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Like last year MINIUSA will be increasing pricing across the range and specific options on anything sold after January 1st. Here are the details:
- Cooper +$501 = $17,500
- Cooper S +$501 = $20,400
- Cooper Convertible +$500 = $22,000
- Cooper S Convertible +$500 = $25,000
- Foglights +$10 = $150
- Sport Seats +$30 = $300
- Chrome MIrrors +$30 = $150
- Chrono Gauge +$50 = $300
- Anthracite Headliner +$200 = $200
It's important that you ask your MA about when the prices take effect and whether or not it will affect your order.
This seems to be a very fair increase by MINI considering they didn't increase base prices for the model year change over a few months ago. I'd say the car is still an incredible value considering the engineering and level of standard equipment – especially the US spec. And kudos to MINIUSA for bringing back the Anthracite headliner!
<p>Great I saved myself $701 :)</p>
<p>I got my 05 MCS with anthracite headliner, sport pkg, chrome exterior and more. If the sport pkg will be up by $10 for the $10 up for foglights and the chrome exterior pkg up by $30 for the $30 up of chrome mirror, then I have saved …</p>
<p>$501 + $10 + $30 + $200
= $741</p>
<p>:D</p>
<p>The prices changed for the individual options… not the packages.</p>
<p>So when does the price go up? Is it for all deliveries after 1/05, or for production dates beginning after 1/05. I am on a waiting list, here in Oregon, and think my MCS will go into production December. So will I have to pay the extra $?</p>
<p>$501 increase for the S? That's a big jump, and I don't see $501 worth of extra features. Wasn't BMW supposed to be <em>reducing</em> manufacturing costs? Or are they charging more just to increase the profit margin?</p>
<p>The price increases for all production after 1/05. Anything produced before then don't have increased prices.</p>
<p>Typically MINIUSA increase prices 5-6 months after the introduction of the new year. Same thing happened for the 2004's. I got my MCS before January 2004, before the $500 price hike.</p>
<p>Great, I saved! $741 more exactly.</p>
<p>…I really don't mind the slight price increase. I figured that,like inflation,the price was going to go up anyway.</p>
<p>…still,the MINI is a quality product,with quality service;therefore,it's still a great value compare to other cars in its' range.</p>
<p>Gabe,</p>
<p>Are the reasons for the options going up in price have anything to do with making the quality issues better on the base Cooper and Cooper S?</p>
<p>This is likely also related to currency exchange as well.</p>
<p>too bad though that mini can't market the mcs as “under $20,000”.
that seems to be a good catchphrase nowadays in sport compacts. oh well, its still awesome</p>
<p>When are the prices coming out for the new options, such as the LSD?</p>
<p>I don't really like this price increase, and may reconsider my purchase plans. Doesn't make sense to wait one more month for a $500 increase, just so I can get the LSD, which will most likely be $500-$800. At that point it would be cheaper to install one.</p>
<p>derek – there are no clear cut reasons other than economic ones that BMW is constantly considering. Currency, new option availability… there are lots of things that BMW/MINI thinks about before it raises prices.</p>
<p>Also remember base prices weren't raised at all for 2005 initially.</p>
<p>dgszweda – no prices yet for the LSD. My only advice would be to make sure you price out an aftermarket LSD plus installation before you order before 1/05. I have a feeling it'll be much cheaper to get from the factory.</p>
<p>What about LSD???</p>
<p>My guess for a LSD would be $750-$1100.
Remember Jan 1,-new armrest included. That could be $250 with install. And other changes have not yet been set in stone.</p>
<p>Is there a 1/05 price increase expected for the base Cooper as well?</p>
<p>LSD for 01/05 production. This kit is NOT retrofittable to earlier builds.
