To make a long story short, my Mini was stuck at the VDC for over 2 weeks without an explaination. After a bit of pushing and questioning, it turns out that sometime/where during shipping the key(s) have been lost. According to my MA it involves multiple cars (Mini/BMW?) coming to my dealers. And from a forwarded e-mail from the regional manager, they cannot ship any cars without full set of keys hence the delay. They are now shipping replacment keys to the VDC from England.
So have anyone experienced this before? Should I worry? Are they just simply replacing the same keys (same code, etc?) or are they actually reprogramming the car to a new set of keys. Just wondering if there is a chance someone is "targeting" certain cars in order to steal them in the future? Any input will be great.

 

Is this the Charleston VDC or elsewhere?

 

Forget about it and let your insurance agent worry about someone collecting keys to random MINI's and tracking your's down and stealing it. That is what you pay him or her to do. It is highly unlikey that you are soon to be the victim of a well planned inside job, and if so, the fact that the keys are already known missing has probably foiled the thieves plans.

 

Thanks Yucca!

Az: Yes it's at Charleston VDC

 

del

 

Yea, gross incompetence is much more common that devious cunning.

 

Jmelrose: My mini was at the VDC since the 25th and it was estimated to be delivered on the 30/31 according to the OL. Nothing was scheduled to be done at the port as far as I know. The car was delayed for 2 weeks without reasons until I finally pushed my MA to finding out the answers for me (I questioned her regarding any possible damage). Then I got a forwarded e-mail from the regional manager telling me about the lost keys situation.
Yeah I also thought they keep the keys somewhere safe or inside the car during shipping but I have no idea how it happens...

HaHa well said Robin. Thanks everyone I feel much better now

 

When my MINI was delivered to the dealer, the keys were sitting in the cup holder with the windows down and doors unlocked.

 

Seems like an unlikely place for them to be misplaced from. I bet there's an interesting story somewhere in the UK about what happened to them... some guy in Oxford walks out to his own Mini that night and realizes he has his car keys in his left AND right front pants pocket... and shirt pocket... jacket pockets... hanging off his belt... etc.