I have a car there for a very long time now...I would like to get more information than Mini seems to be willing or able to get. It's been over 2 months that my car is at the VDC.

I am thinking of walking away and placing another order at a different dealership - but I want to exhaust all avenues of approach first.

Would you walk away or continue to wait?

 

Two months ?!

I wouldn't just walk away. I would demand an explanation and if it didn't sound straight and reasonable, I would then walk away.

The only reasonable explanation I can think of for a two month stay at the VDC is they've been working on a mechanical problem. Maybe I'm missing another reasonable explanation... I hope so.

 

Mechanical problem? they build these cars in 6 days - how could it take 60+ days to fix one? Actually, they have said that the EPA is holding my car and several other JCW's but the VDC will not say anything further. I have $1,000 deposited on the car - I should be able to demand it be returned and go order my car from a different dealership. I want to know exactly what the issue is, I doubt I will purchase the car if it comes in tomorrow without knowing all the details.

 

Perhaps the JCW R56 hasn't fully gone through all of the EPA certifications that are necessary to sell a car in this country. If it is an issue with the EPA, there is nothing your dealer can do about it. Sometimes being the first means going through some growing pains. Sorry to hear that your car is being held hostage.

 

I realize my dealerships hands are tied - I get incredibly angry when they do not update me, return telephone calls and ignore emails. I have been dealing with a manager lately and no longer the non-responsive MA, so in that regard its gotten better.

I called the EPA and they told me that it is illegal to ship a vehicle to the states without the certifications already on the windows of the vehicle -- so I got conflicting information. Besides, nothing has changed from the prior year JCW.

 

+1 If it IS a certification issue with the JCW emissions, the dealer has no control over it and no one is going to produce an explanation short of "it's being held". If you want your deposit returned and cancel your order I'm sure the dealer will accomodate you...he can definately sell a Works car as soon as it hits his lot, whenever it gets there. Sorry to hear about your delay, but it sounds like it's a red tape issue to me.

 

It does sound like red tape - but my concern grows the more and more I hear of 2008 JCW's in the states. Just yesterday some on posted on this site that he drove a 2008 JCW. That means that whatever the issue is it's vehicle specific and does not blanket all the JCW's. Why would emmisions be bad on one car and not another?

Every few weeks I hear something new - originally after I made a bunch of noise I was told the rear bumper had been damaged....ok, fine. Weeks go by and more noise from me and I hear its an EPA thing...weeks go by and yesterday I am told there are 4 other vehicles being held as well. But I read that the JCW model is in the states already....

I have waited this long, and the sales manager I am now speaking with seems responsive and I know its out of his control. I don't want to stick him with this car either, it's loaded and rather costly (it also sidewalk and all the packages and a bunch more). But if there is an issue with jsut this vehicle I need to ask myself if I want to take delivery of it. Or once its resolved is that the end of whatever it was?

 

All valid points. Something sounds fishy here, I agree. Transportation damage might be the culprit.

 

Whatever it turns out to be I believe you have the right to know and also the right to refuse delivery if you are not satisfied. I can't understand why auto dealers/manufacturers cannot be up front with what is going on. I'm sure many customers would be very understanding if they were told exactly what the problem was and what was being done to get it handled.

 

I thought about that first. But it surely could take longer to fix a mechanical problem than body damage.

Ask Edge about troubleshooting mechanical problems.

 

I can't imagine that you would be able to get a hold of the VDC.

I'm assuming this is a convertible, right? As far as I know, the JCW Stage 1 for the R56 is only installed at the dealership so if anyone is saying it's being held up because of emission due to the JCW, I can't imagine that that's correct.

Also, consider that there are many R56 with the Stage 1 kit installed motoring around the US already.

What exactly did you order?

 

I think the JCW is now fctory installed. Yup, a convert. Exactly what I ordered - I can't recall all the specifics, but from the factory would be the convert, sidewalk and JCW....everything else is dealer installed, or atleast I think it is.

 

I would think damage is likely. If it were me I would demand my deposit back and order from another dealer.

 

I would call you Dealer and say "info or cancel order by 5pm tomorrow" as far as contacting the VDC - keep in mind you are not the owner of that car as yet and most likly will get a cold shoulder from them - this is only a guess, not facts...

 

Yeah, since the convertible is still a 1st Gen, your JCW is factory installed. Still doesn't answer the question about emissions since this is hardly a new item.

I tend to agree with the theory that there has been damage. I believe your dealer is required by law to inform you of anything of that nature before delivery. How long before delivery, I don't know. Depending upon your dealer they may wait until the last minute to tell you so that you are so caught up in the fact that you are closing the deal, that you may not care.

I'd be prepared to walk away at any moment, regardless.

 

My wife and I have discussed this, depending upon what we are told or not told. It will be easy to walk away if I need to, after all - how much fun is it to take delivery of a brand new convertible in December (or later).....

 

Alright, I'm not going to say who I am or where I got the info but send me an email to crosiswest@yahoo.com and I'll give you the info you need. I went on a VDC tour a few weeks ago and I got the right info and met the right people. Is this west coast?

 

...I sent you an email....

 

I had the same problem,same exact car, Astro Black SideWalk JCW...Loaded,loaded,that car is still sitting there as well and Alexander has two cars for me waiting there a 07 and 8.As they have said its a EPA issue and software issue,something to do with gas mileage against power,makes absolutely no sense and I was able to speak with some corporate type individuals from back east that were basically cluesless.I just finally gave up and bought my new coupe with the JCW Kit and have not regretted it.Bmw /Mini has no real answers as to when they are going to release the cars...Don't blame the dealer on this one,if you really ,really want this car you are going have to just wait .Sorry to say that,it is just amazing to me this whole scenario,but according to corporate ...they are working on it..my phone number is 310-470-4115 if I can help...I decided to get a convertible when the R57's come out and enjoy the R56 JCW...the car is just stupid fun to drive and far better than my last 06 convertible Mini.Good luck with the car,I know your pain...take care

 

Thank you. It's actually, for whatever reason, comforting to know there are other vehicles in the same situation -- if it were to be just my car I would have more concerns. I agree - its not my dealerships fault and know that I am dealing with the sales manager the communication is much better plus my sales manager has told me that they will be picking up the cost of my Areo Kit +install fee's.

 

In this case I'd definitely be looking inside that gift horse's mouth. Yes, your warranty will cover about everything, but especially with this wait you need to know.

The other options would involve some searching but be as much fun and reward as a new MCSC - grab a previously-loved example and mod it with the money you'll save, or wait and re-order. Or grab a coupe...

Have to tell you, though, they are great cars...

 

somehow my wife contacted the VDC in socal when her MINI was just arriving, it was wierd, someone put her on hold, transferred her and she reached someone who said the car was being put on a truck at that moment. I guess they pulled another MINI off to get hers put on. Not sure how she got a number or transferred there, but it was pretty sweet. Few days later we got a call from our MA saying the car was ready

 

Which VDC is your car at? According to Yahoo, the one in Oxnard, California's number is (805) 271-2400. It's where the car's are go after off loading at Port Hueneme.

 

My JCW kit is being installed at the VDC

Is this a California emissions thing....mine is at the VDC in Jersey.

 

Hello. Well, the VDC is an arm of the factory, and is considered the factory....

My car is at the NY/NJ VDC.

Let me know if your JCW gets out of the VDC please -- PM me when it happens, or PM me if it gets delated.