According to my MA, we're supposed to take delivery of the Oxy Blue MC this week. Not sure I could manage to wait any longer anyway! Could tell I'm anxious as I actually had a dream of driving it last night. ;P Great dream by the way.

Glad to see more folks than not are motoring along. The last few of us will be there soon!

 

With the new week starting, the excitement builds. I am over the wait and just want my car. 3 days short of 4 weeks at the VDC. Supposed to get the car 6 days ago and nothing. Oh well, hopefully this week. Will update as soon as I have more information.

 

we had to wait on the vdc for three weeks because they were out of sport stripes! finally got Jim last friday and the MA was mad because they messed up the stripes a little in the front. My MA is ordering new ones for us and said they would install them at the dealer and that it takes about ten minutes! only bummer is the dealer is 120 miles away. Oh well another road trip!

 

Interesting. What specifically was messed up with your stripes? My stripes have fine scratches all over them and I asked that they be replaced as well.

 

I don't want to cause you any undue concern, but something about a 4 week delay at the VDC would bug me. I understand that sometimes, a vehicle is damaged in the transport process and that repairs are done at the VDC. Apparently, they have the ability to repair even very severe damage.

If it were my car, I would make sure that the delay is not because the vehicle was damaged and they have been repairing it. I don't know all the details, but I know they only have to disclose damage/repair if its over a certain dollar amount. And once you have accepted the vehicle, your ability to return it gets much more complicated.

 

The VDC messed up installing one of my stripes also. It had wrinkle marks in it. I was going to let it go until I decided to have the clear bra installed. My dealer stepped right up and re-did the damaged stripe. The clear bra installer said he sees a lot of damaged stripes because they use the wrong tool to smooth the stripe as they float it on the car body.

 

Interesting... something you would definitely not expect! I'm really surprised. My stripes not only have fine scratches all over them, but one of them has a few water mark streaks that I just can't get rid of!

 

I doubt that's the issue -- a number of us have JCWs sitting at the Charleston VPC - initially due to the 7/14 market roll-out for 2009 JCWs; and for a week now because the portfolio wasn't there (supposed to be FedEx'ed). The thought of the vehicles being damaged is too much to bear.

 

Sorry! You are absolutely right. I missed that their car was a JCW.

As Emily Latella would say, "Never mind"

 

Yes I did

No pink stars yet. Vinyl guy is working on it!

I know.. sorry... My computer is down so i use my friends.... I have to get pics up soon!

No I didn't! It's been raining here everyday! lol... I'm headed to give her a batha s soon as i finish this! then pictures!

hahaha... SOON!!!

Yes you do!

I have been! It's amazing!

Nope! But im here now! lol... again, My computer is down. So i have to find ones that i can use! hahaha... Im off to wash her! ill be back and hopefully able to put pics on this computer!

 

Hey guys!!!

Wow- so much to catch up on, I read all 10 pages I had missed during my vacation- caongratulations to all of the new MINI mom and dad's!!! Beautiful cars added on here everyday!

Hope each of you still waiting are able to remain patient and all of the kinks with any current issues get worked out ASAP.

Let's see... as of today I have 900 miles on Ziggy. From Ohio to MI on day 1 then the vacation starting day 2- drove it in the rain and it handles wonderfully, no different than dry roads. Fit a weeks worth of vacation/camping stuff (albeit we stayed in a house so no tent) for 2 people fine. The MINI was well used up north, took it to the beach so it has some sand :( inside. The boyfriend and I saw a rock chip? the third day I had it on the passanger door and I swear- it was gone the next day!?!? Paint still wet or "healing paint" similar to Mercedes as the boyfriend suggested?? Went above 4000 RPM on accident in 1st gear (whoops) still adjusting to driving a manual again.... GREAT car!!! I got back this past Saturday and started moving on Sunday- holds a surprising amount of stuff!!! My parents are impressed too. My boyfriend keeps pointing out MINI's in the area we just moved to, I swear it's like a MINI-zone!!! I keep waving and not getting seen or seeing other MINI's too late so I have yet to get the first wave/wave. Goodness it's a fun/great car. Well worth the wait!

I'll get around to posting pics soon. Shutting cable/internet off at my apartment tomorrow so I will try to get pics from the vacation up tonight!

p.S: 500 miles on my first tank- no joke!!!

