[valent]

Hi everyone!

It's my second attempt to post on this forum... I was so nervous that everything went wrong just 2min ago...

Yesterday I sold my 2005 BMW M3 SMG2

But I just came back right now from the BMW MINI dealership in Bern with some cash less... but a HUGE GRIN on my ugly face!

I just ordered my MCS! First Mini ever and sooo happy! Got it Laser Blue, White roof, white mirrors, white 17' Crown Spoke wheels, and the usual options...

But since I'm a compulsive option box checker, I also took the SATNAV and the DAB tuner... Now, before any of you shoot me for taking the SATNAV (I know, TomTom... my GF has it in her MCS and I LOVE IT...) and the DAB, here are the reasons:

- Took the satnav because of the screen! I needed/wanted the screen in the middle, so I can plug my iPod Video into it and watch the daily Best of Youtube Podcast in my Mini during the usual traffic jam... Saw some guy have it in Zurich.. really nice, and the quality of this screen is extremely impressive!

- DAB... in Switzerland (CH), we have silly mountains everywhere... and as Jeremy Clarkson says, it's a country that HATES CARS... so radio reception can be quite poor or annoying, cause you have to change frequency quite often if doesn't do it automatically... but still, you can hear it crisp and rattle... hate it... I had the chance to drive a car with DAB radio, and I must say WOW!!! It's really great! Quality is sooo impressive and the signal lasts "much further". I'm no technician, so I have no clue how to explain it or express it, but the result as end user is really great! Besides, if you have the DAB tuner on the SatNav, seems like you can add a DVB-T (DAB TV?) tuner on it as well... And I'd loooove that too, since all public channels in CH are now DVB-T since 2 months, no more analog signal...

Well... Also took the Alcantara leather + carbon steering from JCW. One that a customer didn't want was lying in the salesman's office, incidentaly, so....

I really like this forum by the way. Come here quite often cause there are (usually) so many constructive comments & feedback! Great thing! Keep on the excellent work and sharing your experiences. Helped me a lot to chose for my Mini!

Have a nice afternoon everyone!

[minicabrio]

Hi Valent!! Congratulations on ordering your first MINI!!

Sounds like a stunning car too

Have you got an estimated delivery time yet?

[valent]

What a quick response! Thanks a lot!

Well delivery should be, they hope... uh... actually I HOPE 2nd or 3rd week of October! Damn... way too long to wait!

Btw, did you know that the Sept 07 built MCS feature BMW's "Efficient Dynamics", energy recovery systems??? Like in the new 1 and 3 series?? The "New New R56" is 300 Swiss francs more though because of that... lol

[minicabrio]

That's only 5-6 weeks away - not to bad!! - I waited 19 months for the convertible because i pre-ordered back in 2002!!

Yes, that is a new feature. It will also have the engine stop/start I believe - this stops then engine when you select neutral at a junction and release the clutch... the engine is then re-started when you push the clutch pedal back down... very clever, and makes the MINI even more economical - so even the Swiss motoring folks should like it

(there is a button to turn the feature off though)

[valent]

Yeah the Swiss economic folks will LOOOOVE that feature indeed! But I can imagine that driving up some great Swiss mountain roads, it will literally drink the tank empty, with or without that "Efficient Dynamics Jawohl Gut So Benzin CO2 Sparen" thinggy...

Damn them... lol. Yeah it will have that Start/Stop button. But I thought every R56 MCS had that? Don't they???

[minisoopercooper]

Welcome to MINI2 Valent

sounds a lovely car - even the mpg won't be too bad as most owners get 33-35mpg which is almost identical to the first generation coopers

[minicabrio]

Quote: Originally Posted by valent (original)

Damn them... lol. Yeah it will have that Start/Stop button. But I thought every R56 MCS had that? Don't they???

No... I meant this feature:

The Auto Start-Stop Function, available with manual transmission cars, automatically switches the engine off when the vehicle is stationary and the driver puts the car into neutral. To restart the driver only need engage the clutch again before pulling away in the normal manner. The system may be de-activated at the touch of a button when not required.

[valent]

Thanx!

Yeah it seems like the new engines are quite good in mpg ratio. My gf drives a 03 MCS with something arround 90'000km. It's a fantastic car to drive as well, but sometimes, I am not exaggerating here, my M3 used less petrol than hers.... ok, my BMW got optimised, electronics, and so on... but it had some 330HP on the weels! I used to have an average consumption of arround 10.5 litres/100km (too lazy to calculate in MPG sorry... lol ) but let me tell you that is is not a lot for such an engine displacement and power! Her MCS easily gets arround 8.5 to 9 litres/100km...

But again... WHO CARES! Those cars are just such a great fun factor! Aren't they?

Cheers

[valent]

Any idea where this button is located??

[minicabrio]

Quote: Originally Posted by valent (original)

Any idea where this button is located??

I believe it's just infront of the gear lever - there are three buttons, one is the SPORT button, one for ASC/DSC the other for this

[valent]

I love buttons... let's have some more in it... lol

Just posted something interesting in the ICE thread if you happen to be a soon iPhone owner or Apple "fan"