The first time I sat in the new Cooper I couldn't get over the cheapish looking silver toy plastic dash. The dealer overheard my sighs and informed me that Europe and Japan had a wood grain option, but was not made available to the U.S. due to time-to-market constraints. SO, I want to know if this will be available in 2003 or does somebody out there know of a good kit?

Tanks,
mr.jerm

 

To the best of my knowledge, there was a short lived option for wood trim dash, but it has since been discontinued world wide. There is a picture somewhere on the site of what it looked like. I haven't heard of any plans to re-introduce it. :???:

 

I saw a picture of the woodgrain on mini2 in a European model, actually looked pretty cheesy considering the whole mini appearance. They are however offering an "anthractie" interior in 2003 S models, steelish looking, actually looks much better than either of the other choices (silver or alloy patina). This was only announced 2 days ago in a press release publshed on the miniusa's owners lounge site; along with the $125 increase in MSRP for the 03 models. The S will also be equiped with a satellite radio ready stereo that supposedly has some more "oomph" than the 02s. In any case, the new trim option seems much more favorable to me. my 2 pence

 

a

 

I have no problem personally with the current dash.....wood grain? ew...... (I don't like woodgrain on anything...it reminds me of my aunt's old station wagon)

 

I agree that wood trim in the MINI does not sound too appealling to me. I like the metal industrial look of the MINI interior. But, I do wish the patina finish looked a little more high quality. I am very interested in the anthracite option. I'll have to bug my dealer about that.

 

I'd have to pass on the wood also... I just never understood it... it's like the fake woodies... either it's a true woodie (which can be a beautiful thing indeed), or you're driving around with what amounts to contact paper on the side of your car... (digression... one late night when i was out grocery shopping, i actually saw a car that was covered in marblized contact paper... ) ... but I must agree... the interior options are not much to talk about... the silver looks plasticy, the patina looks like a failed DIY project (at least on the test model i drove... i'm still waiting to see what mine's going to look like), and the new looks like grey on grey... the exact same greys.... but really, do we want better looking dashboards at a couple of thou added to the msrp?

Rocketboy_X

 

Hi~~~ DO anyone have picutre of the wood grain interior? please upload it i want to see it.

 

It's posted on mini2.com from a European member, so is the anthracite
P.S. Rokk, I called my dealer on TUESDAY to ask if I could order the anthracite for my car with a 9/20 prod date and he said it wouldn't be a problem, even though they had't received any pics from mini yet, pretty psyched that they're on top of things.

 

You can see the wood grain here.....

Also the anthracite has been posted here several times.
Hope this helps.
SW

 

Storer, I went by my dealer yesterday and they told me that they could order it even though they had not received any pictures or samples of it. It was pretty nice to see a MINI dealership on top of something rather than clueless!

 

There's just something terribly wrong with a wood MINI...

 

Hummm... that wood does not look half bad... still, not my style, but they could have made it look much worse... Seeing how MINI/BMW is semi-trying to bill the MINI as a new type of car (the premium/luxury compact), it's kind of suprising that they don't offer it...

Rocketboy_X

 

I really like the wood trim. Does anyone know when/if it will be made available in the US. I'd certainly want that option!

Lisa4Peace

 

>>I really like the wood trim. Does anyone know when/if it will be made available in the US. I'd certainly want that option!
>>
>>Lisa4Peace


There are no plans to offer woodgrain trim in the US. Maybe there will be an aftermarket version someday. :???:

 

I like the wood trim, too. More like a classic Mini I saw. MINI *is* supposed to be about personalization.... Of course it would be nice if it were real wood.

 

There are several aftermarket manufacturers of both fake and real wood trims, some of which look quite good. Try searching "wood grain" here and on MINI2, and someone posted links to 3 different companies. Have fun!

 

The new composite plastics are the things that are making cars very cool, lightweight and also very affordable. I like the way our Mini's look. Plastic wood on the dash? Why? Wood grain goes in a Jag.or Rolls.
Motor On!!