 

On behalf of the members of Production Week 23, 2008

 

On behalf of the members of Production Week 23, 2008

 

East Coast –
Halifax
MIGNON Departed: 11‐Jun Arrived:17‐Jun EX806-MIG

• Chernobyl #38

FEDORA Departed: 18‐Jun Arrived: 25‐Jun EA824-FED

• MCEnvy #37

NYC VDC
FIDELIO Departed: 05-Jun Arrived: 14-Jun

• zonedguy #1
• Richs10 #2
• BahnMan #18
• toolazyforalogin #27
• irondynarider #3

PATRIOT Departed: 07-Jun Arrived: 16-Jun

• MINIspud #6
• DChap #5

MIGNON Departed: 11‐Jun Arrived: 20-Jun EX806-MIG

• gemgirlpa #12
• chowdah #44
• chippey46 #13
• Tennessee Cuttey #45
• Fuso #17

ASIAN CHORUS Departed: 12-Jun Arrived:20-Jun ED823-ASC

• DanceforMINI #28
• Mainie #39

FEDORA Departed: 18‐Jun Arrived: 27‐Jun EA824-FED

• OWG #33
• wng #20

COURAGE Departed: 21‐Jun Arrived: 2 Jul EB825-COG

• Mozza #42
  

DON JUAN Departed: 24‐Jun ETA: 3‐Jul EA825-DOJ

Unknown Vessel

• Axela #24

Charleston VDC
PATRIOT Departed: 07-Jun Arrived: 21-Jun

• lohrm1 #50

SIERRA NEVADA HIGHWAY Departed: 8‐Jun Arrived 20-Jun

• Greg Davis #4
• extremevalues #9
• houtexcc
• MINImalistnam #11
• MiniMama2 #19
• chknlil #10
• calong #25

WESTERN HIGHWAY Departed: 13‐Jun Arrived: 26‐Jun

• ThommyG
• mnimule #48
• mrmrsjackson
• jfp #8
• blackjackmark #21
  
• YsIFit #22
• Claytonl #36
• hexnut #23
• DC1
• ahpook

EMDEN Departed: 25‐Jun ETA: 5‐Jul

• StarryEyed #46

COURAGE Departed: 21‐Jun ETA: 5‐Jul EB825-COG

Unknown Shipping Info

• bumgartnern #32

Brunswick VDC
FIDELIO Departed: 05-Jun Arrived 19-Jun

• Bandit #7
• georgetown59 #16

West- Port Hueneme VDC
RIGOLETTO Departed: 04-Jun Arrived:27-Jun

• SeattleClubmanS #14
• redfiver #15

ASIAN CHORUS Departed: 12-Jun Arrived:3-Jul ED823-ASC

• krim #29
• Mirrim #49
• spidrz06 #40
• proximal #31
• Tweeckey #35
• dwf137 #41
• Sgregg67 #30
  
• AlexM
• HenrysMINI #26
• phxsteele #34
• Noodle #43

European Delivery
July 21 pick up

• Eusey #47

Honorary Week 23

• gotmoxie
• SPF ZERO
• cooperfan1024

 

Ok. Euseys are WINGED!
OWG, whenever you get the chance, "wing me!"

Here is the tale of our five hours at the Italian BMW office.

We met Carmine, the guy from Pentagon Car Sales at his office in Grecignano, Italy about 5 mins. from the naval base at 9:25am. (We had a 9am appointment, but Saturday he cut his leg really bad with a rusty weed whacker, so he's a bit slow now...poor guy).

We headed to the base to drop off my car, a 1995 Lancia Dedra. (Italian beater car). We took a factory demo BMW 200 series to the BMW dealer in Caserta. We arrived by 10:00am.

First, the paperwork only took 10 minutes. That was awesome. Ok, let's go downstairs, below ground into the secure vault area where the cars are kept.

Um, is that dusty, icky, speckled thing my brand new $28,800 car?

Ok, so back upstairs for more waiting while they give the car a quick wash. Tursn out it was cleaned on July 15, when it got off the rail/truck to the dealership in the first place, so it just sat for six days getting icky.

