Ask a Motoring Advisor: Answers

This first edition of Ask an MA has been a huge success! We had almost 50 questions withins days of the article being posted. If you didn't get your question in don't worry – we'll have another edition soon. Sorry to anyone who didn't get their questions answsered – not all questions were appropriate for a Motoring Advisor to address. That being said we may create a similar Q&A session with a more technical angle soon.

Here's our guest MA and the answers:

First off, let me say that I am surprised by the response to this feature! It's great to get feedback and questions from the community, and I'm happy to be able to help. Having said that, keep in mind as I answer what questions I can that I do not work for MINI, just my local dealer, so I am not privy to future products or developments. Occasionally we catch snippets by paying attention to our regional factory reps and at training sessions, but those instances are rare.

Here goes:

Question:
Greg – I want to order a MCS Works manufactured after Jan 2005 (w/LSD) with a specific set of options. I would like delivery before the end of March 2005. I live in California. At what point should I go to a dealer and be placed on a waiting list to ensure I get an early 05 car? And what is the standard deposit required for a custom ordered MINI? Thanks.

Answer: Your best bet would be to contact a dealer now to see what their availability is like. All dealers have the ability to order cars in advance of their production allocation by placing them into an order bank in DCS (BMW/MINI's Dealer Communication System). This is what we do when we run out of the current month's production in advance of our next month's allocation being released. I checked today, and we can actually order cars for week 01/01/05 production. Now, the likelihood that a dealer would be willing to do that for you this far in advance is VERY low, but it wouldn't hurt to call around and ask.

Question:
James – I noticed that the second line item on the 2005 Individual Specs sheet is “Euro Delivery Price Munich Pick Up”.

Does this mean that european delivery will be offered in 2005? And if so, what details can you share?

Thanks!

Answer: While I sincerely hope that eventually we will be able to offer our customers the option of European delivery, I suspect this was a misprint or a carry-over from a BMW Spec sheet cut-and-paste job. It seems unlikely that MINI would build a car in Oxford then ship it to Munich for overseas customers to pick up then ship back to the US.

For example: BMW does not offer European delivery of the X5 and Z4 lines, because they are built here in the US.

Question:
Pete – hey, i have a 2004 jcw mini s, and i was wondering if i put a 15% supercharger pulley upgrade on it, will the jcw exhaust stand up to it, or will i need to change out the line?

Answer: This would be pretty much unnecessary. The uprated supercharger included in the JCW package already has a 13.8% smaller pulley than the stock supercharger.

Question:
NK – Since there's only rumors going on:

What will the specs for the 05 MCS JohnCooperWorks Kits be, and when will they finally be available (Europe and US)?

Thanks

Answer: Unfortunately I'm as in the dark on this one as the rest of the community. I haven't heard of any shortfalls in availability, especially since there aren't any 2005 MCS in the US yet.

[See this article from a couple weeks ago for more information: 2005 JCW MCS to get HP Increase - Gabe]

Question:
JiminVirginia – Does MINI plan any changes in windshield configuration (such as increasing thickness)?

Will the LSD in 2005 be a factory or a dealer installed option?

When would you guess a 2005 model will be available for a test drive? October-ish?

Answer: I don't know about planned windshield changes. It's possible that because of the convertible they will all get thicker windshields, but I don't know for sure even if the convertible will have a thicker windshield. I assume it will, though.

The LSD will be a factory option, for which pricing has not yet been announced. Expect pricing probably in December, at which point we'll be ordering “blind” for February production.

Demonstrator availability depends entirely on your local MINI Dealer. We rotate ours every 5000 miles. This can happen quickly in the case of the MCS and MC CVT, or take months and months as in the case of the MC 5-speed. I have already been told that my particular dealership will not get an '05 just to have one, but will ride it out with our current demonstrator until the miles are up.

Question:
Victoria – Is there any easy, at-home fix for slight rattles in A-pillars, door insets, etc.? Everyplace I've got the silvertone dash trim, I seem to be developing noise that's dampened by pressing lightly against the trim. OR…is this covered by warranty? Thx!

