Here's a VERY interesting Discovery Channel show on the Faust, the sister ship that's the same size of the Fedora. It shows the delivery from Southhampton to New Jersey.

For the record, she holds up to 8000 cars! 8000!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJfLCrNY1FM

I found, and have been talking with, a BMW co-passenger on the Fedora w/our Mini. His is continuing onto Maui. When looking up your cars delivery, type in the name of the ship and the date to land, you may find someone to share the voyage with! It's been fun to have someone as stupidly excited as we are.

 

Another interesting link, is this video of a ship having issues in one of the locks. It makes you pucker. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuK7qr_TY3g

 

Time to make Margarita's and celebrate our cars almost being here! They're just outside of Puerto Vallarta, in the warm Mexican weather, strolling along the seashore.

 

So according to the schedule, the Fedora will make it to the port Wednesday night/Thursday morning! What are the chances our minis will be out for delivery by next week?

 

Initially set to sail on Mignon on 6/18. Got return to shipper and rescheduled for GARNET LEADER on 6/23. The ship has been circling for past 12 hrs, see jpeg attached. Looks like there will be delayed for at least one day.

For those on Mignon, could you please keep me posted on the timeline from ship arrival to VDC and to your dealer/location? Thanks!

 

Go to https://att.2wglobal.com/gstattweb/o...ckSearchResult

and put this in the Cargo ID field. WMWXM5C57ET972740

I'm on the Mignon. At least you'll track from England to the VDC. It's due at the Panama Canal on 6/30.

 

I hope delivery is next week! I have been waiting for my VO MCS for 8 weeks and 3 days now. By the time Fedora gets to the Port, it will be 9 weeks. TOO LONG!

 

So the Daedalus Leader made port last Friday morning and my car is supposed to be at my dealer in Utah this Wednesday. Less than a week to turn around, much faster than I expected. Guessing Ill be able to pick up Friday or Saturday if they can get the tint and clear bra on quickly.

 

Goodness sakes shao77, looks like the captain of the ship's just having a good time going in circles and figure 8's. Wouldn't you just like to know why? As my mom use to say, "just because."

Wow! angrybears, how exciting. That's a really fast turn around. I'm so glad the train is not going to be delayed, as you thought it might be. Got a weekend trip planned, or just sitting in the car in the driveway, system checking yourself through the owners manual? I know, you're probably a guy, and are saying "I don't need no stinking owners manual!" I want you to post pictures on this thread after you get it. I want to see you and your baby. I'm really excited for you.

MiniJeanne & cwginac, I hope delivery is next week TOO!! Barring that all of ours came in damage free (fingers crossed), it's very possible we may have them before the 4th of July! It sort of is sinking in now. I told my husband today, "we need to iron out the financing, insurance, and a trip." haha Because of the length of time, we put all of that on the back burner until it looked like it was getting closer...NOW IT IS!!!

For everyone else on different ships, I'll keep updating my initial post, so you can see how long west coast deliveries take, when Mini changes their owners lounge settings, where blackout sections of ship tracking are, etc. I wanted a very clear idea of these things, and couldn't find a thread with that info. That way, future west coast Mini owners will know what to expect. There's also a forum like this one, for BMW owners. I've shared my experience with a Beemer cousin on the same ship, which has been fun. Maybe you can find someone waiting for their BMW on your ship. http://www.2addicts.com/forums/ I searched under the ship name and date; and found other's waiting for there car. Just a thought. The more the merrier.

 

Don't worry about the figure 8's, port schedules are pretty tight, and they time their arrivals almost to the minute. They do the evasive maneuvering to kill time it appears. Seems like it would be more efficient to just kill the engine for a couple of hours instead of burning fuel.

Dealer said car is due to arrive today!! Still have to wait until they tint, paint protect and swap out for viper stripes but crazy how fast it went from distribution center to dealer being clear out in Utah. I will definitely post pictures as soon as I pick it up. Dug up a pic from my first Mini delivery clear back in 2001!!

Wish you guys a safe and VERY VERY FAST delivery once they hit port!!

 

Holy Cow, angrybears! I can't believe it's already there! It's probably almost worse, KNOWING it's right around the corner, and not picking it up. Are you going to go have visitation, in the mantime?

