Very awesome input folks...thank you. I think comfort access is something I can deal without, but the LSD is something I need. I don't track my cars on a track....but I nearly "track" them on the backroads a lot of the time....so an LSD is a must I guess. MFSW is and has been a must ever since our '05 MCS didn't have it and now our '09 Clubman does.

 

My 2 cents,
LSD- must have.
The rest- meh...except comfort access. Can't imagine not having it now, even though I only ordered it as a package.
You will have fun, no matter what you order!

 

From what I've seen on NAM, they have a different part number from the stock parts, but I don't think there's any real difference.

 

If that's true you'd obviously be much better off buying an aftermarket sway bar for around $200.

 

I have LSD on my 2007 MCS. Now, I think I would opt for DTC instead. While LSD is useful for reducing wheel spin (common with a FWD car) it has a downside. When I really punch it, the torque steer switches sides back and forth. So, the car tends to weave. It is a bit disconcerting, but it does make things interesting.

I haven't tried DTC, but in theory, it should be as effective as LSD, and may not cause the weaving. The deciding part about DTC would be that DTC gives you more control over what electronic systems are on. It allows you to turn off DSC for AutoX or track.

The MCS handles quite well without it. So, you need to decide whether you want to give up some ride comfort for a little flatter cornering.

I have the HIFI option and replaced the speakers myself. I also added a $130 powered sub-woofer to fill in the bass missing from the rear speakers. Without the HIFI, I probably would have wanted to ad an amp.

I would pay extra not to have it.

It may be tolerable with an automatic transmission. I have the manual trans and found the armrest so annoying I ripped it out. It came with a package. Otherwise, I wouldn't have ordered it.

This also came with a package. Seemed unnecessary when I ordered, but I've come to really like it. I just put the fob in the coin pocket of my Levis and forget about it. Unlock the car by pressing the black button on door handle, get in, push the Start/Stop button and go. It just seems like this is the way cars should work.

The Multi-Function Steering Wheel is a must. It provides cruise control and easy control of audio volume and Next/Previous control of radio stations or audio tracks.

If you use an iPod, iPhone, or use a cel phone in the car, you will want the Bluetooth/USB option. Otherwise, you can make mp3 CDs.

I like the heated seats, as the MINI takes awhile to warm up.

 

In SA we get the chili pack as an option which gives you basically the following: sport seats, chrome line exterior, esp, xenons (a must) extended light package, storage pack.
Extras I have are Pan Roof (great if you can live with the odd rattle but adds great ambience to the interior) Sport button (quite cool) and bluetooth.
What I miss is anthracite headliner - think it's great for the interior.
Other than that I won't go wild. If I had to single out anything it will be xenons for the exterior and anthracite headliner for the interior....

 

Ditto, but Hi-Fi for me is #1. It gives you the built in speaker placements, if nothing else, and the sound is good. No doubt sound would be better with good aftermarket work, but that depends on if you will actually get around to that. LSD and Sport Suspension are "maybe". Understand that the car will handle very well without these, so for most shouldn't be thought of as "musts".

 

Dude...get it stripped! It always gives you an excuse to MOD to your fiancee.

If her MINI is decked out...you want to MOD the crap out of yours...a Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde effect!

 

It has to be a Manual!

 

I have the HiFi and wish I had saved the money. It's criminal to charge $500 for that.

The MFSW I could take or leave. I don't have Bluetooth, so there are a few dead buttons. I find myself not using cruise at all, whereas I used to use it all the time in my Lexus. Maybe I'll start again when gas hits $4/gal. And I don't need the volume controls on the wheel.

 

I'm glad I didn't order the MSFW, you've now heard it said.

The audio controls might be nice, but cruise control is evil, I don't want it in my car.

 

I thought the reason to get them is to save your life when driving in fog. In my opinion, rear fogs should be mandatory, that's how it is where i come from its funny not having them.

 

BTWYX - I had it on my older Volvo and i used it maybe 5 times over 200K. Get it if you want it, bit its mostly cosmetic

 

I've actually found them useful when parking in unlit areas since I often back into spots. They also light up curbs nicely when parking on the street.

 

Chris, I haven't read through this thread (because I'm lazy) but here are my $.02

I have an almost fully loaded car (with everything you're considering and then some) but have had several loaners that didn't have much on them so I feel that I can accurately provide insight into the pros/cons

LSD - Pros: the cars without it spin their wheels around corners / in wet conditions which is annoying and makes it slower Cons: when you hit a pothole, uneven road surface, or anything like that the car jerks violently to one side while the LSD compensates for the uneven wheel spin. You will need to drive with two hands because you won't know when it will happen or which way the car will go. Verdict: get it, but beware it's FEISTY!

Sport Suspension - A little rougher over the bumps than the non-sport, but certainly worth the money, although I am a bit skewed as my car also has the sport package so it has 17" wheels which I'm sure also help with handling

Hi-Fi Sound - I'm not an audiophile by any means, but I don't notice much of a difference between the Hi-Fi (which came on my car) and the stock stereo

Chrome Line Interior - I have it, I'm not a fan but then again I don't like Chrome in general, this one is up to your personal taste

Arm Rest - I have it, but don't think I'd miss it if I didn't. It's convenient for storage but creaks and opens by itself as you rest your arm on it

Comfort Access - This is going to sound stupid but in a regular car you put the key in and turn it in one motion. In the mini you have to put the key in then push a button (2 motions) so it seems like a PITA to me and because of that I'm glad I have comfort access.

