[NeedMiniInfo]

For the regular Cooper...is it possible to get the chrome gas cap fitted, or do the lines just not work? I love the look of it on the S model. Wish it was on the regular Cooper.

The little driving lamps...can they & bonnet stripes be added later?
Well, actually I know the stripes can be, but are they the same quality, as
if I ordered them upfront?

How does one find a white side indicator instead of the golden one? Are they very expensive?

Has anybody here changed their mirror caps after purchase?
I'm leaning towards a Purple Cooper w/white roof. Not sure yet about white mirrors vs. chrome ones. So...if I'd like to change them later...? Still confused about which would look better w/my color combo!

Also...I'm guessing there's no way to add a sunroof later, is there?
I NEVER thought I'd like one, but saw one on a demo/test car....
haven't seen it yet in the daylight however. It seemed awfully fun.
But, it's been raining here, so I'm not even sure how it looks when open. (how that affects the back seat viewing, too)

Wondering if it adds too many rattles. And, it does sort of alter the line of the car...
making it less 'retro.'
So,that's another concern of mine.
Also am in Calif so am a bit worried about sun exposure being TOO much. ;-)
As a driver...those of you having it...do you ever look out it, or just appreciate its extra air flow?? (more of a feature for the back seat, perhaps?)

Lastly, can chrome be added in the lower parts of the Cooper later? (if I don't choose extra chrome now) Thanks so much!!

[Olly.]

Hi,

You can add anything on your list to the car after it has been bought apart from the sunroof.

The bonnet stripes are exactly the same whether you were to order them on the car from new or add them at a later date.

I have the white side repeaters on my car, I think they make the car look a lot cleaner.

I have the sunroof and wouldn't have a MINI with out one now, makes the car a lot lighter inside and is great for the summer. It hasn't added any rattles to the car.

The chrome could be added to the bottom part of the bumper later, but it would be very expensive, it would make more sense to get it now, if its within your budget.

Olly

[Minimatty04]

The chrome "S" gas cap can be retro fitted *quite* easily. Its not difficult but its time consuming, so set aside a good afternoon. Removing the old one is the most difficult part, beyond that its plain sailing.

[ImaVunDerBrah]

Quote: Originally Posted by NeedMiniInfo

For the regular Cooper...is it possible to get the chrome gas cap fitted, or do the lines just not work? I love the look of it on the S model. Wish it was on the regular Cooper.

As Minimatty04 said, it can be fitted. I think there's a piece that needs to be painted to match though.

Quote: Originally Posted by NeedMiniInfo

How does one find a white side indicator instead of the golden one? Are they very expensive?

I've added them to both my Coopers. They are not expensive at all. I think they are $15is each.

Quote: Originally Posted by NeedMiniInfo

Has anybody here changed their mirror caps after purchase?
I'm leaning towards a Purple Cooper w/white roof. Not sure yet about white mirrors vs. chrome ones. So...if I'd like to change them later...? Still confused about which would look better w/my color combo!

Haven't changed mine, but I know they can be changed. I vote white!

Quote: Originally Posted by NeedMiniInfo

As a driver...those of you having it...do you ever look out it, or just appreciate its extra air flow?? (more of a feature for the back seat, perhaps?)

I love my sunroof - had it on both Coopers. It brightnes up the whole interior. I sometimes even have it partially open in the middle of winter just for air flow. My first Cooper was CR/W and I didnt' really like how the huuuge black sunroof interrupted the white roof. The current Cooper is CR/B so the sunroof blends in perfectly!

Good luck with the order! I love the Purple Haze. My next MINI will def. be purple.

[NeedMiniInfo]

Okay...great feedback & advice.
So...I'll add stripes later, if wanting them then.
Driving lamps, too. (not sure they show up too well w/the chrome grill on Coopers)

The gas cap sounds a bit challening. Will ask for help later, once car is in hand. ;-)

The side indicators, I'll definitely do then...can they be gotten at the dealership, then?

The mirrors, I'll try to just decide on.

Sunroof is still my big dilemma! (since I'd prefer a white roof w/the purple car...then, the roof would be very visible & jarring maybe in appearance) I'd feel like I'd lose that retro look a bit. Also, where we live, our home is slightly elevated, so I *will* actually be seeing the roof all the time.

