Mine order was on Garnet Leader and arrived at port Hueneme on 7/18 6am PST or so. While there is no update on the owner lounge, I called 1-866-ASK-MINI 24 hours later and the automated message changed from "en-route" to "your car is at the port waiting for a vessel". I suppose this means the car has passed VDC inspection/preparation. However, I thought the car will be shipped to SF via a truck. What was your tracking experience after your car landed at the port? thanks! 8 2466-ASK-MIN1I

 

Mine also arrived on the Garnet Leader, sure hope they run it thru processing and get it headed up here fast.

 

Hey fellow Bay Area Moterers! This is the hardest part of the wait but you'll have your new MINI soon. Once my car got to the port the status stayed at "waiting for a vessel." To give you a time reference, mine got to port on a Thursday and it was at East Bay MINI and ready for pick-up on Monday. In terms of tracking, your best bet at this point is to contact your MA, they might be able to give you an estimate as to when they expect to receive it.

 

The 'awaiting a vessel' is the tracking system thinking you're still in the UK and waiting for a boat at South Hampton.

Once your car is off the boat and in the US the phone line becomes useless. The tracking systems fall apart once you hit the VDC, your MA is your best bet now. The website will at least say 'At VDC' and eventually 'At dealership' but you're likely to get your car before it correctly updates those.

If I call the phone line right now it also says my car is at the port awaiting a vessel. I took delivery a month ago.

 

My F56 Justa is also on the Garnet Leader... hopefully doesn't take too long before it makes its way up to Seattle *gulp*. I'm envious of you Californians!

 

@justanotherguy, Garnet is on its way to Japan now. I thought there is a VDC in Seattle but looks like your car will be on a truck from LA to Seattle.

Mini Lounge just changed the status from "en-route" to "At Distribution Center" in the past few hours. I have been taking a 1 mile detour to the dealership on my way home for the past 2 days hoping to spot my car. I guess I will continue

 

@shao77: yeah, I contacted my MA and she mentioned it would be arriving at the dealer "before the end of the month".

The anticipation is killing me!

 

I was told mine had left the distribution center on Mon 7/21 and was scheduled at the dealer on Fri 7/25. Seems like a long time to drive up from LA. Stopped by the dealer last night to check the lot but didn't see any cars waiting to be unwrapped. Will stop every night until I see my baby


My MA is off Tues/Wed so haven't gotten any further ETA for how long the dealer needs to process after drop off.


What happens to the Car Carrier ships like the Garnet Leader after they unload? Can't believe they would head all the way back empty but they really are not set up for any other type of cargo.

 

The previous ships, Mignon and Fedora, went on to Japan, China, and Korea after Seattle. I guess they will haul some Hyundai/Lexus back from Asia.

BTW, I just "drive thru" the dealership on the way to office and didn't see anything. I will drive-thru again tonight MAs are very conservation in giving out the date. I guess they don't want to set our expectation too high.

 

@DougH and @justanotherguy, It has been 12 days since Garnet leader arrived and neither MA/hotline have any update. Other shipmates are still waiting for their BMW/Audi.
http://www.2addicts.com/forums/showt...1000225&page=4
How about you guys?

 

I picked mine up on Friday 7/25 Mods have already been started but haven't taken any photos yet. I do get noticed as I've already put on a set of Mini Challenge graphics with the checkered side stripe and #'s


Only thing I wish I had gotten so far was the Comfort Access pkg, never even paid attention to it but now see it would be very useful to have.

 

@Shao77

I pick mine up today!! It arrived at the dealer yesterday, left the distribution center on Saturday. So it took roughly 1 week from off the boat to on the truck up to Seattle, then another 3-4 days to get up here.

 

It happened. Damaged during ocean transit. I am starting a new thread in hoping to get more advises. Many thanks to the valuable inputs in this thread and wishing you enjoying your cars. I will probably re-order but please continue to chip in your insight at this new thread.
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ml#post3968943

 

Was this a 2015?

 

Doubtful, from the looks of it the 2015's are being held at port due to some EPA certification issues.

Posts about the delay start on page 14 here(link already lands on page 14):
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...thread-14.html

 

That's why I was asking. Mine is being held in Baltimore

 

Not sure if this is a better way to gauge. I don't see any 2015 hardtop from Mini of Baltimore's inventory search. With its close proximity to the port, I'd imagine it will be among the first waves of dealerships to have 2015 cars available.

 

2014

 

Thanks