I just got an email from Mini about what I believe is its annual plant shut down beginning August 1. Any idea how long they shut down? I know this is a fairly common practice with British auto manufacturers, some as long as 2 weeks for close to a month.

I don't have a car ordered, but I wonder which 'production week' or weeks this will affect.

 

Maybe it has something to do with retooling for the 2007 models. My MA told me his cutoff date for ordering 2006s was 7/31, so I dunno.

That they would close the plant the first week in August tho is unusual, because my 05 MCS was built the first week of August in 2004. Jimbo

 

Yah I got this email just like plenty of other MINI owners.

As posted here.

 

I know it's been said one million times already, but golly gosh, I wish BMW had put together a pick-up-your-MINI program as you can do with BMWs. I would have loved to go out and pick it up at the factory.

 

That would be great to pickup your new mini, tour around the UK then boat it home. That would be a great program.....

 

what a nice package that would be... but i'd still like to have the panther leather seats instead :D

 

A US spec car wouldn't be automatically street-legal in the UK.....you'd have to adjust the headlights to make sure they illuminate the correct (left) side of the road. Also driving a LHD drive car in the UK (where we drive on the LHS of the road) can be a bit of a nightmare as far as overtaking manouvers are concerned. It's different for the BMW, Merc, Porsche programmes since you collect these in Germany where they drive on the RHS of the road like the rest of Europe and the US.

 

After seeing that email post and knowing the final 06 order cut-off date I'm sure they're getting ready to retool the plant for the 07s, maybe integrating the new plant expansion with the older section. Didn't it shut down earlier this year as well?

I wonder what a "spell" is to them tho? Jimbo

 

They are shutting down a portion of the plant to start changing things for the '07's, but of course '06's will continue to be made... I'm guessing there might be a slight delay of a few days to a week at first, but I don't think it will be significant... especially since most order deadlines are 7/31 which means most will be built by mid-August.

 

My MA told me the last 06s, many of which will be those hideously tacky GPs and other special editions for other markets around the world, will roll outta Oxford around Halloween. Boo! Jimbo

 

It's another excellent marketing item from MINI's ad team. I love the graphic.