Before you order your MINI - Read This

102806 Views 122 Replies 48 Participants Last post by siriuszero, Feb 26, 2017

uke

Discussion Starter · Dec 6, 2014

I've noticed a fair number of people, especially in the UK and Canada, seem to have been caught by surprise when their cars came equipped differently than they had planned, or had "features" that were unexpected.

So I'm starting this thread so those of us that have been through the ordering procedure can alert future buyers of the gotchas inherent in the process. Please post what you think new buyers should double and triple-check before they throw down a chunk of cash on a deposit.

What options don't come with certain packages? What do you need to specify if you expect to do X or Y? What is not worth the money? What is the minimum car you should spec?

Help those noobs out.

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uke

Discussion Starter · #2 · Dec 6, 2014 (Edited)

Spec Roof rails if you plan to use a roof rack

I'll add the first entry. I did not specify the roof rails. I planned to add a roof rack. The MINI guy just told me that to do that now costs $1500, versus the $299 it used to cost.

The new MINI roof rack makes use of the rails that are integral to the F56 roof. There is no gutter attachment like there was on the R56.

So if you plan to carry a bike or kayak or children on the roof rack, make sure you specify the roof rails, or it will cost you later. I'm not sure what the roof rails cost as an option, or what the new roof rack that uses them costs, but I'm guessing it's less than $1500 and you won't have people drilling holes in your roof.

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jeremybingham

· #3 · Dec 6, 2014

Hi Luke my roof bars from mini cost £179.

You make a VERY good point here.

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jeremybingham

· #4 · Dec 6, 2014

Excellent point well made uke. Will check when I can but the rail option is around £150 and the bars cost me £179 from mini.

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jeremybingham

· #5 · Dec 6, 2014

Just checked, uk configurator says £155 for the rails on the roof.

Am sure this has been said but when you place your orderask your dealer for the order details that go to mini; once they I a pretty sure the factory wont miss any of your options, having seen how it works but some delaers make typos!

Do you want the head up display? If so I think you have to have media xl pack to get it at the moment-this may or may already have changed though.

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Hat

· #6 · Dec 6, 2014

Just a quickie, any posts on here will need to specify which country they apply to as most option packs are specific to that market

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jeremybingham

· #7 · Dec 6, 2014

2

Hat said:
Just a quickie, any posts on here will need to specify which country they apply to as most option packs are specific to that market

Oops yes. Uk for mine

uke

Discussion Starter · #8 · Dec 6, 2014

Country-specific options tagging -- UK prices

Hat said:
Just a quickie, any posts on here will need to specify which country they apply to as most option packs are specific to that market

Great point, Hat. May I suggest we put the country in the Title, like I did for this post?

profiteroles

· #9 · Dec 6, 2014

If you order the JCW Works / Sport packs, the "sports suspension" option is free but requires selection. UK - maybe other countries

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Hat

· #10 · Dec 6, 2014

Another UK specific, if you order extended bluetooth it comes with the armrest and visual boost included in a pack price which is about £150 cheaper than ordering vis boost and armrest individually

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MAC99

· #11 · Dec 7, 2014

3 visits to the dealer and constantly checking and updating the spec to make sure I got what I wanted.
At all times they were more than happy to go through the list in detail and answer my queries and concerns.

Car came exactly as specced.

You just got to make sure...

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uke

Discussion Starter · #12 · Dec 31, 2014

Be very sure of your options before you pull the trigger

I've noticed that a common theme on this forum is "How do I retrofit {insert ardently desired package or option here} to my car?"

The short answer is, you can't. Every car MINI builds is custom made, from the color to the last centimeter of the wiring harness. Adding stuff (other than superficial things like mirror caps) is going to be a very difficult process, and in many cases, impossible.

MINIs are not like the cars of yore where you could always find a spare 12V tap in the wiring harness; the wiring harness is custom built for each car. If you didn't spec the option, there probably isn't a wire for it. So no, you can't easily add the WhizBang Option Package because there ain't no wires for it. Software, same deal. Unless you know how to reflash the computers (good luck) you would have a very challenging time integrating the WhizBang module with the rest of the CAN bus.

The point where the car enters production is the cutoff. Once it is being built, all of the components are JITted to the factory, so making a change while the car is being assembled involves a major disruption of the supply chain and probably production line issues as well. No sane manufacturer would do that intentionally. BMW doesn't.

