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As scheduled the 2005 MINIUSA.com configurator was finally launched today (yes it was actually scheduled for 9/2 believe it or not) leading to lost job productivity for MINI enthusiasts everywhere. We at MotoringFile would like to remind everyone that the healthy limit of building MINIs via the online configurator is no more than 20 a day. Also in an effort to keep blood pressure down for those using the configurator please don't spec a MCSc with everything and hit the “Explore Financing” button unless you really mean it.
<p>Good timing, I was JUST on there and it hadn't been changed over…they must have done it while I took a power nap :)</p>
<p>I checked here and BAM! New Configurator!</p>
<p>Thanks Gabe! Keep up the AWESOME work!</p>
<p>A couple of things to note:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Puerto Rican Flag is now available.</p>
<p>Something called a “White Sunroof Graphic” is listed but is not available. Is this the translucent sunroof for white top cars?</p>
<p>There are three varieties of the R99 listed – Silver, Anthracite, and Polished.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>I work for a large company and my employer is now blocking access to:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.miniusa.com" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.miniusa.com</a></p>
<p>That should give you an indication of how much time people spend with the configurator!</p>
<p>Gabe/Alex THX for the great news. I tried to will the Configurator into action by checking during conference calls and between 1 and 4 AM lately! MiniCanada's config option choices are just too limiting!!</p>
<p>The bottom part gets cut off on the Safari browser on the mac.</p>
<p>I'm having a little trouble with the configurator. The very bottom of the page is cut off and I can't move the slider bar to see all of the options. I also can't switch between screens unless I do an ALT + TAB. Is anyone else experiencing this?</p>
<p>This is so great! I, like the rest of you, was getting kind of frustrated with MINI USA, but it appears with the wait came the best configurator yet. </p>
<p>My productivity is shot!</p>
<p>Two questions Gabe, or anyone:
1)Why are the factory bonnet stripes $100, while the bonnet stripes listed under accessories are $79? What is the difference?
2) Does anyone know what the install price is for the factory alarm? Can this be a do-it-yourselfer?</p>
<p>Once again Gabe, Thank you for all of the information. Great site!</p>
<p>Ryan, Yes I experienced the same thing. Makes it hard to build your MINI while at work, and not be able to switch between screens if the boss walks in.</p>
<p>Ryan, i too am having the same problems. MINIUSA, i'm on Safari and i can't be the only one.</p>
<p>also, are 2 tone MINI's a thing of the past?</p>
<p>I'm just guessing on the stripes, but at the factory they're installed. If you buy the stripes from your dealer you'll have to pay them for installation, right? Or you can DIY.</p>
<p>I was on but now cannot get back on! Either my firm's filters are kicking in or the website is deluged to capacity!</p>
<p>Good, that means I'm not the only one with that problem!</p>
<p>Did anyone notice that the Sportlink bike rack looks different?</p>
<p>Same problem with Mozilla Firefox. Cuts the bottom off of the screen. Had to go find Internet Explorer in my program list again.</p>
<p>I'm having the same problems with Internet Explorer. The bottom of the config window is cut off and you can't adjust the window size.</p>
<p>Besides that, this is a HUGE improvement to the old config. The car looks so much more realistic.</p>
<p>Although not yet available, did anyone notice that JCW was an option in the final step? Does that mean that the Works could be a factory option in the near future? That would obviously be so great… no extra labor, no wasted parts, etc.</p>
<p>Mini's website must be swamped with people using the new configurator, cause i cant get on their website!</p>
<p>Miniusa is not loading!!!!</p>
<p>come on I want to play!!!!!!</p>
<p>I am having the same problem with safari…..</p>
<p>Mike-</p>
<p>I have an '05 MCS and bought the alarm. I am pretty sure I paid $595 installed, but can't guarantee.</p>
<p>Also, I do not think it was a do it yourself type of thing.</p>
<p>G.</p>
<p>Trying to play at Miniusa.com now to duplicate m '05 MCS I've been driving 2 weeks now. Curious if there are things I missed and should have ordered that I will have to order from the dealer. :o) HOWEVER, I think all US MINI owners are on the site and 6 people for every one of them is on the site as well, and 6 for each of them and so on and so on.</p>
<p>Sorry, hit enter by mistake. Long and short of it… I can't get access. :o(</p>
<p>I think we broke it.</p>
<p>For those having difficulty with the bottom being cut off, copy the link (you may have to enable the address bar), open a new window (which will now be resizable), past and go.</p>
<p>HTH.</p>
<p>I noticed that some options such as the Garage Door Opener are not available via the site, yet you can order them via you dealer when you spec the car.</p>
<p>So while this is a good start, I'd encourage all you future MINI owners to sit down with your MA and make sure there are not options you'd feel bad about missing. There maybe others.</p>
<p>Also It looks Like MINI is still having difficulty with the accuracy of their colors.</p>
<p>I tried the copy and paste into a new browser, and it still popped the smaller window. Still waiting for it to load – every MINIphile must be on tonight.</p>
<p>I ordered a MCS convert. at the end of july, still waiting, and the dealer quoted a price for the alarm at 7-hundred something don't remember the exact number. I thought this was a bit high, but I'm getting it anyway.</p>
<p>Configurator doesn't show colors correctly on the front view (shows right on the back) and the window isn't sized right, so you can't scroll across the options on the bottom. Frustrating.</p>
<p>$425 for the wind deflector?????</p>
<p>Question: If I get purple haze, will I be able to get body color interior ? Right now it only shows 4 colors available for the interior.</p>
<p>Jay,
Purple Haze is not available for body color interior. :(</p>
<p>Where is the leather option?
