[Cardo]

Hello everyone.
I'm a new member hailing from London, and I'm looking at buying a new Cooper convertible.
Have been looking at the options, and would appreciate some advice on these, to make sure I pick the right options. I'd hate to leave an option out, take delivery of the car only to find out I should've gone with that option!
So, here's what I've got on my bit of paper at the moment:
Mini Cooper Convertible
Chii Pack
Chrome line interior
Climate control
Satnav
Bluetooth telephone prep (comes with multifunction steering wheel and arm rest)
iPod connection
White lights

Now, I'm also wondering about the following options:
Xenon headlights - Do these really make any difference, or are they just flash?
Traction control - £100 ASC-T or £320 DSC? Are either needed? And if so, which?
Sports suspension - Is this just stiffer suspension?
Heated seats - Is this just a gizmo, or do they really make a difference?

Under dealer fitted, it shows Supagard and Mini tcl. The Mini tlc seems worthwhile, is this right? On the other hand, I have no idea what Supagard is. Considering it's a £400 extra, what's the deal with this?

Are there any options I should be considering? What are your thoughts?

Also, what kind of discount/freebies should I be asking the dealer for? Free insurance? Again, any thoughts appreciated! This is the first car I'll be buying, so I'm a bit of a virgin with this!

[KPKalle]

Hi and welcome

The spec sounds good! Supagard is, I believe, some kind of paint protection. And not worth the money since you can do it yourself more cheaply. Check out the Interior section of this forum and search for Supagard.

Personally I'd go for ASC+T at least. Xenons I like - but they're expensive to replace if you're unlucky enough to have faulty ones. Sports suspension is, as you say, stiffer suspension. And I wouldn't bother with heated seats in the UK

Oh and you're unlikely to get freebies. Maybe a miniature or a litre of oil or some such. But you can always ask.

[minicore]

Chili and climate are both excellent options, including from a resale point of view. Xenons and heated seats I would recommend "just because" (xenons are a massive improvement over the halogen lights, and heated seats are fantastic in winter).

Getting ASC+T is worth it too, even if only to fill the blank toggle on the dash.

TLC is definitely worthwhile - I can't believe anyone ever specs a MINI without it. As for "Supagard" - I imagine this is some sort of paint protection, so that's entirely up to you. Not sure if it sounds like it's worth £400 though?

Other options I would be tempted to add are multifunction steering wheel...

[MJKK]

Welcome.

In my opinion the Wind Deflector is a must, as are the heated seats. Without the wind deflector you will get cold unless driving in high summer (3 days in July in the UK usually). Heated seats are lovely for night driving, those frosty mornings with clear blue skies - or just to distress passengers who think they are wetting themselves when they're not aware you've put them on!

Personally I would never buy a factory fit SatNav and would get a TomTom or something similar.

TLC is a must.

I have a MCC and have never missed not having ASC-T or DSC or sports suspension which I had on my old MC.

Hope this helps - Good Luck

[NickyJ]

I don't have the other options you're considering, but definately go for heated seats, I love mine and wouldn't be without them. A wind deflector is essential too - maybe see if your dealer would give you it for free

What wheels have you chosen? - nice wheels really set a car off

What colour are you going for by the way?

[Cardo]

Quote: Originally Posted by NickyJ (original)

I don't have the other options you're considering, but definately go for heated seats, I love mine and wouldn't be without them. A wind deflector is essential too - maybe see if your dealer would give you it for free

What wheels have you chosen? - nice wheels really set a car off

What colour are you going for by the way?

Thanks for all the comments guys. I think I'll go for the £100 traction control, just for peace of mind. Still undecided about the xenons. Heated seats look like a popular option.
I was planning on getting the wind deflector at some point, good idea seeing if the dealer will throw it in for free, worth a shot!

Wheels? Don't know the name, but they're fairly simple looking 16" ones. 5-star alloys, maybe?

As for the colour, this is still up for debate. I'm thinking astro black and possibly the alloy patina interior? How does that sound? But then, what colour seats? Decisions, decisions...

[k m s]

My two cents:

I love the Xenons and would recommend them, heated seats I don't have but most convertible owners do and swear by them. The wind deflector is very good but easy to buy afterwards so you can always leave it off the spec and see how you get on. You might also be able to get a cheaper one from ebay.

TLC is a must. I wouldn't bother with the paint protection

There's lots elsewhere on the site re. the factory ipod connection, but I use the Denision Icelink instead which is excellent

Sports suspension just depends on how hard you intend to drive it

Overall, the I think the best recommendation is to spec the things that are difficult/costly the retro fit, that would be stuff like ASC, heated seats, Xenons. Things like the wind deflector and ipod connection are easy to add afterwards

[Cardo]

Quote: Originally Posted by k m s (original)

There's lots elsewhere on the site re. the factory ipod connection, but I use the Denision Icelink instead which is excellent

Just taken a quick gander at the Denison Icelink. Seen there's a newer Plus model. This seems pretty decent. Allows you to use the iPod controls so you don't have to play with playlists if you don't want (though you lose steering wheel controls) and also shows the track names on the unit. Sounds nifty.

Is this relatively simple to install? I'd still prefer to have the iPod in the glovebox as opposed to on a stand, I take it that's not a problem?

[binchybabes]

Alloy patina trim is lovely! I have this in my 06 Cooper Convertible in Black Eyed Purple!

What about chrome wing mirrors?

Also the wind deflector is a must... I have the chequered flag design to match the bonnet stripes on mine!

[binchybabes]

And extra spot lights...

