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Mar 8th, 2009, 12:15 AM
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 Cooper or Cooper D? Which Options? How Much? HELP! Hello, this is my first post here. I am currently studying up on the next car I should get and im looking at the Cooper Chilli and Cooper D Chilli (once its actually launched in Australia). I have read in another Cooper D Thread for Australia that the D will increase in price over the normal Cooper by $2990. I dont know if this is true, but it seems to line up with the extra you pay for a Diesel car in Australia from other brands. Anyways! I wanted to get the auto box on the car, and when it comes to the options list (something which mini is famous for) im abit confused about what some of the Options do. some of the options I just cant understand why you pay so much for, is this just RRP and when u go to a dealer they will throw them in? or alot cheaper? or is the price MINI Australia set, basically what you pay? What does the CHILLI Pack exactly add to the Cooper Lineup anyway? Bluetooth in the car, there are 2 Options, and 1 is double the price of the other? Im stumped as to what the difference actually is? Bi-Xenon Headlights really needed? or does the cost of replacements weigh out any advantage to them? Clear Indicator Lenses $200!!! are they serious? or can these be for free? or cheaper? Compfort Access System I assume is a smart key? are they good? is the heated front windscreen needed for Australian roads? What does the sports button do? and why pay $300 for it? I know in a Cooper S it will prob do alot of things, but in a normal Cooper or Cooper D? Is climate control worth actually paying extra for? or is the standard system fine? What is the difference between Dynamic Stability Control and Dynamic Traction Control? and why is Dynamic Traction Control extra? and Sports Suspension Settings? In a Cooper S I can see the point, but in a Cooper D or Cooper? much need? Sorry for all the questions. But thanks!   |
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Mar 10th, 2009, 02:10 AM
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| Wow a lot of questions, so I will try and help. What you see on the configurator is an indicator of what you will pay. You may get your dealer to throw an option in or do it at a bit less, but don't expect too much, esp on a new build car. It will also depend on which dealer you go to as some are doing better than others  .Ok the Chilli Pack, You get for your $3500, 16" Alloys instead of the 15"......have to say the R56 needs bigger alloys or to be lowered in my opion. Cost without $1600! Half cloth/leather seats.....instead of the cloth.....not to my taste the halfy halfy but each to their own! Front Fog Lights.....your choice...... Rear Spoiler.....again your choice...... Chrome line exterior....yuck in my opinion...but again thats MINI Upgraded HI -FI....not heard anything good about this.... Sports Seats....a must in my opinion....but I believe the R56 standard seats are better than the R50 anyhow....someone else may be able to comment, but I think I found them hard and flat for my curvy backside! Other things; Bluetooth...can't help ya sorry..... Bi Xenons...worth every penny I think.....if the standard halegeon lights on the R53 are anything like the standards on the R56 you won't see anything on dark roads out of suburbia! Plenty of places to change you lenses overseas.....may not be worth it once you add postage and exchange rates.....best having a look at some of the sponsors.......newministuff.com may be able to help. Comfort Access....isn't that the opening windows and sun roof function from the key? May be wrong there! Heated windscreen......depends where you are in Aus, never had a need for it in Melbourne! Sport Button, makes the car easier to drive, suppose it depends on how you drive, but without it I feel the driving is pretty non descript. I believe that it firms up the suspension, makes the steering more responsive.....may be wrong there, but for $300 I'd have it even in a cooper! I love climate control but not sure I would pay $650 for it.....don't really use all the features if I am honest! DSC/DST See here http://www.mini2.com/forum/2nd-gen-m...-cooper-s.html Hope this helps and don't forget to join your local clubMINI when you get you new MINI! |
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Mar 10th, 2009, 04:29 AM
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| Standard halogens on the R50 are rubbish - I ditched the perfectly good globes for +50's (50% brighter) and never looked back. Mind you, it needed 6 globes (low beam + high beam + driving lights) @ $30 a pair. Comfort Access on the early R50's was programmable by the dealer. Mine is default programmed to just pop the boot, but can be programmed to do other stuff (activated by pressing and holding the unlock button for about 5 seconds). And in the early days (quickly removed from the option list) if you also had the phone kit and climate control, and the car was in neutral (or park in the autos) you could SMS it to start the engine and run the a/c or heater before you got to the car. Haven't heard anything good about the R56 stereo. IMHO I went for an aftermarket equivalent to the Mini SoundModul. Can't go wrong with 880 chunky watts of digital sound.... I reckon the biggest thing about all of the Mini options (ever since the R50 was released) is that it all comes down to personal choice - your Mini will be built as YOUR Mini. Not for anyone else. With your options. Even if others wouldn't have chosen it. You might need to spend some time in the dealership (I spent several lunchtimes with mine before ordering  )  R56 MINI Cooper S JCW Challenge |
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Mar 10th, 2009, 05:59 AM
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| + 16" Alloys $1300 + MINI HiFi loudspeaker system $850 + Half Cloth/Leather $990 + Sports Seats $600 + Front Fog Lights $300 + Rear Spoiler $300 + Chrome Line Exterior $300 TOTAL - $4640 Chilli Pack is $3600. If you were to get all the options seperately they would cost you $4640. Which means you save $1040. Even though most people say that the HiFi loudspeaker system is average, it is still ALOT better than the standard speakers. I find that it's good enough for my general use and would recommend it over the standard speaker system. Bluetooth hands free kit with USB/Audio interface - $750 - NOTE: Must be purchased with 'Front Arm Rest' - Just your standard Bluetooth connection - USB/Audio interface = Plug in any USB flash drive with MP3's or iPod Preparation for mobile phone with Bluetooth and USB/Audio interface - $1470 - NOTE: Must be purchased with 'Front Arm Rest' - Same as above, but also includes a dock in the armrest which can be used with specific phones to charge them. (This is where the extra $$ comes in) I would highly