Okay I am the one who also posted "MINI on a Budget." Well, the MINI I wanted was indeed sold, but a new one is coming tomorrow. It has everything except: Xenon lights, front and rear fog lights. So I can get this one now, save money with multiple dealer discounts, more for trade in, or I can order an 08 and wait six weeks and get exactly what I want. Keep this in mind, I am a student and those discounts are very tempting, this is not going to be the MINI for life, that will come when I am like 26 or 28 , when I can afford to splurge and mod, like my dad. Which would you choose? An 07 with benifits or a perfect 08?

 

The xenons are really nice to have, I love them on my car. I have front fogs(I know they are standard on the MCS) I never use them and I don't have rear fogs. But its all up to you. Make sure you post pics whatever you decide though!

 

I'd go with the one you can afford. If the one coming momentarily will make you happy and it's not going to be a keeper forever, then I say go for it..

Donna

 

I don't have the xenons, and don't feel that I need them. As for the fog lights, I never use them, but I do not have much fog where I live. So the question that should be asked is, do you live in an area that is foggy with no street lights?

 

I'd order the 08 and wait. You can still get discounts on an ordered car they just won't be as much. I've had a dealer offer me 500 off an 08 already.

A car is the 2nd biggest purchase you'll likely make in your life and as a college student its the biggest one. Get exactly what you want as 6 months or a year down the line you don't regret not getting the Xenons you really wanted.
my .02
Mike

 

This is true. I know I edited my original post, but after thinking about it I know I would have regrets about leaving something out.

 

The one in the dealers inventory already has my name on it so to say, it's being held. It's still at the BMW dealership, and is being transfered tomorrow.
It is:
MC
Oxygen Blue
Auto
Sunroof
MFSW
HiFi Sound
Auto AC
Auto Wipers. Lamps
White Turn Signals

What it's missing
Xenons
Fronst and Rear Lamps

Overall I would be happy with the 07. I think I'll go for it, if I can get a checkered board dash

 

Yea, my dad pointed that out and immediatly started looking for aftermarket possibilities

 

The things that are lacking are trivial, with the exception of the xenons. I'd get the 07, and be happy to be a college student rocking a sweet MC - with a sweet payment that allows for a little more fun to be had in said car

 

order and wait. It's worth it.

 

Sounds good!!! The standard lighting is plenty legal and functions very nicely.

 

Go for it. You definitely won't miss the xenons, especially if you've never had them. You've been driving without them for probably nearly 10 years and you've done fine, right?

 

I have the Xenons and wish I didn't. If the standard aren't bright enough for you, I believe you can upgrade the bulbs (better look into that to be sure). Anyway, if Xenons are the only thing you would be giving up discounts and waiting for, add up the cost and see if you really think it is worth it.

 

I've been driving for three years all without Xenons. I don't know if my dad's MCS has them.

 

I think I am going to get the MINI in stock, it seems nearly perfect. As I said, I can always buy my dream MINI when I am a bit older.

 

Just remember to post pics!

 

Personally if you can afford to wait I'd wait for the custom ordered one. As some of the posters said the discounts on these cars are usually not that steep. You only get a chance to do this sort of thing every once in a while in life (less for custom ordering cars). I have the Xenon's on my mini and personally think they are worth it for both the functionality and the look (the whole light enclosure just looks a lot better/cooler, and they are super bright). It is also one of those upgrades that perceptually will give your Mini a much more upscale look which is both good for you now, and I would imagine good for the resale if/when that time comes too.

Finally, you never actually know what kind of crap life will throw your way. You may end up keeping this car for a much shorter period of time than you think or you may end up being stuck with it for other reasons for much longer than you think, if the latter happens you might as well get something you will be as happy with as possible.

UPDATE: I just reread your post, if Xenons are the only real feature and there aren't any tweaks you'd make to color and or styling then I guess its a bit of a toss up. I personally enjoyed the ordering process a lot but if they wind up giving you a really good deal on the car in stock (not something like $400 off) then maybe you should go for the one in stock. Otherwise if the discount isn't good and or the color is not your very first choice then I'd kill two birds with one stone and order.

