I saw that but your post implied that Mini USA was starting to be proactive in contacting people. Sounds like that may not be the case yet so I'll start at the dealership and work up from there. I'm sure quite a bit has trickled down over the last few days. Thanks.

 

My sales manager said he would know more "early next week." I'll wait. In my opinion, it's not fair to gang up on the dealers. They're not the ones who screwed up--MINI USA did--and they are feeling the effects of this problem as much as I am. More, actually.

My dealership is brand new, open less than 2 months, and they have no reserves to fall back on. I feel for them.

I will have close contact with them for club events, besides whatever happens with my personal car, so I don't see any point in becoming a PITA customer.

 

I had emailed my MA, who was on vacation, but said (at the time) he knew nothing about a delay, but would look into it when he returned.

I then emailed Sadir (head of sales and after sales), and received a prompt reply with an offer to call or email to talk (note he's taking part in MTTS so there can be a delay). He has heard from many of us, and I trust that those who haven't or don't contact Mini will indeed be contacted soon by Mini or their dealer.

Through several emails, I have come to the conclusion that they care a great deal about this mess and are prepared to fashion individual solutions to individual situations, and in fact are doing this in a manner that has made me reject my initial thoughts that they should either do nothing or have a proportional and equal approach to everyone affected.

In fact, I'm pleased to report that Mini and I have a wonderful solution for me (which I proposed and they agreed) that I am actually quite excited about -- but I am going to keep this under wraps for now and report it out some time in an October post ).

It's quite odd, but while I was disappointed and a bit upset that I have to wait an extra six weeks, I come away with an even greater appreciation for Mini as a company. I'm involved in a lot of software projects where it's a given there will be issues -- and I've always operated under the principal that it's not the issues by which you will be judged, but rather how you respond to and deal with the issues. In this case, Mini gets an A+ in how they are responding to this.

 

I agree 100%

 

Exactly my experience too.

 

Well I just got back from my Mini dealer and had a chat with the Sales Manager there. He told me that Mini doesn't really have to do anything because it isn't their fault, that it could have been any car company that could have got chosen by the EPA. Also he began to go on about having been in the car industry for 15 years, he said there's no way its gonna take until October to clear this whole mess up.

Hope that's true!

 

Hope your dealer isn't the same as mine. And as I've said, this is really a MINI/BMW corporate problem.

 

Mathewww,


This is the same dealership that when you talked to them about the parking assistant for your Girl Friend and they said "you know, just smack her around a bit, she'll be fine without it". My advise is go to a different dealership because you the dealer and your sale person is an old school dealer. And maybe they should go work in a Used Car Lot!!

 

In my experience through this with MINI USA, that is not the level of customer service they are shooting for. He sounds like he doesn't want to be bothered. If MINI execs can find the time to reach out to people, you'd think he could find a little time. It's great that his experience says no way it will take til October. I hope that is true too, however counter it is to everything that has been said by others within MINI. Sadir Haji did say they would rather over deliver than over promise so hopefully things will in fact work out earlier.

 

I have been a VW GTI driver for 8 years and was thinking about switching teams. Last week I test drove the new Copper S and I was just about to place an order with my local dealer and found this discussion on the delays. I am getting cold feet now about jumping in! I love the car and think it will be lots of fun but I’m concerned that if I sign papers and put down a deposit I could end up on a very long list or even worse buying a car that has EPA related problems.

 

Do it! You won't regret it. First of all, the normal wait is about 8 or 9 weeks, so for an order placed now, not much will change. We're griping because we placed orders in June or early July.

Second, the situation isn't an "EPA related problem." There's nothing wrong with the car. It's a paperwork snafu. My guess is, even if the mpg rating is downgraded (and that's an IF), it will probably still be better than what you have with an 8+ year old GTI.

 

My car was scheduled for a week of August 18 build.

I wonder if this is going to stop my car as well. I can't imagine they will fill a whole ship with Canadian orders.

There's a whole big world to ship cars to, I doubt they will stop for the EPA.

 

I doubt it would affect any place other than US orders. MINIs aren't the only cars on the ships. The ships pick up cars in Germany as well as other brands from UK.

If you mean the maybe shutdown, that's not EPA related. That's an annual thing.

