Here was the EPA test application filed for the 2014 1.5 engine:

http://iaspub.epa.gov/otaqpub/displa...d=32020&flag=1

Here's the application for the 2014 2.0 engine:

http://iaspub.epa.gov/otaqpub/display_file.jsp?docid=32020&flag=1

You can search applications here:

http://iaspub.epa.gov/otaqpub/

There are applications filed for the 2015 N16 and N18 engines. These were initially submitted 11/06/2013 and updated 02/11/2014.

It's obvious that these applications are done way in advance. The B38 and B48 applications for the 2014 model years are dated 02/04/2014. It seems obvious to me that it was thought that the 2014 application would have covered the 2015 year or they would have filed the 2015 application at the same time.

I'm not doing so, but if someone wants the real skinny, my guess this would be the individual to contact (from all the reports):

Primary certification contact:
Name: Thomas Hofmann
Phone Number: 201 / 571 - 5195
Fax Number: 201 / 571 - 5479
E-Mail-Address: Thomas.Hofmann@bmwna.com

But, to contact him likely would take time away from getting the applications submitted.

 

When I talked with MINIUSA that is what I was told by them, that they assumed that 2014 test would cover 2015 cars since there was no major changes in the 2015 Model. They Assume wrong and when you do Assume it make an "***|u|me".


I just want my car and I know I have to wait and there is nothing I can do other them wait or cancel my order and get a different car. I believe that the date of Aug 25 is what EPA told Mini this when we can run the test. We and including Mini would have liked the test sooner and we are dealing with the government time frame. Once EPA does their test then Mini/BMW has do the follow up for EPA testing; hence, hopefully then Mini will be able release the cars by October?

 

Ok, it doesn't change anything, but (and recall I did say anybody can speculate what is going on, but it is only speculation) is that the 2014 B38 and B48 never actually received the "Certificate of Conformity" (truth, not speculation, search the database and you will find certificates for the 2014 and 2015 N16 and N18, but none for the B38 or B48).

Continuing my speculation, given that a car cannot be sold without either a certificate of conformity (truth per EPA email response shown again below) or an exemption (speculation given that 2014 B38 and B48 cars have been sold), I speculate that Mini thought this exemption would continue for the 2015 model year but then found out that that was not the case.

Here's the EPA email many of us received:

As background information, before a vehicle can be introduced into commerce in the U.S., it must receive a Certificate of Conformity (certificate) from the EPA which certifies that the vehicle meets all applicable emissions and fuel economy regulations. All manufacturers must submit an Application for Certification (application) to the EPA in order to receive a certificate. The reason that this model of BMW is being held at the port is because EPA has not received BMW’s completed application for this particular model, and therefore it is illegal for that vehicle to be released to customers if it does not have a certificate. Because we have not yet received the application, we cannot commit to a specific time frame as to when the certificate will be issued.

It is also important to note that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and other government agencies have their own regulations that may apply to this importation. While the vehicle may be legally introduced into commerce from EPA’s perspective once the certificate is issued, there may be other requirements beyond EPA’s purview that need to be met before the vehicle can be released.

David C. Hurlin
EPA Imports Line
Exemptions & Exclusions

Note very carefully who and what department this came from, namely "Exemptions and Exclusions".

I also further speculate that something was found wanting in the application for the B38 and B48 that was submitted back in Feb 2014. This is based upon a search for "all documents" at the previously linked site and noting that in other cases the "certificate" is typically issued within a couple of weeks after the application is submitted.

Despite "Staying Calm", I am having fun speculating this morning.

Still hanging on and waiting for my 2015.

 

And just a little bit more speculation.

Mini submit's application for 2014, expecting an approval and hence a certificate.

Certificate is slow in coming, but somehow Mini receives an exemption.

Mini thinks certificate is coming. As soon as certificate comes, the "carry over" to the 2015 comes into play (search different years for the N16 and N18, there was not a new application every year, just a new application when there was a new offering [coupe, roadster, JCW, etc) using the N16 or N18).

Mini learns late that the "certificate" is not coming in time for the 2015, or that testing needs to be redone or done differently.

While the "exemption" was granted for the 2014 because there was an application submitted, there is no application submitted for the 2015, hence there can be no "exemption" issued while the application is processed.

There likely will be an "exemption" initially for the 2015, and this is why the EPA email response came from Mr. Hurlin of Exemptions and Exclusions.

Now, I'm totally done speculating for the day as my speculation quota has been reached, and I do not plan to file for an exemption for further speculation.

 

We also heard that there was some dispute over MPG. Is that the EPA?

 

Yes, it is the EPA that's involved. http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/Find.do?action=bt1

 

That is a good find aafflyer. My searches must not have gone back far enough to find these.

Note that the test results in the application are BMW testing and not EPA testing. Maybe the exemption they were operating under to sell the 2014 F56's did not carry over as you speculate, but I can't see how that could have been a surprise to Mini. The B38 does not show up on the 2014 list perhaps because EPA is not accept the application but the cars were sold on an exemption. I would have expected that as soon as Mini found out about this they would have applied for another exemption but were denied for some reason.

 

Well, I may be caught in this, too.

That's what the dealer who says anything said, "We just found out on Saturday...what day's today? Yeah, Saturday."

 

I guess this is why the MINI website doesn't list the EPA gas mileage. This kind of thing bothers me, why MINI can't get their website and facts/figures up-to-date. The car has been available now, and still this kind of stuff is not official. Other car manufacturers have their act together and have all of this finalized before the model even reaches the public. MINI still has not updated their configurator with new options that are available either.

 

As someone observed a few hundred posts ago, time kills deals.

