Sorry to be late to the post. I'm also a week 19 build. The pain of waiting is killing me. Yesterday I spotted an electric blue MCS and practically drooled all over the car. The owner was nice enough to step out and MINI-chat for 15 minutes.

For the past month, I have run the same 4 mile trail everyday so that I can get a glimpse of a dark silver/white MCS. I'm really driving myself insane. I check the OL at least 5 times/day but it keeps on saying "on order". I called MINI USA and they told me last week that my status code was 112: Order scheduled for production.

Enough about me. Anyone else heard that there is a serious delay at the New Jersey terminal? I read about it on a recent NAM post. My dealer assures me that my MCS will be there come June 11th. I sure hope this doesn't screw it up.

Next Monday can't come soon enough! Sounds like I'll be tracking with WannaMini.

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CR/B/B MCS, All 3 Packages, HK, Rain-sensing, Cloth
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Hi gang,

I just found out I'm also a week 19. That's only next week, cool! I am on the West coast so I don't think we'll be shipmates but I'd still like to track your progress. One question: How long does it take a mini to actually be built once they start?

Tom Petty had it right. The Wai-ai-aiting is the harrrrrddessst part.

Pete F.

 

buckass ~ I bet we'll be shipmates! How cool is that?? Welcome to the neurotic club - although it seems like you were already there, just now you are in the right place to express yourself.

I found myself last week doing 90 in my Honda Civic trying to catch a IB/W MC or MCS - I couldn't tell which because it flew by so fast and I couldn't even get a glimpse at the tailpipes...

I've reduced my OL views to twice a day since I learned that is not totally reliable. BUT, my ASK MINI calls are several times a day, although disappointly, my understanding is that it's been buggered lately.

It's great to see some other 19 weekers. I KNEW I wasn't the only one. Welcome, pefloresjr! Yeah, going to CA, you will be on a different ship. HAve you already looked into ships that are sailing from Southapmton to Port H?? There is a great section in FAQ about how to track including a link to the WW shipping site. Once our cars are made, (if you didn't know), you can type in your VIN and close to shipping time, it will tell you what boat it's on. I've been waiting a month for this moment!!

Well, I will continue to check daily of course. Oh yeah, what are your production numbers (leave off the last two digits for privacy. We are comparing them. I am 37976XX.

 

Here's possible ships:

Origin Port Departure Destination Port Arrival Vessel Voyage Transit(Days)
SOUTHAMPTON 14/05/2004 NEW YORK, NY 22/05/2004 JINGU MARU EA418-JGM 8
SOUTHAMPTON 14/05/2004 NEW YORK, NY 22/05/2004 INDEPENDENCE EC408-INP 8
SOUTHAMPTON 18/05/2004 NEW YORK, NY 27/05/2004 HUAL TRITON EA419-HTN 9
SOUTHAMPTON 19/05/2004 NEW YORK, NY 30/05/2004 MAERSK TEAL EQ420-MTE 11
SOUTHAMPTON 25/05/2004 NEW YORK, NY 02/06/2004 FIGARO EA420-FIG 8

 

And for California:

Origin Port Departure Destination Port Arrival Vessel Voyage Transit(Days)
SOUTHAMPTON 27/04/2004 PORT HUENEME, CA 22/05/2004 SIRIUS LEADER N0017-SIL 25
SOUTHAMPTON 29/04/2004 PORT HUENEME, CA 24/05/2004 MAERSK WAVE ED412-MWA 25
SOUTHAMPTON 02/05/2004 PORT HUENEME, CA 27/05/2004 PHOENIX DIAMOND N0020-PHD 25
SOUTHAMPTON 09/05/2004 PORT HUENEME, CA 01/06/2004 TANCRED ED413-TCR 23
SOUTHAMPTON 10/05/2004 PORT HUENEME, CA 03/06/2004 VEGA LEADER N0021-VEL 24
SOUTHAMPTON 16/05/2004 PORT HUENEME, CA 10/06/2004 HEIJIN N0022-HEJ 25
SOUTHAMPTON 18/05/2004 PORT HUENEME, CA 12/06/2004 TAI SHAN ED414-TSH 25
SOUTHAMPTON 23/05/2004 PORT HUENEME, CA 17/06/2004 JUPITER DIAMOND N0023-JUD 25
SOUTHAMPTON 29/05/2004 PORT HUENEME, CA 20/06/2004 TAKASAGO ED415-TKO 22

 

To answer the question above, it only takes them a few days to build the car.

