Alrighty all - I placed my order on Memorial Day for a justacooper Clubman and was surprised to find that my status went from on order to scheduled for production at the OL today. And, I now have a VIN - which I think means that it is either being built or is about to be built. I tried ASK-MINI but the phones are down and the website (miniusa) is 'undergoing maintainence'. So now I am hoping for a mid-late July delivery!!! The madness is starting again, I am afraid to say. I just told my wife today that I had placed the order; now she's getting excited also. And, after a lengthy negotiation I get to keep the GTO and we'll sell her car (05 suby legacy GT). Her new car will be a fairly lightly optioned PW/Silver Clubman with the cold package, MFSW, sport seats, stripes, fogs, HiFi, JCW strut brace and Nav, with springs and a sway bar to be added shortly after it arrives.

 

You are probably about three days into the build - at least that was our lag.

 

Well I guess its about time I posted an intro. I’ve been stealthily taking advantage of this Site for all the great information and discussion. I ordered a Clubman on April 30 and I made a few changes along the way. Today I got a VIN so I’m happy to say the car is finally being built and its looking like it will arrive before the end of July. I guess that makes it Production Week 24.

Now I have to get serious about reading the manual in advance so I can dedicate my time to motoring and have the convenience features live up to their name.

After what should be a short break-in period I’m looking forward to putting the fun back into driving without the regret to the fuel it takes. Having only a few short Clubman test drives so far I anticipate it will be a whole lot more fun owning one. Considering I have been driving my wifes Mazda 3 and that has been a blast compared with my truck, I'll probably revert to a teenage mind looking for every excuse to drive.

 

Cut and paste from 2008 R56 owners manual.

Break-in period

Engine and differential

Up to 1,200 miles/2,000 km

After driving 1,200 miles/2,000 km

Tires

Brake system

Brakes require an initial break-in period of approx. 300 miles/500 km to achieve optimized contact and wear patterns between brake pads and rotors. Drive cautiously during this break-in period.

Clutch

 

MrMrsJackson

Thanks for the break-in info, I tend to fixate on the engine but there is more to it like the clutch and brakes. I have had some new vehicles (ie Ford) that seem to always use oil as if the piston rings never got properly seated. I guess even the paint should have a month or so to harden fully before wax ? Perhaps the shipment will take about that long so this shouldn't be an issue anyway.

It seems that some of the most detailed break-in steps for piston rings is found in discussions on aircraft or motor cycle engines. I think one key step I have not paid attention to previously is the idea of avoiding high heat conditions. Based on what I've read I think something like the following may help piston ring sealing and avoid glazing:

1) First drive from dealer - 3 to 5 minute idle then about a 15 minute drive home, no lugging, no high RPMs, avoid high gear vary speed and try to avoid high loads, No WOT.

2) Second drive (after complete cool down) - 3 minute warm up at idle, 15 minute drive, no lugging, no high RPM, avoid high gears, vary speed and some Medium load okay, No WOT.

3) Third drive (after complete cool down) - 5 minute warm up, 20 minute drive, no lugging, some higher rpms, medium power and short bursts of acceleration up to 4,000 rpm.

4) Fourth drive (again after cool down) - Light to medium loads, more bursts, medium rpms, rapid decelerations but avoid high rpm downshifts

5) From then on I will just drive normally not exceeding the advised break-in conditions and try to vary speed, minimizing constant highway speed. Until the 1200 miles is up then I will get a nit more agressive.....

 

My status has been updated on the Owner's Lounge to scheduled for production, and I now have a VIN number, one step closer!

 

Well, I talked to ASKMini today, and my car started production last Saturday. They said it will likely finish production on Friday!!!

So yeah, I'm thinking mid July for me. It'll be coming in through Charleston and then to Dallas for delivery. I'm really not sure I can wait!

 

Bet they talked to all of us today! Apparently I'm one day ahead of you - started Friday - done Thursday!

 

What an auspicious beginning for my MINI. 24 is my lucky number!

