So, I recently ordered a 2013 r59, custom build. Order was placed through the Pentagon Exchange Military Car Sales program, which allows active duty military members to purchase american spec vehicles overseas, tax-free and with below MSRP prices. The program does not work with a typical dealer type set-up - for all intents and purposes I am buying the vehicle directly from BMW Mini.

We originally walked into the dealership on 9 June to test drive the vehicle, came back 3 days later to put in our down payment. We were told that because we were rolling into the new model year that the next production slot would be in July and that we couldn't place an "official" order until the new MY prices/options dropped. We were told we could do the purchase order to secure a production slot, then once all the new prices and option packages were available we could come in, make any changes we wanted to and place the final order. Our "dealer" also secured us a priority 3 build. We are stationed in Italy and traditionally everything shuts down the month of August, so if we had waited we would be looking at the end of September before we saw our vehicle.

So, desiring to be non- PITA customers, hubby and I waited until the prices finalized, around 15 July (Pentagon has to negotiate new prices with Mini every year). Went in same day, requested the following changes: Mini Yours leather dashboard, center armrest, white turn signals. Even though the car hadn't even entered the production stage, the changes rejected. Why? Because our oh so helpful dealer placed an order on 4 July (without consulting us) based on our original "placeholder" purchase order, and because it was a priority 3 build it was too close to production to make the requested changes.

When I purchased this vehicle I went in with the ultimate "you-ification" mindset and that I would get whatever I wanted option-wise with this vehicle because that is the beauty of Mini. You can customize to your hearts content. Plus, there's no reason with a custom build that you shouldn't have exactly what you want, that's the whole point, right?

The only way out of this would have been to cancel the order and place a new one, but with the way things are going who knows when we would've finally taken delivery? We are opting to take the car as-is, the dealer is procuring the center armrest at a reduced price and we can install ourselves. (Generous, huh?) As for the white turn signals, the research I've done says that the xenons only come with white turn signal lenses anyway. (Can anybody confirm this for me? Lots of stories of people who did not order white turn signals say that their xenons came that way.)

SO - that just leaves the dashboard...the one thing that I would see from the inside of the car every .time. I drive it. And I know it's going to drive me nuts! Does anyone know if there is a way to retrofit the dashboard? If so, where would I go to look for the OEM dash assembly?

If that isn't possible, how crazy is it to cover the dash ourselves? Technically speaking the husband and I are capable of doing this. Advice, opinions? I fully realize that this is crazy and I am sure that I will still love my car when it gets here but I am really upset that I am going to have to do all this work when it would have been so simple for the dealer to touch base with us before he placed the order.

Apologies for the long post, thanks for letting me rant!

 

MODs - please delete double post. Apologies and thank you.

 

I don't know if the work behind replacing the dash is even worth it. Is the leather dash that important? If so, then it would override the fact that you should do it right and re-order. This way you can be sure to get your youification! Sorry to hear about your purchase order that won't be changed.
I purchased from Pentagon back in 2002. I purchased an '03 MCS. I got it tax free, under MSRP for $21,315, sport and winter package. When I returned to the states, Virginia DMV required I pay sales taxes on it because I never paid taxes on it in Germany. I did get a little reprieve and paid taxes based on e value at the time.

 

I'm so reluctant to say anything because we got the MINI yours and because they had change thing for 2014 we were so afraid what we were going to get. The disappointment was that they had cancelled the pattern on the side of the seats. that was a bit of a disappointment . . . the good news is that we did got the leather dash which I would have been crushed not to get....

Unfortunately once you put your down payment it is as good as an authorization to put the vehicle on order regardless if there is still question about price.
The problem is that there is a small window where you can make last minute changes. So they don't necessarily lie. however what's stays in their mind is not your specific order. It's their work load so they easily forget what they tell you and in the mist of the order feel pressure to put the order in the cue so you are not waiting unnecessarily. It starts with a good intention but turn into a mess...

I've seen miss-understanding turn into problems countless times just because everyone doesn't put themselves in the shoe of the other.

At this point all I see is re-ordering which is going to frustrate them like crazy... If the risk is worth your down payment (aka walking away) and your waiting then it might be all you can do. Otherwise you just going to have to accept it like we did with the sides of the seats. It still think about it but it is true that it only happens when I step into the car and when I drive it's such a blast that I forget about it quickly... though the dash might have been an other story

It is not a loss for them but it is easier for them if it had happen to a countryman rather than a roadster...