Holy gosh geez wow (expletives substituted). That is a non-starter at that price. I'll look at a self install option if the kit/parts are reasonable. Still want to see one first.

Edit: Found a few sites selling for ~170 USD per sill so ~350 USD total. Another site had both for ~270 (on-sale?)

Installation looks do-able. Only downside is having to drill a hole in the metal to fish the wires through. I'll put this on my "I'll think about it" list.

 

I'd like to see a pic too. Sounds interesting except for the Velcro.

 

Mini Owners Lounge shows En Route although the Michigan Highway docked yesterday late afternoon. IDK if they work round the clock or a standard 8-5. Either way, you'd think the car would be off ship by the end of the day. Seems reasonable to expect it at the dealer by the 12th.

Found this which gives a peek inside a VDC: http://www.thedieseldriver.com/2010/02/bmw-vdc/

 

No update yet on the WW website. My Roadster sits on the Torino's deck at the Port of Baltimore. Still don't know if I unload today or tomorrow in view of my previous post regarding two ports of call in Baltimore. I guess I'll try calling ASK MINI in a little bit. I was able to sign in the MINI Owner's Lounge on my IPad this morning, but the site wouldn't let me "Track My MINI" for some unknown reason.

 

Don Juan is doing the same thing in NY - moved this A.M. to a different dock, which seems to be FURTHER from the VDC! Not sure what gives. At least you already have customs clearance!

 

My heart goes out to you guys. My clubman is disembarking now on a ship that left after yours. They will ship mine 1000+ miles and I may get it before you get yours! Something is not right, but guess we all should be happy they made it over the pond and won't be affected by a farcical shutdown, at least not yet! Congrats on your new MINI's-hope you have them real soon!

 

I too am on the Don Juan and have no idea whats going on. It says it was supposed to be there yesterday so I thought today I would see my mini at the VDC and at my dealer by this saturday. What gives?!

 

My MA told me the same thing. He said they had installed some not to long ago. Apparently, the installation is a pain.

 

Michigan Highway has ETA of 10/5 in Charleston. She's on schedule still. So probably depart sometime late today. Crossing my fingers for no damage on all our new cars!

 

Alright, here's the scoop! Once your car is in port, your MA has ALL the info! Forget the boat tracker and Owners Lounge, no good info there.

My MA just sent me a screenshot of their tracking system where each step through the VDC is tracked and logged. My car was accepted into the VDC at noon yesterday, and just cleared all items a couple of hours ago. It is now released to the trucking company, in my case "Precision Motor Transport Group", for an ESTIMATED delivery to dealer on Monday. I think this date is conservative, hopefully there's a truck on the lot right now that needs one more mini to head to Philly this afternoon!

Call/email your MA and request a screenshot of the dealerspeed status for your car!

 

Thanks!!! I just emailed mine!

 

Just talked to my MA, My clubbie will be in the dealership the 9th or the 10th. There is a bad weather front coming through, so it may take the Northern route.(I-40?) Doesn't look like our rides will be on the same truck, swjtx!! Hate that, but hope you get yours before I get mine! I am ready to jump behind the wheel of that bad boy.. Less than a week.........:

 

My MA just emailed me stating that he was pretty confident of a delivery on or before Friday the 11th of October -- which meshes in very nicely with my travel schedule.

Yippeee! Time to start ordering the waxes/cleaners and such to keep my beast looking good. Have to make sure I get a good coat on it before winter sets in.

 

The BMW VDC in Baltimore is on the west side of Chesapeake Bay. That was the second stop for my ship. The actual address is:
BMW of North America
2900 Childs Street
Curtis Bay, MD 21226

 

MA sent me the screen shot. It's been unloaded at the VDC today, but no work has started on it yet (driving lights). Says it will ship out on 10/6 (estimated) and be at my dealer on 10/8 (also estimate)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So much to do!!!!!!!!!

MA said he will let me know for sure when it is loaded on a truck

 

I'm still waiting for my Paceman to make it to the port of exit. :(

 

What a great point! I hadn't even thought of that.

Any suggestions on best brand for that? I'm not used to having a car nice enough to take it to the waxing level.

Only ?? more weeks to go.

 

I know. My current transportation is a 14 year old Pathfinder -- while I will still run it through the carwash, I sure don't have any interest in hand-waxing it. Some of that is due to size of the Pathfinder - I would need a stepladder and arm extensions to cover all of it, but a lot has to do with the fact that the car is 14 years old.

I've been looking through the detailing 101 forums -- there are all sorts of options for finish care. Prima products seem to be popular, although there is also a Zaino contingent. I suspect a lot depends on what your particular level of car-finish OCD happens to be. Apparently it is pretty easy to be sucked into the world of debating how many(!) coats of a particular product provide the best results....

Anyway, I'm sort of leaning towards the Zaino -- but I tend to be a little on the OCD side when it comes to clean and new.

 

My MA is pretty confident that the Monday arrival to them is pretty solid, so we have a delivery appointment for Tues evening. The end is in sight!

 

Almost any of them are ood products, but afteri 35+ years of waxing and detailing my own cars, I'd suggest going to Target or Walmart and buying Maguires cleaner wax and detailing spray when it's on sale.

It's a very good product, highly rated, relatively less expensive than some of those advertised online, and importantly goes on and off very easily. Apply the cleaner wax twice a year, and use the detail spray weekly to keep things looking great. On my wife's (now my daughter's) 2008 Honda Pilot, the overall finish looks as good as the day I took delivery.

 

+1 on Maguires

 

I've observed everyone who's MINI arrived in the past day or so speak about delivery ESTIMATES given by their MA. Mine sent me a screen shot today that shows delivery to the dealership by Monday. Yet he also said there's a possibility for delivery this Saturday. I'm not sure what to believe. For those who received their MINI's, what was your experience? Should I maintain potentially false hopes for delivery by Saturday, or just assume the screen shot (Vehicle Inquiry Status Report) is accurate? Are the dates in the screen shot truly estimates versus cold hard dates? Just by mentioning the mere possibility my Roadster may arrive Saturday, I'm starting to get high hopes for an early delivery.

 

Maguires it is then. Of course there's a Detailing forum, why didn't I think to look for that? :D

Gonna have to say, the people on the phone at 866-ASK-MINI are extraordinarily nice. It's getting to the point where I recognize certain reps. Just had a nice conversation with a gentleman who was sad to report that there's still no update. I really hope she got onto the ship that sailed yesterday.

Also still haven't heard back from the GM of the dealership about the video I made about the website (heated seats) bug. The ASK-MINI reps are thankfully making up for the dealer experience thus far.

 

Oh yes!

 

My Roadster arrived at my dealer the day before the estimate delivery date provided by my MA. He had said that they are told to use the term "estimated" delivery date to give a little wiggle room in case there is a delivery delay due to road problems, inclement weather delays, and gives the dealer extra time to do a final prep (rewash the car, put the mats in, remove the window stickers, etc.) If it arrives earlier, the customer will be a lot happier than if it came in later than they had indicated.

Makes sense to me!