[andrewdelvard]

OK after testing various cars, girlfriend has decided the go for a Mini Cooper S. Here's the quote:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...ooooooper1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...ooooooper2.jpg

Now we've got one or two questions about this and it would be great if someone could offer some advice

The Chili Pack. Really don't want it. We're more than happy with the 16inch alloys, infact prefer the better handling and quicker (slight) acceleration they will supply. The rest of it? Just don't need it. Infact would rather spend the money on other extras....
The salesman however made a big deal about how the Chili pack sooooo increases and 'protects' the after-sale value of the car. "It's what 2nd hand buyers look for" Is this true or a load of.... I expect the latter but comments would be appreciated.

The CD player option (not in the Chili Pack)
The option is neither cheap nor very good. For the same amount of money you could go to a rip off merchant like Halfords and get twice as good a unit for the same amount. The salesman pointed out that any aftermarket stereo system would void the warranty. Ye Gods. That one amazed me. Is this true?

For people who already own a Cooper S...
Anything I should know? Stuff you wished you'd known before purchase etc etc? Thanks very much for any help.

[Rob.]

If you don't personally value or want the options, don't bother getting them.
Simple fact is you won't get the money back that you pay out for options.
They will make it alot easier to sell though. I recently sold my cooper and found most people didn't know the specs inside out. However, lots of people asked about and wanted Air con. So maybe this is worth paying for.
About voiding the warranty that's BS
Why not get the standard headunit and fit a Sony T69 6 Cd changer in the boot? With a connects2 adapter this works with your mini headunit and costs from around £160 on the internet and approx £230 in halfords.

[RobHardyUK]

mate, don't let the salesman force you to buy the chilli, i have ordered a mcs, and didnt want the chillie cos of the exterior chrome stuff, so i have ordered most the stuff there, apart from the wheels, and the cloth/leather seats, as i will buy my own ones, and the standard ones in the S are sports anyways. tho admittedly not quite as nice. and as for the headunit. I will point something out to you, I am a regional parts advisor, for a autmotive company, so i know about warranty repairs, and i can tell you for a FACT, mini cannot void the warranty for the whole vehicle due to a radio, they CAN void the warranty in areas, realted to the radio, which is purely common sence, i.e. if the radio goes wrong, they cant do anything about it, or if something shorts (unlikely unless your well at wiring) due to the radio, they can say no. Hes a pushy salesman, thats all i can say. I would go somewher else. I didnt buy from my first dealer i went to on the MINI as he never phoned back or anything, so iw ent elsewher and got MUCH bettter service. hope this is of vauge help.

[andrewdelvard]

Quote: Originally Posted by Silver and Black

If you don't personally value or want the options, don't bother getting them.
Simple fact is you won't get the money back that you pay out for options.
They will make it alot easier to sell though. I recently sold my cooper and found most people didn't know the specs inside out. However, lots of people asked about and wanted Air con. So maybe this is worth paying for.
About voiding the warranty that's BS
Why not get the standard headunit and fit a Sony T69 6 Cd changer in the boot? With a connects2 adapter this works with your mini headunit and costs from around £160 on the internet and approx £230 in halfords.

Thanks for the reply.
Really I was trying to suss out the B/S from the truth. The salesman was so definate about the warrenty being affected by an aftermarket CD player I actually left the showroom feeling a little angry about it all.
But still, chilli pack or not chilli pack that is the question

[andrewdelvard]

Thanks Rob thats a great reply, really helped.

[RobHardyUK]

No probs, what dealer was this?

[Fevs]

get the chili pack on the S you get aircon half leather seats front fog lights zenons and quite a few other bits for £1500

costs a lot more to buy them seperatly if you dont like the wheels you can ask your dealer to do you a deal and change them for the 16" wheels and throw some other bits in

good luck im on my third dealer now and got a good one at last

[JoeDentist]

With regard to aftermarket stereo, just remember that most aftermarket stereo equipment comes with a 12 mointh warranty, while any stock system in a Mini is warranted for the full 4 year/50,000 miles. (Most car companies have a separate audio warranty that is less than the full car warranty) Also your car insurance will not cover any stereo equipment not available as dealer installed equipment without an extra charge rider. Also be aware that audio equipment that you buy that is not specifically made for the Mini has a much greater chance of attracting thieves, since they can sell the equipment to any car owner.

