A few of us over in weeks 21-23 are having a bit of a problem. Our cars (apparently) arrived in Port Hueneme last weekend, but have made no further progress since then, nor has our online status changed to reflect that we are even at the VDC. I realize that there was a holiday on Tuesday, but this seems to be an awfully long wait. Did anyone else languish for a long period of time at the VDC?

 

bump

 

Yes VDC is where your MINI dissappears untill it magically shows up at your dealer.

 

Although difficult to accept, DrDiff is dead on! We cannot fathom the ways of the VDC. Our MCS arrived in Charleston (SC) on 29JUN06. He arrived at the dealer(MINI of Nashville (TN)) on 7JULo6. That's 8 days, including a weekend and a holiday.

 

In March 2006 my new Mini spent almost 2 full weeks at Port Hueneme. I was concerned about this so I checked the entire body of the car for repairs prior to paying for it in the dealer show room.

 

Mine spent about a week at the PH VDC. Don't panic yet.

 

Okay, sounds like this happens now and then. I'm trying soooo hard to be patient, but man is it tough!!! Question - at what point is it okay to panic

 

The VDC (vehicle distribution center)is really the JRC(joy ride center), this is where mini employees test drive some of our cars after of course disconnecting the odometer ,sometimes they take them home for the weekend that is why it takes long for some of you to get your cars

 

Our second MINI spent about 11 days at the VDC...

 

Okay, locomini. You're not helping

I just hope she hasn't had some damage during shipping or something. But I'll just keep waiting . . . and waiting . . . and waiting . . .

 

Mine is at the VDC in Charleston, according to the owner's lounge...
it's been there for about a week now, if you can believe the website.

I did ask my dealer to shoot for a late July- early August delivery date,
so maybe they moved it to the back row and are letting it cool off...

Just hoping that's the case and not something more drastic...

Otherwise, it's man the gangplanks, mateys!

Sir Mini

(believed to be on the Emden)

 

I finally got word today that mine is at the VDC w/ an expected delivery date of 7/11. Maybe yours will be moving along soon as well! It's strange how some get processed so quickly and others don't . . .

 

EEK!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Mine spent less than a week at VDC, so I was lucky.

According to my MA at the time, VDC does the bulk of the install for the "accessories", e.g. aero kits, some JCW stuff, etc. for the the MINIs and the BWMs. The dealers, again according to my MA, do only very minor accessories, e.g. iPod adapters, etc.

Sooo, hang in there!

 

My MA first told me "about 5 days from when the boat docks", to when my MINI would arrive at the dealer.

Five days later, he told me "two days"- it was still at the VDC. Two days later he says, "any day now". The next day he calls me and says, "it just came off the truck about 20 minutes ago..." and some probably important information about "two more days" for dealer pre-delivery-inspection blah blah blah., which I account for it being the weekend.

Frankly, I stopped listening after "it just came off the truck...". I should probably call him back, and figure out how I'm gonna get down there.

I think that adds up to 10 days? But as we like to say in these parts, "your milage may vary".

NOTE: If you hadn't already found it, here is a great post- a photo tour of the west coast VDC

 

I picked up my MCS last Sat morning and it was about 10 days from the boat unload (Charleston) to pick up. The dealer only had the MP3 port installation so they only had it a day. Oh, and the 4th of July holiday hiccup was in there too.

Hang in there.

 

Some factory accessories (ie bonnet stripes) are installed at VDC, plus the VDCs also process all Bimmers, plus there's only one BMW VDC for the western division, plus the Cosmoline (thick "waxy" stuff in the VDC pics) has to be powerwashed off a couple times (sometimes they don't get it all), plus programming, plus all the cars have to be readied for truck transport to the dealer, so be patient. My car was at PH VDC about 10 days before being loaded on the truck.

Plus they don't work 24/7 (or even close) and holidays can delay...

Also, your dealer has to disclose to you if VDC had to repair your car beyond something like 2-3% of total body area, so I wouldn't sweat this too much. Damage happens in transit. Remember VDC is capable of doing everything the factory can do, and probably better! I know it's agonizing, esp. for those of us in the West that have to wait longer, but hang in there. Jimbo

 

Just talked to the trucking company and my car should be arriving tomorrow. YAY!! Thanks to everyone for holding my hand. This has been a loooooong 10 days.

 

if your MINI was damaged during transport, your MA should have a report or be able to pull a report with that info... That's something you can ask now rather than wait until delivery. Of course it can still get damaged on the truck ride to the dealer...

As for the joyride of at teh VDC, I think our MINI was taken on one. We had about 20+ mile difference from the odometer to the trip... I'll dig out the shot and post it for everyone. Dealer says that it's a software issue that makes the tripmeter count erronously... nice save!

 

I think some random cars are given short road tests at VDC, for QC purposes. Yup. Straight to the mall and back. (Wait, does Oxnard even have a mall? ) Jimbo

 

Since I already have my MINIs, I about fell off the chair laughing when I read this one. If my car was sitting at the VDC, I probably would have instead .

 

Mine is at the VDC now, since 7/11. It is absolutely killing me... if I lived in NJ/NY I would drive past it every day and not even show up for work. Perhaps this weekend...