Hi Board,

Tomorrow I will be putting an order in for my new Mini... I am decided on many options such as the Sport package (xenons) and anthracite headliner, but the two packages that give me pause for thought are Mini Connected and the Premium 2 package (essentially sunroof/auto ac/lights).

Pretty much gonna stick with interior leatherette and base door/dash inserts. I don't see the leather quality as being a must have.

I live in South Florida so we get a ton of sun, year-round, and as I see it the sunshade on the Mini isn't opaque but rather perforated. I also read the sunroof is pretty unreliable but I'm guessing this is a vocal minority situation? Think the ac being automatized is worthwhile?

Mini Connected certainly looks cool, I love my iPhone but I see the car already does Bluetooth and audio without the screen on the dash. Thoughts here?

Thanks guys.

 

I opted for the auto dimming mirrors for the interior and exterior
Rear fog light mainly to fill in the toggle switches
adaptive xenons
comfort acess

I have a few more options but I wouldn't say there must have.

I didn't order the sunroof, from what others have stated its large and does let in lots of heat. If you do get it I would buy the aftermarket shades since the mini ones don't do much at all.

As for the Mini connected, it is a nicer display for music etc but that's about it.

 

Connected is rubbish, but it's required if you want built-in navigation (I don't like having things like phones or GPS'es hodge-podge on mounts).

Auto A/C is a must in my book. Much easier to manage, and although no one's posted any hard reasoning for it I've noted (and seen others comment) that it seems to cool better than the non-auto.

I haven't had any problems with the sunroofs in either of my cars sticking when it's hot out as some report. If you do get it, definitely invest in having a high-quality ceramic tint applied (doesn't have to be particularly dark - it's the ceramic that helps) to minimize the heat it lets in. Without the tint I don't know that it really makes the car considerably hotter in the Texas sun (an oven's an oven), but it definitely heats up faster. Of course, in Florida (like here) I'd recommend having said ceramic tint applied to all windows regardless of whether a sunroof is present or not.

I'd agree that the leather quality isn't worth the price, but you might consider the $0 fabric option over the leatherette for comfort in the summer (assuming you're looking at an S or getting sport seats, which I would also consider a "must").

 

I'm on my 3rd MINI now (a '12 Countryman), and all have had sunroofs (first was an '06 R50, followed by a '10 R56). No issues whatsoever, and I love the open feeling they give. I also live in South Florida, and the cars are no hotter with the sunroof than they would be without. The sunshades are indeed perforated, but they do a pretty decent job of keeping out some of the rays. I've never had a problem. Plus, when the car gets hot in the summer, you can tilt the sunroof to vent out some of the hot air and cool the car off sooner.

I don't have Connected. I was going to order it in my Countryman, but I ended up buying a pre-owned "brass hat" car (a low mileage car used for a few months by a MINI executive and then sold as used) and it doesn't have it. You need an iPhone for it to really work properly, and it doesn't fully support the iPhone 5 yet.

 

Leather or cloth seats. Cloth is a "no cost" option, but technically an option.

 

Up north heated seats are what I prefer.


The sunshades look like this:

For the R56 Hardtop models.




Sides:

http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/51460414734/ES119334/





Rear:

http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/51460414754/

Good luck on the order.

 

When I ordered my Clubman, I tried to stay within a budget. For me, my top priority was performance with "creature comfort" things coming in last. I ended up with xenon option and sport package as the must haves, both of which I have no regrets, only a wide grin on my face when I'm in the driver's seat.

The sunroof would have been nice, but driving my girlfriend's loaner with a sunroof convinced me that the sunshade is next to useless to keep out the sun and heat. The whole design gave a feeling of cheapness and "cost savings" because there is no solid sunshade, only a holey piece of fabric.

The auto AC would have been nice, but I also saw no huge advantage other than convenience.

 

I live in the Tampa Bay area & have a sunroof, which I love. I have 5% limo tint on the glass which helps keep the car much cooler. It's no worse than other non-sunroof cars I've had after sitting in the sun during a workday.

 

I'm finding the cloth seats in Fenimore seem to pick up water stains (or something that looks like water spots?) fairly easily. I'm going to try to clean them up this week some time--or this weekend.

They also accumulate a static charge on dry days. Might not be a problem in Florida, but out here in the SF Bay Area it can be. I always touch the outside of the door when I get out, and often enough I get a small shock. If you don't get in that habit, and you like to sit in your car while filling the fuel tank, you could cause a spark when you grab the nozzle. And sparks and fuel are not something you want getting together outside the engine... (FIRE BAD!!)

I also find that I am brushing the torso support on the (sport) seat when I get in, partly because I like to have the steering wheel relatively close to me which makes for less room to get in. This could cause wear on that bolster prematurely... Time will tell.

I didn't pick auto AC mostly because I want to control when the AC is on and when it is not. Probably more of a control-freak issue on my part than anything else, but the fact that the non-auto one cost less was merely a bonus.

The only things I would change on my order if I had it to do over again would be to add the Xenon headlights, and to add seat heaters. The latter mostly for wife-approval, as I found them a little uncomfortable in the loaner I drove that had them.

