ok gadge,
still hadn't heard from MA....almost 6 hour wait...(not too impatient i hope?), so i emailed Sean... just need to know if I need to keep my rental car longer at a minimum...since it's due in for turn in tomorrow and would want to at least give hertz heads up that I might need my rental longer....

so pretty much what I asked in email.....lets see what he says.....

 

edjd, if you car has been in the "overflow" lot for days, what's taking them so long to get back to you so you can pay and motor off? Maybe it's time to call and ask for Sean to get the scoop?

 

on my way to evening class (working on undergrad)... I was on my way to MINI dealer to inquire and noticed that my car was NOT in the overflow parking lot....and not on the main lot...sooooo, me is thinking that maybe in 'garage' being 'prepped'.....???? or someone taking for spin.....

 

btw: forgot to add, during the quick drive by earlier, the truck driving company (which ships the bimmers/coopers in sheltered trailers..nice)... was delivering another 'load' of bimmers and coops.....

on the way home this evening from class (i drive by the dealer by coincidence anyways)..and I notice my car is parked with about another 4 mini coops adn some bimmers, still in the 'overflow' lot, but grouped together in a different area... this time, though, looked a tad different...

my car now has an antenna on it (didn't have one yesterday), the mini logo is on the rims (didn't have the MINI logo on the rims yesterday..just a gap)...and a checklist of some type on the dashboard and a Texas Inspection sticker on the windshield.....

it's still dusty and dirty from the rain today......

 

Congrats Federico. She is a beauty.

 

Congrats JackBe.

 

Goodness, Gadgett and Edjd.....I can hardly take the suspense anymore. I know I have been busy finding every excuse to drive my new MINI but I'm about to lose it on your behalf. Seems like they would want to take your money and fast.

Maybe mine was different as I took delivery on the last day of the month and they needed to move it for some sales quota or something?

Godspeed.

 

Were you ever able to get in contact with Sean (sales manager) to find out when you can take delivery?

Mine supposedly is being loaded on the truck today so I might have it by early next week. Of course, the OL and ASKMINI lines still say "en route" and it hasn't yet shown up on the dealer's new car inventory list.

 

mrng gadge.
negative response from Sean or Rob.... I emailed him (sean) late yesterday and Like I said, I was gonna stop by physically at the dealer when I noticed my car was moved, which made me pause in that endeavor... I'm assuming that ROB was off yesterday (they ever heard of out of office response?) because overall, he does at least respond by afternoon timeframe, etc...

I would say your car will be in S.A. on Friday/Saturday time frame, the deliveries of cars tend to be around 4-5pm at the dealer (again, i notice the truck at times when enroute to evening class)... and your OL status should change on MOnday and then of course, the pickup time should be similar as mine (I would think?)...

btw: the overflow lot is next to teh 'used' car lot..and the 'excess' MINI's are lined up next to the portable bldg, way in back area....so if you happen to be in area this weekend to see, u might see your car there... or if you want to tell me what kind of car u ordered and mabey last 5 of VIN, I can MAYBE let u know on Saturday mrng if it's onsite, (I'll drive by dealer Saturday mrng on way to Mrng class....)....

 

My MA thought it would be there Saturday... but the starts didn't align. It is now Tuesday and the suspense is killing me.

 

I think Sean is off on Tuesday's so your best bet is Rob. I found that e-mailed responses are a tad tardy but calls are answered promptly. Hmm.. I'm hoping to pick up my car by next Monday and if the OL status doesn't change until next Monday, then it's all but useless, as it's been this whole process

Thanks for the "spotter" offer. "Elroy" is a Dark Silver MCS with black roof/mirrors and black bonnet stripes. He has "flame spoke" shoes and a red-line interior with punch carbon seats. Eventually he'll have the red-line steering wheel and e-brake/shift boot covers, but that might be done at the dealer after arrival. He's got Nav and the chrome-line interior as well. Just to be sure, the last 3 of his VIN are 472 (5 might be a tad too many to post in an open forum).

Considering that SA is a 90 mile drive from home for me, I doubt I'll see Elroy until I'm able to drive him home. I think I'd go crazy if I saw him in person for days without being able to do anything about it.

