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I've been in touch with my MA all week. We have been working on financing right now. Would like to get hard numbers now and then all we have to do it go and pick it up (1 hr drive). She still says due on the 15th. I keep forgetting to ask her what boat. So I still don't know. I've heard of boats coming into the West coast for the 13th, 15th, 16th. So I've got to be on one of them.

I have not gotten anything about preprogramming features yet. I just need to ask her. She says that she is very busy right now (but very good at getting back to me on stuff). I assume there is a rush to get the '06 models because of the '07 changes in the Mini.

Patiently waiting....

 

Hey sddave, no change in status unfortunately. I ordered my MINI a month ago, and it was finished over two weeks ago. I think its mostly due to some unusual shipping activity, or lack thereof. I just missed one vessel, and then the next vessel the following week was rescheduled, so now there are ships leaving on the back-to-back days next week. Just an oddity, and as long as I catch one of those ships I guess its fine.

Thanks for thinking of us folks stranded at the pier! We'll be joining you stateside soon enough. Can't wait to fly down to my dealer and drive it home. Its over 800 miles of driving, so by the time I get back I'll have most of my break-in period over with. Driving is cheaper than the $600 to $1000 for delivery and I am looking forward to that trip.

I'm planning on taking the XM Direct with me to the dealer and just install it before I hit the freeway. I took a long drive across Illinois-Indiana-Michigan a few months ago and XM is a lifesaver. The install sounds easy and I can do the hard part of wiring the antennae nicely when I get home.

 

My MINI is also waiting at the dock for a ship. I called the robo ASK MINI and got a response that it was 'in transit'. Ohh yeah! Turns out I punched in the wrong production number!?

 

According to the dealer, my car was on the Emden which arrived and unloaded in Charleston on 5/3 and the ship is already headed back to Europe.

Looks like the my MCS finally made it to the VDC on 5/6... The review order details section actually says something (it hadnt before) showing an estimated delivery date of 5/14.

Question... Is the estimated delivery date the date the truck will deliver to the dealer or is it the estimated date that I can pick it up allowing for time at the dealer to do their thing?

 

MiniTX, that is great that you have an ETA . I think the est date is the date it arrives to at your dealer. According to my dealer, once the car arrives at their lot, they install the dealer options, e.g. alarm, floor mats (humm, open the door, put the mats down, close the door ), Lojack (actually the lojack installer can come to you home or office to install it if you want), etc. So, depending on the dealer options you want, it can take another day or so before it is ready for you to pick up. Since it sounds like you will be driving before any of us, post some pics so we can channel through you for the experience and also sniff the new car smell

Minitee, hang in there bud I know what you are going through! I had to wait 2 weeks before I caught a ship. According to human ASK MINI, they said that a wait of over 2 weeks is pretty unusual, so you should be headed out soon.

M1N1N1M, wrong prod number....D"OH!

 

Thanks Dave,

I am just glad the car has moved from the port to the VDC,,, from the time it hit the port in England, it has been an interesting not knowing if it made a ship or was still parked in limbo.

They come when they come, maybe I will get lucky and it will come a few days early since it is a 2 day drive from Charleston to Houston (obeying trucking hours of service regs).

 

The MINI is now 'In Transit'!!!! Woohoo!! Now I need to find out which ship it is on! The w2global sight lists the FALSTAFF leaving May 12 arriving Port Hueneme June 1. Could this be my ship??

Minitee, sfgrunge, do you know???

Know I need give Mini a name and start ordering accessories!

 

There are some of us from Week 18 who just hopped on the Centaurus Leader to the left coast. From what I've been led to believe, NYK Line handles this shipping to the west coast. The Centaurus Leader should be into socal on or about 28-May. See this post.

 

Yes!!!




I was so busy today that I put off calling ASK MINI until this evening, after seeing your post M1. Happy day! Its on its way. I don't know anything more than that. Repeating the link for WW cargo tracking here for myself and anyone else for handy reference:
http://schedule.2wglobal.com/AppTracking/cargoTrack.do

I punched in my VIN but drew a blank. M1, I bet we're on the same boat.

I'm already planning more accessories... no pulleys or anything, but I'm thinking about that chrome grille, a loud horn, and the Hella FF200 driving lights. Now I just pray no harm befalls it in transit that causes it to get held up at the VDC stateside (and not just for the delay).

