Even though I am out of warranty I am still excited about Alabama finally finally finally getting our very own MINI Dealership.


I called TW BMW to get some scoop from the GM & tell him that I thought we might like to be involved in any grand opening event they might have. He called me back & referred to the dealership as "MINI of Birmingham" so I guess that will be the name. He said he would love for us to participate in their grand opening & I gave him my email address so we could stay in touch throughout the process. The projected opening is in July but with construction involved who knows if that date will hold.

I hope when the day does come that we can get a record number of MINIS to show up for the grand opening, as in twice as many MINIS as we have ever even thought about having at any other past event


I will keep y'all posted as I hear stuff...

 

 

For example... I get to trek all the way to Atlanta this Saturday because my airbag warning light came on Sure would be nice to be able to drive over to Irondale to see what's going on & figure out if I can quilt MINI into fixing it for free since I was only 41 days out of warranty when it happened. Now if it's something major & not free I will have to drive back home & ponder over/research my options before paying (out of my butt) for this repair

 

Wow, this sounds like one for the calendar! I'd love to be a part of the huge milestone! Sorry I haven't been here, BAMA or NAM much since surgery but I am finally somewhat back to normal, what ever that is.

I wouldn't miss this for nuttin'
~Gail~

 

Was over at Land Rover Birmingham on Friday, and picked up a loaner at Tom Williams Cadillac. They are working on the exterior of the building, and have signs all over about April 7th being the last day of business.

It will be an interesting dealership. All the MINI dealership I have visited have been add-ons to BMW dealers, and pretty small. This one has a huge building and service area.

 

I'm excited. I Live in Montgomery, AL. I just traded my '02 for on '07 when I heard about the Birmingham area MINI news!

 

Hey Theresa, nice to hear from you! Please let me know any further info about the opening as this would be a very doable trip for us.

p.s. Thanks again for the tires

 

Any word on the status of MINI Birmingham? Last I heard was the Cadillac deal didn't go through, which could hamper the MINI opening... I have to head over to ATL for my yearly (free) dealer service on Friday and wish I didn't have to travel that far.

 

I found an answer in another thread... the opening should be sometime beginning of July 2009.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ship-news.html

 

We drove by there May 22nd on the way to Atlanta. They had the front renovated and changed to black with the red stripe around it (the MINI "signature"). There were no MINI signs up at that time. By now they may be putting up signs and stuff. Has anybody else been by there recently?

 

I've seen two billboards proclaiming the fact. One on I-459 northbound after the summit (I think) and the other on RME, southbound near St. Vincents.

 

Good deal!! I need my cabrio top adjusted & I am trying to hold out til they open in July (hopefully that is still the target open date)

 

That is awesome news!

I live in Prattville, and would love to come out to support the grand opening. Just let me know and hopefully I can make it up there.

 

http://www.magicmini.com/Magic_Mini/...17,2009.html#0

 

I dropped by on my way to work this afternoon and finally saw cars on the lot. They were unloading and detailing the cars when I drove by and the guy I talked with said they were planning for a July 6th open date. He said they were still working on the interior but that I could go inside and take a peek, so I did. Looks fantastic! Can't wait!

 

Here are more pics of the MINIs being unloaded onto the lot today.

 

The must have a factory spec for the design of these dealerships. I've only been to the one here in KC, but when they moved it out of the basement of the BMW store and into it's own facility next door, well our dealership looks almost exactly like that one, as far as the exterior and showroom go.

At any rate, I'm sure you're happy to see it as I was to get our new one out of the BMW dungeon..........

 

MINI, like most manufacturers, has a long list of "corporate identity" requirements for new dealerships and renovations. They do allow the owners of the stores some creativity with the layout and some of the details, but there are certain things that they mandate.

For example, having been involved with the opening of a new MINI dealership 2 years ago that was one of the first with the new MINI guidelines, I see alot of similar features here:
-the black exterior panels and black MINI signage.
-the black interior walls and black flooring
-the MINI furnishings inside the store are supplied to all dealers by a company that makes them for MINI-- the color wall & the safety/MINI timeline wall in one of the pics and the "Welcome to MINI" receptionist desk in another
-contrast colors like bright green, bright orange, bright red, yellow, etc on the inside and outside of the building

I think it is a great idea, as it enables you to visit any MINI dealership in the country and know you are at a MINI dealership from the second you pull up to the building.

 

I called them on Friday and they told me that "they would be open on July 15th if they were not open on July 6th". In other words, they are shooting for the 6th, but if they can't make that then they will be open on the 15th.

 

Anyone know if/when their service dept will start taking customers?

 

*UPDATE*
Tom Williams BMW: Thank you for choosing Tom Williams BMW!
System: We have alerted the online representatives that you are waiting. Someone should be with you momentarily.
System: A representative has joined the conversation. Compose your message below and then click Send.
Nick Holloman: Hello, How may I help you?
You: : ) When is the Grand Opening for the MINI dealership?
Nick Holloman: July 10th
You: thank you. anything special planned for the day?
You: ...besides being open : )
Nick Holloman: No they arent doing a big grand opening until they get everything running smoothly, probably October. Be sure to come out on the 10th though, the dealership is looking awesome!
You: I will I appreciate the information!
You: I'll let everyone I know who lives in Alabama know : )
Nick Holloman: No problem...we already have abour 50 MINIs on the lot ready to go!
Nick Holloman: I think I want a Clubman S now
Nick Holloman: hope to see you there!

 

50 fresh MINIs to inspect? It would be neat to have scorecards so the group could be polled on which ones are favorites and why. I'm getting the feel of approaching the go-kart entry gates.

Old Overton Rd is nearby and makes for a nice MINI test-drive, so MOB has that in their favor.

 

I talked the the MOB GM this morning & he had lost my contact info in a computer crash so that's why he didn't contact us. They are opening this Friday, 7/10 but he said it would be a soft opening. I am game to run by MOB late Friday (after 3:30PM) or on Saturday. If anyone wants to do a Hwy 25 run just let me know & I will meet you


He said this opening Friday is very soft & they are planning a big Grand Opening Bash on the evening of Thursday Oct 15th. They want to have a parade if we can get enough MINIS to show up. There will also be a band & food. I will be starting a whole new thread for the Grand Opening so we can plan

 

With the new dealership just now opening, maybe we should approach MoB parts department for a 20% discount on parts like we presently find at Classic Auto Campus and Morristown MINI. Even if it's only for BAMA & Rocket City members, at least you'd probably see a large increase in membership

 

FYI...
URL: birminghammini.com
Phone: (205) 745-4700

hmmm... according to their online available vehicle inventory, they currently have 66 minis on the lot. i will have to check them all out next weekend while i am having mine serviced