So today was interesting...

I went to Bob Smith BMW and looked at MINIs with GF unit. I found one I liked and one that was not tagged with the $3k markup. I went and asked if that was the case--the $3k markup was not on that car and they quickly said--oh the cars on the roof area are just not marked yet. There is a $3k markup.

I said that was most unfortunate as I would not pay $3k over MSRP for anything. They explained that the car had a high resale value and that if I wanted a MINI that all dealers were doing that. I claimed that it was near piracy and that I had heard that BMW of Long Beach did not subscribe to this policy. She said while that was true--BMW of Long Beach did not have any cars and that it could take 6 months to get a car.

So I left.

I got on the phone and called BMW of Long Beach. I asked if they had a MINI or two? They said yes in fact htey had hard tops and convertables there. I asked if indeed they did not rape their customers with the $3k over list method. They said they do not do that.

So, with a lot of complication GF unit and I went to Long Beach MINI (BMW). They had a nice chili red Cooper S with the Premium and Sports packages. It also had leather. They had only one--and now they have none. I bought it right there.

I could not be happier. My S2000? It will be repaired or totalled--whatever. I will get it back and sell it if they fix it. It is paid for so I can be patient. So for now I can have a S2000, a MINI Cooper S and a BMW R1150RT Motorcycle. What more could a guy want? Oh yeah.. got a GF unit!

Now I did not realize until I was reading the owners manual that there were programming options--so I will probably have to revisit to get those things set the way I would like.

What I do not know is the following:
- How do I know if I have hte Limited Slip Differential?
- I saw cool fog lamps on one car I saw today--can that be done to my car?
- If the CD player will play MP3s or not. I have the HK setup.

Did I mention I love this thing already?

The S2000 is just going to collect dust my friends..

Please welcome me to your forums--I shall be here a long time!

-mark=

 

Congratulations!
Yes the CD player should play MP3s, I believe that's been standard for a while. As for the LSD... You should have a list or installed options. The LSD is $500 extra. If its not on there, you don't have it. And the fog lamps are just a matter of $$. You can shop around and install them yourself, if you want.

Good luck on keeping the RPMs down untill break-in is complete (if you subscribe to that break-in method). Its not easy.

 

Congratulations on the purchase! And THANK YOU for not enabling dealers to ethically and financially pillage MINI customers.:smile:

I assume the car is a new 2005.
- If it has LSD, you'll see a $500 charge on the sticker listing it. Odds are you don't have it, as the car must have been built after 1/1, and the dealer would have had to order it.
- Fog lamps can be installed, but it's relatively complex. If you're a DIY guy, you can find a thread where someone (greatbear or greatgro?) installed their own. Alternatively, the dealer would be happy to install them for you. Make sure you get the rears, too, so you have a full toggle panel!
- Your CD player should play MP3s.

See programming options summarized below:
http://www.bergin.us/MINI_Programmable_options.xls
http://www.bergin.us/MINI_Programmable_options.pdf

 

Mark,

Congratulations. I've been following your posts since the beginning. It's good to know we'll be seeing more of you. Again, Congrats!

Dave

 

Hey, Mark! Congrats on your new MINI! I have purchased TWO MINIs from Long Beach MINI! Best car-buying experience ever, by far!

Welcome and enjoy motoring!


Clover

 

CongratsI walked into the dealer,my car was sitting on the lot,it had maybe 10 miles on it,I put 50 more,got back to the dealer,signed the papers,and the next day I was driving my MINI

 

No LSD for my baby?

Oh well. I really don't know what it would have done for me anyway. I hope I will not miss it. Perhaps I can take it from the S2000? Perhaps I can get it added?

I have a question--has anyone ever thought of having a tech daze for MINIs? This would be a day where a knowledgable one would be willing to teach the new folks the proper methods of hacking, improving and other wise doing maintenance on their cars? I have been to one of these events for my motorcycle and it was quite a bit of fun.

I also just discovered to my dismay that I have no center armrest! Ach! I see that I will be able to pay $230-$300 for this fine option in March. I am going to have to have it I think. Sigh. MINI is going to be sucking at the money bucket I fear.

I need to name this beast immediately...

And no.. it is not going to be "Salsa" or something like that.

-mark=

 

Look up Elbow Landing Divice,ELD,I have one,as do many,works great,fits the looks of the car,and is worth about $50 bucks.
Naming your car is great fun,have a time of it,then let us know what comes of your time

 

Everyone should absolutely resist paying for anything that is over list price. It is us the buyer that enables these folks.

I don't blame Bob Smith BMW actually because we live in a society that is capitalistic. What surprises me is that there are people that are willing to pay the price. That is the true problem.

It is sad too. I wanted to buy from Bob Smith because I did spend a lot of time there asking questions and doing test drives--but sadly not $3k worth. I live within 10 miles of them too. However they lost a sale today and based on their inventory of MINIs I would think that it is time to reconsider their position. They have a bunch!

