I'm thinking about taking advantage of the $9900 lease credit and low-mileage lease deal that MINI is currently offering on the 2024 SE. I'm looking at an Iconic Trim green car with MSRP of $37,695, but there's a dealer add-on sticker with the following items totaling $2,496:
Appearance Protection $699
Dent Protection $699
Document Fee $499
Window Tint $599
Of course, I will negotiate the price of the vehicle, but I've never seen add-ons like this before. And to include a document fee on this sticker seems unusual as well, as it's usually part of the fee schedule on the contract. Has anyone here dealt with these add-on costs during their purchase or lease?
Thanks.

 

What's included in the "Appearance Package"?

"Dent Protection"??? Again, what are they including in this? Door strips? If you REALLY want those, pretty sure Auto Zone has them for $20?

"Window Tint" cost seems high, unless they are using some high end film, which I would probably doubt...

The only one that "SEEMS" reasonable is the document fee. This is usually something standard from a dealer as a cost associated with filing all the paperwork for you to become the owner.

 

Appearance Protection for $699 is usually ceramic coating on the vehicle. Unless your always outside and never going to wash it then it's worth it. Got this on our 17' CM and it still looks like new.
Dent Protection $699 = wouldn't pay for that, useless.
Document Fee for $499 seems pretty reasonable, they got to make a few bucks somewhere.
Window Tint $599 = seems a little high unless it's ceramic tint, your paying for convenience that it's already done, but you could negotiate on that too.

I really dislike it when they add on alarm systems, wheel locks, upholstery protection, wheels, etc. and really mark those items up. Most dealers will work with you, but I have walked away a few times cause they just won't.

 

So I went to the dealership today. I'm still contemplating the terms of the lease, but when I discussed my concern about these add-ons, the salesman was perfectly fine with taking off the Appearance Protection and the Dent Protection. He wasn't willing to remove the window tint charge, but my sense is that the cost is negotiable. $499 is indeed their doc fee, but I just never saw it on a sticker before. (It seems high to me, but then again I haven't gotten a new car since 2016, so...).

 

From your long list, I paid only a few hundred for documentation--but my dealer went out of business, so maybe you'll be doing a good thing by lining their pockets.

I'm guessing you do not live within driving distance of an alternative MINI dealership, hence no competition that would pare down these outrageous add-ons. The only good thing about these add-ons is that, unlike obnoxious "market adjustments," you're getting something for the extra money you'll have to pay.

 

As I mentioned above, they're willing to completely take off the Appearance Protection and the Dent Protection. (I guess they were never added to the car then in the first place?) The tint I can negotiate. The docs fees are what they are.

And I do have other dealers nearby, the two closest being 50 miles and 35 miles away. My local one is 4 miles away. And the one at 50 miles has 41 SEs on the lot, 12 of which are the green that I want, so they're probably more motivated. Unfortunately, they don't provide sticker photos or details on their website, so I don't know about their add-ons.

 

Wow! 41 SEs! I'm sure they're more motivated to move those cars. I'd call and ask about what SE deals they're offering and if they refuse to talk, tell them their balk makes you assume they don't really want to sell those cars. Of course, they could lie on the phone to entice you to make the 100-mile round-trip drive before revealing their skullduggery.

In your place I'd make the drive simply due to frustration with your local dealer (and to see 41 SEs in the same place, too). Perhaps your local dealer is trying to recover the money you won't be paying them for maintenance on the low-maintenance SE.

 

I went with my son to buy a Toyota Corolla, what was crazy was the addition of $500 wheel locks. On steelies!!!
New ran, not walked from there.

 

Bit late to the conversation.
I leased in December when the incentive was $11,900.
My dealer fee was $459.
I negotiated $1200 off the sticker, but you may be able to do better
The $925 acquisition fee is a bit steep IMO.
I got sales taxed on all fees! Taxachusetts!
There were no add ons and the dealer was pretty up front.
Car is doing very well, nearly at 3000miles, so about 210-250 gallons of gasoline not burned by our SUV, which has had one fill up since January! About 200kW of electric juice per month.

Would have liked a BRG, but didn't want black interior, which were the only options available.

cheers
MacMini34