I also forgot to say, congrats to BKJohnso and Tharkun!

 

Thanks for the grats to you and wondermini.

I'm waiting to see my Mini once it is at the dealer, as I may still end up doing a re-order.
I had taken a print out of the online build sheet with me when I went to the dealer to place the order. There was two issues that I "trusted" my MA to know more than I did. Online I had added the Color Line Pacific Blue option ($200), at the dealer I added the Pacific Blue Leather/Carbon black interior. Doing that it removes the $200 charge, but he stated it was a computer error, and added the $200 onto the MSRP.
He also removed my option of the Anthracite Headliner ($200) stating it was not needed since I had upgraded to the PB leather, and it would have the darker headliner.
So either all on the forum are incorrect or he is, I still argue with him that it will not have the darker headliner, since Mini online allows me to add the Anthracite option, we shall see when the car arrives. But I may just live with the liner color differance rather than going thru another 8 to 10 weeks of this fun online tracking. But I will not pay the $200 MSRP price differance between his price and MINIUSA.com.

 

Thats really weird. Doesn't the computer tell him whats required and whats not? For example, if you order the premium package it doesn't add the package, it breaks down everything and adds it to the list but under one price (ie. you see multi function steering wheel with no price, etc). Seems strange to me. Did you talk to the manager or another person there to confirm? I can't imagine going through another 8 weeks of this. I guess its up to you how important it is. Maybe you can get some money off in the end?

Did you call east bay today? I'm thinking about it because I need my financing info for my insurance agent and they were supposed to fax it to me yesterday.

 

Ugh. I couldn't do it. Not for a headliner. Can you not get that replaced instead of doing a new order? Seems if he was wrong, he should pay the labor while you just pay for the liner.

Now I'm at work where I cannot access the OL (restrictions on downloading Flash or whatever ). I think I'll go home after lunch and work from home today so I can continue to feed my addiction.

 

Hehehe.. too funny. I'm not seeing an update on OL. Is Ask-Mini any better? I haven't called the, but I guess I could.

 

I think ASK-MINI is supposed to be useless at this point. Even the dealer can't tell you what's happening inside the black box of the VDC.

That being said, I think I'll cruise my dealer on my way home after lunch and interrogate him a little. (never used that smiley--kinda fun.)

 

Have not called them about delivery yet, still cooling down from being there on Monday.
On 6/16 when placing the order, my MA ran the credit check and quoted pricing for the lease option. Was going with a lease becasue of issues of waranty problems on the 2006 & 2004 350Z's I had.
On Friday evening at the open house, I asked my MA about being there Monday morning to lock in the interest rate, and told him I was thinking of going with the Mini Select option. He stated it was a good idea to do that and we set a time for Monday. When I arrived my MA, manager and all others were out. The only MA in the building that stated he could help me, when he gets my file he states we can not do anything , that we don't even have an exceptace/denial letter from BMW lease company and the credit check that had been done was only from one of the three credit reporting companies.
When I ask that we do it then, he tells me it will take a day or two to complete, I demanded some numbers with the one credit score they did have. After 45 minutes of waiting he returns with some numbers. The numbers were way off from the quote on 6/16 and when I question why, he states the numbers I was given on 6/16 can not be used because the finance officer will not except them.
Trying not to blow up, I told the MA I had made the trip over to finalize everything that day as I did not want to wait till the last minute since the car was already at the VDC. His staetment was that we had ample time since it would be two weeks before the car was delivered.
I returned home and called my credit union and requested $27k, I'm making a $5k down payment, in less than 15 minutes I had the loan approved and locked in at 6%. That evening the MA called back with some better numbers and stated I had been approved.
Needless to say I'm purchasing the car and not going with Mini lease or select programs, I would be pay way more than what I have seen others on NAM paying for the same programs, the MA is stating the prices I would pay for the BMW programs are because of the credit scores. Amazing to me that my credit union gave me a loan at 6% using the same credit scores.
So my suggestion after this long story, call them and don't assume they are handing things in a speedy way. Oh....yes I have talked and dealt with the manager of the Mini department as well, did that on the pay off of the 06Z trade in. That took almost 3 weeks after I was told the finacne office would overnight the payoff to my credit union. I have been purchasing new cars for over 41 years so I'm not surprised for the issues so far, but I had hoped the Mini sales depatment would be a bit above average dealers.
I hope that my dealings so far has not been the norm, and that the service department will be more reliable.

 

Tharkun - Wow.. thats quite the ordeal! I just called them and left a message. I have financing through my credit union but Shelley called me Saturday saying they had matched it and would be easier to just go through them. My credit union is not local or part of their network, so it would probably be easier. However, I have not been impressed with how speedy they have been to get back to me and not faxing things when they said they would. They have been very nice though... so I'm not totally complaining.

