I am thinking about a configuration for a 2008 MCS under $30K

Chili Red/White MCS
White Turn signals, White Bonnets.
Chili pack,
DSC, LSD,
Xenons, Front and Rear Fogs,
Powerfold Mirrors,
Chrome Line Interior,
Check Carbon Cloth seats,
Comfort Access System,
Bluetooth Phone Prep,
Alarm,
Multi Function Steering Wheel,
Union Jack Roof Decal,
JCW Suspension,
JCW Stage 1 Tuning kit,

I wanted the red interior but couldn't keep it under $30K.

Anyone have a Chili Red With Red/Black leather/cloth seats and a Red color line? Is it too much red?

Any thoughts?

 

Was also thinking Mellow Yellow/White and a Checkered roof... With a Yellow Color line. Any thoughts?

 

I find leather to be a bit slippery in a tossable car. I got the checked cloth interior thinking I would have it replaced with alcantara. But actually it's not bad at all.

 

My first MINI had black Leatherette seats. Durable, but hot in the summer. Irony was that when we sold it to settle our divorce, Carmax thought the leatherette was actual Leather!

 

That's not ironic, that's just plain awesome

 

I would consider dropping the bluetooth, to get the $ to upgrade the seats. I have the carbon punch leather, and like it very much.

 

What is the Chili Pack?

 

Sounds like a great combination...you can never have too much red!

 

I second that question! I know it's a package that is available in the UK, but what does it consist of?

 

What wheels are you speccing?

I'd scrap the DSC and the power fold mirrors and put that money toward some wheels.

I personally think the leatherette seats look better than the lounge leather and after having leather seats and dealing with the wear lines, I'm looking forward to leatherette.

 

If you're really sold on the powerfold mirrors, I'd consider going with the Cold Weather package which includes them, plus the heated seats. That might come in handy during Indiana winters.

Unless they're newly offering the Chili pack on US '08 builds then I believe that's a 'not in this market' kind of deal.

Here's a post with some pictures of the Rooster Red color line with the brushed alloy dash and the chrome like interior.

Personally I'd go for the red/black seats and ditch the comfort access (is it really that hard to push the button on the fob to open the doors?) if you're really trying to keep it on a budget. You could also lose the roof graphic for now. That's something that can easily be put on later once you get some more money saved.

A thread full of interior pictures.

 

Powerfold Mirrors, A LUXURY
Comfort Access System, AN EXPENSIVE LUXURY
Alarm, YOUR CALL I WOULD NOT DO IT

 

Power fold are not part of the cold weather package but a separate option.

 

Sounds like a fun list. However, Bluetooth seems out of place for such a sporty car. Talking while driving (according to a Mythbusters test) is about equivalent to driving drunk. So, a drunk in a MCS Stage 1 JCW could get in a lot of trouble.

Edit: I do have the Bluetooth option -- came in the Convenience Package. I wouldn't have ordered it otherwise. I have used it a few times and it does work OK. I mostly used it while parked. At freeway speeds the ambient noise in the car makes it a little difficult, but it works. On the other hand, a cell phone headset works just as well. The armrest that comes with the Bluetooth is a PIA, IMO.

As far as the red colorline and Redwood leather, better check that they go well together. IIRC, the colorline is fire engine red and might look odd with the redwood.

DSC is a must have! It could save your butt if you get going sideways. If you really need to, you could turn it off for specific events. You can save up and get wheels later.

Didn't they get added to Cold Weather for 2008? Worth checking.

 

On the 1/2 leather seats the part you sit on is cloth, the leather is more of an accent. I have it on mine and love in. No slippage! It looks sweet on CR. I wish I had the Rooster Red color though. I think it looks great. You can't have too much RED

 

Chili package... AKA Cold Weather package... Had it on MIB (2006 AB MC) in Indy and now that I am in NW Indiana near lake Michigan. MUST have Chili pack/Cold weather package!

I have a bluetooth headset, and the quality is less than when I use the phone directly. I live near Illinois and the law there (and in other areas) says you either have to have a headset or have a car kit. Holding a cell phone means a ticket. I am not 100% certain on the arm rest. Though not having to put the head set in my ear would be nice. I think Gabe from WRR fame, got the bluetooth prep and then removed his unwanted but manditory arm rest. I may go that route myself. And sell the arm rest here on NAM. True the Comfort access system is totally luxury. And since I already have a Bluetooth headset.. bluetooth prep is luxury as well. Hmm delete both and go for Anthracite headliner and Piano Black dash???

Wheels. Well that is another issue. I was thinking 16" Swinders, the base wheels on the MCS. I don't care for the criown spokes And who needs Sport Suspension from the sport pack when I am paying for the JCW suspension... I miss the 16" that came on the 2002-2006 MCS without sport package. I like the 18" JCW Double Spokes. But there isn't room in the budget for $3585 worth of wheels. And the 17" R90 is a nice wheel but again $3650 More than the 18" JCW Double Spokes!

I will grab a can of brake caliper paint rather than spend $1360 on brakes that are painted JCW red. Though I might consider the JCW vented brake rotors.

My goal was to make it hard to visually detect the JCW goodies, but the lowered JCW suspension, well kinda throws that out.

I had the alarm on MIB. I liked it as it is built into the car and not jimmy rigged by some teen-aged installer.

Then another idea....

Sparkling Silver/Black and an aftermarket gray tone Union Jack Roof....

 

The Brits really don't understand chilis. They're hot, not cold!

I have the Anthracite headliner, Piano Black, Bluetooth, and Comfort Access. I wouldn't give up Comfort Access nor the headliner. I very much enjoy just pressing the black button on the door handle to lock and unlock the car. Then getting in, pushing Start, and driving off. The fob stays in the coin pocket of my Levis.

I would probably change Piano Black to English Oak. Piano Black is just black plastic. I was expecting a hard glossy surface like the gloss black formica on my NHT speakers. It isn't hard. Scratches fairly easily and reminds me of the kind of plastic models are made out of (polystyrene?).

I have a Motorola headset. I'm not sure how it sounds to people on the other end, but it sounds fine to me.

Spend as little on OEM wheels as possible. You can get a set of Rota RB 16x7 for $575 shiipped, and they only weigh 14 lbs. ea. I have a set and like them, except for cleaning. There may be other styles easier to clean.

I also got a set of CenterLine RPM 17x7s for about $750 shipped. They are less than 16 lbs. ea. At these prices, you could get 22 wheels for $3650.

Also, the OEM wheels tend to be rather heavy. The Crown Spokes and Web Spokes are 22.5 lbs. per wheel, IIRC.

The R56 MCS comes with what were JCW upgrades for the R53, or so I hear.

Sparkling Silver is a warm tone, as in Champagne. Not sure you can get a Union Jack in warm grays. You would need to make sure it works well with the Champagne color. I think the UJ is more suited to DS and PS.

 

I was thinking of a gray scale Union Jack from Aestheticreations.