I'm not someone who likes lots of options, though. Sport seats and sport suspension are basically the only things I ordered. (Well, and stripes. Gotta have stripes! ) The sports suspension is not for everyone--and if I had larger wheels with RF tires, I probably would regret choosing it. I feel it makes for an interesting combination with the basic 15 non-RFTs, though.

 

Ten-speaker sound system (whatever they call it nowadays). The pillar-mounted tweeters are a must (high frequencies travel in a straight line, and need to be at ear level... but not "ear-splitting").

 

Here's why I got the leather (Punch)... it's perforated so it breathes. No small thing in the Texas heat. The vinyl is much hotter (IMHO). The sunroof allows me to keep the car ventilated when parked.

 

For me, xenon lights were the only MUST have. But I got everything else, sport, premium, cold weather, convieniance, anthricite, cloth, because I could...lol. I llike it all.

Having several loaners with manual ac, I'll take the auto ac everyday. It's really set and forget.

If connected were available when I order, I'd have that too.

So for all that, I've still spent around $8k modding and upgrading. Welcome o the family. It really is a sickness...lol

 

I think the Xenon lights are a must have. Others are must have per my preference. 1) heat seats - like auto windows, heated seats are must have once you have a car that has heated seats; 2) auto-AC - same reason. 3) Sunroof - I actually didn't want the sun roof, but I love it now.

 

Wow thanks so much for all the input and advice on options! Love this forum!

Today I drove a Cooper and then a Cooper S, back to back. I really enjoy driving both of them, but the S is closer in nature to my 128i's power delivery so I suspect I will be sporting an air scoop on my Mini's hood . Had a blast driving both, to be quite honest. The S has a much more spirited exhaust, especially with the sport button, it really has personality.

My MA noted that with the options I was considering and the 128i I was used to driving, it hardly made sense to spec out the Justa, since the options would take it well into S territory anyway without any ponies to show for it!

I'm pretty settled upon a MCS with Sport, Premium 2 and Technology packages. Also adding an anthracite headliner to match the black/gray interior and the rear fogs simply to fill in the switches. No need for heated seats in South Florida, even on our coldest mornings those 3 days per year- we stay well above 40F. Once I compared the audio from the base system to the HK, the technology package made plenty more sense in my mind. I also appreciate that vehicle settings are far easier to set with the screen and clickwheel than without it.

Today was exceptionally hot and sunny and the sunroof didn't really bother me in the least, my girlfriend noted it opens up the backseat area, which most of the time is where our dog would favor her rides (no, she's not an English bulldog, but still a sweetie!). When I asked about tinting the sunroof further, the MA mentioned vinyl graphics but no additional tinting to the panel.

Anyways, so glad I found this community, you guys are a tremendous resource and your perspective is far and away ahead of the MA's (no surprise!)

 

I am in the process of configuring a 2014 Countryman S since my lease is due in January. I have found these to be "must-haves".

*Sunroof to vent very annoying and uncomfortable buffeting air when the windows are down.
*Navigation. Unfortunately it comes with Mini Connected which is not worth the effort. Besides, MC is not presently compatible with the newest iPhone OS.
*Automatic transmission.
*Automatic climate control.
*No leather seating. I have it now and find the leather smell is not there, which is why I thought it would be pretty good. Save $2000. The sports seats are great and included in the price.
*Rubber floor mats front to rear. Really a great option.
*Xenons.
*I will be ordering black anthracite headliner since my 112 pound black pooch deposits his fur and my thinking is the black headliner will hide the fur.
*Garage door opener on the rear view mirror.
*Finally, I am not getting the 18" wheels next time. Having run flats on the larger wheel produces a VERY harsh ride. I have driven countrymen with the 17" variety and the difference is noticeable. And, you save $1250.

 

Looks like the MINI Countryman Sun Shade for the front windshield is available. A must to keep the interior cool.

MINI Countryman Sun Shade


http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/82110039342/


And the rubber floor mats are great for keeping the interior clean and they are easy to take out and spray off to clean.

MINI Countryman S/ All 4

For vehicles with production to 8/2011

http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/51472181811/ES2102047/




For vehicles with production from 8/2011

http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/51472243920/ES2530913/



And Here are the rears:

MINI Countryman

http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/51472181810/ES2102046/




Those would be in a must have.

 

Must-have options? Different for everyone, I imagine. For me, for starters, it's gotta be an S. After that, it's gotta have automatic a/c, rain-sensing wipers, automatic headlamps and cloth interior. Most definately did not want Xenons, either premium package, sport package, sport suspension or 17-inch wheels/tires. This is the way I ordered my car, which is scheduled to roll of the assembly line tomorrow.

Imagine, if you optioned one fully - any car, really - what the wiring loom must look like. Fiberoptics, I'd guess.

 

Actually, many cars (especially from smaller manufacturers) will have all of the wiring for all reasonable options. It's cheaper to just make one type of wiring harness for the body, than one for cars with auto A/C, one for cars with manual A/C, one for cars with front foglights, one for cars without, one for auto A/C and front foglights, and on and on.

That's one reason why installing some accessories in our MINIs is a simple matter of installing the part, plugging into the existing wiring, and re-programming the computer.

 

Things like auto a/c aren't always so simple. This option, for example, uses motors to open vents where the manual option uses levers attached to the *****. You could retrofit but the cost wouldn't be worth it.