I told my husband this morning, that the captains probably uses that down/waiting time for training. If you look at shao77 tracking map, those are some very specific maneuvers, probably 2nd and 3rd in commands learn how to get the ship into port, etc. where it's safe out in the middle of nowhere. Like teaching your kid to drive a car in an empty lot.

Oooooooooh, anticipation is getting HIGH!!!

Everyone on the Fedora, or any west coast delivery, let me know how long it took you to pick up your car and where. That way I'll give time frames on my thread on amount of time from west coast port, to dealer, to you.

Check out the shipping traffic this morning. It's crazy.

 

Turns out, according to the BMW VIN decoder, that my VO mini was built with the heated washer jets and the heated mirrors. Both of those things I didn't pay for. Free upgrade!

 

Finally, you guys got ahold of the ship tracking data. I knew somebody would.

 

Don't know why this made me feel like a jealous boyfriend stalker, but I happen to catch my car just after it came off the truck. I sent a pic to my MA letting him know it was there

Still have to get all the other items done to it so I am pushing him to have it ready on Friday which is going to be painfully long. Nevertheless having it hit port Friday morning of less week and delivered the following Tuesday afternoon is so much faster than I was expecting!! Better pictures once its all sorted out!

 

According to the schedule, the boat will be at the port in about 24 hours!

 

If I had only known you guys were here, I wouldn't have had to suffer this alone! Ordered March 26th! Been watching her make the journey as much as possible throughout. Have those same pics at the locks from last week! We are all clearly mental. Anyone going to follow any part of Mini Takes the States?

 

At this point, as we wait for the ship to chug towards US soil, are you craving more info?

Here's an interesting article about what happens when it gets to port.
http://www.vcstar.com/news/2007/sep/19/boom-for-bmws/

Here's a cool book coming out this summer (2014) on "How to Maintain and Modify Your Mini."
http://www.101projects.com/index.htm

For the Mini Techies, I saw it through this website http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarti...D2_Systems.htm

Another Techy site http://www.minimania.com/_a_technical_information.cfm

 

Here's a really funny video on a race with the 2014 Mini Cooper John bla bla bla package. It was enjoyable to watch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrrwDHZUK6I

 

Well, Fedora Brother's and Sisters, our babies are in the good ol USA, and heading to Port Hueneme! Woo Hoo!

Soon our camaraderie of travels will end, with each of our babies headed in different directions. Leaving the nest, so to say, for new and independent adventures.

However, please subscribe to this thread, come back, and write on their behalves. Let us know how they are doing, and you are doing as their proud new parents.

And still, please let me know when you took possession of your 2600 lb. bouncing baby boy or girl. I'd like to give estimates from port to keys in hand, so future Mini parents can know when to anticipate their arrival.

Finally, once you have that swaddled bundle in your hands, share what you named it. You know it must have a name, right? We have a few choices, but it will become apparent once we sit in it.

The time is almost here! I'm starting to feel labor pains! But no regrets.

 

She's a turning in port!

 

The Fedora has been docked at Port Hueneme at 6:40 Pacific Time, in California.

For those of us with west coast shipments, this is the end of our journey, and our cars will have to adjust from sea legs to solid ground.

 

Wow! Thank you all for these amazing links! I now know exactly where my boat is, and have confirmation of my config being accurately done, and awesome preview pics! I even have an ETA for its arrival in New York, NY!

 

I'd like to know who's been on this boat with my mini and how long it takes for their cars to get to the dealership. My MA said 10-14 days (which I think is probably to keep me from bothering them anymore!), but I'm hoping for 7. Having my new car for the 3 day weekend would just be superb.

 

darex, I'm glad you enjoyed the links...although ours is for west coast shipment, there are some fun other links I included. ANYTHING to pass the time. Have fun when it gets there!

cwginac, if nothings wrong with our cars, delivery should be fast. angrybears car got into port on Friday, and it was at the Utah dealership by Tuesday! That's only four days, and a bit further than us in the No. CA and Reno area. They need to detail it and do final checks, once it's at the dealership. Could be here at dealership by Monday, and theoretically have it detailed and to us before the 4th weekend. Maybe we can ask them to make that possible. Our cars do have priority one, over their stock cars coming in, so...we'll see. Ours just needs to be cleaned, we don't have any extra stuff being added on, which could reduce our wait time.

 

Yes I realize that, but the links work for my shipment as well. I didn't have this information before. I know that I'm on a totally ship than you. I'm on the Manon.