Each to their own.

My car doubles as a daily driver and a hobby/track car. I have the convenience/comfort and cold weather packages, plus the performance-oriented stuff I want. That combination makes perfect sense to me and my use of the car. But that's why there are choices. Different things make different sorts of sense to different people. I don't need to understand what someone else does or doesn't pick.

 

I know, that's why I said "I'll never understand why..."

But, for the sake of debate, let's take a look.

Convenience package:
Bluetooth w/ iPod/USB adapter - Doesn't work with all phones, car already comes with a USB adapter that plays and charges the iPod
Comfort Access - This is actually pretty cool.
Auto-dimming rearview mirror - How often do you really need this?
Universal garage door opener - ... ... ... Seriously?

Cold Weather Package: - This is admittedly a great deal.

Premium:
Sunroof - I have it and hate it. It's noisy, doesn't open in hot weather, weighs a ton and doesn't have a proper sunshade
Auto A/C - Completely unneeded
MFSW - Must have option.

Sport:
DTC - Useless 90% of the time, though a good safety feature
Xenons - Good deal
Bonnet Stripes - Overpriced and the dealer charges a ridiculous amount for labor to install them
White Turn Signals - I like these
17" rims - Heavy and extremely overpriced.


They've obviously tweaked these quite a bit since I ordered my car in 2007 and they do look better now, but I'd still say at least 80% of the options listed as are either useless, unwanted or complete fluff. It's just my opinion.

 

What's your complaint with the UGDO? I've had it on all my BMWs and MINI, and even installed it myself if it didn't come with the car. It works great, and I don't have to keep a remote in my car. Seriously!

Auto-dimming mirror. It's great for all those asses in SUVs that drive behind you with high-beams on.

BT works great with my iPhone. I forget to order the smartphone prep, but I just have a iPod nano attached to the adapter.

Didn't get premium package 'cause I didn't want sunroof, but did order Auto A/C -- been spoiled having it with my BMWs. There is no Sport package on JCW. I did not order the JCW Suspension, but will be buying the parts and installing it next month.

 

Here's my opinion on some items I did not comment on before:

Bluetooth w/ iPod/USB adapter - LOVE the bluetooth. I don't even talk on the phone much, but I still love it.

Comfort Access - LOVE this even more. Not fumbling around for keys anymore is great. This is one of those things you think is silly until you actually live with it everyday.

Auto-dimming rearview mirror - Works great.

Sunroof - Didnt get it because I never use sunroofs, and I didn't like the mesh shade. I don't regret this decision because I also love my roof graphic.

Auto A/C - Works perfectly. Set the temperature it and forget it. I have had auto a/c in cars for the last 5 years and don't want a car without it.

MFSW - Agree this is must-have because this is the only way you get cruise control. Plus, very handy for radio, bluetooth, and voice controls.

DTC - Worth the cost. Great safety feature in foul weather.

 

If your phone doesn't work on the bluetooth then you need a decent phone. I love the bluetooth, its a safety feature more than anything and everyone should have one in their car.

And you think auto-dimming mirror is useless? This is also one of the better options, it just makes sense on a car as low as the mini (especially given how big the rear view is)

 

Have these, love them. As Robin said, the sunroof is very controversial. I seriously love mine and I live in a climate where the issues with the 2nd gen sunroof are not as common, but also, the issues with the 2nd gen sunroof do have a TSB out there on them and most folks are finding that after they take the car in for the fix, there are no more issues. There are a few guys that IMO... are probably being mistreated by their dealers that are not seeing resolutions to the sunroof problems.

If you do get the sunroof... might I suggest getting it tinted? I have mine tinted black to match the roof of my car and I love it.

Also have the heated seats. I have black cloth seats and this winter those seats made my day... and your wife will appreciate the amount of tension and back pain relief you can get from them. EXCELLENT choice.

Doesn't the S come with all of this stuff except for the DTC standard?

Tranny is also controversial. I have an auto, love it. I second, or third the recommendation that you have the wife drive both because it does seem to be a very personal preference with the MINI.

I have runflats, I think non-runflats are a better choice for a smoother ride, but I will use the runflats until they wear out. I have a set of snow tires for my MINI. 16" wheels are really rough with the runflats... really nice with the snow tires. I could not imagine trying to run around with my MINI on 17's.

Actually... if it's in your budget, I recommend upgrading to the hi fi sound system. You cannot buy new decks for the 2nd gen MINI without a serious amount of heartache and annoyance, so if music in the car is important to your wife, buy the best stereo you can afford. Listen to both at the dealership if you have a hard time making a choice.