 

Gadge,
ok, last 3 digits is fine (I'll stop/drive by on Saturday mrng and see if Elroy is there and let u know asap!) and ABSOLUTELY NOT cool to be able to 'see' your car that you have been waiting months for and just sitting there and u can't just drive off like 'normal' dealers lot....... keep in mind I've seen it mine at least twice in two days, just sitting there all dirty/dusty.....
to be honest, they really got a boatload (literally) of MINI's at the dealer right now and I can see why they are busy in actually 'transferring' the car to the owners more so than just taking orders.....it took me almost 2 business days just to get a chance to talk to and test drive a MINI many moons ago...(seems like anyways)........ sssoooooooooo....

turned in my rental tonight....and I have a 9am appt. for wednesday mrng to 'pick' up my MCC...I have an 11am appt (in Selma, Tx) to turn it in for Pinnacle Ceramic Tint on it and that should be all she wrote.....SERIOUSLY hoping the next time I go to dealer will be for 'oil' tire rotation, etc.....

guess we'll see, just glad right now to get my 'own' wheels......more to follow as it comes....

 

Best of luck tomorrow - bet you won't be able to sleep at all tonight!

BTW, what's the deal with the "ceramic" tint? I'll get my new one tinted since I had my last one tinted, but any advise of what type would be appreciated.

 

mrng to all, gadge,

actually slept like a baby, being a working adult, family and going to evening classes/homework takes it's toll on ya........ but that's another story!...

we'll, jumping on usaa website to add the car to my insurance, efffective today and then dropping eldest kiddo to school and wife and i (w/triplets) are drivign down to miniofsa...so hopefully all is well this mrng, no hiccups, etc....

ceramic tint: u PRIMARILY have two well known brands out there HUPER OPTIK and PINNACLE F1 for ceramic. MOST people tend to spend about $125-150 or so for tint, that is typically just dyed tint or maybe if u spend a bit more, it's metallic tint. dyed tint it just that, just darkens the window for the most part w/ little to gain for interior protection/heat,etc.. metalllic tint is at most partially dyed but will not turn purple or different color due to exposure,etc., it also does a good job of keeping some harmful rays out of your car,etc....not bad at all, at a minimum, I always get metallic tint on my cars.
recently, earlier this year, I got my wife a FullSize Ford Expedition EL, loaded and wasn't gonna skimp on her tint, so i had ceramic tint put on her car, all windows except front windshield. (fyi: some folks do put VERY LIGHT HUPER OPTIK tint on front windshields).. PINNACLE F1 was installed and it's been really great so far, virtually scratch resistant, keeps out as much as possible anyways, ambient heat, rays, etc... hte key difference is u can tell a difference when u openyour car doors in the middle of summer and how long it takes to cool down teh car, my ol civic had metallic and my car was MUCH hotter than my wifes car...I mean u could'nt breath at times w/ the HOT air in the car vs. my wifes car.... the ceramic tint helps (really does) keep your car cooler.
which I think is nice considering how big/small this coopers are, the a/c obviously isn't probably the most pwoerful thing, etc. so very impressed w/ ceramic tint and will make the investment (yes, i see it as an investment) in gtttin it on today..
and yes, you can gather that ceramic tint job will be about $350+ and up as high as $500... BTW; some key differences in HUPER OPTIK vs. PINNACLE (there are tons of threads here and in google on this) is that HUPER is just a bit harder for tinters to install and typically cost just a bit more than pinnacle, plus finding an installer for HUPER is a bit harder as well at least for south texas area...so thats my reason to sticking w/ Pinnacle..

ok, sorry for rant...talk to ya'll ina bit...

 

Thanks for the great review of tint styles. Do you know if the metallic ones block cell and radar signals at all? How about the ceramic ones? I will definitely be tinting Elroy since I'm sure his Punch Carbon Black Leather seats will really prefer it that way, but I don't know which way to go. If metallic does block signals, then I guess I'll have to step up to ceramic (provided it doesn't block) because I never put in the cheap stuff. If I ever get my car, I'll do some searching for a local (North Austin) place to do the install.

FWIW, whatever tinting I had installed on my '06 MINI is still pristine after 3 years in the Texas sun. The only scratch is from my ignorant brother's wedding ring on the passenger door side. No bubbling, no color change, just good tinting. I don't recall what type it was, but it was around $150 or so for the car.

Anyway, best of luck today and I look forward to seeing pix of your new ride, edjd!

 

Just got an e-mail from Sean at MINI of SA that my car is on a truck and should be here this Friday or Saturday. I don't know how long after that until delivery; especially since I'm getting the Rooster Red steering wheel and don't know if they have it in stock or will have to order it. Delivery is closing in!

BTW, the OL still says that my car is on a boat.

