I'm baaaaaack...and have some R56 questions
 

Hello to those that remember me and those that don't. I've been out of the MINI world and rockin' a Jeep for the last 3 years out here in Arizona. I'm ready to plunge back in with a new MINI but have some questions...more like I need some reviews on some options. Any info is greatly appreciated...

1. MINI Connected - Is this thing worth it? I would like NAV and as nice a screen as possible. What else can be done with this thing? I do have an iPhone and I believe there's some way to connect the two. What's the story?

2. The sport suspension - Is it worth the $500? If it's not, is the JCW suspension worth it's price? I'm willing to sacrifice ride comfort for sharper handling.

3. My last MINI has the cloth seats because I didn't like the leatherette quality (2005 model). What's the quality of the leatherette these days?

4. Any options or things that you desperately love and think all should have on their MINI?

Thanks:thumbsup:

Matt

1. Little knowledge of, no interest in, MINI Connected; it's just another distraction, to me. When I need a GPS, I stick the Nuvi to the speedometer.

2. I have had sport suspension on all three of my MINIs. It's harsh, but in a good way. The JCW suspension plus installation costs too much for me to consider.

3. I like the cloth seats in our Clubman. The leatherette looks okay, but is too hot & sweaty for me. I got the cloth/leather in my MCS, mainly for the lumbar support.

4. I think the rear fog lights could be a life-saver in rain, snow, dust, or fog. At $100, they are right and affordable.

High output Xenon head lights with the adaptive feature is one of my favorite features. I also really appreciate the HK radio.

I was wondering about the HK radio. I know I wasn't a fan back in 2005 of the upgraded stereo. I don't think the system is going to be able to match the Infinity system in my Jeep but I'll deal.

1.) Drive your car and don't worry about electronics. If you want to stay "connected" just get a smart phone. My opinion.
2.) You can get a better aftermarket suspension for less.
3.) Get leather. I love my redwood lounge leather. It still looks as good as it did 2 years ago when I got the car.
4.)I have the rear fog lights but have never used them. I got them for the looks.
5.)As highlander said, the Xenons are a really good buy. I couldn't go back now to regular lights.
6.) The HK is way better than the stock system, but nowhere as good as the Infinity System that I had in the Rubicon I traded in for my MINI.

I'd agree with ballandchain - leatha baby! It's the only way to fly. You can see from my signature how I ordered my MCS. Honestly, I wouldn't change at thing other than same build on a JCW. Each and every feature is a "must have" in my book.

A note on the Rear Foglight...... if you dont get the rear foglight for a measly $100 you will have a gapping hole in the controls that will drive you nuts.

4 hours of labor I finally filled my hole in the controls.... but really wish I had spent the $100 in the first place. I have a switch there now... but it does nothing.

oh yeah.. and the switch will cost you $20 from the dealer.... so 4 hours of labor to rip the dash apart and $20.... just not worth it... spend the $100.

I don't know about the MCS, but on the Justa, the JCW sport suspension is a dealer-installed item. Mine wanted another $1500 (or so) on top of the $1500 that the option cost, making the out-of-pocket for that over $3K. Not worth it to me, so I went with the regular $500 sport suspension option.

That is worth it to me; installation of a front sway bar will run you close to that because you have to disassemble half the front end to swap out the stock part. (OK, you just have to drop the subframe, but still...)

I went for the cloth sport seats, because I like cloth seats. Yes, even over leather. Very much so over leatherette, particularly dark colors of leatherette. I've had enough burned legs from my mom's old Detroit iron way back when.

Anyone know what the cost is for the Aero Kit install? I forgot that the install and/or paint is an extra cost. That might take it off the list as it's already a costly add.

I'd love the adaptive headlights but I really, really want the black headlight housings and for some dumb reason you can't have both.

After getting the new catalog today and seeing the leatherette I'm going to go with the cloth option. I did it before and like it and I'm on cloth now. I do enjoy leather but it's not worth the $1,000 - $2,000 cost.

Good call guys on the rear fogs. I keep forgetting they're only $100. I need to add them.

The electronics are important to me but only for music and nav. I could care less about searching google or web radio. But iPhone integration would be awesome so I'm leaning that way.

Thanks and keep the feedback coming.

I vote for adaptive, then you can paint them black yourself. Or I recently heard from a MA you can soon get black, xenon, adaptive...

I had adaptive lights on my Lexus..... They were really cool for the first month and then after that I forgot about them.... I have the black lights and they are super cool.