Clock to be relocated. .</p>
<p>Robert,
The new armrest is not included, it will be a cost option. However, it will be included in one of the Convertible packages after 1/05.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.motoringfile.com/2004/08/05/miniusa_options_to_be_introduced_this_january">This story</a> from early August covers about everything to be introduced for 1/05 production on…</p>
<p>[<a href="https://www.motoringfile.com/2004/08/05/miniusa_options_to_be_introduced_this_january">LINK</a>]</p>
<p>It's also all listed in this story from June: [<a href="https://www.motoringfile.com/2004/06/20/complete_miniusa_2005_pricing_lists">LINK</a>]</p>
<p>Re: a Cooper price change. Yes there will be a Cooper price change. The info above has been updated!</p>
<p>I read somewhere(NAM, M2) that the LSD was delayed until 3/05, for unknown reasons. </p>
<p>This increase doesn't surprise me, what with everything finally available the first of the year. By my calc, I saved about $600. J</p>
<p>The LSD is not delayed – it's just that 1/05 production won't reach the US from England for a month or two depending on your location. Totally normal.</p>
<p>Arrrrrrgh! Now I have to wait until 3/05 for my MCS with LSD.</p>
<p>This price increase will affect all MINI's delivered to the dealer after the first of the year REGARDLESS OF PRODUCTION DATE. Due to the early notice there will be NO price protection like last year.</p>
<p>That's an important point Bob!</p>
<p>Bob, that policy would seem a little…weird. Could you imagine the anxious MINI enthusiast, tracking his/her MINI through the VPC, filled with angst as the truck carrier gets stuck in traffic on December 31st? Said MINI owner-to-be hires a police escort to help the truck through the last few miles of traffic, to make it to the dealer just before the clock strikes midnight and Dick Clark rocks?</p>
<p>Does the MINI truck driver slow down for price increases, to get an extra tip from the dealer? Does the VPC do an “extra-special” microscopic examination of MINIs that complete their sea voyages late in December?</p>
<p>If I may suggest to the folks at MINI USA how they might handle the price increase lest they cause some sort of MINI riot, how about this:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>If an individual owner preorders and specs a MINI for build 12/31 or earlier, old price.</p></li>
<li><p>If an individual owner preorders and specs a MINI for build 1/2 or later, new price. (I'm giving the plant workers New Year's Day off. Seems fair.)</p></li>
<li><p>If nobody spec'ed the incoming MINI, old price for dealer deliveries 12/31 and prior. New price for dealer deliveries 1/2 and subsequent. (Truck drivers get 1/1 off, too.) MINIs don't hang around the lot long anyway.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>SUPPLY AND DEMAND! I think demand for the MINI is the real reason for the price increases. Since we all appreciate the MINI I think we can appreciate BMW seeking a little more return on their investment.</p>
<p>I thought I read that shippments to the US were twice what was predicted by BMW. With that kind of acceptance comes a little more room for profit. Well, at least the MINI dealers are not price-gouging like the Miata dealers of yesterday.</p>
<p>Don't forget that the U.S. Mini configurator shows the cup holder as a $50 option, and we have been getting it free. Perhaps they will start charging for that too.</p>
<p>Timothy, I agree that that way of doing it is a little wierd. As a motoring advisor it bothers me because now I'm going to have to piss off at least a few customers with NOV/DEC production dates because their cars might show up after the first of the year. If you remember they raised the price on the cooper S $550 at the same time last year and becaused the announced it late they gave price protection to all cars produced through 12/03. Because MINI is letting us know so early this year they will not be giving price protection.</p>
<p>I'm confused. If I ordered my mini on October 14 (my sales man said before the price increase) and it gets here in January when he said it would, I am still responsible for the increase?? not fair….</p>
<p>I know, I ordered mine in September, and they had just gotten word of the price increase then. The sales guy told me that if it arrived after January 1, $500 would be tacked on. Mine's due to arrive in the next 4-5 weeks, so I hope the boat carrying it doesn't sink or get lost (LOL)or I lose out on the newer things included in the cars produced after January 1 (like the armrest) and yet still have to pay the extra! It does seem a bit unfair for those who ordered in mid-November or later…</p>
<p>Bob said: “If you remember they raised the price on the cooper S $550 at the same time last year and becaused the announced it late they gave price protection to all cars produced through 12/03. Because MINI is letting us know so early this year they will not be giving price protection.”
So, if I wait until the '06s just start being delivered – say August '05 – there may be a cost increase in August too?</p>
<p>I'm off to a bad start with my mini experience. The timing of the $501 increase seems like the old car dealer scam at it's worst. Some how I was hoping this would be different. Isn't motoring supposed to be FUN? Same old BS!</p>
<p>How is this a “dealer scam” when it comes from the factory? With the strength of the value of the Euro versus the U.S. dollar, you cannot help but expect these kinds of things.</p>
<p>I ordered my '04 cooper S in August of '03. I didn't get into produection until April of '04, recieved June of '04.
I got a letter from my MA in December of last year stating that there was going to be a price increase of $500 for all '04's built after January.
I thought it was bunk and still think it was bunk that I had to pay it since my order was in 5 months before the increase was slated to happen. Regardless, I paid it and got my S.
But I did call my MA and told him I wasn't happy at the company for the price increase essentially being retroactive. Oh well. I still love my MA though. :)</p>
<p>This is a very small price increase.
MINI / BMW are doing USA cumstomers a huge favor and I hope they appreciate it. </p>
<p>Even with this price increase the USA mini's are cheaper than the UK ones <em>AND</em> there is a shorter waiting time in the USA for a cooper than in the UK.</p>
<p>So MINI/BMW are selling more cars to a cusotmer base that they make less profit on.</p>
<p>If they were to be fair to themsleves they would read-ajust the USA prices upon a cusotmer placing their order based upon $/UKP exchange rate. If they did the Mini prices would have gone up <em>50%</em> in the last two years.</p>
<p>Our '05 Hyper Blue MCS arrived last week. Every option/feature EXACTLY as we ordered. HBlue on dash and door panels looks great. Can't stop smiling!</p>
<p>Guys – as nemi says – you look at the exchange rate recently? BMW are probably taking a loss on these cars right now. Not to mention they still ocst more over there.</p>
<p>All of thw suestions for price increase are somewhat valid. Being a brit living for 23years in the States I tend to look at the exchange rate.