Answer: I'm sure someone out there in the VERY industrious MINI enthusiast community has come up with a fix for these things, but I don't personally know of any. These items ARE covered under your warranty, typically for at least the first few months. Remember that part of the beauty of MINI is the firm ride, which gives you not only unbelievable handling, but also tends to shake things loose.

[Yes go get them fixed at your dealer, that's what your warranty is for - Gabe]

Question:
Bill – Can a Harmon Kardon System be added at the dealership later? I really want to install that system now.

Answer: It probably could, but it would cost you WAY more than $550 to buy the parts and have the work done. Your best bet would be to visit an aftermarket shop and see what they can do for you. For around $1000, you can get an aftermarket system that puts the H/K to shame.

Question:
Scott – Will installing a CAI cause me any hassle when i take my car in for service?

Answer: This depends entirely on your dealer. My gut response would be no, since basically all you're doing is replacing the factory airbox with something that breathes a little better. However, remember that dealers ALWAYS look with suspicion at people doing modifications. The general feeling is that if you're adding extra “go-fast” stuff, then you're going to be harder on the car and possibly causing things to break. In this case, a CAI is probably no more harmful than an aftermarket “high-flow” air filter like something from K&N.

Question:
Sean Bancroft – I have an 02 MCS. I recently noticed what seems to be a defect in the rear bumper. Their is a horizontal outward crease about 6″ long. The crease is prortruding outward from the bumper as if the plastic buckled outward. It is pretty subtle, but obvious once pointed out. I had my indsurance adjuster examine the bumper. In looking at the bumper together, my adjuster showed me that it couldn't be the result of another car or object striking the bumper becasue their are none of the tell tale signs (i.e. scrathces, rubbed off paint, scars, etc…). It seems to me that if it is in no way attributable to any sort of accident, then it must be a defect. Have you heard of this before? Should this be a warranty item?

Answer: This could be a warranty item. Have your Service Advisor and technician check it out. If necessary, enlist the help of your insurance adjuster to show them how it's not the result of impact.

Question:
Ansel Olson –

At idle, there is a sound under the hood like a low whirring soft moan, it undulates a little. The sound goes away as the car starts driving. Is this normal or is it a struggling fan. Any idea?

The car is an 03 may MCS.

Answer: This is probably your power steering motor. It operates electrically while the car is running at low speeds to provide extra boost to the steering, then at higher speeds, a more direct hydraulic system takes over. The result effect is that you hear a sort of whine or moan from under the hood. If you're confident that this is not what's causing it, take it in to your dealer to have it looked at.

Question:
Peter – Considering the slight changes to the '05 bumpers, will there be any changes to the '05 aero kit?

Answer: We'll find out when MINI aftersales puts out the new accessory catalog.

[Judging from these photos there may not be - Gabe]

Question:
David - Simple question,

Do you know the average wait time for orders for an MCS?

I want to order an '05 MCS around the end of the year.

Answer: Simple, yet complex at the same time! This is one of my favorite questions, because the answer is never a good one.

Wait time varies from dealer to dealer, and there's no good way to figure out why the wait is so long, because each dealer handles their allocation differently.

My dealership, for example, tries to pre-sell every allocation we get. We don't want ANYTHING coming in to be inventory. This makes things more fair to the general public, because they get to pick and choose exactly what they want on the cars, instead of settling for whatever we order. I suspect that other dealers reserve a portion of their allocation to come in as inventory so that they can mark it up or add expensive accessories to the cars. We do not do this, so we have no reason not to order the cars on a first come first served basis. Most people would be shocked that there are people out there who get REALLY upset when you tell them that not only can't they buy our demos, but they also can't buy the cars in the showroom because they're already sold. I have been bribed and threatened (not physically, but with threats to take their business elsewhere) by people trying to get an earlier production slot or buy a demo.

So, in short, call your local dealer and ask them what their wait time is. If you're not satisfied with that, or if they offer to bump you up for an additional charge, decide how far away you're willing to go to get a car, then call all the dealers within that radius. The average time from start of production to delivery is 6-8 weeks. Anything more than that is pad for inventory or upcharged “line jumpers” on their part. Most dealers should be able to tell you to within 2-3 weeks when your car will go into production, then you can extrapolate delivery time from there.

Question:
Tony - Will the JCW Kit ever be a factory option?

