Prospective Owner info....

[babycar]

At 70mph on the freeway, what is the RPMs in High gear of both the Cooper & the "S" model? Are the Xenon headlights worth the $500?

Thanks!

[Pamlico]

My MCS turns in the range of 2800 rpm at 70 mph. Sorry I don't know how the MC does.

I got the Xenons as part of the Sport Package and am pleased with their performance. I probably would have paid $500 for them as an individual option.

[BillK]

Can't help on the RPM as I drive a CVT, but the xenons are quite good.

Pamlico, I think you DID pay $500 for them, I don't think they are part of the package. I remember pricing them in seperatly on my spec, and I have both the sport and premium packages.

[Pamlico]

Nope, at least nope for the MCS.

The Xenons were then (Summer '02) and are now (check MINIUSA) a component of the Sport Package on the MCS.

The reason I recall this so clearly is that at the time we ordered ours there was a shortage of Xenons and there was a concern that some MCSs ordered with the Sport Package would be delivered without Xenons. I called several times during the preproduction phase to check to be sure they would be included (they were).

[Spy Car]

Pamlico is exactly right Bill. Coopers got the "MCS standard" sports suspension plus in the Sports Package and the Cooper S got the Xenons.

BTW. The Xenons are well worth getting IMO.

[BruceK]

I agree, the xenons are a great safety feature.

[Pamlico]

By the way, I should have mentioned that the 2800 rpm figure @ 70 mph is in 6th gear. (In 2nd gear revs are just about at redline (6750))

[cooper4us]

In normal mode in the Cooper CVT, the engine RPM's hoover at around 2,800-3,000 RPMs @ 70MPH. In either Sport or Steptronic mode the engine turns at over 3K RPM at the same speed.

I don't have the Xenon lights, but the stock halogen headlights are very good too...they provide a clear field of vision and the high beams are powerful enough.

[Spy Car]

BTW the high (main for Brits) beams are not Xenons, even with the Xenon low (dipped) beam package.

[bluesmini]

the xenons are great. as stated above they are not bi-xenons which would be nice. the auto-level at start up is a nice little hello from your car.

[Spy Car]

Quote:

Originally posted by bluesmini
the xenons are great. as stated above they are not bi-xenons which would be nice. the auto-level at start up is a nice little hello from your car.

I was wondering if I was the only one who got a little excited while the xenons did their auto-leveling thing. Evidently not.

[Mini_me]

As the xenons are only on dipped beam. I my opinion is that they are not worth paying a lot of extra money for.

They are definately quite cool to look. In terms of performance the do iluminate better than halogen lights BUT with the low angle the xenons are set at coming out of the factory the halogens on my Coopers were much better/safer since I could see enough of the road ahead. The xenons on my MCS are angled so low I can't see far enough ahead and I never use my front fog lights anymore. Hopefully this should be rectified when I find time to call in at the dealers.

[BillK]

Quote:

Originally posted by Pamlico
Nope, at least nope for the MCS.

The Xenons were then (Summer '02) and are now (check MINIUSA) a component of the Sport Package on the MCS.

I stand corrected. I was looking at this from the MC standpoint, not MCS.