I don't know if En Route necessarily means "left the pier", but if it has it could be the Falstaff (which I guess is at sea). Hmmm.... 24 days at sea or so, a week at VDC... a day or so to the dealer, a few days for them to install & prep... could be here in 5 weeks!

Now for the big wait. Hopefully one of us can figure out the tracking of ships at sea.

G'nite all, dreams of twisty curves and six gears to enjoy them with.

 

M1 and Minitee, I too found out that my MINI is in transit. WooHoo!!!!

I got an email from my MA this morning. My MA said that the ship left on the 7th and looking back at the schedules I think that it is either Centaurus Leader or Ryujin (both NYK line ships). I kinda doubt that it is the Falstaff, since our VINs are not showing up on WW website. My MA did say that the ship was scheduled to be in port sometime toward the end of May to first week of June. I will ask her if she knows the ship name. From what I have read in other threads it usually takes a few days for that information to get updated (if you're not on a WW line ship).

Now that our MINIs have had their fill of Fish 'n Chips and Bangers and Mash, they can relax and sip their colorful drinks (with the little umbrellas of course) by the pool and enjoy their spring cruise to cali.

I need to come up with a name too. I have decided that since I ordered a HyperBlue MCS with JCW that my MINI was a boy. But that is as far as I got.

I just realized that you two ordered Chilli Red (almost twins). Very Nice. I almost went with the Chilli Red, but my Prelude that I have had forever is red and I needed a change.

That and hoping that my MINI and I will not be supplimenting any of the local police and highway patrol department's income since I ordered my MCS with JCW.....

 

Hey sfgrunge and MiniTee, where are you picking up your Minis. Will it be at your local dealership or delivery to you home?

Mine will be at Mini of San Francisco.

 

Hey M1, I'm picking mine up at Salt Lake City. I wish it was at my local dealership (NW MINI), but their wait is at least a year and they still charge over MSRP.

 

So MA gave me some more info:

Your MINI will land at the port on 5/31/06 from there it will take 7 to 10
days to get here. Once it arrives I will need couple of days to install
accessories. If everything goes as per the schedule you will be able to pick
up your MINI by 6/14.

----

So I it's another month of waiting.

I have decided to call my Mini - Chili Pup

 

Spoke to my MA today, while miniusa shows and ETD of 5/14, he told me my mcs was handed off to the trucking company on 5/8 and is expected on Thursday 5/10.. He said the trucks arrive in the morning and I could pick it up the same afternoon if I wanted. The dealer is 35 miles north of me so it looks like it will be Saturday so my wife can drive me up to pick the new baby up.

 

Congrats!

 

I ordered mine from Brecht MINI in San Diego. It was the only dealer that I could find that would sell at MSRP and did not have 9 months wait. I found out about Brecht from another NAM member (katmehoe). In fact he just picked up his JCW a few days ago. https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...874#post950874

I am going to fly down to San Diego and then drive it back up to SF. That will get me through half of the break-in period in a short time.

 

Looks like I am going to try and sneak out of work today and pick up my MCS rather then wait until Saturday... I asked my wife about who would drive it home,,, she said she is smaller so... Time to move fast so she doesnt become addicted..

I will leave my Element at the dealer and go get it later tonight.

 

Congrats MiniTX!! Good plan too... get that car as soon as you can!

 

Looks like the purples were sent on the same boat and left the VPC at the same time too.

Our MINI made it to the dealer today also. I am on my way out of town to instruct at a track event this weekend so I will have to wait until next week to pick it up.

Here we go!

 

I picked up my MCS today and brought it home... soon as it made it home, the factory rims and run flats came off and I put centerlines and Goodyear Eagles went on.

Just under 6 weeks from first test drive to delivery,, not too shabby.

 

It is kinda of funny reading where everyone bought their MINIs from, we all seem to be crisscrossing each other. I am in San Diego and went up to Long Beach MINI because they sell at MSRP and I only had to wait 3 weeks before I could order. I tried Brecht, but when I went they were ~$3k over MSRP. I have since learned that they go from MSRP to way over MSRP and back again, so Sfgrunge, your timing was right on.

 

MiniTX, Congrats on picking up your new MINI, post some pics when you get a chance!

Sorry, I haven't quite figured out how to copy multiple quotes yet, D'oh!

 

Wow! I'm at week 5 and there's at least 4 more to go. You might win an award on speed of the overall process.

Congratulations too! Post some pics when you get a chance.