As for other thoughts, I would get the USB Ipod setup (if you're an ipod guy, its cheaper to order it than retrofit one afterward). I would also get rear fogs because they're cheap and I like them. While we're on the subject of lighting, the clear turn signals look 1000x better than the orange ones (in my opinion).

That said I would consider bluetooth and 100% get a multi-function steering wheel if for no other reasons than it allows for cruise control and the mini regular audio controls are stupid and were designed by a moron.

Hope that helps, feel free to PM if you have any questions.

 

Depends where you live. Here on the foggy California coast, they are frequently useful. If you travel California's Highway 5 through central California, I think they would be one of the most important options to choose.

 

I don't have the rear fogs, and I honestly don't even notice the lights being on that much when I'm backing up, but I can still back up just fine. Maybe the fogs would be a good investment though.

As for the LSD, the more I've been reading into it on other sites since this thread started, it sounds like a must for any car. I don't have that either, but my next Mini will.

 

Agreed, the 5 and 99 past the grapevine (heading north) have some nasty fog and there are always accidents and fatalities out there due to it.

 

DTC is farily new. A lot of the LSD must-have comments are from before the DTC option became available. I don't recall any definitive comparison between LSD and DTC. With the torque-steer weave of LSD, I'm thinking that DTC could be a better alternative. Depends on how well it actually works.

 

I could be wrong, but I believe DTC is software while the LSD is an actual hardware item (differential).

 

I don't know whether DTC is simply software, or a different electronic system. My understanding is that it will apply the brake to a spinning wheel just enough to bring stop it spinning. I believe that would cause the differential to transfer power to the other wheel. If this system is fast enough and sensitive enough, it could be a lot smoother and more efficient than the LSD.

LSD is a mechanical system and is limited in the amount of power it can transfer.

 

Robin-

I'm certainly not a mechanic, but form my experience owning several German cars no electronic system can replicate the function of an LSD.

My understanding of DTC is that it is a more advanced form of traction control and functions to provide maximum traction in bad conditions. This is what it says in the manual:

"DTC is a traction-optimised version of DSC intended for use in special circumstances, such as roads covered by deep snow. Under these circumstances, the system ensures maximum forward traction, but a certain cost in terms of stability. Consequently, you must exercise suitable caution when driving under these conditions.

In the following exceptional situations it may be best to activate DTC for a short time:

- When driving uphill on snow-covered roads, in slush or on unploughed, snow-covered roads.
- If the car has to be rocked out of or started in deep snow or on a loose surface
- If snow chains are fitted

Activating DTC. Press the button; the inidicator lights for DTC in the display elements light up"

That said, although DTC may be helpful in the snow, it doesn't sound like it will do anything on the track, or when driving spiritedly on dry roads. The way the manual puts it actually makes it sound like it would be more dangerous to use it when not 100% necessary.

 

The DTC option includes EDLC (Electronic Drive Lock Control) "to help maintain acceleration." This is the part I was talking about.

Also, the DTC option seems to give you the most control over which electronic systems are working and which aren't.

I have the LSD, and on the 2007 MCS it was the best option. However, it does have some downsides. I'd like to see someone do a real-world comparison between LSD and EDLC.

 

Order the Limited slip, hifi upgrade, and armrest. I have these options and enjoy them. I also have sport suspension, but doubt that its worth it unless you autocross. The hifi upgrade gets a generally bad rap here, but if you drive MCS's with and without it, you'll see that the upgrade sounds better (and isn't that much $$ especially compared to aftermarket upgrades $$$$$$). The armrest is comfortable especially on trips.

 

Factory optional LSD - better than nothing, not as good as a "real" LSD
it's more of a Less Slip Differential, instead of a Limited Slip Differential, it will transfer up to 30% torque, but more than that or if one wheel hits something slippery, it's back to being full open, 1 tire smoke show.

DTC - appears to be available with the LSD selected, I would select both if doing it again. With the factory LSD, when (not if) one tire starts to spin, you'd better have traction control turned off or it'll dramatically cut power/dump boost. Generally major PITA, esp. if you're stomping on it for a reason, like merging ... Basically the new DTC (same as the factory JCW's) is an advanced DSC, applying a bit of drag/brake to whichever wheel is losing traction to prevent spin. It works well enough on the JCW's even on the track & BMW uses it increasingly on their bigger, more powerful cars as well.

Anthracite headliner - check it out in person, best option I never intended to purchase

Comfort Access - it's great, every car should have it, I wish my condo/building/work/etc worked the same way !

Rear foglights - if nothing else, you won't have the empty spot in your switch panel, but they really make your tiny car visible in poor conditions.

Depending on where you live, the Xenon headlights are awesome (esp. once aimed properly) and the sunroof is a must have for me (wife veto'd anything convertible).

everything else is either better aftermarket or easy to retrofit later.
chromeline is totally up to the individual.
Hi-Fi, well it's hard to hear the speakers, good or bad over the road noise. Better to spend the money on quality aftermarket speakers.
I would save the money you spend on the sport suspension & buy a set of springs & a rear swaybar, you'll end up buying them anyways with the sport suspension, only your shocks will be a bit harsher.