 

afternoon.
really busy at work right now...so real quick summary...

got car. Charlie was my MA to show me stuff, etc. FANTASTIC JOB he did! REALLY quick question to ANYONE: when taking car to tint place, my wife says she saw smoke occasionally come from my tailpipe and my car kinda smells like sometihng burning, NORMAL? i called charlie, he says it's knida nromal..."it is a new car...."

and great question gadget, forgot to add:
metallic tint DOES interfere w/ radio/radar receptions,etc..... CERAMIC tint DOES NOT interfere w/ virtually anything, that was one of the selling points and why i got it in my wifes car...her expeditoin has integrated window antenna....

 

Mine did the same thing. On the way home from picking her up, I had to pull off to find my Sunpass (toll transponder) before going over the Skyway bridge. There was smoke and it was smelly. I think it was just the cosmoline burning off the hot parts. Has not done it since.

P.S. Congrats!

 

Congrats on the delivery!!! Glad you and your MCC are safe and sound. How long did the whole process take? My car is due this Friday or maybe Saturday. Sean indicated that depending on how late in the day, I could pick it up same day or the next. I was hoping to get some Rooster Red accessories installed which would have delayed my pickup but just discovered that they are Redwood Red and not Rooster Red, so I'm skipping them as they won't match. Now I not only won't have to wait for the installation, but will also save $$ from not having them.

That's kinda what I thought about the metallic tint. Guess I'll either have to go cheap with the regular stuff, or go spendy with the ceramic, as I don't want any interferance with my phone's already sketchy reception or my Passport's radar detection/GPS range.

 

thanks flaboy for the reassurance, i was thinking the same thing, but y'know just needed some NAM reassurance!

gadge, if u get the car the same day, I would be impressed!... whole process took about 1.5 hours for pickup...w/ no wait time for finance person...which was easy of course, no thank you to extended stuff($1200), no thank you to run flat coverage($800), no thank you for extended warranty ($2K)...sign my checks over and walked out....
Charlie spent alot of time going over car...lots of stuff!..for you gadge, this might be a 15 minute process since your a prevoius owner!.... just between us ALL, got my 'free' carpeted floor mats...ask right and time right and you shall get.....plus doesn't hurt to ask right???? VEry satisfied w/ MINOFSA in taking care of my needs/requests and being very thorough in going over the car, treated they way I felt I should be treated....which is important to me.

tint place called about an hour ago, my car is ready, so getting co worker to give me a ride to pick it up and heading to evening class..
try to catch up w/ yall soon about my impressions/issues/copmlaints/pix,etc....

To all thanks again!

 

Back in '06, I opted for the extended maintenance (4 years instead of 3) and am ending up trading in the car after 3 years so that was a waste. Got the road hazard warranty and that actually came in handy as I got a replacement run-flat tire for no out of pocket cost after driving over a nasty nail.

I already made a deal to leave the floor mats and grocery holder in my trade-in '06 MINI and will get new mats and a new holder gratis in the '09. Got my PenFed check, my replacment TxTag, and my hardwire radar detector stuff ready. Got a NoHoles front plate holder from GoMINIGo and told Rob to not drill the front plate. No one seems interested in buying my old XM-Direct kit for the '06 so I'll leave that in the trade-in along with the Parrot BT kit as both are very niche and probably not worth my time to uninstall and try to sell on eBay, etc...

In short, I'm ready for Elroy to get here! I know you're a busy guy, edjd, but I know I won't be able to sleep the night before my pickup. Furthermore, the 1.5hr drive down to SA will be painful with anticipation! At least the 1.5hr drive back home in the new car will be fun.

 

It came in last night... out getting tint put on today & will pickup tomorrow!!!

 

Congrats Brother_Bluto! Another happy one down, not many left to go for our build group. My OL status still says "en route" by my dealer assures me that my car is on a truck and should be here tomorrow. Depending on how late it arrives and provided there's nothing out of the ordinary, I might be motoring by tomorrow night or Saturday!

 

Just an update - the OL finally switched over from "En Route" to "At the VDC" even though it actually arrived at the VDC 6 days ago and left the VDC 2 days ago. It's due at the dealer tomorrow.

Quick survey - has the OL status been even remotely accurate for the listed stages of the build for anyone? Mine has consistently been nearly a week behind which borders on useless.

 

Mine was fairly close for the location status...although I bought an S and the OL shows it as a regular Cooper. Also, it's *never* shown my options list...only thing correct is the color scheme. I did get eyes on it at the dealer yesterday, all seems well, taking delivery on Friday.