So i finally went over the my local mini dealer yesterday afternoon to have a sit down with an MA. I gave him my build that i designed on the mini.com website and proceeded with some questions. Right now if i order this week he said i would be looking at a week 50 build and a mid Feb deliver due to the 2 weeks holiday factory closing. I than proceeded to ask what discounts i would be getting or any accessories would be thrown in...he stated " mini doesn't give discounts"...ok i get it let play hardball. Is this normal the first time you eneter into the dealer and sit down with an assistant? You see i was going in to meet with a specific MA but that gentlemen was busy at the time i arrived, so someother guy sat down with me to just get a basic understanding of what i was looking to get. Did he give me this no discount line because he wouldnt be my MA when i go through with the process or is this true? I find it hard that if you build a $40,000 dollar car fully stacked with options that they wouldnt work with you a bit, and try and shave some costs for you.

So then i proceeded with asking about the ipod/usb connections and talking about the iPhone 3G and if it works and if it charges....what it came down to was that mini give you a cable to plug those items in (if you get that package) but the cord would only keep the iPhone connected to the stereo system but no actually charge this. I undestand that Apple swicthed from the USB to firmware, and the MA said BMW is not releasing this new cord till next year. Now is there someone now with this setup i am trying to get that actually has worked a way around the cord to actually get the iPhone to hold a charge and play throguht the system?

I guess my major concern right now is finding out the details with these iPod/iPhone connections and whats the best solution to get this all working while BMW waits to relase this new cord. Other than the picking final packages and options for the car I think I'm pretty confident with my build. If anyone has any phots of the new '09 JCW Clubman can you send me a link or please post. I'm leaning towards a Red one. Thanks and I appreciate any advice that you may have to offer.

Andrew

 

Where are you located? My local dealer here in VA has a Sparkling Silver/Sparkling Silver/Black 09 JCW Clubman sitting on the lot for sale. The interior is Tuscan Beige. It is fairly well loaded. The price is around $38K or $39K. The dealer had a buyer who ordered it but then couldn't get financing for some reason.

 

It is true that Mini doesn't give discount. HOWEVER, the dealer does have room to move around as far as pricing goes. The difference between MSRP and invoice is dealer profit. Since this is going to be ordered, there are no kept-on-the-lot costs but still the usual prep costs. Technically speaking, they can give you a drop in price and still make a profit. Whether they will do it is another question. :P

I have remarked on the whole Mini pricing issue on another thread but basically my belief is that you won't get alot of movement price-wise. However, you would probably be able to fish for more freebies(accessories/installation/etc.).

 

Andrew, did you decide to stay with MoML?

 

IT is very true that Mini does not do discounts and in some places actually charge higher than MSRP.

As for add ons like Floor mats or something else. May be if you get them for free that is good for you. But the dealer had to pay BMW Group for them and that eats into their profits so everyone else that buys a Mini has to pay a little extra. Is this fair? IMHO No it is not fair.

The iPod connection problem has supposedly benn solved by a new cable. Part Number 84109182792. But unfortunately is seems that some people here have also had that cable not work.

The probelm with the iPhone 3G is that it actually draws more current (more than 500MA) off of the USB port to charge if less than 1/2 full. The Mini can not handle this. The Mini is limited to 500MA as an absolute max. 08's are actually limited to about 400MA. This is actually not a Mini problem so much as it is an Apple problem. The USB Specification only allows for 100MA (low power) and 500MA (high power) although many home computers and many but not all laptops will allow for higher current draws up to 1000MA (1amp).

So in reality the iPhone and some of the other newer iPods due nto meet the USB spec and thus have problems in situations that do meet teh minimum requirement of the USB Spec.

Only thing i can say is if you live in New England the old wives tale about more likely to getting stopped in a Red car are true. Can't comment no that in other parts of the country though.

 

Cabwy

- yes i went to MOML and might be heading up to Otto's today to ssee what they do for me. Im heading back to MOML at around 1pm today to see how things fall out.

- as for the iPhone 3G....your telling me there is no fix? No one has found a way around it?

 

As stated by schatzy above the iPhone will not charge if less that 1/2 full. Keep the phone above that level and it works great. Contol via the radio/wheel contols, pauses and resumes when you get a call ect. As long as you start with more that 1/2 it will play all day long and charge the phoen to full. I just keep a normal iPhone car charger in the car in case i let the level get to low. Since the iPHone does a quick charge at first it only take a little while to get above 1/2 full. You can also just plug the apple cable into the MINI usb port to charge the phone but it will not play that way and I find it hard to use that plug so I just use the lighter iPhone charge but you dont have to. I keep hearing december for a new cable but I have not seen one yet nor has the 3g snapin become available if you get confort bluetooth with smart phone prep and want to use the arm rest.