 

My new pepper white is sitting in Bayonne NJ at the port since 7/25. It was supposed to ship to the dealer on the 30th for arrival on the 1st but that is when the "hold" came into play. I got a copy of the communication from my MA on Monday of this week. Sucks

 

Faster build-times and deliveries for the rest of the world then? Finally, the US adds some value to the world!
(except Van Halen)

 

I haven't seen my 2014 order because of some VDC drama and my patient is running thin. Mini needs to understand that the car business, just like flat screen TV, cell phone, and other electronic products, price is closely related to time to market. Some deals are popping out in the last month here in SF bay area, probably due to C class's change model discount which dragging 3-series price. For example, Mt. View BMW has a 2014 BMW 328i on display at Costco in Sunnyvale CA. MSRP was $43500 and now listed for $38070. Maybe some MCS buyers would be interested. I took a photo of the window spec sheet but couldn't figure out how to post. It's a premium package plus navigation. Truecar.com is even sweeter that it adds the luxury line package for similar price from Berkeley BMW. A C250 was $40995 and is now $36929 at Costco. Volvo has $7000 off 2014 model. Sure they target different market segments but some buyers may be willing to compromise. I would love to see Mini being force into pricing war with other manufactures because of its delay/mishap. Unfortunately, Mini won't feel the pain until way after their dealers.

 

The delay until October is really getting to me...

I'm about "this" close to pulling the trigger on something different. We'll see what happens tomorrow morning when I connect on that car.

 

Personally, looking at your signature, what you have ordered, what you've owned in the past, I don't see it.

I'm not happy about the delay, but waiting an extra eight weeks (or maybe less depending on when your 2015 was supposed to be delivered) on a car that you will own three to six years (taking a guess on how long you owned your 2009) and comparing that to what you are going to find on a lot "here it is, take it or leave it", I don't see that you're going to be as happy as you would be waiting it out.

And then add to that Mini corporate working individually to "make it right" in terms of providing something of value when practically speaking they could have easily choose to do nothing.

It's your choice, but I think you should wait it out.

I had an 2009 bought new, spent probably about a year thinking, looking at different cars, test drove some. But none did it for me the way my 2009 Mini did it for me, and none were even close to the grin I had with the cool new stuff in the F56. I know many Mini enthusiasts don't like the changes with the F56, but if you made it all the way to ordering one, I trust it worked for you. And I think eight weeks doesn't change that.

But good luck to you in whatever decision you make. Keep us posted.

 

What he says...

 

I hear you, and in the perfect world I'd have my MINI here next week like it should have been originally. Adding 2 months to the wait doesn't work for me. I don't have a car right now... Sold my old one a few weeks back and have been borrowing a car for a few weeks to carry me over. I probably **could** push for a loaner but that's also an inconvenience.

I should also add that my sig is a very abbreviated car history. I'm a BMW guy at heart and have had 5 or 6 over the past 10 years along with my R56 (which I had for 2 years to answer your previous point). Most recently had a F30 335. Will probably go back into a used BMW for a few years and if I still have that MINI itch I could consider a JCW, which the more I think about it might even be a better option that my F56 order.

In the interest of disclosure, I used to be a manager at both BMW and MINI dealerships in a prior life so I realize that these types of hiccups happen from time to time and I'm not really upset with MINI. My dealer has been very accommodating and I'm sure they'd do anything they could to help if I wanted to wait. It's more about one of the things I used to tell my salespeople all the time and it applies to any type of transaction, not just cars-- "time kills deals"

 

Do what you wish. The back story helps -- even makes one wonder why you even went and ordered the F56

In any event, you really don't need to push if you want the problem fixed. Others without a car have been told to go rent a car and it will be covered.

Happy motoring in whatever you decide.

P.S. I tried selling motorhomes 12 years ago between engineering jobs when telecom crashed. Besides "time kills deals", it became clear quickly "buyers are liars", though no match for the majority of car sales people -- though Mini was my first "premium" car brand and perhaps the more high end car dealers, the better the lot as I can't say I've really run across slime dealers and sales people in my dealings with Mini since 2009...

 

This is very frustrating. My 2015 MCS is on the Elektra that arrives to CA on 8/7. My MA called me on Thursday to give me an update on where things were. I'm sure he has no idea right now about this mess. Lucky for me and thanks to this forum, I can stay abreast of what is going on. I just hope we all don't have to wait until October and Mini does something to expedite this EPA issue.

 

I suspect we'll find out more in the next few days. At least that's what my local sales manager said...

 

So I am one of the "lucky 185".....which kinda pisses me off. I did not want the backup camera (and a few other options)but got stuck with them and ended up spending a grand more! Anybody renegotiating the price? I will be calling my MA tomorrow. Almost want to tell them to keep it with all the "problems" we are seeing. This is my first mini and I am less than happy about the stops and starts.

 

What is the lucky 185? I haven't heard that expression.