That's about right... assuming there is a ship to your destination in that window. We waited a week at Southampton because there are fewer ships to the west coast.

 

I spent 13 days at the port in southampton before getting a ship to the east coast.

 

I just thought I would share my experience so people know real life time frames. I will post the actual time frame and what the automated line and web site said. They are very different. As many have said, the best source is your MA followed by live phone support.

1. Ordered CR/W MCSa June 12 2008
2. Scheduled for Week 25 production
3. Vin Assigned June 14 2008
   • Status changed to "Scheduled for Production” June 14 2008.
   • Web site and phone both fairly up to date on both of these.
4. Status changed to "In the Body Shop" June 20 2008.
   • Web still says "Scheduled for Production".
   • Phone reflected this 1 day later.
5. Status Changed to "In the Paint Shop" June 21 2008.
   • Web site says "Scheduled for Production".
   • Phone reflected this 2 days later.
6. Born June 22, 2008.
7. At port of exit June 23, 2008.
   • Phone still stated “In the paint shop and due for completion June 22” as late as June 26th.
   • Web site says "awaiting transport" June 26.
   • June 27th the automated line finally updated to “at port awaiting shipping vessel”.
   • Even though I arrived at Southampton on the 23rd I missed the ships leaving on June 23, 25, and 28.

I finally left on the Sierra Nevada Highway July 5th, due July 17th at Charleston.That’s where I’m at. I will update the process from Charleston to my dealer in Memphis when the time comes.

 

new22003,
You waiting in Memphis as well?!?! Mine was born June 20 and landed in SC on Monday the 7th (on K-Line which you can't track. Was in limbo for a few days worrying that she hadn't made a ship!). From what my MA says it will probably be there for a few more days!!!
He hinted that I might take delivery around next Tuesday, which would be a PERFECT birthday gift for myself!!!
Have my fingers crossed!

 

no one has posted this in the thread yet, so i figured someone should.

wbarnhill's Dashboard (OS X) widget for tracking your MINI

See: https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=145648

 

And an excellent OS X widget it is. I've been running it for several days now, and it sure beats logging on to the MINI USA site and going through multiple layers of stuff, turning off the sound, etc etc, just to ascertain the OL status of my (hopefully) soon to be delivered MINI.

Highly recommended.

 

I did not see these in this thread, so here they are:

AIS for Charleston Harbor: http://www.charlestonpilots.com/aisLive.aspx

Google Maps location of Southampton Port: http://www.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en...5,0.006829&t=k

I love the high res pic here, you can see all the MINIs waiting for the boat.

 

Zonedguy, a BIG THANKS from this noob, who just ordered his MINI! Your insights and the information that followed will be a great source of excitement and consolation in the months ahead. Well done!

 

Thanks for the info on this thread. I was invaluable in tracking my MC's journey from Oxford to Atlanta... just picked it up today!

Ordered it June 12, Picked it up from the dealership on July 19. Yippeee!

 

Wow, that's quick! I wonder if it's because you're on the east coast of the U.S.

I ordered my car on July 19th and they're estimating delivery for "Week 32" around mid-September!

 

Zonedguy, thanks for the great thread. Just to let everyone know, it appears that at least some K-Line ships can now be checked on the WW website.

I am booked on the Southern Highway for tomorrow according to the link to WW. Strange, as the schedule for this ship doesn't even have it going to NYC, but according to the WW site, this is where the ship will drop off my car.

 

Actually it is scheduled to go there. If you look in the row for Jacksonville, you'll notice the Southern Highway says 03-AUG/NEWARK.

 

Got my car. Here is the updated and simplified process.
June 12 Ordered, Week 25 Production
June 14 Vin Assigned
June 14 Status Changed to “In Production”
June 20 In the Body Shop
June 21 In the Paint Shop
June 22 Completed
June 23 At the Port
July 5 Left on the Sierra Nevada Highway (I missed several boats for some reason)
July 17 Arrived in Charleston
July 24 At my Mini Dealer
July 25 Picked Up

 

Can feel your pain, Mini Mo is in PH and can't get an answer as of yet when she will make to Sacramento. Will call my agent in the morning.

 

Here's the actual location of the Greer VDC. The original link just goes to the center of the City of Greer. The VDC is just to the northeast of the BMW Manufacturing facility.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=e...,0.013647&z=17

 

I found another site to track the K-Line ships is http://marinetraffic.com/ais/.
On the top, click on the Vessels tab, the click on the Search All url, and type in the name of your vessel. This site seems to update a little more frequently than the sailwx site does.

 

Perhaps there is one thing that should be added to this sticky as a lesson learned. When ordering make sure you understand when the dealer is expecting the car. My car was ordered on 6/11 filling one of two Cabrio spots left for my delaer in 08. The car finished production on 7/16 and is still sitting at the port because my dealer ordered the car for an August delivery.
I was expecting an ealry August delivery but since I am still at the port today, I suspect the delivery will be mid to late August.

 

Where on the WW website can they be checked? What link did you use?

 

This was a rare situation.

 

I figured as much. Thanks

 

ASK MINI just told me they can't track after it gets on a ship to head overseas... seems odd to me since even the website has that info.

 

Is it sort of normal to wait more than 3-4 weeks to get a VIN number? I got a production number pretty quick, but I'm still waiting on an updated status (2 weeks now) The wait could be less painful knowing more information, although my MA dude told me I would get my MINI in about 90 days.

BTW this is the best source of info for knuckleheads like me who have no clue about how to get reliable information from people who have been there, as well people who are experiencing all of this at the same time as I am. Thank you!

 

Yep, I waited.... hmmmmm... almost four months? It all depends on when production is started. In my case, I got the VIN most quickly through the Owner's Lounge. It didn't show up there until the car was pretty much in production though.

 

wow. It seems like that part of the wait is all over the place. Does the factory take the month of August off like the rest of Europe? I hate being so obsessed, but I don't think I'm alone...

 

It seems that each dealer gets a certain allotment, and they're selling further and further into their future production as the production dates get further out.