as i await my CM, which should arrive in about 2 weeks, of course i am thinking about some mods. the two i definitely want to do are tinted windows and some driving lights. the driving lights offered at the dealership are fine but i can't justify paying so much for them. so i am eyeballing some aftermarket hellas.

i am still debating on whether to lease or buy the car so i am wondering how my mods will affect the lease, if and when i return my car? does anyone know the official "rules'? the driving lights concern me the most because it involves drilling into the bumper - i can only imagine how much a new one would cost if the dealer objects to my mod when i return the car.

i am leaning towards buying so this may be irrelevant but wanted to know the parameters. thanks guys.

 

I know if you tint your windows that will not affect you if you lease the car it will be better for the car when turning it back in, i have read tinting will raise the cars value alitte. For the lights im not sure about, I was looking at leasing or buying as well and might be doing the mini slect program the ridge is high and pymt is low and you have a balloon pymt at the end so you can refinance it or pay it off in a lump sum but you will own the car out right so you can do what ever you want and you can always pay more on your pymt so your balloon can be lower at the end of your term. So it would be up to which ever way you want to go. post a questions about the light in the general MC r60 talk some of the guys and girls in there will have an answer for you motor on

 

Also you might want to intro yourself in the 1st gear forum i know some people wont talk to you till you intro yourself to everyone so welcome

 

Mods on a lease don't pay. You can't residualize them so you are paying 100% of their value and getting nothing in return aside from enjoyment. Tinted windows are fine so long as they are legal. Driving lights should be gone so long as they are OEM. Check terms of your lease before doing anything. As I said, mods on a lease just don't make sense financially.

As for MINI Select financing, not a good choice financially. Plenty of well articulated posts on that topic in the main forum.

 

Most aftermarket mods (performance especially) don't provide a big return financially so don't let that keep you from buying certain mods for your car. So long as you value them and enjoy them. Think about it, are you going to pay more for a used car (with tinted windows) than the same used car without tint? I wouldn't, pretty sure I could haggle my way out of that. Buy the mods, and if all else fails remove what you can before returning the lease, and sell on craigslist.

 

Keep stock parts...everything has to go back to stock unless any upgrades are MINI original.

 

Fixed it.