Hello everyone,

What happens at the dealership when the car is delivered? I saw a thread from someone who said he demanded to be there when the car still had the plastic on it and that's how he took delivery. I thought they had to check the car out. I had major problems with the last 06 MINI I purchased and would feel better knowing everything that happens with this car. I would love some info and your opinion on this matter.

Thanks in advance, Tim

 

Well Tim,

I used to do new car transport work for several high-end auto distributors. Almost all of the vehicles we handled were imports. Each manufacturer handles their vehicles differently for shipment or staging at the docks. Mercedes, at their Belcamp MD port, takes all delivered vehicles indoors till they are released for truck shipment to it's dealer network. Lexus (Toyota Motor Distributors), stages their vehicles outside at their Newark/Elizabeth Port, but their vehicles are wrapped in plastic to prevent acid rain spotting. This plastic stays on until it is removed by the selling dealer. Toyota also specifies that the plastic is to stay on the vehicle no more than 30 days once the selling dealer gets the car. This is because the plastic seals the pours in the paint and will cause pigment discoloration if left on too long.

So, that leads us to BMW and the Mini Cooper. The Mini 's are all shipped from the factory with exteriors not wrapped in plastic. However, they are kept inside, once reaching the U.S, until ready for loading onto the car carriers for delivery to their dealer network. The inside of the car has it's door panels, seats, center console, and floors covered in loose plastic to be removed by the selling dealer. All vehicles, due to liability issues, are shipped with only about 2 gallons of gas in the tank. The tires are also inflated to 60psi on the assembly line to prevent flatting during storage and shipment. If you saw how close these vehicles are tied down to each other on the ships floor you would question how they are not damaged during loading, ocean transit, and unloading. The men that move these vehicles are very skilled drivers and every inch counts when loading these ships.

Once the dealer gets your car (by the way...Mini's are shipped from port to the dealers in enclosed transporters), he is required to perform a PDI on the car before delivery. This is done by a trained tech. The PDI (Pre-Delivery Inspection), consists of setting tire pressures, uncovering the brake discs (they are covered with a preservative impregnated cardboard hood to prevent rusting during transit), removing all the plastic from the interior, removing dealer service lables, etc... Basically the tech unwraps the vehicle and inspects all fluid levels and all operating systems so it is ready to send over to cleaning. The car can now be driven safely and is mechanically ready for delivery. The PDI also includes a full tank of gas, either filled by the tech or one of the salesman, and a test drive. Other than the final inside/out cleaning the car gets before delivery, that is about it!

We have found that any damage that does occur on these vehicles during their transporting, usually happens between the dock and the dealer. Scuffed front spoilers are a biggie from driving onto the ramps too fast, as are body damage from improper tie down or a tiedown coming loose. If a Mini is damaged during the boat trip it will be repaired by the manufacturer at the dock or by an independent shop certified by BMW or Mini. Damage done in transit, between the dock and the dealer, is usually the responsibility of the dealer (billed back to the manufacturer or the transport company). A dealer can refuse delivery of a vehicle due to severe damage but BMW, more often than not, tells the dealer to accept the vehicle and works out the cost of repairs afterward. One other thing, a dealer or manufacturer is not obligated to disclose to you any repairs done on a new vehicle prior to delivery. I have seen cars that were completely repainted (100%), then put on the dealer lot and sold as new to an unsuspecting customer. Don't get me wrong, the quality of the repaint was as good, if not better than factory, but nonetheless, it was repainted.

I'll end with that for now. A word of caution...go over your vehicle inside and out before taking delivery. Look at the finish, sight down the sides, and check for chips or chrome discoloration. It will be worth it to catch anything that bothers you before taking delivery rather than afterward. Good luck!

Rich B.

 

Thanks for this! Can you (or someone else reading this) go into more detail on how to do a good inspection when picking up your MINI?

Thanks!

 

Yeah, Like Rich said

 

Thank you Rich!

 

Thanks, Rich B. Fascinating information. I could picture every step in the procedure, especially loading into the shipping container--yikes.

Too late for me when I got my car because it was drop shipped in California with other NAM MINIs from Classic in Ohio. The car didn't appear to have a bent frame and I was bound to get a scratch or 2 driving and parking in my crowded city so a cursory exam sufficed. Best part was meeting other NAMmers and seeing them again subsequently. We were even treated to a roaring demonstration by JCampos in his souped up MCS. He might have moved onto something noisier by now.

 

Rich,

Thank you very much for the info. Unfortunately I'm even more apprehensive now. My new MINI purchased in April was returned to MINI USA for a full refund because of a really bad repaint done on the car in Oxnard and no one caught it (or cared to catch it) so I certainly understand the repaint thing. Pretty upsetting. It makes me nervous that I could receive another "repaired car". As you say I will check the car over to my best ability to see if it's okay.

Do you think it would be best to go down and see the car before it's been detailed or anything? I hate to be obsessive but I've been through the ringer on this one. If it wasn't my favorite car in the world (that I can afford) I would have bought something else.

Again, thanks for the marvelous info. Much appreciated.

Tim

 

When I picked up my 06MC in Oct 05 (Richmond,VA), the dealership was really awesome about finding exactly when they expected it to be delivered. They were pretty close, I was pulling into the lot a the truck was preparing to do the unloading. I felt better seeing the car prior to detailing being done. It took a couple of hours before it was ready to go, so we did a few things around town before going back to take home and I got to check it out again throughly. Maybe you can get in good with your salesperson and be able to do that.

 

When you pick up your Mini, make sure you have good lighting. Go over the entire car with your eyes and your hands. Looking and feeling for any changes in the paint texture that might indicate a repair. Look under rubber weather strip, check for overspray everywhere.

Someone did a good thread about this, but I can't remember the name of it.

 

Thanks, Gromit! This is just what I was looking for.