Coldn't find it.</p>
<p>Obviously, there are some bugs to still be worked out with this site. From what I understand, the guy who originally was repsonsible for the website took another position overseas. That's why it took so long to get online, and thus the new design and hence – a few bugs. Hopefully someone will read these comments and discover what we are experiencing.</p>
<p>seems to work now. i'm at my office and using IE on XP.</p>
<p>Looks like they took it down – now only 2004 configurator available.</p>
<p>Just noticed that the interior pics show an antracite headliner (atleast the A pillars are antracite) and I can't get it to swicth, no matter which color / upholstry combo I choose…</p>
<p>…judging by the comments above,I think I'll wait until the Labor Day Weekend is over;then,go over to the site. Maybe they'll have the bugs out. Happy Motoring.</p>
<p>From what I hear they'll be making changes in the coming weeks and adding some pretty cool new features… stay tuned.</p>
<p>Not sure if it's my monitor or not, the color choice purple haze in the MCS configurator is black, exactly like the jet black. A bug or I need a new mon.?</p>
<p>Frankie,
Purple Haze is very purple on my monitor.</p>
<p>They show the chrome hatch lift as part of the chrome line pkg – I thought that it was standard?</p>
<p>Does anyone know if the union jack will also be avialable as a sunroof option roof covering like the checkered flag?</p>
<p>Is it correct? If one chooses the [cloth/leather] “Sunrise/Dark Blue” upholstery, doors are a dark blue, while if one chooses the Dark Blue full leather, – doors remain dark grey?
&
Why are down tubes patina if one chooses an Anthracite interior?</p>
<p>Thanks in advance, all!</p>
<p>To view the whole window, try changing the resolution on your monitor. I usually have mine set to 800×600 pixels and had to kick it up to the next higher choice.
**Programmers everywhere take note! Users do not all have the same browsers, monitor settings, connection speeds, computer skill levels or state of art brand spanking new computers!</p>
<p>They show the chrome hatch lift as part of the chrome line pkg – I thought that it was standard?</p>
<p>No- it is part of an extra chrome package. Mirror caps and hinges.</p>
<p>i dont know, purple is is indeed a nice color, but its too purple to look sporty, it should only be available on the cooper and not the s</p>
<p>I checked the site today and the '05 configurator is no longer available. Does anyone know what the deal is?</p>
<p>Gary,
Chrome tailgate lift is standard on the Cooper. It's part of the chrome line exterior on the S however</p>
<p>Thanx Sean, I thought so….that's why I didn't order any more bling on my new MC.</p>
<p>Cheers, Sean!</p>
<p>Is anyone having trouble with retrieving a saved MINI?
The configurator seems to be working fine.</p>
<p>In the coming months, I will hopefully be puting an order in for a MCS with the John Cooper Works kit. However I'll Probably wait until January for the S with paddle shifters since I live in NYC. Anyway, Im really liking what they did with the page by updating it with the convertables. But as others are saying, the scroll bar get cut off at the bottom and I cant see all the new availabilities. Does anyone know if this is gonna change soon?! Another question is if the Liquid Yellow is metalic or not. The configurator is charging me $420 for it. So far Im leaning towards that with black stripes, aero kit and rally lights. Ehh, for now I'll just keep working on gettin my score higher on the Cooper Convertable game.
By the way-</p>