MA emailed and let me know that our MINI was not only done, but already at the port waiting for a carrier assignment. Trying not to get my hopes up for a fast ship assignment, but sure would be nice.

 

From everything I've read, it takes 8 days to complete. The first 5 days are gathering and checking to make sure all the correct parts for your car are gathered. Assembling everything only takes 1 day, and that happens on day 6. Day 7 is paint, and day 8 is quality control. They work 24/7, across 3 shifts. If this is correct, and my car started on April 24, then it should be done on or around May 1, not my estimated completion date of May 4. Guess they call it an "estimated" date for a reason. It is better business to give a conservative guess and have you be happy that it was completed earlier, than to have you be angry or unhappy that it wasn't done in the stated timeframe.

 

I'm pretty sure the car body is painted before assembly, however.

 

Not according to this post: https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d-updated.html

 

Shark, you and I keep seeming to leapfrog each other as to who will be done first. I wonder if our production numbers are really close together and they are being built at the same time, it is just the information we are getting that is inconsistent?

 

I continue to suspect that some of the information one or both of us is getting is not accurate. And I read the same thing you did about it taking 8 days in production, but look at how long Taumax is being told his/her car will be in production. And that means when our MA told us the car would not even enter production until this coming week, it was already in production! Based on the other posts, what does seem to be consistently accurate is what ship the car is on, and the ship's departure and arrival dates. The other thing that suprises me is the people who are told that their car is in Bremmerhaven the day after production is complete. That's rather incredible, even if the train carrying the cars pulled out of Graz an hour after the car rolled out of the factory. Don't know if you have ever shipped freight by train in the U.S., but things simply don't get "from here to there" in one day. Trains are taken apart, sorted and re-formed by destination...sort of like what Fedex does in Memphis, except they are working with entire train cars instead of boxes Perhaps it's different in Europe, especially post EU? Perhaps every few days Magna Steyr fills up a entire train with Countrymen, Gwagens, and whatever else they are currently assembling in Graz, and the train travels directly to Bremmerhaven? Would be interesting to know...

 

I have read that but it must have the order somewhat wrong. Perhaps there is confusion about what assembly means. First the body is welded together (initial assembly), then body/boot/bonnet/doors are primed and painted according to the order, then final assembly of wiring/engine/drivetrain/interior/trim with all the parts on the order for that Mini.

 

Thanks man!

 

Ya...according to my estimate it will take 10-12 days to make the car. So ya, I bet they like to overestimate and then say "Yay, its here early" than telling you "Sorry...its gonna be a few more weeks". I can't believe that it is already in production!

So if I'm understanding you correctly...days 1-5 are collection, day 6 is assembly, day 7 is paint, and day 8 is final check?

Sweet! I can't wait! Lets just hope that it doesn't sit on a dock for a few weeks waiting to get on a boat!

I can't wait!!!

 

We have another "unsolicited" email from our MA from Friday with an update on the status of the car. He said it was in the paint shop. That does seem to be consistent with ASKMINI stating the car is scheduled to be done with production today. Interestingly I can now again see on the website what options I ordered.

 

Congrats shark! I just got off the phone with ASK-MINI, and they told me that today the car is 'in the body shop'. Next step is paint. So you are a few days ahead of me. I am on target for Friday, maybe before. Still could be on the same boat though, who knows. I still can't see my options on the website at this point.

 

ORDERED 3/23/12.
PRODUCTION NUMBER 3/23/12. (took a dealer spot)
PRODUCTION STARTED 3/28/12 according to Mini 800 number although originally booked for week 15 (April 9 - 15)
VIN 3/28/2012
ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE 4/4/12
PAINT SHOP 4/2/12
FINAL ASSEMBLY 4/4/12
BORN 4/4/12
AWAITING TRANSPORT 4/5/12
AT PORT 4/9/12
SET SAIL 4/13/12 K-Line Bishu Highway
AT ARRIVAL PORT 4/28/12
AT VDC 4/28/12
ON TRUCK 4/28/12
ARRIVED DEALER 4/30/12

It's here - even the driving lights are installed. That's 38 days. Even the dealer is gobsmacked! I am collecting her tonight!

 

Pictures, or it didn't happen!

 

Hey Shark,
I am thinking your assessment is correct. So I decided to call today just to see if ASKI MINI gave me the same info, and it does not say anything about being at port and that it is waiting for a carrier to take it to the Port of Entry. So there may have been an unintentional miscommunication from my MA. It would have been impressive, but like you said loading a bunch of cars onto a train is not a super speeding activity. Just so long as it gets down to port and on a ship in the week I will still be impressed.

 

Pictures tonight - I am at the dealer right now signing up for 0.9%. Only one piece of bad news - the Nav code is not available tonight but I do know where home is.

 

Yeh baby!

 

^^Nice! Love crystal silver (obviously!)

 

Looks great! I ordered the turbo fans as well!

 

Sweet ride! I love the driving lights, I'll probably end up getting some eventually. Hopefully so gobadges grill badges can hold the spot nicely until,then. Silver and black looks great. I don't even mind the black wheels with that combo - usually when I see the black wheels it makes me think the car is running on donuts.

 

Congrats! Silver does such a great job of showing off the lines of the car...love it...

 

As of this morning, although the website still says "scheduled for production" the call-in automated system says "vehicle production is complete, your vehicle is awaiting release to the carrier". This is consistent with what the automated system previously told us (that production was scheduled to be completed yesterday).

 

Wow shark, that is great! (Trying to disguise my envy!)

 

Joe, I still don't see any chance at all that our cars will be ready for pick up on the day of the TDTD event. Sounds like it will be a week later or so, which would be 6 weeks for me and 8 weeks for you...and 6 to 8 weeks is what the dealer estimated up front. When was the last time you contacted ASKMINI, and what was the latest with yours?

 

I agree, you are probably right on with the timeline. I called ASKMINI yesterday, and was told it was 'in the body shop', and the next step would be 'in the paint shop'. So, probably another couple days for me.

 

OK, just got off the phone with ASKMINI. The automated system now says 'your car is in the body shop, with an estimated completion date of May 3'. Looks like I've moved up a day, even though a live person told me I was in the body shop yesterday.