My first post.

My MCS is finally on it's way to Northern California. Any folks out there who can tell me how long it will take from the time it leaves the UK, until my dealer will get the car?

Thanks,

Don

Welcome! You'll find a lot of information around NAM by exploring the different sections. I'd suggest you start here in the 1st Gear Forum:

How to Track your MINI:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=144057

Short answer is about 4 weeks. Ship takes about 3 weeks to get to S. CA then depending on how long it is at the distribution center, being prepped and loaded on a truck to N. CA. I am in the waiting game too. mine is on a ship that left England this Tuesday and should be in S.CA on Oct 6th then I anticipate about a week longer to get to the dealer and be ready for me to pick her up.

My car left the docks at Southampton on July 19 and arrived in port on August 11, but didn't get to my dealer until August 27, even though all we had installed at the port were the sport stripes. Believe me, by the 27th, I was going cuckoo!

Have a great time with your new Mini. It is fun and frugal.

a good general rule of thumb for the west side of the US is about 3 weeks from England to Oxnard via the Canal, another week at VDC, and another week or so from VDC to dealer, depending on options installed and assuming VDC doesnt get backed up, issues with hurricanes, Canal traffic, etc.

those living on the east side of the US dont know how nice they have it, only about 11 days by boat!

good example of a probable VDC backup, remember they are also processing bimmers and RRs in addition to the MINIs. If it's any consolation, the process is much more efficient than a few years ago.

zonedguy, That is a great write up. Thanks for the information. Interesting that they ship the cars thru Panama to CA. I had always assumed that they are trucked from New Jersey.

Here is a good read and exactly where yours will be going.
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=149533

Any idea on how long to get to Texas? I just saw that mine move to "in transit" today.

Anyone figure out how to find the name on the ship your mini is on?

My MA just sent me an email and said my MINI is due into Port Hueneme on October 6th and it typically takes 5 days to get to the dealer from there if no options being installed at the VDC (which I don't have any). This confirms everything I already knew and speculated about.

This sort of thing is discussed in the 1st gear forum, and on the OL. If you're on a WW ship you can ask their cargo tracker which ship your MINI is on (look for the auto cargo link, enter your VIN). MINI seems to be using mostly WW ships these days, they have used others like K line in the past.

Once you get the name of the ship the shipping line will usually be able to tell you when its due. If you're on the west coast, you can ask the port when the ship is due (look for the vessel schedule link).