 

For smoe reason only the SF Mini dealer is a memebr of CUDL (credit union direct lending), so it will be a bit of more effort for them as they will need to fax a copy of the sales contract to my credit union. Then my CU faxes back the approval and then sends them the check.
Advantage to going with the loan from my CU is that it is an auto equtiy loan, and the interest on the loan will be a tax deduction, which always makes my accountant happy.
If they will match your interest rate of your CU, just be sure to read the fine print of thier contract.
Will be checking NAM during the day, watching for yours and wondermini's delvery dates, hopefully they show up soon.

 

Was looking at Mini's on friday evening well at the open house. There was a MCS same color of interior/exterior. Becasue of the sun roof, there really isn't all that much of the lighter colored headliner. I don't think it will be a big issue, and not worth the effort of trying to get them to replace, and casue other issues. For sure not worth re-ordering for, unless I was to wait and order an 08.
Also it is the normal sales person thing, there is no mistake on thier part, just my error on uderstanding what they stated.
It is less of a problem than still waitng for OL to update. Hope you have a date soon so you can relax and just worry about the transport truck making the trek with no issues. My luck I figure there will be a fire in the hills and I-5 shut down thru the grapevine. That happened to me about 3 years ago on a return trip from Disney, usually a 6 hour trip ended up taking 11 hours becasue of finding a detour that was not bumber to bumper.

 

You think they'll be coming through the grapevine? Seems like they'll just go up 101 and cross over to I-5 on one of the smaller highways. That's what I'd do if I were coming up from Ventura...can't count on logic though.

 

I take back what I said, they are very quck to reply. I sent an email and got a response back less than 30 minutes later.

So my mini will be ready for pick up on the evening of Monday the 13th! I also got the financing info, so we are set.

 

Congrats!

It seems I am now the only one without a date. I'm not through East Bay Mini either, so we may be on completely different trucks. At this point, I'll just settle for a truck.

 

Thanks. I still see nothing in the OL though.. it says "En Route".

 

Stupid question - are you guys getting carpet or rubber mats?

I could have sworn my MA said he would throw in free mats when I placed my order, but now they are $95. I checked with my husband and he said that he did say that..so I guess I will have to argue it when I pick up the car. So, that will be a fun conversation when we pick up the car.

 

Becasue of length, weight ,nosie and a few other restrictions, and time, trucks usally stay on major highways.
Living here in Tracy and traveling the Altamont , I see the Waggoneers all the time. That tells me they shoot up I-5 and take I-205 into the bay area, it is the only major freeway from I-5 to the bay.
This is also the logic that says wondermini will be on a differant truck, not on a load going into the bay area.
But hey, this is just from my expierience from trucking over 20 years ago so I could be way off. Also who knows what BMW's logic is with logisitics.

 

Ya there was something "mentioned" about mats, but I'm not holding on to that thought. With the issues so far they are most likely going to just want to get it out the door and on to the next one. I have two roomies so after having three of us nit picking the car apart, demanding a test drive before signing the papers, I'm thinking if I get a free hat and a full tank of gas, I'll be doing good.

 

Have you tried calling your MA, he/she should have a clue by now ?

*crosses fingers for a date*

 

Congrats ! I may have missed it but what color is your Mini, I'm thinking of making a trip over on Sat/Sun to see if they will be nice and let me take some pics before delivery.
Also want to see if they keep it in the back lot or put it out front with a sold sign, but yet unlocked and allow people to look. Have seen this done there a few times and I requested this not happen in my case, good way to have scratches appear.

 

I'm getting a Chili Red Mini Cooper Convertible. Colored interior body, black pleather, and premium/cold weather package.

 

Thanks I'll look for it and get pics if I can.
I decided in my boredeom to try ASK MINI, the recording says I'm at the port awaiting a shipping vessel. Gotta luv the ASK MINI process at times, it was saying enroute and to contact the dealer.

 

On my way to Niello. I'll let you know what they say....

 

Good Luck !!

 

Good luck!!!

 

Okay...so I'm apparently the least lucky person on this site. My MA wasn't there today, so I spoke to another dude who looked up my car info on the VDC site. My car was logged in as having arrived at the VDC last night at midnight. It is scheduled to leave the VDC on 8/13. It is scheduled to arrive at the dealer on 8/17. They need a day to clean the car, etc before I get it, so this puts me at 8/18.

Why the 4-day discrepancy between East Bay-bound cars and my car? Unclear. The guy did say that my MA chose the option where the stripes are put on at the VDC and this delays things. Apparently, Niello can also apply the stripes up here and it is much faster because your car isn't pulled out of "line" at the VDC. I guess my MA is a newbie. (My MA = )

The dude did stress that 8/17 is the worst-case scenario and my car may arrive sooner--that they will call me if the estimated date is updated, that the VDC is ahead of schedule. This is not that comforting to me. I'm fully bummed I have to wait almost an entire extra week.