I don't think painting them is going to work btw..... It will be a pita. Go look at a mini with black lights and u will know right away.

Skip adaptive... It's not that big of a deal. I don't miss mine

I read elsewhere on here that the rear fog replaced one of the back-up lights, so you had one white and one red. That decided me against it.

I don't know if that's actually the case, though... Some of my decisions were made based on incomplete information, since the '12 configurator wasn't up when I ordered mine.

The Clubman has only one back-up light. The MCS has two.

The rear foglight does not replace a backup light. It only has one. Just clarifying.
If you buy a rear foglight or not.... you only get one rear backup light.

Sorry, I meant to say "so your back-up light is half red and half white." My head isn't quite all in one piece today...

1. MINI Connected is bad ass. I could not care less about its "social connectivity", who cares about facebook in your car. But it makes not only controlling your stereo easier, but also changing practically every setting on your car easier! Plus it looks more contemporary instead of that dated amber LED display. It also has an iPhone app that shows info about and controls your car/driving style/dynamic music/mission control. You can even do a google search and send the location result right to your nav for directions. I REALLY wish I had this. :-/ Oh well, next time!

2. I've heard a lot of people who would consider their car as an everyday driver (rather than a track car) to avoid the sport suspension, as it rattles your teeth on bad roads. My mom wishes she didn't get her sport suspension on her 04. She likes my non-sport suspension on my Camden much better, and my rims are 17 while hers are 16!

3. I found the lounge leather to look really nice but feel kind of low quality and didn't really even smell like nice leather. However this was on a 2007 model and I was checking it out in 2011, so maybe over time it looses its luster. My BF got a 2007 with leatherette and it is SO comfortable and nice looking. Really easy to clean as well. Either way, I think both leather and leatherette are nicer than cloth.

4. Gotta get a sun roof and if you are in cold climates the heated seats are great. HK audio is VERY impressive for a stock system as it is highly-balanced and don't forget to get a Cooper that has one of them turbo motors. :grin:

Get xenon headlights. It is very cost prohibative to add them after the fact. Other than that there isnt really anything I miss. Mine is a chili red and white premium pack.

Sean

I THINK the Aero Kit is installed at the factory now, so I don't believe you need to worry about painting and installation fees from the dealer.

BrewSwapGuy: If I had to do it over again (ordered my car), I would not get a sunroof...don't use it that much, source of rattles, hot in Las Vegas and to much weight up high. Wish I would have ordered clear turn signals...don't like the egg yolks in front. Glad I ordered rear fogs, not that I use them but the missing switch in the line up would drive me nuts for a $100 savings. Now this is going to sound decadent but the option I really enjoy is comfort access, $500 is a lot of cash but it sure is nice not to ever have to dig keys out of your pocket to open the door or start the car. Hope this helps your order process.

MATTT!! What's up stranger. About time you get baack in a mini, I'm going on my 4th now haha. I have to say Xenon's and HK are a MUST!!! Personally I have the red colorline with the red leather and cloth interior with Piano black and chrome and absoluletely love the combination. The R-56 HK Is one of the best upgrade stock stereo systems that I've ever heard out of (Bose, Inifinity, and even some custom installs). I can only say that the Bang & Olufsen systems in the Audi's is about the only thing that I've heard that trumps the current gen HK as far as stock upgrade systems go. Had the Sport suspension in my last mini and skipped it in this one. I really couldn't tell much difference between the 2 on the Dragon honestly. The JCW Suspension I drove was a HUGE difference though IMO. What Model were you looking at? Coupe, Hardtop, clubman, countryman, vert??

I really like the leatherette seats in our Justa, and I've got leather in my BMW. My advice: get the leatherette sport seats. I really like them.

I'd never get the factory nav in a MINI. I really don't like the look of the speedometer with nav, and I've got an iPhone 4 with Navigon GPS maps and a beanbag GPS mount for the dash.

I have my GPS on my IPAD.... and it works great. I mounted it using RAM mounts... yes I will post pictures soon when I have a free moment.

Leatherette in my club is ok, but it is a bit sweaty at times - and not just in hot weather. I'll plan to stick with cloth in the future.

All you have to do is read a thread like this and you see why MINI has so many possible combinations of builds. One person loves their sunroof and another would never get one again, one person says Nav. is essential and another says it doesn't look good in the speedometer and suggests using your Iphone. As they say, "to each their own".