You may or may not have been one of the lucky 185.

I was. I've been addicted to these forums again (same as in 1998, first Mini, then the forums fade after awhile), so I was on top of learning the rules had changed about ordering and the "required" options one may not want with certain other options.

So, when I learned the rules changed, I immediately tried to dump the alarm system -- never had one, didn't want one, don't like alarms. Others were getting their builds modified. My dealer failed to get it modified. Turns out there were 185 2015 cars that started production "early", and these were the ones locked down while other Week 27 builds still could make changes.

But my dealer came through and basically took the price of the alarm off the price I'm paying.

Disappointed in the additional delay, but 100% committed to the purchase, and 100% happy about how Mini has handled this whole situation. In fact, more impressed after the hiccup than before because in my interaction I've learned that they truly care about their customers -- more than words, i.e. by actions.

 

I guess I was one of the 185, too, until I discovered there was an error in my order besides the alarm/camera bundling business. I elected to reorder...and now I'm stuck in the EPA situation. Guess the two weeks I thought I was losing by reordering is now a moot point.

 

I just checked the Owner's Lounge for the first time since my car was originally due and the estimated delivery date has been updated to 10/8/14. I really hope they are being overly cautious in their estimate, but not counting on it.

 

Where on the Owner's Lounge is the estimated delivery date? I don't see it: under track your Mini, my is listed at the VDC and when I review my order there is no date?

 

It's in Order Detail. I was at VDC 7/23, a little before you, so yours probably just hasn't updated yet. In all likelihood, mine just updated today since there was nothing there last time I checked a week or so ago. It will be interesting to see if everyone who is already at VDC is being given 10/8 or if there is variation.

 

10/8 is not that surprising if they cannot be released from the VDC until 10/1. It has to be trucked to the dealer, and then the dealer has to do the prep.

I'm still in a Zen state of calm awaiting my 2015 F56

 

The last conversation I had with my sales person they wouldn't even give me a date they just stated October. I also checked the owner's lounge but it only shows a pickup dealership, no date for me.

I've had surprisingly little communication come my way from my dealership throughout this process (build process in general, not necessarily the delay) after being assured that they would send regular updates. I'm planning to head in and have a face to face conversation with my sales person and see if I can't get that trend turned around from here on out. Maybe they'll have more information when I get there.

 

Owner's Lounge is first actual date I've seen or heard other than the October 1 release.

It seems this experience (dealer communication) is pretty common. We might actually have access to more info here (and through ASK MINI) than the MA has until it gets to the VDC.

 

I'm not saying it's right (to not hear from the dealer or the MA), but I understand it. It's a commission based business, and for the most part, your sale is complete, and they have to find the next ones.

The good one's realize that your satisfaction generates referrals and or future purchases (though will your MA still be in the car sales business or at your dealer when you buy your next Mini?).

It's pretty obvious us obsessed individuals are the better source of info

 

I agree, I totally understand how the system works. The part that gets me is that my sales person assured me multiple times that my compulsion to know what's going on at each milestone would be covered proactively by him. So far all communication has been started by me when I see the car moving through each stage on the OL.

It wouldn't bother me if he didn't offer, but please don't commit effort to me if you're not going to expend it. That's irksome but something that can be cleared up with a quick and polite conversation.

That all said, it is what it is. Eventually my car will show up and will be exactly what I wanted. I'm getting the same price on my trade in Oct that I would have had next week (with another 6-7k miles on it since I commute quite a bit) and maybe I'll get some nice swag for being understanding with the delay.

I appreciate this community for the wealth of knowledge it has. Without it I would have been sitting in the dark for quite a while about this build process.

 

I'm not seeing a link labeled Order Detail. Where do you find it?

 

In "TRACK YOUR MINI", the last link is "Review Order Detail." It's where your production number, VIN, dealer, etc. are. Under "Pickup Dealer," mine now has "Estimated Delivery Date."

 

I'm still En Route so the Pickup Dealer doesn't exist nor does Estimated Delivery Date. Maybe on Friday when mine starts the Big Wait it'll be updated.

 

Mine is also en route, due 8/20 at Port Hueneme. OL says en route and it has the correct pickup dealer shown but no delivery date. Seems these things are updated sporadically at best

 

As some most, I also emailed the MINI guys but I have not heard a peep. I am surprised because my story is a bit different… We placed an order a around April 9 for a 2014 but was told that there was a backlog on contrasting roofs and HK speakers. A few weeks later, we were advised that the parts would be due either June/July but that my car was in the first slot that would be built. When the pricing list for the 2015s was released. My dealer said that I would have to reconfigure my build for 2015 due to the increase in base price and also mandated add-ons, i.e. alarm system, back-up camera, etc. Needless, to say I was very upset. Regardless, I still placed the order immediately. After a few more questions to the dealer, we came to find out that the build date would be mid-August! Why not beginning of July ?!? That was the last straw.
Obviously, the Vegas dealer was stringing us along for some odd reason. If they did not want our money, they were not going to get it! I contacted MINIUSA and they said they could not help! We decided that instead of placing an order with a dealer 2 BLOCKS away, we would go to California with a dealer 259 MILES away (4 hrs). I placed an order in California and everything was flawless until now. Hopefully they do something now...Miniusa I mean not my dealer.