recommend these! Once have have driven a car with Xenons you will never go back to standard Halogens. I'm sure that you can persuade the dealer to throw these in for free... Love it!! Essentially you don't need to use your key when unlocking/locking and turning on/off the car - Just have the key in your pocket/bag and press the button. I found a demo video - Probably not. But, it does help on some of those really cold Melbourne mornings when the windows start to fog up. The Sports button has the same function for all MINI's. Doesn't matter if its a Cooper or an 'S'. - Changes steering ratio to make the steering feel more responsive. - Improves throttle response with changes to turbo, reaction to pedal position, etc. - Greatly improves acceleration in first gear from a dead stop. - Engine winds up faster and more freely. Note: It does NOT affect/change the suspension in any way. All down to personal choice here... DSC - BMW Technology Guide : Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) DTC - BMW Technology Guide : Dynamic Traction Control (DTC) FYI - DTC comes standard on all BMW's and factory JCW's. Again, all down to personal choice... Sports Suspension adds: Dampers/ 1mm thicker front and rear antisway bars/ Stiffer shocks & struts/ Not sure about springs. FYI - Thicker antisway bars reduce body roll Hopefully I've cleared up some of your questions. Good luck! |
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Mar 11th, 2009, 12:58 PM
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| I think you've got most of the info. But I'm always happy to throw in some personal opinions FWIW... I compared the standard and upgraded hifi and there didn't seem to be $850 worth of difference. You can probably do better aftermarket. I'm happy with the standard hifi because I have low expectations of music in a car - it's a really crummy acoustic environment with road and traffic noise. If I want good sound quality I listen at home.  The sport button is worthwhile on my Just-a-Cooper - much sharper throttle response and finer throttle control for cornering. I'm not sure you'll notice much difference on an auto though?? - autos dilute throttle control anyway. The steering gets pretty heavy too. Definitely go for better lights. I chose after-market spreadbeam driving lights for max spread on twisty roads, but that's just me. On the standard lights, low beam isn't bad with +50% globes, but high beam puts the light in all the wrong places so no amount of brighter globes is going to help there - either add lights or go for the Xenons I suggest. Clear lenses: 3 different places. I changed the side lights (lens and globe), imported from UK, and I think it cost $80 or so (and AUD was stronger then). Changed the crummy black plastic behind them for a much nicer checkered pattern too. Doesn't sound much but it really picked up the look of the car on my dark green one - and it was easy to do. Rear lenses I reckon look better in orange anyway - the white stands out in the red lights more than I like. The front I kept orange because they're in with the headlights, which I always have on, and I wanted the blinkers to be as visible as possible. Clear lenses get away from the "fried egg" look though... Sports suspension sharpens up the handling quite well - unfortunately sharpens up the ride too, so it depends where your priorities lie! I'd go for the sharper handling any day - even more fun Sports seats are a must! I'd rate even them as adequate rather than great. You can save $990 if you get them without leather patches on them, which I think looks better anyway. Standard aircon is fine, I think. Even with the big sunroof (closed though), it held the interior cool on a 44-degree day on recirculate, and holds it fine in the high 30s drawing in outside air. Most days it's just set-&-forget. My other car (Skoda) came with climate and I wouldn't pay extra for it. Heated front window: never missed it (again, in Melbourne). Incidentally, the standard key does the windows-&-sunroof-open trick, as well as stores some preferences for the in-car computer. I'd be interested to hear whether you choose the Cooper or Cooper D. My Skoda's a turbo-diesel and it's a very different driving experience, but I can't get my head around how petrol and TDi would compare with an auto box. And on the manual MINIs, the Cooper D shares its gearbox with the Cooper S, which I presume is heavier-duty but also has shorter, closer gear ratios. If the same holds true for the auto, it could make the Cooper D quite interesting! Also, the Cooper has a smaller tank than the other MINIs (to make room for the puncture repair kit if you buy non-run-flat 15" wheels), so even though it's economical it does need frequent refills. Anyway - have fun choosing! It's one of the great things about buying a MINI. All IMHO...  pw4 |
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Mar 12th, 2009, 01:12 AM
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| I've actually got an R56 MCS and have had it since may '07 so I can give you an opinion of someone who has had the R56 "lived in" experience. In addition, i am in ClubMini so i get to see all the newer add-ins as they come along. Firstly though, I'd like to discuss you're plan to buy a diesel. I think its a great idea, particularly because you are going to buy a diesel. The amount of torque quoted from the diesel engine should really push it along nicely. I have driven a petrol Cooper quite a few times and you really need to stir it up to get it mobile. No offence to Cooper owners but you have to remember I have hopped out of a JCW MCS so i am looking for more torque. Personally I would be happy to own a Manual Cooper. I had one for a month whilst waiting for a part from Germany and i really grew on me. Good handling light and superbly cheap to run. So, in my opinion, Mini D could park in my driveway any day. Don't forget you can get those kits too that allow you to run it on old chip fat and other Bio Waste. I think the other respondents have covered of most of the options, and i agree with Wizzz, RE: the Chilli Pack, its good value. The comfort access is simply keyless ignition. It seems expensive, but Geeez, I wish i had it. Its so damn Groovy! The sound system you get with the Chilli pack is fine. The sports seats are great, i have driven the cars with a few other seats and i think the sports seats are the best all-rounder as far as access to the care Vs support for the twisty bits. As far as sports suspension goes. I had that on my MCS and basically the sway bars are thicker, springs and shocks..... a slightly stiffer ride. I ended up putting in KW coilovers anyway and changing the rear sway bar for an even thicker one, so i guess that as you get more adventurous you could get better after-market stuff than what is being offered at a premium from mini. Best of luck S  |
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