Week 34 (8/17-8/23/2009) Support Group

norcaltinkerbell · #1 08-04-2009, 09:24 PM

Hi everyone, I searched high and low but couldn't find a week 34 group, so here goes.

Ordered: 7/4 (wanted a late sept/early oct delivery)

MC Hardtop
Horizon Blue
Premium Package
Cold Weather Package
White roof and bonnet stripes
Ipod/Bluetooth
Standard leatherette

I am so excited for my Mini and can't wait to take it up Grizzly Peak/Skyline Blvd in Oakland (if you are a local, you know what I mean)

Anyone else week 34?

UAL_Kingpin · #2 08-19-2009, 05:51 PM

The Oxford plant started production on my friend's Clubman S today, August 19. What is the status of your car?

Maui Meg · #3 08-20-2009, 11:30 AM

My mini just went into production on August 18th - I'm sooo excited!

My mini is a 2009 MCS horizon blue w/ white top & bonnet stripes, winter & premium packages, security system, bluetooth & ipod adapter.

Think my baby will be ready around Sept. 18th but I'll be on vacation so I won't be able to pick her up until after the 28th.

meg

ZugginAround · #4 08-20-2009, 12:44 PM

Mine is in production. It was like straight from order placed to production. 2009 Clubman Hot Chocolate/Silver.

UAL_Kingpin · #5 08-20-2009, 05:29 PM

Okay, here is a consolidated list of who is waiting for their Mini. I got the names and info from the three threads I subscribe to. I have too much time on my hands.

1) Blouise, NY, 8/20 production started

2) JcM1n1, SoCal, 8/19 production completed, waiting for ship

3) Kencwallace, VA, in production

4) Maui Meg, NJ, 8/18 production started

5) Norcaltinkerbell, NorCal,

6) Rayratt, WA, 8/19 production started

7) UAL_Kingpin's friend, SoCal, 8/19 production started

UAL_Kingpin · #6 08-22-2009, 02:55 PM

For those of you whom have not had an opportunity to watch the Mini factory video at the Owner's Lounge, here it is.

Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuDeEArJ8NQ

Part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7hjz5g-3ao

RayRatt · #7 08-22-2009, 10:02 PM

Glad to see a Week 34 Support Group exists.

Most of us have crossed paths on other threads.

My MINI Cooper hardtop was ordered on August 1st, and went into production on August 19th with an estimated completion date of August 27th. Since the next ship to the west coast leaves Southampton on August 28th, it looks like my MINI will sit at the dock for two weeks until the next ship leaves on September 11th.

Bummer!

That is a big disappointment - first everyone in this group had to wait through the two week plant shutdown in weeks 32 and 33, and now I will have another two weeks to wait before the 3-week journey to Los Angeles begins. I doubt I see my MINI until late-October. Too bad they didn't offer orange paint - it would have made the Great Pumpkin jealous.

RayRatt · #8 08-22-2009, 10:39 PM

I know this is jumping the gun a little - none of us Week 34 folks have a finished car to worry about yet. But, I found this link on another thread - it is a great photo tour of the Port Huenme Vehicle Distribution Center (VDC) showing various steps our cars will have to go through before they are loaded onto a truck to reach your dealer. You will see some things that may cause you to worry (how damaged cars are repaired, etc.). But, knowledge is better than speculation - you might find yourself in a position of questioning your MA about why your car was so late in getting from the VDC to the dealer.

http://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/1st-gear/21112-inside-the-port-hueneme-vehicle-distribution-center.html

NOTE: After posting this message, I tried clicking on the link and got an error message ("page not found"). But, if you copy and paste the entire line into your browser address bar, it works. I am not a computer wizz, so I have no idea what I did wrong.

Neverfifty · #9 08-23-2009, 07:01 PM

As of August 17th my Mini is at the Port of Exit??? How long before you can find out what ship or when? My MA doesn't know as off last Weds. I got hung up in the 2 week shut-down, was suppose to be here the 14th of August, now maybe after Labor Day? Last time we did this everything went smoothly, but they ordered it in time to miss the shut-down. Very upsetting.