 

I ordered a very early '03 Cooper and at the time the range of options available were rather small in comparison to what was available only a few years later. So....what I'm saying is that the MINI you're looking at is pretty well dialed-in for you...great! But who knows what will be available in a few years. I always ogled the aftermarket start/stop button but, lo and behold, now R56 comes with a start/stop button. Whodathunkit???? You may actually not be able to build your dream MINI right now...but in a few years who knows? Maybe that means better wheel selections available, better sound system, other color options, better fuel efficiency....we'll see. Anyway, I just ordered my OB/W R56 Cooper and got a few select options, some of which were not available in '03. So, yes, this is my dream MINI, especially w/ features I would not have even dreamed to ask for...6-gears, a telescoping steering wheel, a more torquey and efficient engine, a start/stop button, a secret freakin' compartment, and (be still my heart) a near match to my all time favorite classic-Mini color (Island Blue) in Oxygen Blue (and it's even non-metallic!!). Really, I couldn't be happier, but I could not have built this car in '03.

 

I got my first MINI (an 05' Cooper) without any options at all - because I was on a budget and because I really wasn't sure what did I exactly want. I installed things I wanted to add later and was very happy with the car all along.

Finally when the opportunity presented itself I switched to a new custom-spec R56 - this time around I had more money and knew from personal experience which options would I actually use.

So - my advice - if you can save significantly and get almost what you want right away (btw - I don't care about the xenons that we got on our 2nd car and didn't get them on my R56) - go for it.

fog lights can be installed later I think - and even if it's too difficult for the front ones - you can always install very cool aftermarket driving lights instead.

as far as I remember waiting for something you want in the college years is much more painful than when you are a grown-up ;-)

 

Robin, Why do you wish you did not have the xenons? I am lurking to order a MINI and others are seem to really like them with statements like "I'll never buy a car without them..."

 

I certainly won't speak for Robin, however I share his opinion. I opted for halogen as well. I run the fogs on my MCS everytime I drive it. For me, i felt the mismatch between the xenons and fogs looked odd. As far as brightness goes, you can get better bulbs. I don't really think the xenons will be any better than Daniel Stern's recomendations. Adjabbari made a great point in that folks percieve xenons, and the cars that posess them to be a bit more upscale - especially on resale.

 

Thanks for the input Adam. I just thought it was odd for one to actually have the xenons and wish they did not have them. I can see how one would say they are not worth $500, or say that they did just fine without them.

Valid point with the fogs not matching, but I believe I was reading a thread somewhere on NAM where you could change the fog bulbs to a more blue color so the light matches better... w/ some OEM BMW bulb p/n .

My reasoning for not wanting to have xenons is the money, the sharp beam cutoff, the washer jet probably makes a mess on the car (I understand they wash when you wash the windshield) and is another thing to break or "stick", and expensive repair if a new bulb or igniter is needed. My thoughts are also that the fogs would become ineffective, or just look goofy like you mentioned. Everyone else seems to love them... so I am tempted to just get them and hopefully fall in love with them.

 

You're right on every account. I had them on my last MINI and opted out of them this go around.

 

Personally I _really_ like Xenon lights. However, I don't find them necessary or a safety feature or subscribe to a lot of the "justifications" people have made for them on this forum. I just like them.

I have fairly decent night vision (knock on wood to stay that way) so the cut-off does not bother me at all and I appreciate the brighter light/focused light on the roadway where I am looking. I'm also the type of person who keeps their mag light in the focused position.

My current car does not have Xenons because I didn't want to pay for them and I'm glad I never did pay for them. My previous car to my current one came with them standard. When I ordered the MINI I ordered the Xenon's because after everything I clicked on an additional $500 click wasn't all that significant.

Honestly, I think the spritzer on the Xenon's is more of a safety feature then anything else. Yes, it makes a mess of the car from what I read but I see _way_ to many people driving around with gunked-up headlights and driving 35 mph below the limit because they can't see. It only takes 30 seconds at a gas station to wipe off your lights. I have no idea why people can't figure this out.

Oh.... so my advise? Save the $500 if you really are on a budget and just plan on getting a new MINI in 3-5 years when "the new ones" come out. If you start planning now your new budget may include the Xenon's (or maybe they will be standard).

 

Hello everyone, we decided to buy the one at the dealer it just arrived there this morning and delivery will be on Monday, and there are two big "SOLD" signs on it!! Downtown MINI gave me and my dad a wonderful deal. And we got bonnet stripes and the checkered board dash, which will be installed on Wednesday morning! Very very happy, I will get my new MINI 3 years and 1 day after I got my licence! The only bad part is I have to leave him for 3 days right after I get him, prior committment to family. But at least dad will baby-sit