Now someone mentioned white decals are available to make it blend in more...but I wonder if that would make the viewing through or light less worth it? He said it was sort of like looking through those city buses/trains w/ads on them.
I know when it's open, that's not important...but when I saw the moonroof/sunroof I saw...it was raining & evening, so it was closed. And, I was still floored by its clear viewing! That would be lost if I were trying to make it blend in more, it seems. Sigh...

'Course being in Calif I do wonder if it might be almost too much sunlight...
very short cloudy/rainy period here.
And, I do drive freeway to work, so suppose that would be too noisy to use then?
So, perhaps for the cost...it doesn't make as much sense for me. But, I AM torn...
it definitely was neat!!

Thanks again everyone!!!

[laura f]

Quote: Originally Posted by NeedMiniInfo

Okay...great feedback & advice.
So...I'll add stripes later, if wanting them then.
Driving lamps, too. (not sure they show up too well w/the chrome grill on Coopers)

Best to add bonnet stripes later if you're not sure - or get magnetic ones then you can have them on when you want
IMO I think driving lamps look great with the chrome grill Pics in gallery

Quote: Originally Posted by NeedMiniInfo

........
The side indicators, I'll definitely do then...can they be gotten at the dealership, then?

The mirrors, I'll try to just decide on.

Side indicators defo worth doing and mirror caps easy to change back & forth ( i keep changing my mind about those )

Quote: Originally Posted by NeedMiniInfo

Sunroof is still my big dilemma! (since I'd prefer a white roof w/the purple car...then, the roof would be very visible & jarring maybe in appearance) I'd feel like I'd lose that retro look a bit. Also, where we live, our home is slightly elevated, so I *will* actually be seeing the roof all the time. Now someone mentioned white decals are available to make it blend in more...but I wonder if that would make the viewing through or light less worth it? He said it was sort of like looking through those city buses/trains w/ads on them.
I know when it's open, that's not important...but when I saw the moonroof/sunroof I saw...it was raining & evening, so it was closed. And, I was still floored by its clear viewing! That would be lost if I were trying to make it blend in more, it seems. Sigh...

'Course being in Calif I do wonder if it might be almost too much sunlight...
very short cloudy/rainy period here.
And, I do drive freeway to work, so suppose that would be too noisy to use then?
So, perhaps for the cost...it doesn't make as much sense for me. But, I AM torn...
it definitely was neat!!

Thanks again everyone!!!

The sunroof os possibly one of the best things - i love mine & have it open rain or shine - it's great to feel the air

Understandable dilemma re roof colour, ,but of you do bonnet stripes if you gor white with black pinstripes down the side of black & white chequered ones might this help match it in a bit?

[NeedMiniInfo]

Yes...I've been starting to wonder about maybe Bonnet stripes helping the car's black sunroof not seem quite so obvious w/a white roof.

Or, black & white mirror caps, maybe?
Is that what you're suggesting here? Or, were you suggesting black & white checkered stripes?

It's clear now that I could cover sunroof w/white decal or checkered one, too...
now I've found that on the Mini website...cost is okay.
But, it's hard to know just how that would look from inside...
or in general.

I'll try checking this site for sunroofs that might have that.
I wonder if anyone does? :-)

Also, any clue as to whether sunroof is less safe to have in crashes?
(ie: rollovers?) My hubby says, rollovers might be rare...or if happening, there would be bigger things to worry about!
However, I swear I saw a posting here that said his father had rolled over in a Cooper & walked away fine. (and this was the result of just some snow/ice...not a big wreck, even) So, I don't know how rare it really is.

I need to watch for this, as I have a pretty worrisome health condition that REALLY would be made worse w/perhaps even a minor accident. (two unruptured brain aneurysms)
A bummer to have in one's 30's already!
But, I'm choosing to live w/them & hope for the best, for now. (just not eager for brain surgery, understandably!) Maybe one day, I'll have to.

For now...I intend to carpe diem..."seize the day" as they say...
and hope to begin by making lemonade out of losing my Saturn
recently due to engine problems.
And, getting a Cooper will DEFINITELY be a gift...a wonderful silver lining!!! :-)
Wish I didn't have to wait so long for the car, but think it might just be worth it.

Again, many thanks for your thoughts!! The positive sunroof reviews are certainly making me more tempted to have one.

