I will be placing my order for the S Clubman in Dark Silver with silver C pillars (no bonnet stripes) most likely this weekend. I will be getting the convenience package but am trying to decide if i should get the sports suspension (either package or seperately). The other decision is the the wheels. 16" bridge-spoke or 17" 5-star pace. I think the 5 star pace looks a little better but they're $750 more if i don't get the sport package. Thanks for your recommendations.

 

Without the Stripes the package is still $1500 and al la carte is $1750. That $250 is the price of either the Sport Seats, or the Front Fog Lamps. At a package cost of $1500 either of those items can be considered Free.

 

Without the Stripes the package is still $1500 and al la carte is $1750. It is then up to you to decide how much do you desire each of the included items. I have no comment about the wheel without knowing what the new 5-Start Pace Spoke wheel weighs. I perfer the new wheel but weight is a factor to me. Looks like my first reply may have posted before I intended. Good luck on your order. ajm

 

Without the Stripes the package is still $1500 and al la carte is $1750. That $250 is the price of either the Sport Seats, or the Front Fog Lamps. At a package cost of $1500 either of those items can be considered Free.

 

Ensure you get the Xenon/HID headlight option - or the pack that contains them. The standard halogen headlights are dreadful.

 

Really? I have already waaaaaay overordered on the options...and added the little rally driving lamps...do you think the halogens really make that much of a difference?

(as the Mini goblins slowly nibble their cute little teeth deeper and deeper into my beleagured little wallet...)

 

So...in anticipation of the answer to the Xenon headlamps question (I've never had them, my current car (2.8L '98 z3) has ye olde timey ones)... here's a new question:

I've basically already ordered the entire sports package, minus the Xenon headlamps. If I add them (basically, change it to the sport package), my price goes up by $1K -- which admittedly isn't a lot, but considering my bleeding wallet, it still matters, particularly to my very indulgent spouse.

If I were to ditch one grand worth of other options, what about ditching $1K worth of chrome line exterior? floor mats? center armrest? and - gasp - strut brace?

or is it worth my husband selling his wedding ring to get me those headlights AND the strut brace?



If I were to ditch

 

MHO is that it is one of the most important options you can buy. I have yet to compare MINI's xenon lights with other but those in my Audi TT and VW Touarag are absolutely worth it. How can you travel quickly in your MINI if you can't see what is ahead on the highway?

 

That strut brace can go on any time, even years from now, and not cost any more. In fact, some would argue that you could get a better quality one for less through the aftermarket, and I would argue that you really don't need it at all.

The Xenons are very difficult, if not impossible to add later.

I'd go over your option list with that kind of attitude. No reason for you to be paying loan interest on stuff you can add in later out of pocket, especially if it keeps you from getting something you really want that you can't install later.

 

Wow, thanks. That's an extremely helpful strategy. Hadn't conceptualized it that way, but makes perfect sense.

 

I have had the self-leveling Xenons on my 2003 Cooper for years and I can only highly recommend them.

I would not order a new car without them.

 

what about ditching the alarm system? I've never had one, never locked the doors, only had BMWS, only lived in cities, and yet never had an issue. My husband thinks i'm nuts, and he's the other person signing the check. thoughts?

 

Skip the extra driving lights and add the cash to the Xenons - you can always add the superfluous lights later - not so easily the case with the Xenons.

The Mini personifies form over function and the lights are one aspect that really makes the point - they look great when they're off, but low-beam performance is patchy and weak. My wife who has an eight week old Cooper (without Xenons) even criticises the standard lights - up to now she has been ambivalent about cars and every aspect of them!

 

Is the sports suspension worth it? I don't expect I will be going to the track or driving too agressively.

 

In all the reviews they loved the way it drove , I dont know if I'd mess with it .

 

Then you'll probably be fine without.

 

I will be getting the Xenon headlights for sure.

 

If it's anything like the R56 get the fog lights or you'll be missing toggle switches !

 

Will do.

 

Not everyone likes the xenons. I have a cooper without and a cooper S with the xenons, and the xenons are not worth the money IMHO. One significant difference is that the xenons self level so they are always properly adjusted, and that makes them look better at first. The halogens don't, and they are adjusted a tad low from the factory. Correcting that poor adjustement made them better for me than the xenons, and that's when I changed my opinion. I find the light placement on the road not quite as good with the xenons. However, different people have a different sensativity to bluish light and have trouble seeing as well with bluish light than other colors of light. see the attached article from a lighting consultant that works with GM and other companies on the design of their headlights for more info:
http://www.danielsternlighting.com/t...ght_color.html

Since it becomes subjective, before plunking down the sizable money for xenons, go to the dealer and drive one of each at night so you really know how your eyes react to the difference in lighting.

 

Most options are personal wants the way I see it, but I'll add my two cents...:impatient

Xenon, got them, love them, and so glad that someone talked me into them.

Rear fog lights, didn't get them, I so wish I did. I'm use to driving trucks and didn't really care how close others followed. In my Mini it seems that everyone is tailgating. Any extra lights back there would only help out the situation the way I see it. I did purchase the aftermarket pulsar light for the third brake light. This seems to help. Also someone mentioned that without them you're missing a toggle switch without this option. Yes, I want my toggle!

Driving lights, got them, love them, although haven't used them as of yet. It was a vanity thing for my car more than anything. It set the look off the way I wanted it. As for use, I live in the city and there's not much use for them to be honest. Although I'll have them on every Mini I'll ever own. Go figure. I've noticed many nice options on eBay. There are a few threads here for DIY set ups that look really nice or even better than the ordered set up. So this may be a money saving option.

Sports package, did it, Hubby wanted it and he's happy with it so that's all that matters.

Center armrest, didn't get it, haven't missed it at all. I'd read so many negatives about the Mini ordered one that I decided if I missed it I'd order an aftermarket one that many here on NAM say is much nicer size and storage wise.

Alarm system, wanted it, wasn't offered upon my ordering. I was convince by many threads here that it's really not a needed option. The Mini is pretty secure all by itself.

 

I got the Xenons, convenience package, factory alarm, white turn signals, no rear fog lights, no sport suspension and got the 16" bridgespoke wheels.

 

Did a a back-to-back comparison with my wife's Cooper (non-Xenon) and my own Cooper Clubman (with Xenons) last night. The difference is like night and day (sorry had to get that one in...) best option money spent.

 

Wow - That's perfect - exactly perfect -- I have epilepsy and have a real visual problem looking at blue light for long periods of time. I've always had problems with xenons in cars behind me, and usually just pull over to let them pass, but hadn't really connected it with my health issues. You've done me a TREMENDOUS favor...it would have been really awful to have to stare at my own blue light and end up needing to modify or sell the car to deal with it.

In addition, thanks so much for sharing the article...it's an absolutely fascinating bit of information, and I love the history about the french headlight politics...

this is really great. thanks again.

 

Quick follow-up to Kmass1...I called my neurologist to check about xenon light, and he said they use xenon lights to induce seizures when making epilepsy diagnoses. Apparently it's not only the frequency of the light, but also there's a flicker similar to flourescent light that's perceptible to certain people.

no xenons for me! If I ditch the alarm, I've got an extra thousand dollar. whoooey!