I'm trying to buy a used '05 MCS, and the non-MINI dealer it's at says it has the leather. I'm not convinced. How do I tell the difference?

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...en&cardist=443

Plus, they're claiming the black decals on the back and around the sides are from the factory... not so much.

Thanks in advance for the help.

Erin

 

If you want to know the options (leather or leatherette), send miniusa the vin number and they will email you the list. Go to miniusa.com, then in the popup, click the the "contact and FAQs" and go to "email". I just did it.

 

Looks like leatherette to me.

 

thanks, I just e-mailed them.

now if someone could only tell me when my search for the perfect MINI will end...

 

That is leatherette, my friend.

 

Hey,

I just wanted to let you know that I just bought a brand new 06MCS for 24,800 with Premium Package, Sport Package, and HK. Doesn't have leather but leatherette. Why would you want to buy a used one when you can buy a new one for a 100 bucks less. Just a thought. By the way that's not leather

 

Very true, if you can wait, you could probably order one with everything you want for $23000 to $24000 depending what all you want to put in it.

 

Leather seats have more stitching.

 

The listing is gone: did you buy it?

My thought: if the dealer is lying about the leather, what else is he lying about?

 

i still see the listing, make sure ur clicking the link, not coping and pasting it

 

Real leather tends to stretch and pucker (especially the crappy cheap leather that MINI uses). If the seat base has any waves or loose extra material in it or the shape of someone's A$s, it is leather.

If it look absolutely perfect and tight, then it is leatherette.

(boy I wish I had saved my $$$ and gotten leatherette instead)

 

Another easy well to tell is to look for the **** for the lumbar support. Only the leather seats have it.

 

Looks clean from the photos..but you can for sure call him out on those supposed "leather" seats- NOT...and those (ugly) stripes are not factory. Ask to speak with the manager and deal with someone else there if you proceed. Good Luck!

 

Looks like it has JCW badges and possible exhaust.

 

but it probably won't work in this case...

Spill some Coke on the seat. If the owner is a little pissed, it's leatherette! If the owner is a lot pissed, it's leather!

Matt

 

The car shows JCW badges and exhaust. The seats are leatherette from what I see and be aware that some leatherette seats are less tight because the skins have been replaced. There was a problem with leatherette being too tight causing cracking in the skin and so the replacements are slightly larger now and don't fit as tightly, hence some wavyness.

Also if you are inspecting a leatherette interior you should lean on the outer edges of the seast to see if any cracks in the leatherette are present as this opens them up. Often they are not apparent when the seat is only visually inspected without any weight on it.

 

All very good information - thanks.

re: buying one new
Even though it's what a lot of people/dealers are asking, I won't be paying $25k for a used one. Of course, I'd like to have a new one, but the way I would build it, it would come out to about $25,200, plus tax/title in Scottsdale would be another $2000-$2500. So, if I can find a used one for around $23k, not pay tax or only pay AZ state tax, I've saved $3-4k, which means something to me. Plus, I want to make sure that the MINI really fits into my lifestyle. My husband and I do triathlons and we ski and travel a lot, and we are getting rid of our CR-V for the MINI. I'm hoping that between his truck and my MINI, the cars will fit our needs. I don't know if any of that makes sense, but that's my thought process. I haven't ruled out buying new, esp. since finding a gently used '05 or '06 CR/W MCS is taking me awhile.

Since I'm in Tucson, I may have to have my friend in Hermosa Beach go check out the Torrance MINI. I wonder if the JCW badging/exhaust are fake.

 

Just got a response:

Hi Erin,

Thanks for writing MINI. I would be happy to assist you with your question! Below is a list of original options for this car:

Cooper S
Chili Red
Black Panther/Black Leatherette
anthracite headliner
Premium Package
Multi-function steering wheel
Moonroof
Automatic air conditioning
On-board computer
Sport Package
Dynamic Stability Control (DSC)
17" alloy wheels w/performance run-flat tir...
Foglights
Xenon headlights
CO2 relevant vehicles
interior body color
white bonnet stripes
Chrome line interior
roof and mirror caps in white
Passenger seat height adjustment
Anthracite headliner
Radio control US
In-dash CD player
Harman-kardon sound system
CD changer preparation

If there are further questions I can assist with, please feel free to drop me an e-mail. I will be happy to lend a hand.

LET’S MOTOR.
Melissa DiMaria
MINI Customer Relations and Services
Representative
866.ASK.MINI (275-6464)

 

the leather to get is the 1700 dollar option now not the 1300 one. THe black panther english leather is constructed better and appears to be a stronger leather.

my goal is to get up the cash for a tailor to make me fitted leather seat covers in some really cool design, green, black and metalic silver

I live just next to NYCity though, i duno if this is easily done elsewhere.

 

when I plugged in the VIN on my banks website (usaa) it brought up leather, but then it gave me options to remove leather. I think that maybe they assumed that leather is standard on the MCS. Afterall, it's a nissan dealership.

edit** oops, guess I should have read further along the thread...

 

LMAO!!!!

 

leather seats in the MINI fit a bit more "loose", while l'ette is firm. those seats are most certainly leatherette. the black bumper line and skid plate on the boot- are not factory either. (but u know this). now, will that coerce the dealer into knocking of $1000? doubt it. it's got the chrome line interior package, fog lights, HK stereo, multi-function steering wheel, tinted windows, xenon headlights, and i believe climate control too; if this in fact has a JCW kit, this is a pretty good deal.

opinion: this car most likely originated out of state- no so-cal'r worth their salt would put the black bumper tape and pinstripes on, and there's no front license "plinth".

Why not coerce a current owner to go down and check it out on your behalf? they could prob. tell you stuff even the dealer doesn't know.

(long winded- must be lunch time!)

good luck!

 

Great idea,iriemanhq!If someone asked me to check out a MINI,I'd be Gone in Sixty Seconds!I'm sure by now there are computers shutting down and lights going out,while MINI owners are on their way to that dealer!

 

Matt - a great problem solver as always!

Looks like leatherette to me. I love mine!

 

Buy one, and it will be come a part of your family. And, despite its size, it does hold quite a bit of stuff with the seat backs down. I'd also suggest a roof rack, a trailer hitch or both. That way, you can carry bikes, canoes, skis- whatever your lifestyle requires. Check out some of the vendors on NAM. The possibilities with these little cars are endless...