Once your car is being built, it is cast in stone. If you think you want some whiz-bang option, you better order it before your car goes into production, because when it pops out of of the other end of the factory, it is customized exactly to your spec.

Moral of the story: Make absolutely sure of what you want before you order the car. Double-check everything. Do not assume anything. If the option is important to you, verify once, twice, three times that it is specced.

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dpcompt

· #13 · Dec 31, 2014

Ordering

uke said:
I've noticed that a common theme on this forum is "How do I retrofit {insert ardently desired package or option here} to my car?"

The short answer is, you can't. Every car MINI builds is custom made, from the color to the last centimeter of the wiring harness. Adding stuff (other than superficial things like mirror caps) is going to be a very difficult process, and in many cases, impossible.

MINIs are not like the cars of yore where you could always find a spare 12V tap in the wiring harness; the wiring harness is custom built for each car. If you didn't spec the option, there probably isn't a wire for it. So no, you can't easily add the WhizBang Option Package because there ain't no wires for it. Software, same deal. Unless you know how to reflash the computers (good luck) you would have a very challenging time integrating the WhizBang module with the rest of the CAN bus.

The point where the car enters production is the cutoff. Once it is being built, all of the components are JITted to the factory, so making a change while the car is being assembled involves a major disruption of the supply chain and probably production line issues as well. No sane manufacturer would do that intentionally. BMW doesn't.

Once your car is being built, it is cast in stone. If you think you want some whiz-bang option, you better order it before your car goes into production, because when it pops out of of the other end of the factory, it is customized exactly to your spec.

Moral of the story: Make absolutely sure of what you want before you order the car. Double-check everything. Do not assume anything. If the option is important to you, verify once, twice, three times that it is specced.

Thanks, Great advice.
I am very happy with my '15S, but I spent a lot of time deciding all the options and packages.

uke

Discussion Starter · #14 · Jan 16, 2015

Before you order the HUD

Be advised that if you wear polarized sunglasses, the HUD display will be very difficult to see because the polarization screens out the HUD. You can still use the HUD, albeit dimly, if you crane your neck to the side a bit, but who wants to drive like that?

Reactions: 1

Andyno

· #15 · Jan 16, 2015

Before you order the HUD - yes uke, i can confirm that, it´s shame that Mini doesnt have glass projected version like BMW. But, than again, room in dashboard and the price, in bmw this is 1300 eur option if you dont have it in some package...

uke

Discussion Starter · #16 · Jan 21, 2015

No, you can't retrofit LED lights

Lots of people wonder if they can replace whatever lights are equipped on the car they bought with LED lights.

The answer is not easily or cheaply. Anything is possible, but the headlights have very specific hardware and software characteristics (size, mounting, alignment, wiring, software), so yanking standard lights out and replacing them with LED lights looks to be on the level of Rocket Surgery. It is a hack, it is far from simple, and the outcome is not likely to be as favorable as having the factory lights.

Random Internet Yahoo sez: Just order the LED lights.

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Fenix266

· #17 · Feb 8, 2015

Hi, I'm new here. I am considering getting a Mini, but I have heard about a lot of reliability issues with the car. Can anyone provide feedback about this? Thanks.

jeremybingham

· #18 · Feb 8, 2015

Most people are very very happy read any forum on any car and those who have faults will be there. Mines perfect 2000 miles in.so was my last mini.did 40000 mils in my 2010 cooper s s trouble free. We've had zero faults with 4 minis now but a Hyundai i20 was always in the garage from brand new.my mother's new Toyota avensis hasn't been brilliant either.

24seven

· #19 · Feb 8, 2015

I think if you order a new car now, most early problems( diesel balance shaft, auto gearbox, manual gearbox etc.) are ironed out.

I bought a good priced demo-car so I could not really influence the spec but really expected some things to be part of the basic spec and found out the hard way...

Auto dimming rear view mirror has to be optioned (dont think there is any other car on sale that does not include this in the basic option package.)

The bluetooth option (without visual boost or Wired) does not stream music, only calls...

If you like listeling to music the standard Audio system simply won't do.

I guess there is a stowage package? Without that there is simply no place to put anything but the glove box.

This is on a Swedish car.

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jeremybingham

· #20 · Feb 8, 2015

Yes some things on the options list are odd but conversely you get a lot of stuff as standard others don't do eg heated mirrors and washer nozzles, hill brake assist etc.swings and roundabouts. We bought a dacia duster. Chrome rings round air vents as standard but no stereo!

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