Do you find that you enjoy them for the expanded views?
Or, more just for the temp control aspects of them?

I'm probably only interested if it has more to do w/the aesthetics than temp thing.
Temps are pretty comfortable here in Nor Calif...year-round. And, a/c should be enough, as far as that goes, on our few uncomfortably hot days.
But, if you really enjoy the way the *interior* seems w/a sunroof...
or the views...then, that's something else!! :-)

'Course those views & interior light would be affected by the decals I might feel like I need to do, in order to blend it in more w/my white roof Purple Haze. (white or checkered)
And, that I can only know from someone who may have employed those decals.
Perhaps will start a thread just about those things?
Will see. ;-)

Have a great evening.

[NeedMiniInfo]

Wow!
Now those pics have given me further food for thought.

Goodness, your white one is gorgeous! And, I agree, at least w/white...
it looks so right to have those driving lamps in addition to the chrome grill.
Course it's as if the light color sparkles even more...white, when you add yet more, vis-a-vis the extra lights.

Now, w/your blue one (Indy Blue?)
I noticed your chrome mirrors which I've been debating about. I definitely think I'd do them, if getting an all purple Purple Haze...like you did w/your blue one. And, I'd definitely add stripes to lighten up such a car. (an option for me, if I go for a demo car at a local dealer which is coming up in 2 weeks) That car already has someone claiming it, but I may be tempted if they change their minds, since I am totally w/out a car (except a family loaner) 'til May, otherwise.

Someone gave great advice to avoid these demo cars...but this one is a bit more unusual. It only has 100 miles on it, if that, as they got it as a gift for doing a car show. And, they have a new group arriving shortly. So, they will be selling it w/perhaps fewer than 200 miles on it. I wonder w/so few miles, if it's not okay to gamble on a demo car...despite it being driven more roughly than any other new car may be?

This dealership (unfortunately like all around here w/normal wait times) charges over MSRP. :-( $1k for Coopers & $2.5 k for S models. They'd drop that fee, of course, on the demo car.
So...I'm torn...IF it comes open.
If so, it's a Purple Haze w/Sports Seats...Leather...sunroof...chrome interior...w/silver dash. Purple roof & mirrors. (But, thanks to you all...I know I can change those)

Anyway, the sunroof blended nicely into the purple roof, as it does into your Black Roof, Villa Mini. So, then, there are no concerns about hiding it. ;-)

Anyway, admire your cars. Do you have both now??

[bsuekost]

I absolutely love my sunroof. My MINI is indi blue and the sunroof IMHO does not detract from my white roof. The best part of the sunroof is the flip up back. I have mine open Summer and Winter. I leave the A/C on auto and don't change the temp. I very rarely open the sunroof all the way cause wind blows the hairdo, BSK

[NeedMiniInfo]

Okay...have several STRONG thumbs-up for sunroofs.

Indie Blue is quite close to purple, so if you think it works just fine...
something worth considering.

I'm going to have to climb into one of these cars & see what it's like in back for passengers, when the sunroof is open & laying double over their part.
So...I guess, one can open the roof just a tad, then, for air flow.
My hair too would be a million knots if wind becomes a big issue.

The decals have the down side of perhaps creating a dizzying pattern within the vehicle...if choosing black & white, it seems. (or a flag)
And, again, I just wonder if the ones in back would ever see anything? (esp. once a decal is double up over itself?)

'Course the amount of times someone would be in back would be so few & far between for me! So, I shouldn't let that dictate things, I guess.

Noticed photos in the gallery section here. Studied them.
Saw someone taking a photo out of the roof at a bunch of other minis! ;-)
That could be cool...a way to grab a photo better, without disturbing wildlife, etc. as much as stepping out.

My hubby & I love to do photography while travelling or just doing a day trip.
Okay...back to work for me.
I'm on taking a break right now.

[laura f]

Quote: Originally Posted by NeedMiniInfo

Anyway, admire your cars. Do you have both now??

Thank you for the compliments, I traded the Indi Blue for the Pepper White

I bought the IB as a cherished MINI and the PW as new so I got to put everything I wanted on it, which makes a big difference, and I guess it I know the tough choices you are making

Good luck in finding the right MINI for you, whether you spec your own (the fun part) or find something already out there