[gezmedinger]

Hi andrew... I looked at the Chilli pack but decided I don't ever use aircon, don't particulary like the 17" wheels, and am not that fussed about the leather... which are the main things you get with the chilli pack.. so thought I'd not bother. You're also still stuck with the tape stereo which is rubbish.
I ultimately went for no package, but specced hyper blue, sunroof, fogs, xenons, CD boost, mats, heated mirrors/washers and 3 spoke steering wheel and mine comes in at just under £17k. For me this gives me the stuff I personally want to have on the car and shouldn't be worth THAT much less than a chilli pack when it comes to resale. As for the stereo, I appreciate that 210 quid for the CD boost isn't great value compared to some of the aftermarket options, but I really can't be faffed carrying round a face-off unit every time I leave the car and also have the increased risk of someone trying to smash into it to nick it. It also plays MP3 CDs which more or less completely negates the need for a CD changer.
So... my advice is that if you see yourself keeping the car for more than a year or so, spec the stuff on it you actually want and don't worry about the Chillli resale palaver, there won't be such a big difference. The chilli pack can also put your insurance up on some policies...

[Paul]

Quote: Originally Posted by JoeDentist

Also your car insurance will not cover any stereo equipment not available as dealer installed equipment without an extra charge rider.

Not always the case (not in mine), but worth checking.

[RobHardyUK]

Yeah, agreed with paul. Alot of insruance companys cover up to a certain amount of money of in car entertainment cover.

[dinger]

On the subject of aircon 10 years ago it was a luxury and rare,but now people expect cars to have air con.

At the end of the day its your hard earn't money thats buying the car you have whatever options you want unless he's paying then have what he offers.


Like others have said shop around dealerships because they really do vary in customer service.

[RobHardyUK]

I said above i dint add chilli pack, but it no longer comes with chrome exterior?? well on mcs anyways, and for what works out another 20 quid, i get EXACTLY same spec, plus 17" wheels, which ill change but hey, and half leather (blue in my case)!!!!!!! THIS IS BEING ADDED!!!!!!!!! bargain

[snuffy]

they charged you for fuel? tell them to *********************************** *************** ******* ****************** ******** off!

[Paul]

Being charged for fuel is the norm, not the exception. Most people don't even realise it's on the invoice.

[GasseyRob]

I got my MCS alias "donkey" with a chilli pack, it seems a way of Mini being able to say that the price is £15K for an MCS, and the pack seems a standard set of extras one might expect on a small luxury vehicle. (I did however upgrade the aircon to auto climate)
As for the CD options there are three dealer fit Sony CD radio head units with the max price £299 fitted, I asked about the three year warranty, and saw the sales literature, that used the fact that the warranty was maintained, as a selling point. So I got them to fit the range topper, still cheaper than boost & CD.

[snuffy]

I don't have it on my invoice :/ Although it is not comprehensive - bizarre. Charging for fuel is wrong...

[DGC Hyper Blue]

If you don't want the chilli pack, don't get it, you won't get the full £1500 back, certainly dont pay extra for fuel (if it isn't included in the mini on the road price).

My dealer sudjested i went to Halfords as their labour was cheaper, it really does sound like they're trying to get extra cash out of you and not trying to sell you a quality car.
Id personally try another dealer or at least another salesman in the same dealer.
I didn't expect to get my mini for less than rrp, but i expected some fuel to be included in the uk stated "on the road" price!

[andrewdelvard]

Well everyone you've certainly given us some interesting valuable comments. Thanks very much. A big help. I think we are going to try and resolve all this over the next two days. The only way we are going to go for the chilli pack is if they swap the 17" wheels for the R90 16" cross spoke wheels (have a union jack sort of look to them).
The dealership is based in Plymouth.
The fuel cost. We'll pay it if that is the equivelant of a full tank of fuel. Is it?
Again you've been stars in helping us on this. Thanks.

[Rob.]

I was led to believe a full tank of petrol was included in the on the road price.
Different dealers list things differently on the invoice. Some list everything individually while some don't.