For the last 20 odd years the rate has been I pound = $1.4 to $1.6 range. It is currently $1.8 to $1.9 that is an increase of about 33%.
So they have “lost” 33% profit without any change in production, productivity Etc.
Keith</p>
<p>Well the price increase starts tomorrow. My MA called me today at about 4:00pm PST telling me my car is here, it came in about an hour before he called me. Since it made it by the end of the 31st, “No Price Increase”, talk about cutting it close. I guess I will just spend the extra $500 on other MINI stuff. Happy New Year to all.</p>
<p>Keith is right. It's not a rip off. It's the exchange rate. The dollar is taking a beating against the euro and the pound. </p>
<p>We're lucky they're willing to take a hit on the exchange. </p>
<p><a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6749594/" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6749594/</a></p>
<p>Keith is definitely correct. This is the downside of encouraging a weak currency to try and fix government overspending and trade imbalances. Watch out for more import car (and everything else) price increases if the $ remains so weak.</p>
<p>I currently have an 02 MCS and just did all fluids and tires. I am having a hard time deciding on an 05 MCS or waiting for the 06 MkII MCS.What is the current wait time for order/arrival in mid atlantic region? Does anyone know when the MkII will actually get to the US? Question-please explain why some feel the need to list all the specific extras they have added to their own cars at the bottom of their email? Seems juvenile and egotistical(or maybe that should be egotestical).Who cares.</p>
<p>the next version of the MINI won’t be coming out until ’07… possibly even as an ’08 model. The ’06 version will be identical to the ’05 for the most part. Wait times are about 2 months from order or you could find something on dealer lots. Many in the mid-west and east have plenty of stock right now. I know Patrick MINI does.</p>
<p>Gabe, got your response and am not familiar wth who you may be….not to doubt you, but where are you getting this info? It seems a long way off considering the new VW MkV GTI, next Civic, Suzuki Swift GT,redone WRX,EVO ,etc will all be here sooner. How certain of this are you? Can anyone else confirm timeframe for US release of MkII MINI?</p>
<p>No worries Kevin – actually I run this website and based on all the sources I’v talked spoken with and heard from I am certain of this info.</p>
<p>Been reading the posts for a while and decided to contribute! I have yet to purchase an MCS after being in the market since their debut – probably just procrastinating. I owned a ’66 Cooper S in high school and loved it. Her name was Suzy. </p>
<p>Anyway, I wanted to echo the price gouging issue that RobO brought up. I’m relatively new to MotoringFile and wanted to mention, in case some of you aren’t aware, that price gouging is alive and well here in sunny Southern California! One dealer, whose name will be omitted but whose address resides within the Santa Ana city limits, has the absolute audacity to put a premium “market adjustment rate” price of $5000.00 on all new MCS’s. To stick it to the MC crowd? How about $2500.00? Oh yes! Now here’s the stabbing in the back…are you sitting down? Those mark-ups are absolutely NON-NEGOTIABLE. How’s that for a nice, fat bend-over? You see, it doesn’t matter here in this fair region of the country whether or not you want options. That price is automatically tacked on NO MATTER WHAT. After asking the “Motoring Advisor” if the mark-up could be somewhat negotiated, he said to me “if you don’t want to pay premium, you need to go somewhere else.” Expecting to have a nice conversation but instead receiving that line of crap, I replied, “You mean take my business to another dealership?” He said, “That’s what I said.” And I graciously concluded, “Gladly, A**hole!” It was months later that I decided to rekindle my search and I’ve managed to find solace in a dealership near my residence where they will forego the MCS mark-up IF you add the Works Package, which is what I planned on doing anyway. But how thoughtful of them to think “Hey, you’re spending an extra $6000.00 on option and installation, we’ll go ahead and grant you a pass on the mark-up” How noble of them. Nonetheless, some people are actually purchasing a fully optioned MCS and with the mark-up are paying upwards of $35,000 – $38,000. I suppose I’m writing out of curiousity to see if anyone else has experienced this type of greed from other dealers or if this is just a “Southern California” thing. I wouldn’t be surprised if it were the latter. </p>
<p>Take Care Everyone. </p>
<p>Mikey – I’d <strong>highly</strong> recommend going to a dealer that doesn’t use mark-ups. Patrick MINI (a dedicated sponsor of this site) has a great reputation for selling to folks in CA.</p>