I've not heard good things about punch carbon. I've heard that it tears easily and does not wear well. If you are going to go leather, consider the carbon black lounge leather. I prefer cloth seats myself, but I have a large dog that I put in the car frequently and I didn't feel confident that the leather would stand up to his claws if he got in just after a trimming...

Chrome bonnet scoop is cool, can probably be had for slightly less money elsewhere... and from what I've read is pretty easy to install yourself. Look into this before settling on getting it from the dealer.

Rear mudflaps are NOT necessary. I have them if you would like to see pics. They are an aesthetic choice more than anything else. I got them because I liked them, but they do nothing to help keep the car clean. The front mudflaps do prevent the icky mud streak that you will often get on even the driest roads for no reason other than... your MINI felt like playing in the only puddle for a hundred miles...

Having seen what MINI's invisishield looks like after three years I'm not a fan of the product. My MINI dealer was also not a fan of the product. I have 3m rock shield installed on my car and love it. I have seen it in use on cars for a while and it does not yellow, it also saved me from having to respray the bonnet when someone smacked it with a piece of rebar at a casino.

Get the clear bra. You will never regret this choice, but you can find it cheaper and better elsewhere. Look around your area for a professional 3m installer. If you're not sure what to look for, call a couple of dealerships and ask them who they use. Most dealerships hire this installation out to other shops, rather than do them in house.

LOVE my rubber floor mats. Don't have the boot mat, but I don't put wet things in the boot, do you? If not... you could probably skip it, or probably find it cheaper online... but the other floormats... SOOO worth it. Easy to clean, keep the floors underneath looking fabulous...

For your accessories, I'd check outmotoring or Moss MINI first before buying anything from the dealership. There are other online vendors that I'm sure are great (many of whom are probably NAM sponsors), but I can only recommend places that I've actually shopped at.

Good luck and congrats on the newest member of your family... because your wife will most likely tuck the MINI into bed every night after it comes home.

 

I haven't kept up with how the latest electronic systems work. They've changed a lot since my 2007 MCS was built. Last time I looked, DTC seemed like a really good option. Without LSD (mechanical limited slip differential), isn't DTC the best solution to keep the drive wheels from spinning? IMO, the standard ASC is quite lame. ASC just kills engine power when a front wheel starts to spin. If I understand it correctly, DTC brakes a spinning drive wheel just enough to keep it from losing grip. This causes the differential to put more power to the non-spinning wheel.

Front wheel drive cars are prone to spinning the drive wheels because acceleration causes weight transfer to the rear wheels. Without a good traction system it is easy to squeel a front wheel when turning or going up hill, even in the dry. This is especially true of the MCS because it has so much low-end torque. In the wet, you want the best traction system you can get.

I would definitely dump the Sports package, but I would get DTC.

Xenons, not sure. Not too keen on them for busy country roads because they are overly bright in low beam, and have a very sharp cutoff. So, your eyes adapt to the bright illuminated area, and you can't see beyond the cut-off. However, if you do a lot of highway driving at night where there aren't oncoming cars, the Xenon high beams are nice. It is on unlit country roads with traffic that they can be a problem, IMO. For city driving they are a useless option, unless you want to impress teenagers, or punish other drivers with your high beams.

 

You have a lot of the same stuff I have (mine was $30k). I'll stay away from the leather vs cloth and stuff and just pick off some things I like and don't like about what I bought (got mine off the lot):
Garage door opener- nice. Works on my 2 doors. Eliminates another gizmo.
Auto AC- I could do without it but if it's in a package.....
Xenons-nice
Sunroof- I don't use it much at all. It lets nice light in which I do like. I probably would skip it if I did it again.
17" wheels-I like the way mine look, which is why you pay more. The alternative is get cheap and then get aftermarket wheels and maybe tires too. You pay a premium for the Mini wheels but if you like them it's all good. 16" runflats are less harsh that 17". NonRFs ride WAY softer than RFs. (I have non RFs now)
Cold Weather: I don't have it. Do a search. Some hate it because the seats get really hot no matter what they're set at.
Hood scoop/floor mats- don't do that ever. I paid $100 for Mini floor mats, waste of $$. They stink. Get Cocomats. Wait on the scoop.
Invisishield-I wish I had done something like that for rock dings. But the dealer option is probably way pricey compared to doing it elsewhere. Check it out before you buy it there but do it.
Bluetooth- Do that, it's good even if you only use it sometimes like me.
Anthacite headliner-consider it.
Alarm-don't consider it. Comfort access is really safe. Just keep the key in your pocket and they can't steal it. And buy insurance.
HiFi- you didn't mention it so you must not be a stereo guy (my wife could do with no sound system at all). I think it sounds fine with my iPod.

