Greetings from the UK this week.
I've been around the UK the last 12 days trying to visit a few MINI dealerships and have found some info to share. Most dealerships here are open about 10 to 6pm Monday through Saturday and are closed on sunday. If you want to order anything then do it the first day you arrive because it takes about 3 days to get it in stock.

Clothes are not likely to be in stock. They can be ordered but inventory is spotty. New Catalogs (not available in the US) are the best source- too bad they cannot be viewed on the internet. New catalogs are out each year and there is a summer MINI catalog. Old stuff from 2002 is no longer available. Of the items in stock very few are small size- mostly large.

The cars-
Most MINIs sold are MC with 5 speed or MINI ONE with CVT and only a few are MCS- which carry a very high price and high insurance. Most people do not heavily modify their MINIs but I did see one MC with aero package and nice exhaust selling for £13,500 (16,000 miles and 2002 model- looked new). Not many diesels yet. Only a few JCW kits and they are out for both MC and MCS. The prices on the JCW seats and 18" wheels are not released yet.

The dash boards- in the 2002 versions all cars came with dual euro parcel shelves on the driver and passenger side. In the 2003 version the driver gets the rectangular cubby storage (the rolling switch next to the cubby is a light leveling control for the front headlights- a requirement in the UK) and the passenger side gets the glovebox- which is desirable in the UK.

The rear fog lights- the upper rear red lights do not work at all. The rear fog lights can be turned on with the middle toggle switch on the dash but it just sets the lower brake light to a brighter red in general. I think the jumper brake lights we have are nicer.

Europlates- The MC and MINI ONE come with the europlate opening on the bumpers. The MCS has a special black plastic long europlate holder- rough cost £25
pt no. 51-71-1-491-079

The dealerships for MINI are usually smaller and there are very few cars in stock- mostly used ones by a 10:1 margin. Wait time is at least one month and up to 3 to 5 months depending on location. Red and Silvers seem very popular.

 

Much Mahalo for the UK observations
How 'bout bringing home some MINI souvenirs like the UK accessory catalogue, propoganda brochures, or better yet, a right-hand drive MCS

 

I will bring home what I can plus a few more things. Hard to carry as much since I am traveling. Otherwise I would buy a London Stainless Header or two and bring those back but the VAT tax is a hefty 17.8%. Now if they sold those at the Duty free shop then that would be a different story.

If you stay in one place for at least 3-4 days then it is possible to order something but the prices are still high. Nobody will agree to mail things if I order them. Too bad. Need to find a contact in London that would be willing to do this and mail items.

More details- The hood release for the MINI is always on the right.

The MINI ONE is quite a good car for Europe. Most of the time you can't really go that fast except on the highways. The small roads are so small and curved that you can't go too quickly- not safe. I never see any MINIs here with aftermarket Alloy wheels

 

UK has some interior options that are not available in the US.
Leather seats can be mixed with cloth in the center colored section of the seats. Leather is available with perforations such as with Lapis blue with holes in the blue section. The MINI ONE comes with a swirled pattern on clothe for seats.

There are many radio Headunit options that are available through the dealership- units that play MP3 or MD or cassette. There is an option for headrest 5" LCD displays for the rear passengers. A wireless headset provides the sound to each rear passenger.