An hour later (11:20am) we see her. She's beautiful. But, we're in the basement, its kinda dark and mildly flourescent lit, so to go over my own 3 page inspection I printed off from N.A.M. we need more light. Ok, lets go over as much as we can here in this vault, and then take it outside for the paint inspection. So, my "dealer' Carmine with his bleedy cut leg (it was weeping red clear fluid--healthy, the Italian hospital told him), Matt and I begin going over the 3 page list.
Problems:
1 scratch on hood
1 yellowish stain or scratch (cosmoline?) on aerokit passenger side bottom
1 USB port for IPOD does not work at all, still does not show iPod as connected
1 missing any carpets or rubber matts at all

The coolest thing: She only had .1 of a mile on her. Only .1
How cool was that? Our biggest worry was that some part time teenaged employee would take her joyriding...no worries there!!

So, we bring our complaints to the BMW People, who were wishywashy about it. They took out a purple bottle and buffed out both stains. Now, its lunch, they are closed. Wait to check on iPod USB and outside paint inspection. (1:02pm)

We hit the MALL in Caserta! WOOHOO A real mall. They even have a Body Shop, so I can stock up on tea tree oil! WOOHOO. Lunch, (we treated Carmine) and time to return (3:04pm)

They pull our car into the service bay, the mechanic comes over to us holding the white USB cable that comes with the iPod. "Wrong cable" he says in broken English. Carmine and I translate and go back and forth in English and Italian. How can this be the wrong cable? One end into the iPod's butt, one end into the USB port. I bet the USB port isnt powered or broken or something....

No, Wrong Cable. Turns out, whether it was dealer error, MINI design or whatever, although the AUX jack and USB port are there, you need a 60 EURO COST cable that plugs into both jacks and the iPod's butt.

I AM NOT PAYING OVER $100 US DOLLARS FOR A DAMNED CABLE TO MAKE MY IPOD WORK IN A CAR I SPENT $28,000 ON. Nobody else in week 23 support group *(0ver 40 deliveries!!!)* ever mentioned buying a damned expensive cable to support iPod.

So, over an HOUR of fighting in both English and Italian, I'm close to tears, this happy day sorta ruined by a dusty, splotchy icky car at reveal, and now, you bastards want cash for a cable?

So, poor Carmine buys the cable, sucks up the 60 euros as a "dealer expense" and will try and get Pentagon to pay him back.

We gather our stuff, its now 5:15pm. We've been here since 10am, with a mandatory lunch break. Its time to go Home.

On the way, we BLAST iPod, Jammin' and Singin' and Motorin' trying to think of a name for our blue and black Beauty.

So, I suggest "Beast" from XMen. He's blue but sophisticated. Matt says nah, she's edgier than that. She's tougher and sexier.


M Y S T I Q U E

That's her name. Its perfect. She's waiting for her registration appointment with the US Navy tomorrow, she'll be plated then. No dealer stickers or decals, pure factory condition, not even a plate yet....may the Euseys introduce our MINI.....Mystique!

So, alls well that ends well. Thanks to Carmine for coming through with the cable thing, and we've got 6 months of good driving on Italian roads...where speed limits are suggestions, cops are too busy chasing the mafia to chase speeders, lots of twists on the AMALFI COAST...OH YEAH, WE'RE GOING THERE. And, our cross Europe road trip to put the finishing touches to.

European delivery is a long, lonely, unsupported road with serious bumps and curves...luckily I've got Matt at the wheel and a MINI beneath me.

WOOOO HOOOOO LETS M O T O R Mystique!
Photos in my gallery, hope I can post them below, if not, come surf over to my gallery!

 

welcome back Dance, sounds like a great trip! 500 on one tank! that is fantastic!!!
I think i need to go on a vacation!!! just hit the open road, so far it is just back road curves,don't get me wrong, that is great, but think i need more!!

 

Glad to see you got your wings!

Unfortunately the standard iPod cable doesn't work. You MUST have the BMW USB/Aux Y-Cable because it has some magical circuitry that allows the MINI audio system to understand Apple's proprietary formats. It sends data between the iPod and the USB jack and audio through the Aux. I found that out the hard way because I also didn't know I should be checking for it and thus it was left out of my car. Here in the States, the cable is included with the car. Outside of the US, the cable is a non-standard item. I know most people in Canada and the UK pay for the cable.

 

Euseys congrats!!!! Mystique is a beautiful name can't wait for photos!!!

 

did this work?

 

 

 

INTRODUCING.... M Y S T I Q U E
I'm just happy I figured out how to post a photo. Last one, I promise.

 

SWEET RIDE!! Congrats!

 

I thought that the Pacific Blue was likely to be a "nice touch" feature but WOW, now I am jealous my LiB doesn't have matching seats

 

On behalf of the members of Production Week 23, 2008