Seems silly to pay for parts that will never be used, are stripped out of your car and replaced with new ones.

Answer: Probably not. You're actually paying $5500 for those parts you get in the JCW kit. $1000 of that is a core charge, which is automatically refunded when you return the factory parts, making the total $4500. Installing this at the factory would take away some of the cachet of having a limited availability kit and true aftermarket tuner accessories.

Question:
Bob - I will be purchasing the Cabrio in the U.S. in 1/2005.

1. Do you have any idea about the automatic, 5 or 6 gear, what make.
2. Will the U.S. be able to spec the automatic folding electric side rearview mirrors that is offered in the U.K.?

Answer: To the best of my knowledge, the Cooper Convertible will continue to get the CVT automatic. The MCS Convertible will get the new automatic being installed in the MCS hardtop, which I have no more information on other than that it will be a Steptronic and not SMG, but will have steering wheel mounted shifter paddles.

Folding electric side mirrors are not available for the US market yet, at least according to the current ordering guide.

Question:
Heather -I am seriously considering purchasing a Mini, but with all the changes that are coming should i either try and get a 2004 or wait until 2006 to make sure all the bugs are worked out…?

Answer: Most of the changes for '05 (with the exception of the gearbox changes and LSD) are cosmetic. I don't think you have anything to worry about, especially considering the success MINI has had at basically building a new car from the ground up starting in 2002.

Question:
SB – The JCW website shows the JCW Sport Seats as an option. My dealer has little information on these seats … although they do seem to have stock numbers. Can you shed any light on price and availability in the US? Is this a dealer added option or factory installed option?

Answer: These would be a dealer installed option, as are all other JCW parts. I do not know of availability of these seats in the US, but if you can get me a part number, I would be happy to look them up for pricing and availability.

This fall, John Cooper Works will be releasing a catalog of aftermarket parts which can be installed at the dealer and will be covered under your warranty if done at the dealership.

Question:
Jeff – When will the Bluetooth hands free phone option be available for cars with the HK stereo system? Will it make use of the buttons on the steering wheel, or be a dash mount button?

Answer: Great question! When the Bluetooth hadsfree was announced, the plan was to release a separate part with the modifications needed to work with '03 H/K sound systems. If you have an '04, it will work just fine, there is just a brief period during '03 when the two are not compatible.

It does not use the steering wheel buttons, but rather has a controller which mounts next to the stereo on the right downtube. This will pose an interesting problem when the new cupholder is introduced, since the cupholder is mounted in the same place as the handsfree control should be.

Question:
Gianna - When is MINI USA going to revisit the dealer allocation policy so it is more in line with demand? Here in the NW US, the WA dealer has an 18 month wait for an MCS and isn't taking new orders at all and the OR dealer has a wait of 11 months. I see on the other boards the wait on the East Coast is a month or two at most.

Answer: MINI USA recently changed the way allocations are handled to make things more fair and equitable in all regions. Some of this “shortage” may be artificial, caused by dealers reserving production slots for people willing to pay more, or wanting to get in inventory to which they can add expensive accessories, thereby increasing profit. My suggestion is that if you're not happy with the service or availability at your local dealer, call around until you find one with better availability. The money you'll save on markup will usually more than cover shipping or airfare to an out of state dealer.

Question:
Joey – I am torn between buying out the lease on my 2001 BMW 330xi or purchasing a 2005 MCS w/ automatic. What do you recommend? Keep in mind in live in snowy Ohio. Problem is my lease can only be extended until Feb. and not even sure if the 2005 MCS w/ automatic would be available.

Thanks

Answer: This is an interesting choice. Being an Ohio native myself (Go Bucks!), I know what a great benefit AWD can be. However, front wheel drive can provide a lot of the same benefits during the winter, while saving weight and increasing fuel economy the rest of the year.

As for availability, the best thing would be to get on the phone with your local dealer and try to work something out. Since production of the MCS w/ automatic transmission is scheduled to begin in January, theoretically you should be able to have a car by the end of February at the latest. Again, if your local dealer isn't willing to work with you, call around until you find one that will.

