I've had my Mini convertible for three months. I bought the only six speed non-S they had on the lot. I really enjoy the car, but I have learned a few things along the way.

Here are some things that might be useful to know:

1. You need a wind deflector if you plan ever to drive above 35 mph. The good news is that they work amazingly well. I could not find an after-market one that was available for the new models, so I ordered a factory one from Morristown Mini. Good price, came right to my door, but I wish I had had a deflector from day 1. Besides getting blown around like crazy without one, all kinds of dirt and soot blows into your car without a deflector.

2. Unless you live somewhere where you can ALWAYS put the top down when backing up in a busy parking lot, you will want a rear camera -- or an upgraded insurance policy. This and other web-sites explain how to install one yourself. I will take my car to an audio shop, I think.

3. I don't know whether I have the standard stereo or the hi-fi, but it is lousy. I will definitely have to get that upgraded. (I listen to classical music and jazz, and both sound terrible. I don't even turn the radio on, it sounds so pathetic.)

4. I am particularly glad I got the seat warmers, even in Hawaii. (It was 66 degrees this morning. Brrrrrr.)

5. The day I bought my car, the dealership was a zoo and I was hungry, so I didn't have the dealer explain all the bells and whistles in the car. Mistake. The manual is crazy long (hundreds of pages), and the car does all kinds of fancy stuff. Also, a lot of things are just not intuitive on this car, including enlarging the hatch-back opening and flattening the rear seats -- two necessary items if you intend ever to visit a supermarket. Lesson here: Insist on 30 minutes with the sales person to go over everything. Let her set up your blue tooth, too.

I'm sure other people have lessons learned. Ideas?

 

Tsippi,

1. I don't have a wind deflector so I don't know what it's like to drive with one...but I have driven over 100mph with the top down and it wasn't bad.

2. Right. So I always try to park so I can pull out. I hate backing up.

3. I have the standard radio and with the top up, it's ok. When the top is down, I don't have the radio on so I don't know.

4. 66 degrees and you need the seat warmer? I guess it's all in what you get used to. I would love some 66 degree weather.

5. It does all kinds of goofy stuff too. I've had mine almost a year and am still finding things out. As to the manual, HaHa!

 

Tsippi, I have an 09 MCS convertible. I have the upgraded stereo. It sounds pretty good, decent bass. I had an 07 MCS hardtop with the basic stereo, and yes it was terrible. I just put a small bazooka tube 8" subwoofer in the trunk and it made a huge difference. The car had no base to begin with, and after this install it had nice bass. However, I had a coupe, and it mounted to the floor in the trunk, and did not take up that much room. With the conv, the trunk is so small, it will probably eat it all up. You should check with a stereo shop, that should have catalogues that have subwoofers that are made for the mini, that fit on the side of the trunk, and do not take up that much space. And, yes backing up is not easy, especially looking out the right rear. I have park distance so that helps a little. I live in LA, and have the cold weather, love the heated seats. It does not get very cold here, but when my back is sore, it sure is nice! Good luck.

 

Austin: I'm guessing my hair is longer than yours. Also, you will have to trust me, the car is so much quieter with the wind deflector, and the interior stays much cleaner.

Rans, I must have the standard stereo, as there is zero base. The sound is such a let down after the top-of-the-line Bose I had in my Boxster. I will try starting with a whoofer, as you suggest. Thanks for the tip. I've never done after-market sound before.

 

Tsippi, the stereo shop I used just wired it in to the factory radio, the prong came out in the trunk. I had it held in place with straps. No cuts, no holes in the trunk at all. Its cheap and easy, vs new speakers, and other equipment, which costs thousands. The sound quality is better, with good bass, just good enough for me to be happy, although I am not an audiophile.

 

Yikes - it was 45 this am in Ma and I was thinking finally spring..

 

My 06 convertible just died (DARN that gravel) and I just ordered a '10! I am so excited!

I just had to throw my $0.02 in about the wind deflector. It makes a huge difference if you're someone with long hair who doesn't want to have to wear a ponytail all the time or have to spend a fortune in detangler/conditioner. It also has the potential to increase your top-down motoring time to year-round, if you're in the right climate. I had it down in 32 degrees with the top down, wind deflector & windows up, seats & heaters blasting. It was a beautiful snowy day!

I am also exceedingly glad they brought the Harmon/Kardon back. My 06 had one, and then when my hubby ordered his '08 Clubbie, the sound system (premium) was horrible. Get the best sound system you can get. It's worth it when the top & windows are down.

Bluetooth? Well, I've never had luck with it with the wind noise (because the top is always down) so think carefully before you spend the $$.

