In the past couple weeks I've done all the research on here needed to decide exactly what I want to order on my new MINI. Thanks to all the people who've answered questions for me. Here's the final list:

’08 MCS, BRG all, Tuscan Beige, Web Spokes, 6-Speed, Sport Pkg, Conv Pkg, Cold Pkg, Audio Pkg, Sport Susp, LSD, Nav, PDC, Auto AC, Headliner, Piano Black, iPod, Mats, Mudflaps, JCW: Engine Kit, Aero Kit, Rotors, Brace, Leather Wheel.

Thanks again everbody for all the recommendations. NAM rocks!!

 

Nice configuration.

 

Should be one heck of car! Unless you hate chrome, the chrome line interior is well worth it IMO.

 

Ooooo....JCW!! That'll make those milk-runs interesting!!!

 

you might want to consider rear fogs. Some comments have been posted here that people are sorry they "forgot" them for $100.

 

Correct.....rear fogs AND that extra toggle!!!!

 

yea i am one of those, i just over looked them. also don't forget that the 08s will have the USB port in it so you don't have to pay extra for the Ipod hook up.

 

The other reports are saying that the USB doesn't give the same integration on an iPod as the iPod adapter. They are saying that you can't use the radio controls to control said iPod, but you can use them for a USB thumb drive.

 

woohoo! Nice specs, now go order!

 

CHROME INTERIOR: Thought about it, but saw a picture of it in a car with Tuscan Beige / English Oak / Cream Line, and it was just style overkill to me. Maybe if I can get my Cream Line trim reworked to match my Piano Black then it would be a nice touch...

REAR FOGS: Where do they mount? They aren't a replacement for the lower brake light, are they? I had thought they mounted on the bumper, and with me getting the JCW Aero Kit already and modding it for the PDC, I didn't want to mess around with anything else bumper related. Somebody please school me here if I've got it all wrong.

USB: As a 22 year Mac veteran and a former Apple engineer I'm not even remotely convinced that a USB interface will provide any iPod integration on its own. I'm ready to be wonderfully surprised though, but "I'll believe it when I see it."

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention in my rundown, I am also getting White Signals... CHEERS

 

looks like its not an issue with the JCW kit...might not even be an option..
cream line looks good with eng wood BUT may clash with tuscan beige.

Might want to leave your original config intact.

 

According to the mini2.com website, the usb port with the ~$80 cable does the exact same thing as the $~500 ipod install kit. I've got a week 40 build, and am hoping that it shows up. I would hold off on the ipod order (since at least for me, it's a dealer-installed option and I can wait 'til the car shows up to decide) to see how the whole usb thing falls out. The ipod interface is certainly slow when I tried it on a demo machine -- I might just get a Belkin charger/line out kit and use the aux port -- only $30....

(20 year mac veteran, analytical chemist, hoping that BMW/mini knows what they are doing with the usb thing...)

I'd also get the rear fogs just to have all the toggle slots filled.

 

Looks like my Mini, which I am also ordering tomorrow, will look similar, though mine will be the base model and not as loaded (alas, I'm an underpaid academic):

BRG with white bonnet stripes
Sport Package
Multi-function steering
Center arm rest
Tuscan leather w/ piano black

Any suggestions in addition to the rear fog lamp?

Question: when I built this on the configurator, the white cream color line appeared automatically as included, but when I printed out the brochure, it was listed as another option and added $200. Which is it?

 

I haven't ordered mine either, but I definitely suggest the rear fogs. The stock bumper has cut outs for them, which looks bad, IMO. Here's a thread that shows the rear bumper with JCW aero kit with rear fogs: thread with pics.

As far as the USB port thing, here's a link to a thread that discusses it: USB Audio Port thread. It sounds like it's working and the only thing you lose is the ability to hide the cable(s).

 

colorline is only mandatory with Lounge leather seats..

ask your MA

 

The downside is that you may get reflections of the chrome in the windows, and are more likely to get reflections of the sun in your eyes. IMO, a dash should be as non-reflective as possible.

 

I stand corrected on the Rear Fogs... I'll be adding those. I hopefully stand corrected on the iPod USB integration, and will eagerly await reports when NAM members take their delivery. I'm still unlikely to be adding Chrome Line Interior. I still don't know what Color Line to use with Tuscan Beige and Piano Black... none look good and I'll probably have to hand them off to a third party for some kind of reworking (into a glossy black to match the Piano).

Here's the updated config:

’08 MCS, BRG all, Tuscan Beige, Web Spokes, 6-Speed, Sport Pkg, Conv Pkg, Cold Pkg, Audio Pkg, Sport Susp, LSD, Nav, PDC, Rear Fogs, White Signals, Auto AC, Headliner, Piano Black, iPod/USB Cable, Carpeted Mats, Mudflaps, JCW: Engine Kit, Aero Kit, Rotors, Brace, Leather Wheel.

 

In another thread, a couple people said they got the Cream color line with Tuscan leather and didn't like it. Said they thought it didn't match well.

Rear fogs are good.

Heated seats are nice. They warm up fairly quickly. Better than waiting for the engine to warm the heater on a cold morning.

Don't get the arm rest. I have it and hate it. Gets in the way of shifting and doesn't fold back far enough to get out of the way. There is an after-market arm rest that is said to be much better. I think this is it, but you should so a search here on armrest and read the threads about it.

I like the Park Distance Control. IMO, the rear visibility out of the MINI is rather limited by the high waist and headrests.

I'm a big fan of the Anthracite Headliner. If you search, you'll find quite a few posts from people who didn't get it and now regret it.

The English Oak interior goes well with BRG and should look great with Tuscan leather.

 

Thanks for the advice! Hmm, the configurator seems to disagree about the cream white. When I delete it, it automatically deletes the leather. I'll ask the MA.

 

A lot of folks are mad that they didnt get the chrome interior and are having to retrofit now , so think hard on your decision.

 

oh ok didn't know that, i haven't been reading much on the 08s since i just got a 07.

 

Not sure, so definitely check with your MA, but it probably deletes the leather because you can't get the tuscan leather with gray color line. Looks like the only two color lines you can get with the Tuscan leather are yellow and cream white.

 

Great choices!!! It shall be a handsome MINI. I am biased as to the color choices, of course. Mine should be here in the next 7 days. I am anxious to see how the cream color line looks with the English Oak and Tuscan Beige Seats. I guess if I don't like it, I will get my husband to paint them. Concerning the anthrocite headliner, I opted for the regular color due to the lighter colors of the rest of the interior. We will see. Too late for me now.

 

Kimberely, I was originally going to go with the English Oak, but decided that the more refined Oak look conflicted with the black exterior appointments of the JCW Aero Kit, so I chose Piano Black to go with that aggressive/performance look. If I'd stuck with Oak I'd have wanted the Cream Line painted brown to match; as it is I'll be trying to paint it glossy black to match the Piano. I saw one car with Tuscan Beige/Oak/Cream Line/Chrome Interior, and thought the Chrome bling conflicted with the elegant Oak, which got me turned off of Chrome line.

Anyway, if I wasn't going for the JCW exterior look I'd have gone your English Oak route for sure, and painted the Cream Line to match. Let me know how it looks when you get it though (in the next 7 days, woohoo!!!).

Pictures?

 

You call that a decision, it sounds like you got everything. Sounds amazing. Does the audio package include factory sirius?. If it does your set.