 

WOW!!!!!!

Thanks for all the GREAT INFO!!!!

Two questions that are burning in my brain.....can I just order the options I want or do I have to order within a package....

For example, I would love to have the Xenon lights but may not want something else? You know, pay a-la-carte for options.

I have still to crack the code on the wing....I may have missed this but I cannot find anything for the rear spoiler...is this standard on the S?

I have been sold on the nixing of the alarm and dealer installs of the invishield. Heated seats are 100% being purchased....must have for us.

 

Yes, you can build it a-la-carte. Go to http://www.miniusa.com/ and build it exactly the way you want it in the Configurator. That will give you the cost of everything except the dealer-installed labor.

Yes.

The heated seats are good. They do get very warm at the beginning, to warm you up. The settings determine the temp they maintain after warm up.

 

It's all available ala carte. The packages sort of suck you into getting paying an extra few hundred for stuff you didn't want because it looks cheaper once you figure in the cost of your needed stuff. I didn't mention Comfort
Access. Get that. I thought that was a cute gimmic when I got my car now I feel sorry for people who have to put a key in the ignition. I got a car stolen by leaving the keys in it. No more. Progress.

 

Robin,

Thanks a bunch....will sit on the configurator again....for some reason I can't seem to get just the options I want....will try again and repost.

Leather is still a question. If anyone has a good picture of the Punch Leather driver seat and the Leatherette drivers seat I would be appreciative.

The car we drove at the CARMAX stated it had leather but after looking on the mini site...I think that it is leatherette instead. BTW if that WAS leatherette then we would be sold on it because it was quite nice!

 

Just a word of advice on evaluating leather/interiors in pix/configurator vs real life: They're not the same . I would no more choose an interior through pix/config than I'd choose a mailorder bride. (Unless it was Jessica Simpson )

 

Ok figured out the a-la-carte stuff pretty easily! They "tempt" you with the packages first...clever.

The suggestions everyone has mentioned has really helped quite a bit!

Still confused on the bluetooth functionality though....

Seems through the configurator the only way to do this is the $500 package. Says it comes with a iphone/ipod cable...and that the ipod can be controlled through the stereo...is this located in the glovebox?

Second question...as far as the comfort access system for $500. Can you start the car without the key FOB in the slot? Not entirely sure how this works?

 

1. I don't have this so others chime in. I think you get a Y cable that connects both to the docking port (bottom) and to the usb port on the iPod. The other ends plug to the usb port and aux ports under the centerstack. Not in the glove box. The iPod sits under the stack or wherever. It charges the iPod and lets you control it via the radio controls/MFSW. It's a special cable only from Mini and costs $100 but should be free to you. The BT phone just pairs with the unit. You can voice dial with most phones but you may have to "train" the phone to do it one number/name at a time (or not, depends on the phone) like I did (not hard). The stereo will show you the names of people on the phone directory so you can dial them that way too, but you have to mess with the dials like you do with the iPod. Call comes in and the speakers ring shutting off the music, you hit button on steering wheel and talk. You can voice dial numbers by saying them to the BT dude inside the system (I wish it were a British dude or girl but it isn't--I could change the voice on my Blackberry but not this car )
2. Comfort Access: You keep the fob in your pocket/purse and you can start the car when the fob is inside the car (or you can put it in the slot if you want like a valet would do). If you leave it on the seat inside the car and get out you cannot lock the car from outside using the little door handle buttons, but if it's outside the car with you you can. If the fob is outside the car it cannot be started with the start button. You can also open windows and crack the sunroof from outside with the fob but you may be able to do that wo Comfort Access. The main thing is not having to ever get the fob out of your pocket/purse and not being able to lock in inside the car.

 

As Newt said, Comfort Access is a very nice feature. No fiddling with keychains. Leave the fob in purse or pocket and use your car as though it recognized you. Walk up to the locked car and press the black button on the door handle. Doors unlock as programmed in the NAV. You can set it unlock both doors, or just the driver's door. Your wife driving alone will probably want it set to just unlock the driver's door.

Open the unlocked door and get in. Put on the seat belt (so the chime doesn't sound) and press the Start/Stop button. Car starts. Drive off. I never use the buttons on the fob. It just stays in the coin pocket of my Levis.

When you stop somewhere, press the Start/Stop button to turn off the engine. The NAV stays lit, and the radio continues to play. Get out, close the door, and press the black button on the door handle. Doors lock, radio and NAV turn off. Go shopping. If you forgot to roll up the windows before getting out, hold the black button down for three seconds when locking the doors. The windows will roll up and doors will lock.