My status changed to "scheduled for production" on 4/15 and my car was done on 4/20.

Now I just need to wait for the boat to leave, which happens tomorrow :smile: She's on her way to Belgium today and will be at the Southampton port tomorrow!

 

Here's something funny - I have felt from the very beginning that "Dobby" would end up on the Jingu Maru. And I didn't even know when the JIngu Maru sailed. And my reasoning is because I LOVE the Star Wars movies (but no, I'm not a buff), and I thought that Jingu Maru sounded like a character name.

I know, I know, that's silly. BUT, I've had that gut feeling from the beginning that it would be the Jingu Maru. And looking at the dates, there is a good chance at that!!

 

I hope you make it on there...that should get you the car by around June 1st or so.

Oddly enough, I may be picking mine up on June 1st too, because we'll be on vacation from 5/19-5/31.

 

Thanks for all the great info. 23-25 days at sea to get to the left coast is a long time but I guess it's worth the wait. My Mini gets to have an adventure and travel through the Panama Canal before settling in Sunny California. I hope it sails sooner but if it's on the Haijin, it will leave England on my birthday. Somehow seems appropriate. My prod. # is 37978XX. Happy waiting!

Cheers,

Pete F.

I'n new to this but my mini is CR/W, Prem. & sport packages, Leather, HK, fog lights and sensing wipers. :smile:

 

Mark! What a horrible time you picked to go on vacation! Cancel it! Rearrange your schedule! Have you no priorities?

That is pretty ironic though!!

 

Pete!! We have VERY close production numbers! I forget where, but there is a camera at the Panama Canal where you can actually watch the big ships go through it. I doubt you'd catch the exact moment your ship crossed through, but it would be neat to check out regardless.

Mark - I'm hoping - HOPING for the car for Memorial Day weekend. That will be a stretch though. I think it won't be done in time to catch the ships the week before.

Something interesting though. BOTH the Jingu Maru AND the Independence both leave Southhampton on the same day and get to New York the same day. I wonder why? Big cargo maybe?

 

You know what else is ironic. I'll be on vacation in the UK, including Oxford :smile:

 

Hey there...another May 2004/Week 19 build here.

WannaMini--we've talked on the Roadfly board, I'm Tim in MD over there.

I ordered on April 3 from MINI of Towson. Here's the spec: Cooper S, PW/B, black stripes, moonroof, black leatherette, H/K stereo. My production number is 37977xx.

Can't wait! I'd be pleased as punch if I get it sometime in June.

Tim
'76 BMW 2002
'03 VW Golf GL (for sale)
'04 MCS incoming!

 

Hey there, Tim! I'm been looking for you over there, but never saw you again. WOW - our production are very close, also!

Do you still say "On Order" and "No production date yet?"

 

>>You know what else is ironic. I'll be on vacation in the UK, including Oxford
>>
Are you going to tour the plant???? I think you have the schedule that trip way in advance though. OMG - that IS ironic.

 

I still say on order at the OL with no production date. The ASK-MINI people, while very pleasant, couldn't give me any more info...though that was a couple of weeks ago.

My MA told me that my MCS (still unnamed) will come through the NY/NJ port and VPC...which is only a few hours north of Baltimore. Hopefully that means a very short wait for transport stateside...I asked my MA if he would know when the truck would come in, as I would love to photograph my car still on the truck. He said he might be able to tell me what day, but that was about as close as he could get...

Tim

 

Ok, just for the h*ll of it, and because I am avoiding work, I have decided to do a little research on the possible ships Dobby and your guys's will be on:

The Jingu Maru sails on 5/14 and is call sign JPPT. It flies a Japanese flag, and is 42,164 Gross Tonage.