Got my VIN# today from OL by I just called ASK-MINI anyway to confirm and maybe get any other tidbits of information. They say that my MINI should be completed by June 14.

Can't wait to see my baby...

 

OL just clicked over from "scheduled for production" to "awaiting transport." I am happy. But I'm a little worried about myself and my apparent obsession with a car. It is so unlike me. Heretofore I have been content with basic economy cars. I went from an inherited 1959 Rambler Cross Country station wagon to a 1969 Beetle to a 1973 VW van to a Mazda 323 and onto a Civic DX. All this over the course of 40 years. Now I am going to relinquish a perfectly good (and well maintained and reliable) Civic with less than 67K miles for the sake of a little fun. God have mercy on me.

 

Time to live a little. I had vowed off new cars for paid for used cars. Then I saw the clubman. I could resist the Mini as impractical (i couldn't carry even my 3 boys let alone my whole family). With the clubman, I can take at least to boys (and give the wife a much needed break). I was sold. Now I wait.

 

WooHoo!!!! I am now officially Awaiting Transport!!!!! Looks like the next boat to the west coast doesn't leave until 6-20; now I need to find out if I have a spot reserved yet or not.

 

I am in the same boat as of this afternoon I am offically awaiting transport. Hopefully I will catch the boat to Charleston that leaves on the 13th.

 

Just found out my Clubman was born today. How do you know the next boat to west coast is 6/20? I ordered mine from Las Vegas

 

otterdad,
i totally understand. i've never been this obsessed with car details either. i can't believe i stay up at night thinking about whether i should have ordered an anthracite headliner. heretofore, a car has always just been a place to get from point a to point b. i haven't even owned a car in the last 2 years. and before that i had a 03 ford focus and before that a 97 ford escort, so the mini is quite a step up for me. oh yeah....

 

plin,

Looks like you ordered a nice car. Enjoy.

 

Count me in here. Ordered a Clubman and Cooper on 6-3-08. Received prod# for both cars 6-6-08. Was suprised to find out that the Clubman has a completion date of 6-12-08!! WooHoo!! No signs of the Cooper yet. Still "on order" :-(Happy Motoring

 

When I called today I was told I was production week 24. My car should be done by today (12th) so I might be on the same boat as yours. Mine is coming to Houston though.

 

One of the resourceful members here on NAM (SPF Zero) put together a list of most (all?) the boats that bring MINI's to the states and posted their scheduled departure dates from southampton along with their arrival dates at the various ports in the states. Its in a PDF file and its on page 11 of the 'how to track your MINI' sticky in the first gear forum - I'll try to post a link below but my computer and I don't always see things eye to eye. Anyway, according to his list, the Asain Chorus leaves Southampton on June 11 and arrives at Port Hueneme (the west coast portal for all things BMW) on July 3 but I think it would be a miracle if any of us in Week 24 make that boat. The next boat coming to the West Coast is the Maersk Wave and she leaves England on 6-20 and arrives on July 10 at Port H.

Here (hopefully) is the link to that page:

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...=70301&page=11

 

OK - so after I typed all that above, I thought 'gee, I guess I could go ahead and confirm that I'm on the Maersk Wave' so I went to the WW site and put in my VIN and holy crap I'm on the Asain Chorus. I guess its a miracle - I am practically speechless. How am I supposed to sleep now - my baby is probably headed out to sea RIGHT NOW!!!

 

Hot doggy - just got word our baby is in pre-production with an expected completion date of June 17 ! Got my vin today. It's official. Gonna git it. [jumping guy - dancing with stupid grin on his face ]

 

Yay! My Zeus just got loaded onto the Asian Chorus and is due at Port Hueneme on July 3.

 

I just called ask mini and they said my baby is being transferred to the port of exit!!!

 

Western Highway (Charleston, SC) is almost at Portsmouth, in case any of you were waiting for her to dock.

 

I've been bumped AGAIN, this time to Week 25. Not happy at all.