It was an entirely different experience at Long Beach MINI/BMW. Tony was very cool. He stayed late even though it was not clear to him that I was going to buy. I did get the last hard top he had (MCS) and Bob Smith would have been right had that car not been there.

Would I have gone back and paid the $3k toll? Nope. I would have just cooled my MINI jets and kept my S2000 which is a fine car.

I admit a bit of remorse in that I don't need more than 1 car and perhaps I should have been more responsible and waited for the outcome of my S2000 to be completely known. Truthfully though--I want the MINI and I am done with the car that I almost killed myself in. I have read many postings now about S2000s spinning out because of the performance tires, the power of the car and driver knowledge. I admit I have never been "trained" and perhaps the S2000 was to much car for me.

I know.. a guy is never supposed to admit that, but guys (gals) I could have died a week ago. So I'll just admit defeat and go to my new toy for a while. You haven't lived until you spun a S2000 on a mountain road and have another car hit you. It will change your perspective... it did mine.

I really like the safety features on the MINI. I'll post on my MINI impressions soon...now back to my owners manual and the sleeping GF unit.

-mark=

 

CONGRATS!!! Very good!!! I too say thanks for not supporting the marked up dealers and purchase at LB MINI... I got my car there too but I paied the price in waiting time... 8 months.

 

HEY,HAVE FUN,MOTOR ALL YOU CAN,AND BE Safe

 

Mark,

You coming to AMVIV-2 this coming week? There will be vendors, lots of after-market tuners, and HUNDREDS of MINI folk to meet and run around the desert with!

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...splay.php?f=88

Check the Performance Mods forum here on NAM and read about all the aftermarket mods. Plenty of people here have added an after-market LSD. Do a search!


Clover

 

Welcome and congrats Mark!

Godspeed.

 

Congrats on the purchase. Post some pix of your new pride and Joy. The only thing else you need in life is to convert the GFU to WU and have some Kids!

I don't blame you at all for not paying the $3K worth of ADP. I would have thought you to be a fool if you did. Either that or just suffereing from MINI lust!

I dont know if there is time to get in on the Dragon this year but you might want to hook up with clover and check it out!

My immediate goal is to get a MINI, then right after that is to do the Dragon with or without my MINI brethren!

 

You ought to drive over to Bob Smith BMW in your new MINI and bring that sales person out to your car. You should point to it and say, Long Beach MINI, list price, bought it the same day you told me everyone rapes customers and Long Beach didn't have any cars. Then say "see ya!"

 

I second that..

 

Congrats on the new car! You'll have no buyer's remorse, I'm sure.

And a thread like this with no pictures? What?! That's simply sin!

 

I gave up....is Mark refering to the Nav system?

 

GF unit means girlfriend

 

LOL, I guess Charlie was thinking the Nav was in 'pause' mode!

WRT a tech day, at the last Pulley Party, Randy did a fairly complete tech talk at the last one in Oakland. When there's another one down there, he'll probably do the same. Otherwise, check with the local clubs - a great resource for information!

 

Sad that dealers are still doing that Congrats on your MINI purchase though, you'll love it!

 

What do I know...............I've been married nearly 25 years.

 

In big cities like Los Angeles, there are several MINI dealerships one can choose from. Well, for many MINI owners, we don't have the luxury of comparing prices between dealers. In my case, the nearest dealership is 130 miles away. Though that doesn't make it impossible to check out other dealerships, it certainly makes it very inconvenient.

It is because of this inconvenience factor, that certain dealerships can easily raise prices. After all, what are you gonna do? Drive 5 hours to the next dealership? No, you're gonna wrestle with how badly you want your MINI, or some other car. And you're gonna pick the MINI, of course, and because you're lazy, you'll pay 3 grand more.

I was lucky, at my dealership in Buffalo, NY, they don't play games like that, and they always have lots of inventory on the lot to choose from. I was able to custom-build mine online at miniusa.com, and they delivered my car EXACTLY as I had wanted. I was astonished to learn later that in many dealerships across the country, this was impossible. You have to take what's on the lot, end of story, which is truly an old-fashioned car buying experience.

So yes, if possible, don't pay more than sticker price. Be willing to travel to that next-closest dealership!

 

I third it. Living well is the best revenge

I actually am very curious as to how many customers Bob Smith BMW has lost due to their charging over MSRP.

 

None. Zip. Zero.

Dealers get a certain number of cars per month - their "allotment." That includes special orders and dealer stock. If you order a car from a dealer, you're actually taking away one car from his stock that month. At least, that's how it was explained to me.

If the dealer can sell every car he can get at MSRP plus $2000 or $3000, why on earth would he sell one to you for less? As one of the MAs at my local dealer said, "If you won't pay the $2500 markup on this car, there's a guy right behind you who will."

Our local Chevy dealer puts a "market adjustment" (that's what it's called on the sticker) of $20,000 on new Corvettes! That's enough to buy a bare bones MC!