Question:
Tom – How can I find out what updates/service bulletins have been issued that cover a specific VIN#? If MINI has identified specific problems with my car I would like to be able to have them fixed before the warranty expires. An example would be the powersteering/cooling fan problem on the early cars. Is there a service bulletin that can be performed even if I have not had a malfunction (yet)?

Answer: Call up your Service Advisor and ask him/her. They should be able to tell you everything you need to know.

Question:
Rex – hi..we have a production number and are “on order” for a 2005 jet black mcs to be here mid – september or so. :) when ordering we chose the 17″ s-lite wheels…we picked the all season tires thinking they might help with the ride comfort and last longer. are we right?? pros and cons of the all season and the performance tires, please?

Answer: Congratulations! The general consensus is that since they're both run-flats, your ride quality will be about the same. The main difference, in my estimation, is the tread pattern. The A/S tyre is slightly more blocky, and the Performance is more aggressive. In my own personal experience with my 16″ A/S runflats, they wore out pretty quickly (about 20,000 miles). I don't think A/S vs. Performance makes all that much difference when they're both runflats.

Question:
Dave -I was wondering if any of the '05 options could be added to an '04. Such as the Universal Garage Door opener?

Answer: I hope so! I haven't seen an '05 yet, so we'll just have to wait and see. I guess it depends on what kind of electronics are involved in the UGDO aside from just the modified rear-view mirror.

Question:
John – Question #1/#2: What's the real reason a british accent isn't available on US MINIs? Is MINIUSA considering adding it, again (it used to be available on older models)?

Question #3: Why isn't Apple's iPod BMW/MINI hook up available for cars with Nav when Dennison's (sp?) Ice-link works? Apple's kit seems very limited.

Answer:I don't know why a British accent isn't available on US MINIs. It would be cool if they did add it again, but I don't have any insight into their product planning process.

I too am slightly disappointed with the offering from Apple/BMW. I had VERY high hopes for it, but unfortunately they are limited to the capabilities of the head unit they're working with. I suspect that the reason it's not available for cars with Nav is that the wiring harnesses between the navigation system and the head unit are different than non-Nav cars. This would create more complexity and therefore more cost, and since there aren't that many Nav-equipped MINIs out there, the decision was made to exclude them from this product. This is only my speculation, though. Again, I have no insight into MINI's product planning.

Question:
Dave - I would like more details on the 1-05 MCS Automatice transmission. How much? 5 or 6 speed. Paddle shifters? Is it a clean sheet of paper design?

Answer: Me too! Pricing and more details should be announced in the Fall, I'd guess.

Question:
dino - just ordered an 05 MCS and paid sticker. i called 9 dealerships and got a variety of answers to the quesiotn of price negotiation. Some dealers were charging over sticker while others claimed to be espousing saturn's model (no negotiation) for dealer and customer ease. Is there a MINI policy on this? should i have kept looking to find a way to get a better deal or does the demand make this impossible?

Answer: Congratulations on your new car! You're getting the best deal out there because you refused to pay over MSRP for the car.

While I choke on the idea of comparing ANYTHING MINI to Saturn, the parallel is a good one. Negotiating on price is the main thing that people hate about the car buying process. Every customer leaves the table thinking they could have gotten a better deal, even if the dealer cut the price as deeply as they could and still make a profit.

MINI's official policy is that individual dealers set the price of the product they're selling. This is because of restrictive anti-monopoly laws in place in the US which govern the way automotive manufacturers sell to the public. Saturn dealers sign an agreement that they won't negotiate, and “officially” they won't, but push them a little and you'll start seeing some discounts.

What NO ONE likes to hear is that paying MSRP is actually GOOD for people who own MINIs. It helps keep resale value high and lease residual values better than anything else on the market. What happens when dealers start to discount their cars? It becomes cheaper to buy a new one than a used one. Think about it; say you own a car (not a MINI) that is one or two model years old. Your mileage is good, but you financed it for 5 years and still owe a large chunk of that to the bank. If you tried to sell your car right now for what you owe, chances are good that because of discounts, rebates and incentives, it would be cheaper for someone to go buy a new car than the one you're selling because of depreciation. The high demand and limited availability, along with across the board MSRP sales of MINIs had virtually eliminated this problem.

Thanks Everyone for participating! We'll be doing this again soon.