So, my wife and I finally decided what options etc. we wanted to order on our 2005 MCS and headed to the dealer to place our order.

Unfortunately it seems Mini USA decides what its North American customers want rather than leaving it up to us

Yes, we want an anthrazite headliner and I won't start another thread about that being discontinued since there are already a couple of those, but I would like to mention my sales person was not aware of this issue and said we could still get it??? He did ask if it would be a deal breaker if for some reason we couldn't though.

Now, here's my main complaint. We decided we wanted to order the leather/cloth combination after seeing it at a local dealer. Panther Black Octagon cloth with Panther Black leather - perfect :smile: Salesman, "oh, that's not available for the US spec MCS". You can only get Tartan cloth and leather. What the ... . OK, what about Panther Black Octagon cloth with Panther Black cloth? Salesman, "oh, that's not available for the US spec MCS either". You can only get Space Silver/Panther black cloth". We don't want light gray seats!

We left without placing our order.

Why can't Mini USA just allow it's customers to choose what they want like the rest of the free (and even not so free) World???

 

Hi Steve, welcome to NAM (used to see you on E46fanatics.com - see sig below). And welcome to the frustrating world of MINIUSA. We tried to have the basics ironed out prior to going in and then worked the rest out with our MA - just got to be flexible.

 

Hi,

Frustrating no doubt ... and I thought BMWNA was bad

I think it's worse when you know, and can see, what Mini offers the rest of the planet! I just don't see what the big deal is allowing us the same interior options as Europe. It's not as if they have to stock the warehouses with spare parts like it was an engine or something. It's just pointless.

What were you able to "work out" with your MA? So far all I see them being able to do is tell you you can't have something?

 

Well, we didn't bother to pick out radio options or interior options prior to visiting the dealership. We also had some ideas about some exterior options (fog lights, for instance) but nothing set in stone. One thing that frustrated me was the requirement of matching bonnet stripes / roof color / mirror caps. I wanted white stripes, but black mirrors and a checkerboard roof. So I ended up ordering the black roof & mirrors, and I'm having the dealer install the white checkerboard graphics and white bonnet stripes - at a much higher cost than the factory installed version.

 

I hear you. I've asked our salesman to check on the cost of purchasing the German spec seat covers we want and installing them after delivery. It just doesn't make sense

 

Here are some of the interior choices the rest of the world gets to make ...

 

Agreed, this is a complete joke. Convertible buyers get their choice of: orange & blue cloth/leather combo seats? That's it??? Give me a break. I'm dying for red/black combo seats, but nope. If I want a convertible, I get orange and blue. Yipee. Thanks, MINI.

 

MINI ads all encourage individuality, yet they don't allow choices that they do in Europe.

I am getting a 2005 with anthracite headliner, one of the few that will come to the states. Good choice for me, no longer a choice for others.

I am also stuck with factory three spoke steering wheel which I hope can be changed out for a two spoke multifunction wheel. Dealer is looking into this option for me. Why did they stop this option and strip this choice from the US market?

I don't like the new headlight and tail light designs. They look too much like a "sci-fi" modern fad to work on a retro car. I like the old lights better, and will have to see if I will pay to change them out. If the head lights actually function better then I will keep them, but if it is a looks game, then they will be gone.

I know that they must "refine" their cars, but too many changes and it may no longer be a MINI in spite of the name. If they rolled out new options and gave people the choice to go with the new or keep the old they would at least know what really want...Choices.

 

I too ordered the anthracite headliner - my car was built in the first 3 days of production of 05's - and I didn't get the anthracite. My MA says - NOBODY in the states gets it - but MINI continues to take orders. Funny, he didn't let me now this until I took one look at the car and said - uh, what's with this headliner??? (turned out silver).