Hi everyone. I've been waiting for my BRG MCS since May. My first estimated production date was 9/6/02 - now its 9/20/02. I wrote to Mini through the owner's lounge and received the following response which I share with you now:

Cheerio Robert. Thanks for writing into MINI via the Owners Lounge. Welcome to the club.

Using the vehicle identification number that you have provided with your inquiry I can confirm that your Cooper S ordered through Hassel MINI doesn't seem to have any problems really. The only thing that I see looking at the original order is that you have requested a Cooper S in British Racing Green, which wasn't available for all of the 2002 model year for the Cooper S.

In order to clarify why certain colors were not available for 2002, please allow me to explain the assembly process.

The bumpers are manufactured and painted by an outside vendor, brought to our plant in Oxford, England for final assembly then installed on the appropriately painted MINI. For 2002 the darker colored Cooper S bumpers were being delayed due to painting procedures which, unfortunately, are beyond our control. The good news is that we anticipate that the vendor will be able to produce bumpers in the full range of colors that we have listed on our website and in the brochures shortly. Again, we apologize for your inconvenience, but we assure you that the full color range will be available for the 2003 model year.

Hopefully, it won't be too much longer. Your MINI order should start taking that bulldog shape in a few short weeks.

If you should have additional questions, please stay in touch with us via the Owners Lounge.

LET'S MOTOR.

James Frost
MINI Division
Customer Relations

So - if you ordered "dark" colored Cooper - the wait may be longer than expected. The only assurance I've gotten is that it will be available in the 2003 model year which ends next September. :???: