My wife and I are thinking about getting an '09 MCS w/auto. Are the optional sports stripes and driving lamps installed at the factory. If not, where are they installed? Thanks for your replies.

 

The Sport stripes are installed at the VDC or Port of entry, the lights are installed at the dealership.

 

So you don't get a finished product coming out of the factory. How disappointing! I'm wondering if the factory puts the sticker on the car or if the dealership does after they've jacked up the price. I can see some possible price manipulation here after you've given the dealership your $1,000 deposit lol. I guess that you have to be careful about the total price by signing a very carefully worded contract on your behalf. What a f@#$ing hassle. Thanks for your reply.

 

First time buying a new car???

most customization options are dealer installed on most vehicles like running boards on trucks etc. This is nothing new and to get that worked up over bolt on dealer options is a waste of time.

You dont get a written contract before you give a deposit???? nothing new there

order what you like and enjoy the car

 

Dude, thank you! You have really put my mind at ease. I'm used to paying a set price down from the MSLP. I'm not used to putting down a large deposit. By doing that, the dealer has the upper hand. If we decide to pay, we will get a carefully worded contract drawn up. Again, thank you for your input. Be thankful that you live in Canada. The laws there are a lot more consumer friendly that they are here in the good ole USA.

 

I'm getting the driving lights on my JCW installed at the VDC (saves about $150) and the sport stripes installed at the dealer after I get Clear Bra.

 

You can get the stripes and lights installed at either the dealership or the VDC. The VDC option is generally cheaper, but you might be able to negotiate something better with your dealer.

If you're looking to save some cash monies, another option for the sport stripes would be to get them either from a local vinyl place, or from one of the various aftermarket MINI graphics sites. I got mine from the dealer, but only because I wanted them to go underneath the clear bra which the dealer was also having installed before I picked the car up.

 

I'm having Clear Bra and the guy doing that is going to install my sport stripes, but I'm getting them installed over the clear bra (rather than under). If I ever have to replace the stripes I don't want to have to replace the bra too.

 

So is it our choice when we order the car where we want the lights and/or stripes installed? If it's cheaper at the VDC, why would you go with dealer installed (for the lights at least...based on the clearbra entries above, I can see why you might want those dealer installed).

 

I just ordered a MC 2009-I originally wanted bonnet stripes at a cost of $100 factory installed. I then decided that I wanted Sport stripes-they are closer together on the bonnet and I would have stripes on the boot as well. I thought that price would be $85--However, because it is a dealer installed accessory (Not a factory option) it would be a total of $422 for parts and labor! Back to the bonnet stripes for me!

 

Well, aren't the normal bonnet stripes dealer/VDC installed too? Won't they charge you labor for that as well? The difference may not be all that much. you should check before you give up on the sport stripes.

 

There are a lot of good choices for aftermarket stripes. There are several NAM vendors who make stripes for the MINI. See the Vendor Directory for Aesthetic Creations, Cooper Flags, or MightyStripes.

 

The normal stripes are factory. No labor charges to order.

I have a quote for $240 to install the sport stripes from the guy who's going to do my Clear Bra. Add the price of the stripes ($170 for bonnet/boot + top) and that's $410 installed. I've asked my MA to tell me what it costs to to it at the VDC. I may just do it that way, since I'm already getting driving lamps VDC installed. My Clear Bra will end up on top of the stripes, but there +/- to doing it either way.

 

My VDC (So.Cal) is charging a total of $190 for the sport stripes installed. Yes, that's the total for parts & labor!!!

 

My driving lights and stripes were all installed at the VDC.

 

Did that also include the roof?

 

Reasons you might get them dealer installed:
- You've decided you want them after the car has left the VDC, or after you've taken delivery.
- You can negotiate a better price from the dealer.

Otherwise it makes more sense to have them done at the VDC. I don't know what kind of benefit the dealer might get from having stuff dealer installed vs from the VDC so it's potentially in their best interest to gloss over the VDC option. Thankfully there's NAM.

That's what I paid, so I'd guess that it'll be more $ for the roof.

 

No. Actually, the VDC will NOT do the roof stripes. This is a major disappointment, as my dealer won't install them either

 

My Clear Bra guy quoted me $100 for the roof stripes (plus I have to get the $85 stripes).

On the VDC installed stripes do they do the stripes at the front scoop and rear handle? Do they wrap under, or do they cut them at the edge.

 

I think they cut them at the edge. Here is a boot pic, I don't have a bonnet pic. I think the bonnet stripe is cut off at the leading/trailing edges of the scoop.

 

OK, the Clear Bra guy says he'll wrap the strips under for a better look. He charges $95 for the bonnet install and $45 for the boot install. I think I'll probably just stick with him and know it gets done right. He says he's happy to work for picky people.

 

Sounds like a plan, good luck

 

I really don't understand what you're saying... I'm pretty sure that everyone here got an itemized signed statement with all of the costs, including taxes and title, when we placed our deposit. Paranoid, much? The only thing Canada's got on us is better croissants. And Avril Lavigne. And Nelly Furtado. And Alanis Morrisette. I love Canada...

 

Not me. I have my spec sheet that I printed off the configurator, with handwritten notes on it for the accessories that show the price + install. When I went back a few days later to get such an itemized, signed statement, I was told to figure TTL to be about 10%.

 

Wooo Hooo!
Canada rocks.


Just adding my 2 cents. LOL.
(Im a Canadian, married to my sailor, living on a US Base in Naples)