RayRatt · #10 08-23-2009, 07:09 PM

I think your MINI will be loaded on the Undine - it departs from Southampton on August 25th. But, if you miss that boat, the next ship (Elektra) sails on September 1st. It takes nine days to get to New York. After that, it will take up to a week to get through the Vehicle Distribution Center before being loaded onto a truck to get to your dealer.

Try looking at the links on this thread to track your MINI.

http://www.northamericanmotoring.com...d-updated.html

UAL_Kingpin · #11 08-23-2009, 07:13 PM

Neverfifty

On your paperwork, what is your port of entry for your car in the US?

Neverfifty · #12 08-23-2009, 07:17 PM

NYC

UAL_Kingpin · #13 08-23-2009, 07:31 PM

Neverfifty

According to this chart, your car should be aboard the Undine on August 25 and arrive in New York on September 3.

http://schedule.2wglobal.com/AppSche...pe=generatePDF

Type your Vin number here to see if your car is onboard.

https://att.2wglobal.com/gstattweb/o...uickSearchPage

Neverfifty · #14 08-23-2009, 07:34 PM

OMG how did you find that out, anyway thanks so much for the information.

UAL_Kingpin · #15 08-23-2009, 07:43 PM

I got that information from the link that RayRatt posted. Keep us posted on the status of your car.

UAL_Kingpin · #16 08-23-2009, 07:57 PM

Here is a link to a website I posted on another thread where you can watch a video of how cars are loaded onto a vehicle transport ship.

http://www.eukor.com/homepage/manage/cargo.jsp

Firefox users will need to download an add-on to watch the video.

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/446

Neverfifty · #17 08-23-2009, 08:03 PM

Thanks to both of you.

RayRatt · #18 08-23-2009, 08:07 PM

Neverfifty - did you find your VIN on the manafest for the Undine? Seeing as how your MINI was at Southampton on August 17th, it should have a guaranteed spot on that ship.

UAL_Kingpin · #19 08-23-2009, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neverfifty

Thanks to both of you.

No problem. We share our information as we do our research.

UAL_Kingpin · #20 08-23-2009, 08:11 PM

RayRatt

I did a little poking around the internet. I think I found where you can track the car aboard the train that goes from Oxford to Southampton.

http://www.schenker.co.uk/e-schenker...ing/index.html

Neverfifty · #21 08-23-2009, 08:19 PM

No maybe I am not putting it in at the right place?

RayRatt · #22 08-23-2009, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UAL_Kingpin

RayRatt

I did a little poking around the internet. I think I found where you can track the car aboard the train that goes from Oxford to Southampton.

http://www.schenker.co.uk/e-schenker...ing/index.html

Good work - do we use our VIN for the tracking number? Since my MINI will not be finished for another four days, I have no way to test the tracking for the railroad.

UAL_Kingpin · #23 08-23-2009, 08:34 PM

Neverfifty

You might have to wait for your car to be loaded onto the ship before you can track it.

RayRatt

I assume you will use your VIN. We will find out in a week or two to see if the link I gave actually works for tacking.

RayRatt · #24 08-24-2009, 12:23 AM

Well, it is Monday morning in Oxford England, and the MINI assembly lines are humming again. I expect several of us (Maui Meg, Blouise, Kencwallace, NorthCalTinkerbell, UAL_Kingpin's friend, and myself) will hear that our cars are "in the body shop" today or tomorrow since they have been gathering the various parts together since early last week. I wish we could be there to watch the births!

banannastand · #25 08-24-2009, 09:57 AM

Hello! I am another person waiting for my new MINI!. I ordered my MINI last Monday at 9pm and it started going into production the next day at 7am! Expected completion is Aug 26th.

I ordered a Horizon Blue MC with the Premium package and Bluetooth.

I can't wait for it to come in!