The boot (rear hatch) is opened by large rubber buttons in the boot handle. Opening the boot does not unlock the doors. Closing the boot, with the doors locked, locks the boot.

The Configurator is a bit confusing about the three Convenience Package options.
The basic bluetooth/USB Convenience Pacakge ($1250) seems to include Comfort Access in spite of the other options being named "Comfort..." It should also come with the USB/AUX Y-cable.

The Comfort Bluetooth/USB Convenience Packages come with an armrest and MFSW. The leather wheel option adds $1750. Wood/leather wheel adds $2000. These options don't save anything on the MFSW or armrest over a-la-carte prices.

Personally, I dislike the MINI armrest. For me, it is in the way for manual shifting, and the lid wouldn't stay closed. I ripped the armrest out of mine. For an auto trans, it might not be such an annoyance.

The main benefit of the armrest is that you can buy a cradle for some cel phones, and MINI has come out with an iPhone cradle. If you have an iPhone, check the threads to see the features and problems with it. Last I looked, most of the other cradles were for phones that would outdated in 2007. Not sure if MINI has improved there offerings, other than the iPhone.

If you don't get the armrest, you plug your iPhone into the Y-cable that connects to the AUX and USB ports in the cubby in front of the shift lever. IIRC, the only advantages that the armrest has over the Y-cable is that it hides the phone, and supposedly connects it to an ariel in the roof. Since most people will want to take their cel phones with them when they leave the car, I don't see the advantage of hiding the phone in the armrest. Just more of a hassle when you get out of the car. If you aren't using the phone for music, you don't really need to take it out of your purse or pocket. Bluetooth will connect phone calls.

In looking at the Configurator, it seems like the DTC option is just a way to turn off DSC without turning off DTC. That would be good for AutoX, but I doubt your wife will have cause to ever turn off DSC.

 

I disagree.
Alarms may not stop pros, but they definitely give the average teenage window breaker a pause and could move them onto the next car.

Also, check with your car insurance to see if they provide a discount if you have an alarm installed. If so, it could pay for itself over time, and the convenience of hearing the "beep" confirmation when you lock/unlock the doors is great.

Plus, it's for your wife...the alarm allows for the panic mode to be triggered in case there are creeps around her car at night. Can't hurt.

 

getting the factory alarm didn't make sense for me. the keyfob system alone got me the discount with my insurance company (GEICO). on my car, the sound of the locks engaging and the sight of the lights blinking are confirmation enough to me --even from ten feet away.

additionally, while self-defense alarms are useful in getting attention, car alarms are not. people don't look anymore. again, this is my opinion, but saying to yourself that if someone tries to assault or kidnap you near your car, you can press the panic button is false security. better to pay attention to your surroundings: check the interior of your car before you get in, don't go enter or open your car if someone is inappropriately/suspiciously near, get your stuff into your car quickly, then get yourself in your car quickly, then immediately drive away--don't sit there yakking on the phone, etc., thereby literally making yourself a sitting duck.

again, that's just me.

 

EXCELLENT EXPLANATION! Cleared this right up for me! Thanks!

Again, thanks for the explanation! That made a heck of a lot of sense....I am going to vote YES to the comfort and bluetooth (but will check the BT out at the dealership tomorrow!).

Well off to work to pay the bills .....will check back in at lunch!

 

Or the opposite: they set it off on purpose.

Most kids aren't going to know a car is alarmed until it's already sounding.

+1 on car alarm being a waste of money. Get something cool instead, like the JCW steering wheel.

 

Most of your options qualify as nice to have or could be deemed as well worth it by many here. The problem is that you could go through most of the available options for the car and say the same thing about all of them and then you end up with a $33K+ MINI before sales tax. The options are created exactly because they are enticing and they allow MINI to sell a $22K car for $30K plus.

For me, I didn't want a $35K MCS, no matter how convenient comfort access or NAV would be.

 

Good points everyone! I have been really researching and tomorrow we hit the dealership! Hopefully we can arrange a test drive when we get there!

 

Give them a call today and find out. You might have to schedule an appointment to get a test drive.

 

question about the comfort access.. what happen if you leave the car and you forgot to press the button on the handle? it will be unlocked the whole time right?

when you press the button.. you need to hold it a few seconds, or just one quick press will do it?

 

If you leave without pressing the button, it's the same as if you leave without clicking the lock button on the fob. You have to push the button on the handle until it responds. Sometimes it's instantaneous, sometimes it takes a second or two. It's not perfect, but I like having it. I especially like not having to insert the fob in the dash.