Hi, I am new here. This is my first post, and I'm currently going through the building phase of my new '06 MC.

I was wondering if anyone has the grey leatherette that changes the door casings grey also? Does it look too light? I'm wanting to get the anthracite dash, etc. and want the grey seats, but I don't know about the grey doors!

If anyone could post pics, it'd be most appreciated! I am on a limited budget, so keeping the options to a minimum

My specs:

'06 Mini Cooper
Chilli Red/Black Roof & Mirrors
Black Bonnet Stripes
Auto AC
MF Steering Wheel
Rear Fog Light
Anthracite Dash
Sport Seats
(Grey Leathrette)

Does anyone know if you can switch from auto to manual on the auto AC? ie. have just the fan blowing outside air in without the AC being on?

Thanks in advance!!

 

I have the gray leatherette on my '06 & will have some pix to post in a few days - I went with the anthracite headliner, piano black dash, chromeline & absolutely love it. The two-tone nature of the light and dark gray looks great - I think it looks best with the piano dash, but I'm prejudiced. As for the door panels, they don't look too light at all, particularly with the antrhacite or piano.

 

I have the grey leatherettes but the standard alloy patina. I believe though the grips on the interior door arm rest would be the same color as what you are looking for.

Here are some pics but excuse the crappiness since it is dark out in the garage





On the auto-AC, you can make it run manually if you like. There is an "auto" button but everything else works manually. You still use the temperature setting though to determine if it runs hot or cold.

 

Sounds like my car (sans Rear Fog and Black Bonnet Stripes). I wanted some different color stripes and went with silver to match the interior. Check out my gallery.

 

Thanks for the replies! It looks good

Bolus... Do you have an MC or MCS, since I think the MC has grey doors if you get grey leatherette, but the MCS has black - I'm not sure why! I was just worried about the back seats since they are mostly grey too!

Thanks for the AC answer... I was kind of worried about that!

I have another question about the rear fog light though... Since I'm on a budget, I cannot afford all the options to get all the toggles, so I am getting the rear fog light since I figure it will be a useful feature for tailgaters, etc. and it should make my toggle switches be two on the outside (door locks) then two in the center (windows and rear fog light). Has anyone else done this? I just figure it will make the toggle switch panel look more 'symmetrical' and not such an eyesore... I'm worried though that they might put the rear fog toggle where the front fog toggle goes as I'm only getting the one... Do they change positions or are the concretely in that configuration no matter what?

 

The auto can be turned off on the auto AC, and it can be operated as normal, as well as vent/fan only. (I don't know why you would want to though).

I have grey leatherette, silver dash, and the door casings are the darker color (didn't MINI phase out the light color casings? I'm not sure the MINI configurator has this right, so ask your salesman). I don't think I'd want the light colored door casings, personally. The dash board is always the dark color no matter what. The darker door casings are the same color as the dash, so the color has a continuous "wrap around" flow. If the car is equipped with lighter door casings, the dark dash color just abruptly "stops" rather than flows into the doors. The lighter color shows dirt more, too.

I since retrofitted on the chromeline interior, which really makes a big difference. There's already chrome in there--chromeline interior just adjusts the balance by giving more chrome and less silver. I also changed out my shift **** to the Whalen Shift Machine.

I also have the standard light headliner, not the anthracite one.



















This picture was prior to retrofitting the chromeline interior...

 

don't worry... new MINIs don't come with the lighter door casing. I'm not sure when they phased that out, but mine sure doesn't have it.

 

love that interior!

 

If you have to choose between front and rear fogs, I think the fronts are much more useful. They can actually assist your driving in foggy driving situations, versus merely helping other people to see you. I've had my car for a year, and I've probably used the front fogs half a dozen times, and the rear fogs maybe once or twice in very thick fog.

Good choice on the sport seats and MFSW! Other than the sunroof, I consider those to be the most indispensable options on the MC.

Chris

 

wow - that interior is sweet. I've been thinking of doing the
chrome interior. Did you get the parts from the dealer or
one of the aftermarket stickey tape kits? Do you have a ballpark estimate on how much it was?

thanks!

Ray

 

I have the MCS. I dont have the rear fog lights. There is a toggle missing but it is really not that noticeable. I'm not sure though if they would change positions. My guess is that they dont change positions and just leave the toggle out if you dont get that feature.

 

Tarzan: thanks for the pics, it looks lovely. I also thought the inside would be a bit 'busy' with the light roof casing, the grey doors, and dark dash... If it is true that they phased it out, then I guess that is good. I'll have to ask my MA to be sure. I know the MINIUSA.com site has some errors in it already - like when you change the dash to another colour it keeps all the other parts silver... BTW, where did you get those little MINI stickers that are on your headrests?!

Chrisneal: thanks for the input. It actually doesn't get foggy down here much, so I figured that since the rear fog is only $100 extra I can use it for those annoying tailgaters without actually applying the brakes (safer!) and plus my toggle switch panel will look nicer The sports seats and MFSW are absolute necessities IMO! I mean, the seats are pretty much the most fundamental part of the interior since you sit in them the whole time you are in your car - might as well be more comfortable. Plus I like the styling with the grey leathrette on the sports as opposed to the standard (too much grey).

bolus: thanks. Ya, I was thinking the same, but you never know, haha... I was thinking it would be typical if they changed it... ugh. I think I'm going to check with my MA to make sure it stays where it's supposed to be

 

Thanks! I retrofitted the chromeline interior with dealer pieces, not the stick-on coverups available out there. Ballpark figure was under a couple hundred dollars. At the time, you had to buy a completely new tachometer and have it programmed at the dealership (I got one that had never been used off ebay for $50). Nowadays, the dealership has just the ring, which is much cheaper.

I also recommend you get the front fog lights when you order the car. It would be very expensive and laborious to try to retrofit this in after the fact.

The rear foglight is incredibly easy to retrofit in later on down the road (as I have done). The car is pre-wired for it. The toggle switch panel costs about $70 discounted, and the rear lamp costs about $20. You also have to get this feature programmed, but if you have other things to get programmed, get them done at the same time and it won't cost extra.

I retrofitted in the alarm system after the fact (also pre-wired), as well as the homelink rearview mirror, the factory arm rest, the factory bluetooth adaptor, JCW strut brace, JCW wheels, and JCW sill plates. (And the JCW kit, installed by the dealership). I've been retrofitting these things in as the cashflow comes available, rather than financing them in with the purchase price of the car.



















If you get the front fogs, financed in with the car, you can just lay out around $100 after the purchase when your cashflow allows it and have a full bank of toggle switches.

I got those little headrest decals off ebay for about $10 for a set of 4. I have since sent my front headrest covers off and had them embroidered:

 

Thanks for the suggestions. I definately like the grey seats better than black since it matches the headliner and makes the inside less 'gloomy'.

 

Ok, I talked to my MA, and he said ONLY the hard-top base MC comes with grey doors if you get grey/black leatherette... All other models come with black doors... I don't know WHY that is... He said that it's a darker grey, not light like the seats... He said he has one coming in soon, and he'll contact me so I can go look at it... I really need to see it in person, since the dash will be black, the doors grey and the liner light grey, lol... I don't want it too look too weird... I hope I like, since I really don't like the all-black interiors... mmm... well, at least we know...

 

You really need to get the front fogs.

 

Are you ordering from Classic?

 

LOL, well now, if I did that I'd have messed up toggles

I really can't afford to add the DSC AND the front fogs, and realised if I just order the rear, my toggles will be two outside and two center. It looks a lot better with having the two missing toggles...

 

What is that??!