after all, ordering this car from the factory. That's it for now. I love this site and hope to make the time to hang out here a lot.

 

But you can ask. What sucks is I think it's bolted on, not just glued, so if you do remove it, you have to fill the holes.


Matt

 

Or install mini rocket launchers

Mark

 

The spoiler may not be entirely cosmetic. It may actually help the aerodynamics and/or high speed stability. I don't know for a fact that it does, but I think there is a good likelyhood. MINI did make some subtle changes to the body for aerodynamic purposes. I would be surprised if the spoiler wasn't part of that. Controlling the vortex off the back of the car could make a significant difference in its highway mpg.

 

Now if they could just figure out how to keep that vortex from sucking everything onto the boot

Mark

 

The Cooper spoiler is pretty small and looks rather tasteful, it also covers the very top of the brake light to make it shine better IMO.

 

I agree that the MC spoiler is tasteful, I don't have one but wouldn't object to its appearance. I generally feel most production car spoilers are there for "macho look" only and probably would not contribute to handling until speed reaches into the 140's +.

 

I think that these cars need more down force up front than in the rear. I suspect that the steering gets light above 85mph and would continue to feel lighter as the front gets more lift with speed.

 

Get rid of the OEM brake pads and you wont have that problem. OEM pads I needed to wash my car weekly. Switched to Carbotech 1521 Bobcats and I can go months without washing it.

 

I would need to see some wind tunnel test to see how much if any drag is reduced by the stock MINI spoiler. Anything under 5% would be of no realworld advantage at say 90mph. Much more important would be wind force. Here in Utah that is mainly SW to WNW. Very seldom from the Easterly quadrant. So if you want to go fast, drive East.

 

Doc, you're right in my old stomping grounds. I grew up on Sharon Park Drive and went to Woodside High. AGES ago.

 

So the aftermarket brake pads will keep road dust, leaves, and other debris from sticking to the boot, cool

Mark

 

I live in the country. Never had a leaf stuck to the boot of my MINI. Road dust seems to be insignificant, compared to the volume of OEM brake dust. If you drive on dirt roads, that would be another matter.

 

I don't know about the rear spoiler but I would recommend white turn signals. They're only a $100 option and I think they would look a lot better since you're getting white stripes.

 

As per site guideline no. 5, I have made minor changes to this thread, yet kept it open to help the OP.

 

Yeah, you're probably right since the BMW people seldom make a change that doesn't positively impact the function of their cars. I think I'll give up on the delete idea. Thanks for your response.

 

We were able to take advantage of the wide open spaces in Utah with our "other" car {09 Subaru Legacy Limited} but haven't been back with the MINI yet. It's a beautiful state...

 

When you say "white" turn signals does that mean they are actually white or are they clear lenses? What do they look like in use at night?

 

It's a law that they have to flash orange, but the look white when not in use. You can see a pic of them when you build them on the mini website

 

I don't think that's any truer of BMW than, say, Kia. The marketing department at BMW very definitely rules the engineers, so 'sells better' always gets preference over 'works better'.

Plenty of a Mini has been styled (ie, for looks) rather than designed (ie, for function) and in some cases the styling has definitely harmed the function - just try using the standard headlights to illuminate a road and it's apparent that their (stationary) looks was the design priority.

Andrew

 

I'm suspicious of the functionality of the spoiler, given that MINIUSA.com only seems to say things about looks not function. However, I prefer the look of the spoiler, and its basically free when ordering the sport package, so I didn't mind.

You can always add the options you do want in the sport package separately, personally I'd add the wheels, the seats and the DTC which add up to the same cost as the package, if I got the package I'd get the spoiler and fogs for free.

 

Also it never hurts to talk to you MA about exactly what you want. When we bought Quentin, I wanted the chrome exterior, but not the chrome mirror caps. The caps couldn't be deleted from the chrome package, but the MA did arrange to swap them for white one when he came in. Though with the spoiler it sounds like that sort of thing might be more of a hassle given the spoiler is bolted on.

 

it's the law they have to illuminate orange, but not the law that they be white when not in use.

FWIW....

Matt

 

I dunno... I've owned a BMW 325i and a BMW R1150 RT - both of them were the best-engineered vehicles in their class that I have ever driven. I've never found anything wrong with the standard headlights of Lucy's MINI. The "cute" designs inherent in certain aspects of both generations of the MINI were always conceived under strict engineering requirements even though probably not cautionary in their execution like a Lexus or Buick. I love these little cars - gettin' ready to buy another one for myself and my two boys {one in each war} will do the same it seems as soon as they get home.

 

Yeah, I've found that the dealer in St. Louis is willing and ready to accommodate just about anything that I could think of in the customer-design phase of getting one of these little cars pretty much custom built. Their service department is also top-notch, unlike most of the others I've encountered during ownership of twenty or so new cars of various breeds.