I will be buying a cooper s clubman very soon.I plan on getting one without a sunroof. I told the dealer that I want a checkerboard top on the car, and he said that they dont like to do it because it doesnt fit well, and doesnt look good(his bodyshop guy won't do it, I think he said). Is this true? If I custom order one, do they install at the factory? He also said that the driving lights were a pain to install....that they had to cut the dash and installation would be an additional 300+ bucks. Should I find a different dealer. Is there anyone out there with a full checkerboard top that looks nice.....can you post pictures?

Thanks

 

The checkered top is just vinyl so if his bodyshop guy can't apply vinyl, find someone else who can. I'm sure you can find a local MINI club who can recommend an installer for you.
For the driving lights, it does take some doing to install them, but again, they shouldn't have to hack anything, so don't let them do it if they don't seem confident. Definately take your business elsewhere if you don't feel comfortable with that dealer.

 

I would say to the dealer

Wow you guys must be doing really well to let my 30+ grand walk out the door...have a good year and don't worry I won't let the door hit me on the way out.

Then I would go find another dealer.

If I want a certain configuration I'm going to go get it and I'm not about to drop big coin and settle on what I don't want because the dealer is a lazy sob.

 

I hear you on getting what you want, but for much of the country, Mini dealers are few and far between. Frankly, if I did not have confidence in the dealer near me and the nearest was several hours away, there is no way I would get a Mini.

 

maybe its just me but I have driven 13 hours [from near the Oregon Border to Los Angeles ]to buy a car from a dealer that gave me a good deal on a car set up the way I wanted it. That said I have never taken a car to a dealer for service post purchase. I do all my own maintenece and for anything I couldn't handle I have used private specialty shops and that usually only happens in vehicles that have over 100k mikes on them.

 

You are a better man than me when it comes to fixing a car! I need more neighbors like you.

Self sufficiency is good, but I would think 100% seems impractical with today's cars. The last 3 or 4 cars I have purchased had recalls for component replacements (one was not minor), they all get software updates. One of my cars has no Chilton type manual. The mfr makes their service manual available online for something like $200 for two days.

I will admit, the internet makes it a lot easier to get info about fixes, provided you are not on the front edge of discovering a problem. Had a problem, diagnosed it using the internet. Decided not to do it myself based on what I read. Told my mechanic exactly what the problem was, the specific part. I don't think he believed me. When I picked it up - I was spot on.

 

Now with a 13 hour drive i can see why you do the work yourself but for the majority of us it is cheaper to have the dealer do the "Free Maintenance Work".

As for the OP i would find another dealer or at least a salesman that will do what you want and not try to talk you out of something.

BTW most of the dealers have arrangement with local shops to do any of the graphics work as the local shop will be an expert and then the dealer does not have to have a specialist on the payroll.

As for the lights there is no cutting of the dash board and although many do charge 250-300 (installation cost) for the job it really is not that hard but it is time consuming.

 

Talk to the service techs. Sometimes MA's don't know two cents worth of service/installation stuff. Why would there be a need to cut the dash? The toggle dash is replaced with one that has the driving lamps switch. Frankly the OEM driving lights are too expensive with install.

As for the roof graphic, get another guy. Seems like his installer don't know how to apply vinyl. 0.o

 

It sounds like the dealer doesn't really want your business. I would find a different dealer to work with. As for the Driving lights and graphics. These are thing that can be done after market a lot cheaper than the dealer install.

You can find a local club that usually has members that are good with doing stuff like that. We have DYI sessions all the time for stuff like driving lights.

The roof graphic can be done by a few vendors on here and off of here. I got my graphics done By Aesthetic Creations and they can provide you with a certified installer in your area. They are not a vendor here anymore but still in Business so email them. www.aestheticreations.net

 

I ordered an '08 Clubman, BRG/Silver, on February 15 last year. I also wanted a checkerboard roof. After it arrived I found out that Mini only offers a black/clear or white/clear check. If you order a black roof, the white/clear gives you a black and white check. If you order a silver roof, you end up with a black/silver check. If you have other checked items on the car, such as side mirrors, that does not work out, to my eye anyway. Also, be aware that the Mini supplied checked roof does not cover the inside of the "Dunes" on the roof.
After some searching I ordered a checked roof from Aesthetic Creations. It has smaller checks but is black and white. The first try, also with the inside of the dunes not covered, The outside covering of the dunes did not match up with the covering between the dunes. The second version was made to cover the entire roof and that is what is on the car. It missed covering the entire roof by about a half inch on each side but the applicator spliced in some leftover and it's not really noticeable.
As for driving lights, I purchased mine from VIP Custom Parts and did the installation myself. The parts were of excellent quality, the included instructions were rather vague. After the installation I sent VIP a long email suggesting changes to their instructions and never heard a word back. You do need to install a switch in your dash so some disassembly is required. The mechanical installation was not too bad, the electrical part was very difficult.
I'm sorry the photo is not so good. Right now Izzie is spending the winter in the garage but if you need more photos just let me know.
Good luck with your dealer!

 

It looks great from the picture. Glad you were able to get it worked out with AC. Mikes a great guys and has alway worked to fix any issues that I have had.
I can see how the Clubby roof would be a difficult one to work with.

I haven't seen this picture on his website. you might consider sending him the image to put on there.

 

Nice Mini... can you elaborate on the driving light switch? Did you manage to find one to fit where the original would be, or where did it install, what does it look like?

Thanks!

 

VIP Custom Parts supplied two switches, one a toggle and one a rocker. The toggle only needed a drilled hole so that is what I used. The rocker required a rectangular hole. Factory is a rocker switch. I've been told that the lights are supposed to be wired so that they only come on when you have your high beams on. I have xeon headlights and that added a bit of complexity.
Go here: https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...w-clubman.html and you'll get all sorts of info. Look at message 22 for a photo of a factory switch. Further on you'll see my Mini, before the checked roof.
I'll attach a photo of my switch.

 

Reading that page you sent me to -- seems a great idea to tie it in to the high beams then they go on with high beams all the time... can't think of a down side to that...?

 

I would advise you to check your state laws; every state is different. Up here in Maine we have a law for everything. I personally enjoy being able to decide when I want them on. I have them more to recall the Mini racing heritage than I do for night visibility.

 

Hmm. well, yeah, they look cool, but I want them for night time driving.