I am in the final stages of preparing to order a Cooper S. I am going for an old school look. I am unsure what to order for the dash material: English Oak or Piano Black? Any opinions?

My Specs so far:
Pepper White / Black Cooper S Manual
Cold Weather & Convenience Packages
Black Bonnet Stripes
LSD
DSC
16" Bridgespokes w/ All Seasons
Xenon Headlights
Rear Fogs
Auto A/C
Chrome Line Interior
Leatherette Upholstery
Rubber Floor Mats

(No sunroof and no anthracite headliner)

 

What color leather dash?

If cream, then english oak
If any other color, then piano black.

Edit: And don't forget you can get it wrapped in any color for $100 if you're willing to install it yourself.

 

+1 for piano black.

BTW, I'm really diggin' how you opted to NOT get the sunroof, but definitely like the anthracite headliner/panels.

 

Piano Black

 

The lower part of the dash would be the stock color. (dark gray?)

 

english oak IMHO, of course I'm biased see my gallery, but you know with the english oak you do get the piano door rings a nice combo

 

I'm with Vic. I like the look of the black against the gray or brightly color-lined dash, but English Oak looks really good against the cream colorline.

 

English Oak really glows in sunlight...visually, a very interesting dash option. I have English Oak with the standard dash colors (see gallery) and the look is really nice/traditional without being over-the-top. The switchwork, gauges and silver bits are enough, I feel, to keep the interior from looking too dark...in fact, these items really pop. English Oak has enough going on with it to really be the star of your MINI's interior.

In any case, it reminds me of the British sports cars me and my friends had, so there ya go!!

 

+1 for the English Oak - it really looks great!!!

Donna

 

If you are going for a classic British sports car look, English Oak would be the way to go. I got Piano Black, thinking it would be a nice hard glossy surface like the NHT speakers I have at home. Unfortunately, it is a fairly soft plastic. I debated between Piano Black and English Oak when I ordered, but the only EO I could see was a 1" square sample. I couldn't really tell what it looked like so I thought Piano Black was safer. Now I'm trying to decide if I want to go to all the work of making replacements out of real wood.

 

You guys ever heard of PatternTek? They have this process where they actually "dip" your parts in many different patterns. Here's some examples... Sorry if this strayed off topic a little bit, but just thought I'd throw this out there if someone was interested...





Here's some of their more wilder stuff...

 

got a PW MCS and the creamy white colorline - looks great with the Oak - decided to go with it after seeing a couple of pictures here on NAM

 

English Oak

 

I'd say English Oak if you're going for a retro feel, Piano Black for modern/tech.

 

piano black but it scratches real easy... be careful

 

Surfblue says go with the brushed alloy and add the anthracite headliner. See my gallery, you'll see your car. Makes for a very blacked out interior. IF you are stuck on EO or PB, I'd go with the EO. The black is gonna get smudged/scratched pretty easy. Reconsider the anthracite. It makes for a very tight interior, especially minus the sunroof. Nearly one year in, I have zero regrets on my car's spec and would order then exact same setup if I was replacing it. People comment on it favorably all the time...the interior and it's darkness. BTW, the interior pieces look darker in real life.
I assure you of one thing...no matter how you dress it up or down, you're gonna love the way it drives!!
The dark interior grows on you in a good way. Have fun!

 

and with English Oak you also get a different steering wheel and a shift ****.

I went this way because it looks 'classic' .... tan leather and a wood dash. You still get a splash of piano black.....but if I could have changed the cream..... I just have to remember to ensure I'm clean!! Very unforgiving.

 

I was considering going the classic route myself on my R56 order (BRG/B w/ black bonnets, Chrome int & ext, English Oak trim, driving lamps, Tuscan or Redwood leather upholstery and shifter/steering wheel/ebrake), but the cream color line stuck out like a sore thumb to me.

MINI needs to offer tan and/or redwood color lines.

 

The cream color line would not work for me. I am never good at keeping things like that clean. Plus, I have a black lab that often has muddy paws and sometimes has to explore the car.

You guys have me rethinking the anthracite headliner choice. Sometimes I feel there are too many choices.

 

Piano Black

 

When you say you get the black trim rings, do you mean all of the trim rings or just on the door?

 

I'd go with PB especially considering your leatherette seats. Maybe if you were getting the tuscan beige leather - then the EO would look great, but with the leatherette?....hmmm...i'm thinking it would clash with the EO....just my nickel.

 

You can tell by now that you won't get a consensus around here. My honest advice is to go to a dealer and look at the cars. You'll know then. The configurator is just OK, not adequate for visualizing the interior very well (better for exterior). See my gallery for EO shots btw.

 

English Oak! It is soooo much easier to keep clean. And yes, I already have scratches on the piano black on each door after only a couple months.

 

Another reason for English Oak. Piano Black shows fingerprints and dirt very clearly. EO is a better low-maintenance option.

It is one of the top three on the list of items people most regret not getting.

The large oval trim in the door. With EO, the door pull (in front of the armrest) is the only oak piece on the door.