Mine also says En Route, but my MA says at the dock... Who knows... Yes, it will get here when it gets here!

 

The Otello is now in port at Halifax on schedule, due in at the port of NY/NJ this Sunday. I'm apparently the only NAM member with a MINI on board, though it's carrying 211 of them headed for NY/NJ. Not sure how many are getting off at Halifax for Canadian buyers.

 

The Otello made the NY/NJ port today, as scheduled. For anyone on the Courage, AISLive shows it heading along the southern shore of Long Island, easily on schedule for an April 2nd docking.

 

I emailed the dealer (MA and head dude) on Friday, but received no response and therefore no confirmation that I'm on the FRISIA. Why does working with the dealer always feel like a confrontational experience?

 

well if you are on frisia it is off the coast of north carolina. i can't freaking wait!

 

My Mini arrived in Halifax this afternoon. Now a 10-14 day train ride to Calgary!! Yay!

 

Congratulations! That's one long train ride! Does MINI have a VDC in Canada? If so, where?

(My own MINI begins its 3rd day in the NJ VDC.)

 

My MC was also on the Otello , which got into the NJ port on sunday. How long does it normally take to go through the VDC to the dealer? I am hoping by mid-week next week. Is this realistic? I am up in the northeast so I am only a few hours from NJ.

 

Congratulations. I think our MINIs shared a relatively smooth voyage, in spite of one report of 29 knot winds.

From reading on NAM, it seems like the time at the VDC is highly variable, perhaps 3 days to a week. Some accessories can be installed at the VDC (e.g., JCW aero kit), and this will naturally make it take longer. Supposedly, the VDCs are all pretty backed up now, which means it'll take longer for some of us to get through. Mine was one of the last MINIs on board the Otello, and therefore presumably one of the first off, so I am hopeful that my wait will be short...now starting day 3.

 

I'm in the same boat as WinneMini and others (maybe). I was ready for shipping on 3/21, the OL has been indicating "en route" since 3/26, but nothing shows up on WW's auto cargo tracking. My MA has been useless in this regard, but ASK MINI confirmed that my MCS is coming in through Charleston. So, I think I'm on the Frisia. I might be on the Courage, but then WW's tracking doesn't work.

At any rate, here's an update on both ships' positions as of a little before midnight CDT last night. The Courage was already heading up the Chesapeake toward Baltimore, and the Frisia was about 40 nm southeast of the Bay Bridge. As of this morning, both ships were well out of range of the AIS Live view of Hapton Roads - bummer that there's no detail of Baltimore. At least Charleston's Port has an updated vessel schedule (http://www.port-of-charleston.com/vessel_schedule.asp). Looks like the Frisia and Courage will make Charleston on 4/6 and 4/8, respectively. Luckily, the ships won't be delayed at any ports on Good Friday - some close down for the holiday.

Hang in there.

cpb

MCS, DS/W Roof + Bonnet Stripes, Brushed Alloy + Chrome-Lined Interior, Premium + Sport + CW Packages, Sport Suspension

 

CPB,

Thanks for the update. I believe I'm on the Frisia since WW does not have a record of my VIN #. I know that I'm coming in to Charlston and have confirmed my car in en route. My MA has indicated it will take 10 days to get it through the VCD and trucked down to Fort Lauderdale. Has anyone experianced any quicker delivery once it hits the VDC?

It can't get here soon enough that it for sure. My alternator has failed on my and I'm having to charge my battery once a week to keep it going. I'm looking forward to trading this car in on my new MCS!

 

Although the WW cargo tracking says my car has been discharged in NJ, and although the Owners' Lounge has finally been updated to say the car is at the VDC (estimated delivery 4/7), the automated message at ASK-MINI now says my "car is at the port, awaiting a shipping vessel." It's slipped a cog! (Last week, it said the car was enroute.)

 

I finally heard from the Sales Manager, or whatever they are called, at Braman-Palm Beach. My MINI, "Emma", is scheduled into Charleston on the 6th (as we all know from our good detective work). He says she should go to the VDC the 8th, which again we know since the VDC is closed on weekends. He expects them (the dealer) to have her on the 15th. I knew it would be the week I would have great trouble scheduling a time to go and bring her HOME! Maybe Wednesday the 18th--which is like TWO MORE WEEKS!?!?!?!?! I guess it gives me more time to clean out my side of the garage.

 

My Mini was unloaded from the Toronto WW boat at 17:06 today!!

From what I know of, once my Mini gets to calgary, it goes to a storage yard, then the dealers pick up their cars there. So, once it arrives in Calgary, then a few days until I get it.

I honestly dont mind waiting for my Mini "no I'm not nuts"!! I am waiting for my income tax return, other government money and I NEED to sell my car, to get my handsome downpayment. Without mostly my car being sold, then my monthly payment will go up by $200!!!!!!! And I dont want that! So, until my car is sold, then I dont mind waiting. But the second cash is in hand for my car, then hurry the hell up with my Mini!!!! hahaha

 

My mini was also suppose to be on the Otello according to W&W. On the Cargo status history it made it to port in NJ on 4/1, and per the ordering tracking at the owner's lounge it is at the distribution center. But when I call "ASK MINI" it is saying the same thing, of car at port, waiting shipping vessel. Have you talked to anyone about this? I am going to call and talk to a live person when they open at 9! I am concerned because I am selling my old car tonight.

 

Any of you east coast guys recieve your MINI yet? I'm curious to see what the fastest turn-around time is for this build week to get a better estimate of when mine will arrive (i'm in week 16).

 

I did talk to a person at ASK-MINI, but they can't trace it beyond the port of exit (Southampton), and suggested I contact my MA for details. They said the car was there on 3/26, while the WW line thinks it shipped out on 3/23. It would be a real bummer if it turned out that the WW booking/received at port/discharged information was all wrong, and the car is still sitting in Southampton!

And the Owners' Lounge still says my car is in the distribution center. I think that's the one I'll believe until proven differently.

Whine: It seems like BMW has all these sophisticated systems, like the Owners' Lounge and the automated ASK-MINI, but they are very slow to be updated, frequently disagree with one another, and sometimes are both wrong. Each of us is presumably paying a small percentage of the cost of our MINIs to fund this sophisticated infrastructure...wouldn't it be nice if it worked a bit better?

 

I can't believe that the "Ask Mini" and the Owner's Lounge is so different. I agree with you, I am going to go with what it says on the Owner's Lounge (that is what the customer representative told me too). I do not understand how W&W could track a VIN # of a vehicle on and off a boat with out it being there! But who knows. Hopefully I will be getting my Mini next week.

 

the vdc is still open on weekends for high priority vehicles. your priority depends on what your ma put down when ordering it. i know mine was put as that. my ma rules,

 

Yes, me too. I see that on the build order my MA sent me some time ago, it says "Priority 1-Customer Sold". Nice. Though one wonders why any MA would put down anything else.

 

My MA left a message this morning to say she'd be here any day now. (Yeah, right.) The "bank" (actually credit union) needs information about the MSRP and he wants to know if we want to add the LoJack, Teflon, etc. I can't believe we have to go over that all over again!!!!! NO. NO. NO. NO!
They are already getting $854 in "dealer service" and "dealer fee for license, tag, registration" on top of the $35 actual fee for transfering the tag. I so hate this part of the process. I hope I never have to buy another car.

On another note: FRISIA is not yet showing on AISLive--but it should be showing in the next 12-24 hours! FRISIA folks--keep checking.

 

FRISIA is now reported to be arriving in Charleston on the 7th! Slipped another day.
http://www.scspa.com/vessel_schedule.asp
COURAGE is right behind it on the 8th.

 

FRISIA can be seen on the AISLive site this morning. Just off the northern Outer Banks--heading south!

 

I'm glad you saw her...I didn't see her leave the Chesapeake last night and even now the Frisia seems to have slipped under the radar. Maybe AIS doesn't cover the NC/SC coast? Courage is about to pass back under the Bay Bridge on her way to Charleston. I, too, saw that they both slipped a day to the 7th and 8th. Not catching any breaks, are we? I hope your priority status holds up and starts your processing this weekend. I don't have any confidence that my MA did the same for me. Still waiting for a call back from her with an update from Tuesday.

 

Alan- Any word on your MCS from your MA? No word here. It has to be leaving the VDC soon.