Comments on: MF Review: One Year w/the 2005 MCS

By: Gabe

Gabe — Sat, 10 Jun 2006 06:52:43 +0000

The OEM tire on the JCW wheels is a max performance (summer) Dunlop. That’s what I have currently. Once they’re done I’ll be switching to a non-runflat max performance summer tire.

By: Melanie

Melanie — Sat, 10 Jun 2006 02:56:24 +0000

Gabe, (or anyone else)

I am curious what tires you have (all season) on the JCWs? I am really not a track person, I may do that once a year. What I am looking for is a decent all season tire for my JCW wheels, hopefully ones that give a better ride than the runflats currently on my 17 inch wheels. No offense, but I am leery of asking someone who is in the business of selling tires, since I know that they are only going to tell me about the tires they carry. For instance, I have heard about the Falken Ziex ZE 512 tires, and I know that Tire Rack doesn't carry them. I'd rather hear comments from those who have already lived with their tires on their JCWs...

Thanks!

By: lito

lito — Wed, 07 Jun 2006 13:06:54 +0000

fwiw, my 05 MCS had extremely poorly aimed zenons as delivered. (basically pointing downward about 20' in front of my vehicle).

a couple of adjustments per the instructions on the danielsternlighting.com for euro lights made them much better.

no complaints of blinding/dazzle from other drivers either!!

gabe, did your vehicle have the always advancing chrono in the center speedo??

By: Frank

Frank — Mon, 05 Jun 2006 21:01:31 +0000

Just for reference, the Halogen headlights in 2005+ MINIs are 25% brighter than the old style halogens in the ’02-’04 MINIs.

By: Gabe

Gabe — Mon, 05 Jun 2006 17:57:42 +0000

Gabe, would you comment on the Zenon headlights on your car, compared to the halogens on your Cooper? Obviously theyÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢re gonna be better, but are they worth the spend? My 05 MCS had halogens and I was unimpressed.

My 2002 Cooper also had Xenons but they were the old design (non-projector beams). The newer style is definitely brighter and are very comparable to a 3 series light output. I personally wouldn't get a car without them at this point.

By: timmee

timmee — Mon, 05 Jun 2006 17:45:35 +0000

Salty Nate: yeehaw! Congrats on your order!

By: timmee

timmee — Mon, 05 Jun 2006 17:44:44 +0000

Gabe, would you comment on the Zenon headlights on your car, compared to the halogens on your Cooper? Obviously they’re gonna be better, but are they worth the spend? My 05 MCS had halogens and I was unimpressed. May be unfair to compare them to the Zenons in our 330i, but the difference was like 200%! I guess my question is – are they way better on the MCS?

By: Frank

Frank — Mon, 05 Jun 2006 13:16:20 +0000

Oh and Gabe, congrats on your 1st year anniversary with your ’05 MCS. The car looks terrific and hope it provides you with many more happy motoring miles.

By: Frank

Frank — Mon, 05 Jun 2006 13:08:06 +0000

I too own a '05 MCS 6MT (February '05 build) and the car has been fantastic. I currently have piled up just about 14.5K miles with no issues to report. The car feels tight as a drum and I have yet to experience any sort of rattles or other annoyances in the interior.

I took delivery on March 20th, 2005 from Lauderdale MINI. I had custom ordered the car 6 weeks earlier right after I had sold my first MCS, a '04, which was also a very solid car (Kept it for 17.7K miles).

Here is a summary of how my MCS was ordered:

Chili Red/White Roof Exterior Chrome Package 16" Silver V-spoke wheels with 195/55/R16 Dunlop SP5000 all season runflats ASC+T Halogen headlights Front and rear fog lights (Complete 6 toggle switch bank!) Panther black leatherette sport seats Anthracite dash/door interior trim Harmon Kardon (I love it love it!) MINI OEM iPod adaptor (Sorry the ICE LInk Plus fails to convince me as a more reliable alternative over the BMW adaptor) Convenience Package (Auto headlights, auto self dimming rear view mirror, rain sensor and Homelink integration) OBD Computer Multifunction 3-spoke steering wheel OEM Union Jack roof flag

Light and sweet, this car is an absolute blast to drive and own! Last month I put around 2.3K miles on a road trip that took us from Miami, FL to Nashville, TN, then through the Dragon/Cherohala Skyway and back to Miami.

I have never owned a car that you can put 8+ hours behind the wheel and not feeling tired. This car just begs to be driven!

Go MINI and MINIUSA!

By: Mark Hendrie

Mark Hendrie — Mon, 05 Jun 2006 08:09:15 +0000

Nice write up – the car looks great!