The Independence sails also on 5/14 and is call sign WRYG. It flies the American flag, and is 16,568 Gross Tonage.

The Hual Triton sails on 5/18 and is call sign C6QA4. It flies the Bahamian flag, and is 21,651 Gross Tonage.

The Maersk Teal sails on 5/30 and is call sign S6HK. It flies the flag of Singapore and is 44,219 Gross Tonage.

I don't think I'll get a lick of work done AGAIN until Dobby gets here. And even then, I will probably keep getting up from my desk every five minutes to be sure he's ok.

 

Tim, I would love to get that shot as well!! But seeing how the dealership is an hour away and I will probably have to work (being a week day) then there is no way I could get it. Maybe I could con my MA into using a digital camera and getting a photo!

I SOOOO worry about Dobby sitting on the showroom floor. I don't want him there for kids to scratch their dolls against him and rub their cheesy poof hands all over my car.

Hey, Tim - why don't you call ASK MINI again since it's been a couple weeks. I just called yesterday. Maybe you can get something out of them today.

 

Good idea on the digicam! I too *should* be at work whenever the car arrives, but at least I have the advantage of only living about 1/2 hour from the dealer.

I don't know how your dealer is configured, but MINI of Towson has two special areas--away from the main showroom--where cars ready for delivery sit. There's one on each side of the building, towards the back. It's kinda like a one-car garage, set down about half a level from the showroom floor. Keeps the grubby little kids away from your new paint....

I'll call MINI later this afternoon...will report back.

 

Yeah, Tim - get that report! There is strength in numbers!

Classic MINI is set up with one fairly small actually showroom, and just a few parking spots outside. They have the three demo cars they always keep outside, and I guess they can fit maybe 20 or so inside. Which almost always have "sold" on them. Some say "I'm going home today, please do not touch" but how many kids do you know can read? But I've been in there when it's pretty busy, and I have yet to see one kid.

It bothers me a little that they use the sold cars as "advertising" but I guess it's nice to have the options to show to people before the cars are picked up. I like Towson though! It sits separate, huh?

Does Towson have inventory?

Get that report!

 

Towson does indeed have inventory. Most of the inventory (at peak, seems to be maybe 10-15 cars, sometimes dwindles to half that or less) sits outside with room for 3-4 MINIs on the showroom floor. Sold cars either sit in a tiny separate side lot with a "taken" sign or in the delivery bays.

 

>>I SOOOO worry about Dobby sitting on the showroom floor. I don't want him there for kids to scratch their dolls against him and rub their cheesy poof hands all over my car.
>>

LOL If I ever have kids, they are staying the hell away from the garage. There will be one POS wagon or something that they'll be allowed in Of course, once they are a bit older, they will learn how to be discerning about performance cars and driving.

I hear that the plant tours are booked through June, but I'm going to check anyway!

 

WannaMini,

I've seen that too at Classic, who was your MA? I think I've seen threads around that Julie has snapped pics of the group buy's cars before they've shipped to the left coast.

I'm also a little concerned that they sit on the showroom floor also, but my remedy is to go and get the car the minute it shows up :smile:
or at least as close as possible.

We'll be fine...don't panic, we'll have a shiny new Mini soon.

The Aida has sailed from Belgium and is on it's way to Southampton right now. Here's hoping "Yomiko" gets loaded up tomorrow and on her way over the pond.

 

Hooray for Yomiko! She is almost on her way to you!!! And Dobby is about to be built!

My MA is Jared, and I have been driving the poor guy nuts I'm afraid. I'm SO neurotic about this. I always have new questions. So I email as opposed to call - at least that way, I am not interrupting him. Perhaps he or Julie would be kind enough to snap that photo and email it to me.

I DON'T want to push my luck - if I haven't already! I'm such a dork...

 

Good news! A buddy on MINI2 with production number 37966XX just got moved to 150 - SCHEDULED FOR PRODUCTION!!!!! And I BELIEVE he was a week 19er.
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Expecting in late May/Early June
MCS IB/W Bonnet Stripes, Premium & sport pks., Leatherette