Yes, a clear bra is highly recommended. I've not even picked-up my Cooper yet, and I already know that's the first thing I'm getting, even before she leaves the lot! Purple Haze seems to be a pretty neat color, and works very well as a blue replacement, so your red interior works pretty well, I think.

I love that red interior, but I couldn't see getting it for a LY Cooper. (Though, I don't think they allowed that option combo in any case.) I almost went with my second color choice, PW, just so I could get it, but I find that PW, a beautiful color up close, tends to look more and more white, and thus plain, as you get farther away from it. I was afraid that, in a snow storm (which we get here), you'd not be able to see the car at all! (Such a shame, since it's definitely a more 007 sort of color. Why don't they make MC's in DS? Another shame.)

This is the first I've heard about the washer jets for the Xenons popping out several inches to blast the headlights. Wow, I'm not sure I'm all that cool with the concept! As things stand, I'm still trying to get used to how strange those things look.

The chrono package looks real sharp in your red interior, and I love the all anthracite look as well. Oh well, I took a pass on the chrono package, but I'm still hoping I get the anthracite headliner as I ordered. Seems there's still some confusion on that. Did they charge you extra, in the end, on the anthracite headliner option? They supposedly didn't, when it was first introduced, then they dropped the option in the US, then it came back, but at a $200 premium. (See, I told you it was confusing.)

 

Chrono Pak includes oil pressure, oil temperature, water temperature, gas gauge so big you can practically see it move (even with the Mini's good mileage,) and about 8 idiot lights. Speedo moves to mouse ears like a car with Nav system. I am going to take more interior pictures, since people seem to be so interested in the red cloth/ black leather package with the Anthracite trim and headliner.

There was no extra charge for the Anthrcite headliner in my car.

 

Here are some more pix of the red interior and chrono pak.

 

Hind sight. I wish I had ordered the anthracite headliner. At the time it just seemed like the interior would be really dark. Oh well, really not a huge deal.

I would like to know your thoughts on the new cup holder. The old (very in the way) modle was installed in my MINI and, the second I have the time, will be removed! It is either in the way of 5th gear or the passangers confort or you can't move the seat all the way forward to get all you stuff or people out of the back seat. (run on sentence much ) Anyhow, how's the new one, worth purchasing?

Love the fuel gauge, reads 0-1 instead of empty-full. Cool. Great interior!

 

The chrono pack is OK, but I still prefer the center speedo.

 

I don't get the excitement. I got the speedo next to my tach cause I got nav in my 03 MC.

re: Joe's new ride
Beautiful MCS Joe!!! Looks great!

Richard

 

I agree. I think MINI missed out a design opportunity here. It looks oversimplified. LOL. I kinda wished it had that chronograph look like on the speedo of the Lexus IS300, although that IMO is a bit overdone.

 

While I think is nice to have an extra set of gauges, my belief is that removing the big center speedo takes away the "persona" of the car to a certain extent.

But the chrono pack is an excellent compromise for someone that doesn't like to have the speedo smack in the middle of the dashboard and get an extra set of gauges. Great alternative to spending $1700 on the NAV system just to get the steering hweel mounted speedo/tach.

 

I have driven a Lexus IS300 and I can tell you that the "Chronograph" instruments are hard to read at a glance. Having the speedo needle mixed with all those other needles yield for an interesting yet less functional look.

I think it was a good idea for MINI to keep the speedo separate from the chrono pack gauges.

Last weekend I test drove a new '05 MCSC with the chrono pack and while nice is not a feature I would be willing to spend an extra $250 to get. I really missed my big 'ole center speedo during that test drive.

Another thing I didn't like was the tiny LCD clock readout next to the odo display. It completely dissapeared from view when the sun hit the instrument panel from behind. I can see why the original design has the headliner mounted clock, where it should be. I think MINI will relocate the clock to the old position beginning with the January 2005 builds.

Interesting to note that, if you look really closely, into your lit odo display (2002-2004 MINIs) you'll see in the panel the digit positions for the clock and the letters AM and PM. It seems to me that MINI perhaps had originally intended to enable the LCD clock readout in the odo display, but for the first 2 years it was located in the headliner above the rearview mirror.

Since the odo clock LCD display cells already exist in pre-2005 MINIs, I wonder if this is something that can be enabled in the instrument panel readout via a software update or setting enabling. Very interesting indeed.

Last, I did not care for the 3 spoke steering wheel. Sorry 2005 owners but you are missing out on the great late 2 spoke sport steering wheel. The 3 spoke felt cheap and the leather cover is no where near the quality of the perforated leather covered in my '04 MCS sport 2 spoke wheel with MFSW.

I did not like the rear tailight lenses either.

Other changes in the 2005 are very nice, but not enough to justify trading a beautiful 2004 with all the original design cues for a "revised" 2005.

 

Oh the two spoke mfsw I was soooooo sad to learn that is was no longer an option. I don't care for the look of the controls or the wheel. Oh well, what you gonna do?