[Madeira Jon]

Xenon headlights ............Definitely.
Wind deflector ................. also definitely
Sports seat ......................certainly a great improvement on the usual.
Sports suspension...... I preferred the normal suspension as it seems hard enough.
Wheels,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,I chose the 5 start alloys.
Oh another thing, think carefully about the run-flats There are arguments for and against. If you have sports suspension then you may find them VERY HARD! I took the space saver spare wheel option (£40) with normal tyres .

[jac7100]

greetings! congrats on your new mini, you're gonna love it! i have a MCSc and i love it every single time i go anywhere! its getting to be fall here in the states and so the mornings are cool and crisp, without the heated seats the drive in would be much less comfortable. with the heated seats and the heater blowing it is so awesome driving in, windows and top down! temp is between 55f and 65f (12c-18c i think) and for me the cold weather package was only $300 so it was a no brainer.

on the xenon headlights, i passed on them due to the huge cost ($1700 i think) but the loaner i got a couple of weeks ago had them and i have to admit they were much better at lighting up the night! not sure they are worth the money but they sure were better and the self cleaning feature is pretty cool.

good luck!

[Lucky Dave]

Im told all new cabs come with the aux input as standard now!

[Miniadventure12]

Quote: Originally Posted by Lucky Dave (original)

Im told all new cabs come with the aux input as standard now!

I have had a 56 plate MCC for 4 weeks now and it does not come with an aux input. I fitted one myself. purchased a lead from ebay.

The sport suspension plus comes at no extra charge if you buy the chili pack, but you do have to select the option in order to get it. (that sound clear)

for me the xenons are way better than the standard lights.
get a wind deflector. the superguard paint thing is too expensive, just make sure you look after the car which I'm sure you will.

thinking about it i wish i had the heated seat option now. i would go for the sat nav as i think other companies like Tom Tom are better. I changed the bumpers to the aero kit and had the spots fitted as a deal. i think If you go for the chrome line exterior then you get the boot hinges in chrome or it might be with the chrome mirror caps. I decided to get the 17" bullets for wheels so this meant i had to have the run flat rubbish, because anything bigger than 16" wheels comes with run flats and indicator and doesn't give you the option of getting the spare wheel.

hope this helps. check my gallery for pics

[Joe1983]

Hi there,

Just to let you know if you're using the car alot for work the bluetooth phone prep is definitely worth the money - use mine so much.
In addition i'd go for the heated seats - definitely help on the bright days when you should be top down cruisin but its slightly nippy outside.
If you are doing alot of night driving the xenons are a worthwhile option but be prepared for random people flashing at you as they think you have high beams on. Lol.
Option list looks very good apart from that.
Satnav is useful just for the fact that you obviously don't need to remove from the car when you go anywhere but be warned when using the shortest route feature it does really mean that, mine took me through a farmers field the other day on a road that looked like it had been disused for at least 10 years!

Joe

[Miniadventure12]

Quote: Originally Posted by Joe1983 (original)

Hi there,

In addition i'd go for the heated seats - definitely help on the bright days when you should be top down cruisin but its slightly nippy outside.
If you are doing alot of night driving the xenons are a worthwhile option but be prepared for random people flashing at you as they think you have high beams on. Lol.

Joe

Yea i've had a few ppl flash at me and someone the otherday beeped at me

Also is it possible and not too expensive to retro fit heated seats???

[Griffer]

Forget the sat nav, climate control and blue tooth. A Tomtom has blue tooth aswell and is a lot cheaper. The options you lose most money on are everything except Chili pack and normal air con. I hardly use my air con so climate control is redundant in a convertible if you use it as a convertible. I have the roof AND WINDOWS down (my pet hate is windows up when the roof is down!!) if it is not tipping down with rain, all year round. Wind deflector is essential in winter and heated seats are worth the bit extra. When you trade in the dealers look only for air con, chili pack and metallic paint, every other option does not increase the trade in value. I had a Cooper convertible with £4000 of extras and lost loads when it came to trade in for a Cooper S convertible. This time I got only Chili pack, bonnet stripes and interior chrome. Hope this helps.

[Mini_Power16]

If your going for astro black. You need the beige interior to bring out the interior with the dark exterior

heated seats is a must roof down but back and bum always hot
multi functional steering wheel (mORE BUTTONS MORE GIZMOS MORE FUN )
XEONS..Very flash but defo a must as well they look quality on a really dark dark road when you just turn them on..
Powered mirrors> Fold in with a touch of a button


There items are think you should add, it all comes down tot he budget
Im guess your still in your teens as this is your first motor but i would say buy a wreck of a car and buy a flat
Car may look great and they do i have had mine for 3 yrs but they decrease in value.
Flat even looks better and in 3 yrs time prob could afford a top of the line MCSC WORKS

But when your young like myself (20) you do want a ncie ickle motor- i got mine when i was 17 and defently will be the envy of all your mates.

But its all aboutmy next car tho CHELSEA TRACKTOR AKA RANGE ROVER VOGUE :d

[rentagas]

DSC-it may save your life. It's worth every penny. It should be standard (and may be imposed as such, as was ABS)
Heated Seats/Wind Deflector/Air con-makes winter top down driving possible (even when raining)
Factory fit sat nav-good but way too expensive
Xenons-very cool.
17" alloys!
If choosing black, chrome everything looks nice.

[Cardo]

Quote: Originally Posted by Mini_Power16 (original)

Im guess your still in your teens as this is your first motor

lol, not quite. I'm mid 20s. Not bothered with a car 'til now as I've ridden bikes. Didn't see the point of getting a car. Still not that much point, but I just fancy one. Gotta enjoy the small things in life, and all that!

Thanks for all your input, everyone. I think I've decided on an options list now. Just need to pick the colours.
If it's astro black with alloy patina interior, what colour should the seats be if they're cloth/leather? Just go with black? Or the black/grey ones?