So I liked the '07 premium package as it had three things that I wanted and was $1400. I'm building a '08, and the premium package threw out the MFSW, added HIFI audio and is now $1500.

Should I?
a) Do Sunroof, Auto A/C and MFSW ala carte? The MFSW now costs $250. I save some money, but lose HIFI
b) Do the '08 premium and just add the MFSW a la carte? I'd do this if HIFI is really worth it. I've heard from others on here that it's not that great.

 

Three things I regret not getting:
1. HIFI - even though I also heard that this isn't that great, it's better than the non-HIFI
2. Auto AC
3. Rear Fogs

I learned the first two when I had a 2007 loaner for a few days that had both the HIFI and the Auto AC and I liked both of them. Rear fogs fills in the empty toggle in your dash.

I don't have MFSW but the loaner did. Maybe because I wasn't used to using it, I didn't really see the value, so I don't add it to my list of things I would get if I was ordering again.

 

Id surely think its worth it. You cant get cruise control without it (unless they've changed something again). Worth every penny for me im sure id have more speeding tickets without the cruise control. The buttons for the audio are nice but not that important. I don't have a problem with the normal stereo, so it doesnt seem worth it. For long term thinking you might want to get the HD radio. I wish I did, because when its time to sell it an HD radio might be a big help.

 

Guys, let me rephrase, I'm set on getting the sunroof, mfsw and auto a/c, the question is whether or not to get the hifi audio or not. If i do, then i get the '08 premium package as it comes with sunroof, auto a/c and hifi. If i don't get the hifi, then I get sunroof, auto a/c and mfsw a la carte.

 

Personally, I don't think the hifi is as bad as everyone thinks. I have no idea what the non-hifi stereo sounds like but I love driving down the road with the sound up loud. It may not be as good as other premium stereo packages but it's 10 times better than the stock stereo in other other car I've had.

So my opinion? Spend the extra money on the hifi. You can't get it added later.

 

+1 on the HiFi.

 

Well just head to the dealer and see if they got one with Hifi on the lot. Check it out for yourself. I didn't feel like it was necessary in a small car, but i'm not one to listen to music that loud.

 

If you do, try to do part of a comparison on the highway. The front pillar tweeters in the upgrade help with the high end vs. road noise.

 

+1, just about any dealer should have one on the lot with and another without it. I opted for HiFi and while it may not be quite as good as many of the other upgraded sound systems I've listened to, it's still quite good. And it's worlds above the base system which I personally found horrible (no offense to any who have it).

 

+1 on the HIFI. Maybe not the best or the least expensive, but it does sound better and I just couldn't see myself messing with upgrading the sound system myself. Have you seen where they tuck the amp in at the factory? I'll bet you could get a nice system custom installed but probably way more than 5 Franklins.

 

The hi-fi lacks any deep bass, but other than that sounds clean. Mids and highs are good IMO. Depends on your own ears though, test drive one and make sure you go into the audio settings and play with the bass/treble so you can see what the limits are of the system.

 

Yes this starts to get into personal tastes. Does it have sub-woofer bass? No. But as a drummer I can feel the bass drum from songs in my chest with the HiFi, so I'm OK with it. But for sure play with the settings.

 

So it is def. better than the stock system?

 

Great, I am now glad I ordered it.

 

Have you seen where they tuck the amp in at the factory?

No. Where's is it ?

 

Get it ALL. Order every option that you can afford. Then there will be no regrets.

 

Get as mush as you can without breaking the bank. I didn't get PDC and now I'm really rethinking it. Everytime I see something I didn't get I'm left wondering. I hate that!

Kirby Kuromi- 07MCSa|BRG/B|Cold-Convenience-HyperSport -Sport|F/R fogs|White turn sigs|Anthracite headliner/grey colorline/brush alloy|Punch Carbon Leather|Hi-Fi|
Multi Func.Wheel|iPOD|18" Black JCW rims|2" shorty antennae
Ordered 10/15 Production start 10/20 Completed 10/28 Leaving Southampton 11/4/07 ETA Port Hueneme 11/26/07 ETA Hawthorne Ca
NOT SOON ENOUGH!

 

I'll repeat myself - worlds better. For me the stock system just would not have made the cut. However, I'm a music person so for me the sound system is an important part of any car. I know for some people it's not a big deal.

In the boot behind the console cover.

 

If you can do a direct comparison at the dealer. I did it, and while I'm no audiophile, the Hi-Fi sounded noticeably better than the stock system. I could actually 'feel' the bass w/ the Hi-Fi whereas you really couldn't with the stock.

Those complaining that the H-Fi system bites are probably coming at it from experience with aftermarket high end systems with subwoofers and whatnots. Since I've never owned anything better than the stock system in my '97 BMW 318is (my car before that had the cheapest CD player headunit Wally World sold which actually had a mechanical spring loaded CD eject mechanism) it sounded pretty good to me.

It all depends on what you're used to, and what you're expecting.

The stereo on the MINI looks like it's a bit harder than most to upgrade, so if you want a decent sounding stereo and aren't specifically a car audio person (and are going to want to add a sub, amp, new speakers et al anyway) then I think it'd be an excellent choice.

 

I'm also for the hifi. We were listening to loud music on the way home from a concert last night. I could feel the bass and it sounded great.

 

The rule for me is: always upgrade the sound system. You get 4 more speakers and an amp installed. Try that with aftermarket (most of them spend about 2 grand or more). It sounds fine to me, esp the A pillar tweeters (I have bad highrange hearing). What improved the sound for me was an $8 iPod dock to Aux wire from fleabay. Way better than the headphone to Aux wire I started with. Louder and clearer. So is the HiFi upgrade not ala carte anymore, just in a package? That would be weird.

 

+1 for the $8 ebay dock wire. Mine got here in 2 days from Hong Kong. If only the MINI shipping was that fast.

Also, the Hi-Fi's also available a la carte. It just switched packages and the Audio package got the axe. (They must have realized how much money you were saving [$550+$500+$950=$1500].)

 

FYI, checked with my MA, for '08 Sunroof is now $1000, Auto A/C is $500 and Hifi is also $500. So it makes no sense for me to get these a la carte as the premium package includes all three for $1500.

 

+1 on the iPod to aux cable. I got mine online as well but I also found one at a local Microcenter store.