By: Osmodious

Osmodious — Mon, 05 Jun 2006 07:06:52 +0000

I’m glad that your experience has been so good. I have to say that I’m a little jealous…though my experience may be more due to my dealer than the car itself. Which leads me to my question for the group…in my reading all the forums both here and and at other sites, it seems that people who have MINI’s either have NO problems, or lots of problems (whether little annoying issues or big issues). I have been thinking of getting a new car, basically because my 2004 MCS has had tons of little problems, none of which have been handled well by my dealer (multiple visits to get repaired, etc.). Do I take a chance and get a new ’06 and hope it is one with no problems, or should I give up on MINI for now and, perhaps, come back to the fold at a later time? I LOVE my MCS, it is the most fun you can have in a car with your clothes on (Not really, it is the most fun you can hace in a car period). I love driving it so much that I have only put 1200 miles on my Corvette in the 2 years I’ve had the MINI. However, in 34k miles, I have had the car in for repair 14 times. This would be unacceptable in a $13k Neon, let alone a $30k BMW product. Do I take the chance that the ’06 would be better? Will the fact that it is the last year of production be good for resale or bad? (which is not much of a concern, even with all the awards for resale, there are so many MINI’s in the NJ area that resale and trade-in values absolutely suck)

Sorry, maybe I’m just looking for a pep talk here. Y’all have had so much good luck with your cars that I am, as I mentioned, a bit jealous. Also, my dealer has been non-responsive to the extreme, so would be curious if anyone can actually recommend a dealer in the North Jersey area…not that there is a lot of choice. Maybe I should just wait for the Audi A1 that was mentioned in the recent issue of CAR…

By: Craig

Craig — Sun, 04 Jun 2006 23:35:30 +0000

Nice one year review. My 2006 MCS is now 4 months old and I agree with most everything you have written on your 2005 MCS. Although my “bling” is a bit less I also have Chrome inside and out on my PS/BL. The only issue I have is with the hook and slide for the battery terminal on the side of the JCW Air intake. After many tries at a fix it was finally attached via ties to the slide in area. I do hope that this is addressed in later models. Otherwise I love the bump and whine it gives. As this is my second MINI, one learns what one really needs to smile along the roadways!!!!!! I did take the H/K and I must say it does sound nice!!!!

By: Gabe

Gabe — Sun, 04 Jun 2006 23:16:50 +0000

Question: What parts did you get specifically? Just wondering how you arrived at that price. Has the sound changed after having it for a while?

The parts are listed in the review - I can't remember off-hand. The price seems to have gone up slightly since I installed mine however.

The sounds hasn't changed since the audio review.

Hope that helps!

By: Brian

Brian — Sun, 04 Jun 2006 22:13:59 +0000

Hey Gabe.. Great write up, as always.

I went back and read the review of your SS exhaust. You stated it was $1097. I went to their website and was looking around at the different options.

Question: What parts did you get specifically? Just wondering how you arrived at that price. Has the sound changed after having it for a while?

By: Gabe

Gabe — Sun, 04 Jun 2006 20:17:27 +0000

Seems like an unusual amount of this reported on NAM and the pulley installation does raise the engine. Just wondering if there might be a cause and effect.

The engine mount failure happened before I had the pulley on the car. The problem lies in the new design for the '05 cars. MINI redesigned the mount for 2006. The physical difference is fairly dramatic.

By: rhawth99

rhawth99 — Sun, 04 Jun 2006 17:44:31 +0000

Nice writeup – that JCS dash really looks sharp! One question – any chance that the pulley installation has anything to do with the engine mount failures? Seems like an unusual amount of this reported on NAM and the pulley installation does raise the engine. Just wondering if there might be a cause and effect.

By: O(=^=)OCapn

O(=^=)OCapn — Sat, 03 Jun 2006 17:35:51 +0000

I meant supercharger

By: O(=^=)OCapn

O(=^=)OCapn — Sat, 03 Jun 2006 17:35:25 +0000

Hey Damon, If you want to get an '07 You better call a midwestern dealership monday or it will be too late!!!!!!!!

I was going to an '07 but the kitty is going to have to go dry to help my nephew out with some legal problems.

I don't think that I could look at my dream car and know that I chose it over my Nephew.

But anyway Gabe Love the car, so what have/are you going to do withe the sound system upgrade?

I personally prefer the Whine of a superchager.

By: Nathaniel Salzman

Nathaniel Salzman — Sat, 03 Jun 2006 17:22:22 +0000

Great recap, Gabe. I'm really looking forward to your 15% pulley and JCW Brake reviews. It's a similar milestone for me as I started reading Motoringfile not too long before you got your new Vader MINI a year ago, and yesterday I stopped in Kansas City on my way through town, put my money down, and ordered my MCS! It'll arrive the second week in August and I couldn't be more excited. I also got to hang with Todd for a little while and see him work his vinyl magic. Good times.

Congrats on a year of great motoring and here's to many more to come!

By: Gabe

Gabe — Sat, 03 Jun 2006 16:01:57 +0000

A hint for the ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã‹Å“07 ? ;)

...maybe :-)