 

So October is far off and I've been looking at BMWs as a alternative, I spoke to someone at my local BMW dealer I'm going to check one out this week, but I got a call earlier today, I was at work so I wasn't able to answer and my Caller ID said BMW OF AMERICA. Checked the voice mail and it was a rep for MINI asking if she could assist me with the "inconvenience". I really don't know what to tell her lol. Suggestions?

 

I'd like to see BMW to consolidate Mini/BMW dealer network. To help the situation which vhines experienced and another person who wanted to buy a Mini but the nearest dealer is 300 miles away, a merged dealer network will allow BMW to reach out more Mini customers. In addition to number of dealer, BMW also has a higher dealer density. Customers can find a better dealer to buy or to service their cars. I think this is a win-win for both BMW and car buyer/owners.

 

It's a win-win for the customer, but that never stopped BMW/MINI from splitting up the dealerships. Several years ago, the question was raised (why don't the dealerships merge), and the answer was that BMW went the direct opposite and split them up. Used to have MINI dealerships in front of Bimmer dealerships, and the same garage was used for both. No longer possible--any new MINI dealership must be a stand-alone design, separate property, separate garage. That's not such a difficult thing in highly populated areas, but take a road trip between cities, and it's common to find service opportunities to be many miles apart. I used to regularly drive from Houston to Clearwater, FL. Back then, there was nothing after Baton Rouge for hundreds of miles. Plenty of Bimmer dealers, though.

It actually contributed to my buying a new car. My '07 runs perfectly well (knock on wood), but with a new one I get flatbedded to a dealer if there's a problem. I suppose that makes MINI USA happy, but my 7 1/2 year old car is getting sold a few years sooner than I want, just on the "what if" question. It doesn't make ME happy.

 

I would strongly disagree with this. Until the car shows up and you take delivery, they have put in a ton of effort for no gain. If they **** you off before you sign on the dotted line and start "busting bugs" then they lose everything. Seems like a big gamble to me. A good salesperson knows they have to take care of the customer until the car is off the lot if they want to get anything out of the deal.

 

I agree. Let's not forget that the cheapest advertising is word of mouth--and the most difficult publicity to overcome is also word of mouth.

 

If my dealer hadn't offered the updates I referenced I wouldn't have expected them. This was essentially my point - they offered something pre-sale (communication) and aren't delivering on it. I do have money riding on this already and maybe they think that's enough to keep me from walking away. I'm very big on 'do what you said you would'. Am I angry about it? No, but I am a bit disappointed. Sure it's not enough to make me walk away but I'm going to make it known (politely) that I'd like it to change and not persist once I take delivery.

Lots of good people on here. It's making me even happier about my future ride.

 

Mini has more personality but BMW is giving 12.11% discount on the 328i which is hard to resist. Did I make it more complicated for you ?

 

Having owned both Bimmers (5, including 1 now), and MINI (the one I have now), you pegged it when you said "Mini has more personality..." and for me, it would have stopped there. Price isn't especially important to me, driving fun is. I like BMWs, but they can't compete on the fun meter, IMO.

Then again, I work out of my home, don't have to worry about rush hour traffic (in Arkansas???), and can afford the luxury of buying a car just for fun. I have the Bimmer if I want a cushy interstate ride. I rarely do, though.

 

Our car was off loaded from the Columbia Highway on 2 Aug and now begins the long wait. The OL status doesn't show any projected delivery yet.

I e-mailed Mr Haji and McKenna about the situation but have not heard from them. The more I think about the car sitting there for the next two months it really bothers me. It is my wife's car and the first new car she's ever bought. And it is a lot of money for her. Knowing it is sitting there for the next two months nearly made her cancel the order. I suggested she wait a little and see what MINI is going to do. So far it does not look like they are doing anything. Our MA offered to sell us a 2014 on the lot for $750 off. Really? Of course that is not what we want nor is that much of a discount on a stock car.

I thought it was really smart from a cost perspective to have the MINI dealer co-located with the BMW dealer. Our local Mini garage preps the BMW cars and they share a storage lot. I imagine that saves costs. Splitting them up must only increase costs for both.

 

$750 off MSRP seems to be an everyday deal as I checked on truecar.com in Houston. Have you tried Costco to see if it can land you a better deal?