Yesterday I advised my MA that I'm canceling my order. I placed this order on June 19 and the car arrived at Port Hueneme on July 30 or 31. I expected to be driving it very early this month. Now we know that the car won't be at the dealership until October, maybe. That's too long and too different from what I originally planned. I'm done for now. Perhaps I'll revisit this project next summer for a 2016 model.

What I do expect, however, is that "my" car will eventually get to the dealer and will be a fine car. The dealer will sell it to someone else, making the same profit, and the new buyer and the dealer will both be fine... no one, including MINI, will be much inconvenienced.

Good luck to all, and maybe I'll see you next year.

 

As it has been stated before, we may never know the truth or the complete truth as to what happened. I do know, however, that the dealers received notice from MINI toward the end of last month that all reference to MPG figures for the F56 models (print ad, website, commercials, etc.) had to be pulled immediately.

This is what lead me to speculate that there was an issue with MPG figures. I was on a Virgin flight to Boston around that same time and flying out the MINI ads in the seat screens showed 42mpg, and on the way back the ads were omitted altogether. When I asked a flight attendant about it, she mentioned that they updated the infotainment system all of a sudden in the past couple days prior to my flight back, which she thought was odd.

 

Pure speculation, but there may be zero issues with the MPG figures but because the conformance certificate itself has yet to be issued, MPG figures cannot be used or advertised.

However, you can bet that the class action lawyers are aware of the MPG figures being pulled down, and should the figures later get lowered, there will be legal action taken, and anyone who purchased a car with a previous MPG figure will at some point see some compensation, similar to payments by Hyundai when they needed to restate MPG figures.

 

First, I'm in a bad mood today. But, I'm trying not to have this come out as a flame, because that is not how it's intended.

However, I think you should be glad there was a delay, as this has let you bail rather having bought a car that you were only so-so on. I base this on that if you can't wait another five weeks when the dealer is empowered to address any issues the delay causes (i.e. a loaner, or a rental, or something else), then you were never 100% "all in".

And to the extent that a purchase is never fully complete in CA until the car is delivered (i.e. an order can be cancelled and money must be refunded), then you are partially correct in that "time presents and opportunity for a deal to not consummate".

Thus, the truism is not "time kills deals" but rather "time may be negative on a deal".

 

Just curious--was this for a base Cooper? I can't believe I'd get anywhere near that in an S. Of course, having a lead foot doesn't help much.

 

I got an email from my MA today. He thinks I will have the car on October 13. Not sure why that specific date, but maybe it's realistic.

 

Hi! I'm new here, found you while trying to figure if my SA was trying to put one over on me. Thanks for all the great advice, names, etc. Will be calling this week as we've heard zilch since that one call when our Mini was in, being held hostage in NJ due to MPG discrepancy. BTW, this is a base model, so not just the S models being held hostage.

I have a 2006 base model, and get 50 mpg highway. I also have a lead foot, I think I'm heading onto the autobahn every time I step into my baby! But I also have manual transmission so perhaps thats why? Or maybe I'm just an amazing driver? Maybe 45-47 city, depends since where I live it's all steep hills so you rarely get out of 2nd gear. I was blown away when I first realised it, and went to my original SA and told her, she said that it wasn't unusual, others were reporting the same back then.

Have a question: Don't all car manufacturers have to have specs & certificates ad nauseum in place before being able to sell a car?

Not sure how we'll proceed, I'm patient and happy to wait, but this was a case where we had to purchase a car due to my husband's car being unsafe to drive any distance (touch wood it holds out.) I'm more suspicious of the EPA than Mini, but our SA offered us a 2014 in the same colour (um he told us "volcanic orange" was new for 2015, so feeling a little jittery) at a discount, but with tons of stuff I don't want, then went on holiday so we never got to have a look. He should be back now so wish us luck!
Cheers!
Jet

 

I don't think anyone will get their car near October 1. There are cars piling up, they will be backed up along the whole system. The dealer who says anything said there will be a flood of cars on the 1st. All of them needing to have their PDI.

He also said someting infuriating, "People who ordered two weeks before you are waiting." He seems to forget the car was ordered by me in May, but they waited until July to put in the order with MINI. Too many lies to keep straight.

 

If you're in Winnipeg, why does this affect your order? Aren't the Canadian cars going right through?

 

I was told this by my dealer yesterday.

I've learned Canada accepts the EPA testing.

 

Interesting. Did not know Canada had similar certification requirements.

 

I thought this statement from a MotoringFile review was ironic...

http://www.motoringfile.com/2014/08/...-s/#more-36307

"Again, is everything perfect in MINI wonderland? No, but it’s very close and I can’t wait to drive the 2015 JCW. In the meantime I would like MINI to investigate the following:

Fuel economy is disappointing. MINI advertises 30/41 mpg figures but we oscillated between 31 and 33 mpg based on 80% highway driving. Taking for granted that we drove hard and changed drivers often, it seems the only way to attain an acceptable fuel mileage (i.e. 39 mpg) is to turn on Burnside Green Mode..."

 

I hope that EPA's testing validates BMW's testing for fuel efficiency, but like those cases earlier with other manufacturers, if they have to drop the EPA FE numbers after people bought or ordered, then will they compensate owners for this? I guess we'll see soon. The revised application should be posted on EPA at some point in the coming weeks. Testing should be finished tomorrow??? Hopefully.

 

Yup.......and the Masquarade continues........

 

The certification requirement seems to be to show them an EPA certificate.

http://www.ec.gc.ca/lcpe-cepa/defaul...n&n=306DCC6B-1

 

most reports from people on here seem to match or exceed the gas mileage claimed on the original window stickers.

we were able to get 42mpg in our loaner '14 S automatic car over 100ish miles of highway driving. this barely dropped below 40 after mixing in a decent bit of city driving.