 

The wind deflector is a must. Just came home top down at 41 degrees tonight. No way I could have done that without one.

Most people can't tell when I have the top down by the sound of the bluetooth microphone. It is horrible no matter what. Anyone find a way to relocate, or otherwise inprove on it? I am really getting tired of all the compliants. I am betting BMW uses the same lousy quality mic's as they do speakers so maybe just a good noise cancelling one?

 

I'll add to this list & say that you should be ok with, or at least expect some noises and squeaks from the soft top when it's up - especially over bumpy roads. Granted, I have a super stiff suspension, so your experience may be different.

Another pet peeve is that the boot deck lid has to be in full contact with the sensor below it, in order to allow the top to work properly. One stuffed grocery bag can push this very light lid up enough to make it lose contact with the sensor.

Yes, backing up is a pain. It's the car's worst feature, IMHO. You just have to re-train yourself to rely on the mirrors, and a feel for it will develop over time.

The standard 6-speaker stereo is abysmal. I actually find that is sounds slightly less bad with the top down. Everyone's ears will differ, of course.

As for a WiFi solution, I actually got around this by using a Craven Speed iPhone mount (mounts the phone just outside of the 2 o'clock position of the steering wheel, and within easy talking distance). I simply run an auxiliary cable from the phone to the car's aux jack, and I can take calls over my stereo. The iPhone's mic picks up my voice pretty well.

I can't install a wind deflector, as I drive with my kids in the back, but to be honest, the wind's not that bad, even at freeway speeds. I've got long hair, and I find my Passat to be more of a vortex with the windows down, than the Mini with the top down. Also, using the "sun roof" function definitely throws a lot more hair in my face than having the top completely down. I've had many different convertibles over the years (several Jeeps, a VW Cabrio, a VW Thing, a Porsche 944, a Smart convertible), and the Mini is by far the most forgiving, wind-wise. While I'm not sure, I would hazard to guess that the height of the top when it's down helps block a lot of the turbulance from entering the interior. Whatever the case, I kind of enjoy that wind - especially on a cool night, driving home on the freeway, after hitting the gym. It's my therapy.

 

When you are in sunroof mode, make sure you have the back windows down. That does a lot to help the air coming in the sunroof to move out of the car.

 

I'll chime in on the wind deflector also, I'm a short time owner (March 2010) but I always drive with the top down unless it's raining or rain is very imminent (darn speed limit and slow top closure) and I wasn't convinced by the MA to get one at the time of purchase. I didn't think I needed it and I thought it was just to expensive. After a couple of months experience driving and having my hat fly off, papers fly out of the cab at Interstate (and higher) speeds, my wife took pity on me and got me one for Father's Day (of course I think the dealer ripped her off on the price but she didn't keep the receipt). It does make quite a bit of difference, the cabin is quieter and I can actually have stuff on the passenger's seat without fear of it making an unintended exit from the vehicle when zipping along. I'm looking forward to seeing if it does actually keep you warmer when the cooler/colder weather comes back around (which it can't do soon enough IMHO )

As to the long hair issue, I'm just glad to still have (most of) my hair and I keep it relatively short + wear a hat anyway.

I like the Bluetooth in my Prius but I don't know if I would have paid extra for it in Sarah Jane. As has been said in lots of other posts, it work pretty well at speeds lower than 35 but at higher speeds there is just too much wind noise for it to work well. But then again that's not a problem for me because I hate talking on the phone anyway and its a good excuse to let the people at work who think they need to talk to me now go to voice mail and I'll call them back at my convienence!

 

Tsippi - There is a car audio shop on Dillingham that does stereo installs on MINIs. The name of the shop is Island Sound and the guys name is Earl Shimabukuro. He has done MANY MINIs - he also has the schematics for the MINI so he doesn't screw up and cut a wrong wire somewhere. He is the only stereo guy I would trust messing around with the electronics in this complicated car.

The guy does trophy winning installs in porshes/lambos/and a MINI!.

He is also reasonably priced. Send me a PM if you want his phone #.

 

Having driven convertibles for years, one thing I learned is to get the best stereo system you can. I sprang for the HIFI in Lizzie and I'm damn glad I did. Without a strong stereo the sound goes out the windows with the top down.

 

I have an '09 convertible and just installed 2010 HK speakers in place of the HIFI speakers mine came with. I left everything else (amp etc. ) the same. I replaced the four door speakers and the two rear woofers and left the front and rear tweeters alone. The sound is MUCH improved.

It is not a $2,000 custom job but the muddy stock sound is gone and I had to turn bass down as it was actually too strong with the new HK speakers. Volume level is fine with the existing HIFI amp and the speaker rattles are gone. Check out more in this thread https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...an-kardon.html