I found this forum about 1 week ago and I've been obsessed since. I have had a chance to own and drive a lot of great cars, but I am happy to announce that I may have found the best yet. I looked all over for a left over triple black 2012, but couldn't find one on the lots. I ordered a 2013 S on Friday the 27th. The order has been placed but I don't have a production number yet. My MA says that it should get a production number in a few days. Until then I get to read posts here and wonder what it will be like to visit the Owner's Lounge on miniusa.com. I really want to look at the owner's manual and whatever else I can do to bide the time. Does anyone know when the switch over happens between 2012 and 2013? Are S's in the same boat as JCW? I hate to think I have to wait until September before they will even start working on it. I guess it's good that at least it's not the 6 month wait I had when I ordered from a different make last year.

 

Welcome aboard. The S is a speedboat and the JCW is a cigarette race boat

 

The wait is hard, but well worth it, especially when you get exactly what you wanted. Welcome aboard.

 

good to know. Thanks for the welcome.

 

My 2013 Coupe is sitting in NY (well, NJ) at VDC. They're holding the 2013s until 8/1. So I'm hopeful that tomorrow it will get onto a car carrier and make its way to PA. I should have the first 2013 Coupe off my dealer's lot! He's actually a replacement Coupe for my 2012 which had an extremely rare issue but that is neither here nor there.

I really enjoyed tracking Felix's journey. I'm sure you've found the thread on how to track it but just in case, there's the link. Once it hits the boat, you can follow the ship on Marine Traffic. If you're really curious and on-the-go, they even have an app. You lose it for a few days when it hits the Atlantic but it's neat to watch. And there are web cams if you search around, too. I was able to watch my ship enter the harbor at Halifax, which was pretty neat.

You're going to LOVE the Coupe. Congrats and welcome to the family.

 

JenniferL, glad to hear you got a replacement....I wonder what happens to your 2012?

 

Thanks! All I can say about the whole thing is that my dealer is absolutely, hands-down, the best business I've ever had the chance to work with. The English language doesn't contain the words to express my gratitude toward them. If there's an award for MINI awesomeness, they deserve it. :D

/hijack.

 

I keep watching MINIUSA.com for 2012 Owner's Manuals, but nothing yet.

 

It would be awesome to get a hold of the owner's manual before hand.

 

My understanding from my Sales Manager is that there are no changes from 2012 to 2013 (as were applicable to Oscar's specs) with the exception of Bluetooth now being standard and Sirius now being an option. Of course, I don't have MINI Connected. The only difference is the way they packaged options. It seems strange that they wouldn't have the '12 manual online. That department is probably just busy.

 

I'm still waiting on a production number. How long does that take? One thread I read sys 24 hours but it has been way longer than that and MA doesn't have it. A friend of mine said that it took them 2.5 weeks to get the info. What's average so I can get my brain wrapped around it?

 

I read the plant is shut down July 27 - August 28th. I'm right behind you only my order isn't even in the system yet.

 

My order just showed in the system. I specifically asked my MA about a plant shutdown as I thought that was the norm for European automakers. I ordered a Porsche last year and it was an all out race to get it started before the shut down. My MA told me that MINI didn't do that. I've googled it but haven't found confirmation yet. Where did you read that?

 

Here it is:

http://www.miniplantoxford.co.uk/peo...formation.aspx

 

Thank you. No amount of googling would have found a better source. I can now stop worrying about production since it can't happen until at least week 36 with their shutdown.

 

Glad I could help. That was a pain to find.

 

I'll probably still find myself checking the owners lounge even though it won't have any new information for a while.

 

So if it took 10 days for you to be in the system...and I ordered (same, 2013 S coupe) on August 9, I should be right behind you too.

I posted the following elsewhere and don't remember where, so here it is again.

I wrote to my dealer after seeing that link on NAM: "I just learned about http://www.miniplantoxford.co.uk/peo...formation.aspx
I guess this slows production down somewhat..."

to which he replied "Yes that is normal they do that every August, but your car becomes a priority because it is a sold car. I’ll keep you posted as to its progress."

That could be construed to mean different things, and surely isn't all that helpful, but there you have it.

 

Timing is everything. Ordering a couple of weeks on either end of when we did may have resulted in less need for speculation. I'll be interested to see what the production dates are for our cars post shutdown and if they truly get priority attention.

 

Anyone else excited the factory is scheduled to reopen tomorrow? BTW I noticed the 2012 owner's manual is available for download in the owsner's lounge. That gives me something to read.

 

I'm excited about the re-opening! I actually got an owners manual from my MA the other day, he'll just take the one that comes with my car when it gets here. The book is organized kinda wacky...keeps it interesting though (well, not really). So many pages on unlocking and locking!!

Note: there's no nav info in it--all pictures of the speedo in the book are non-nav--but here's a pdf of it online:
http://home.comcast.net/~re_boot/Min...ual-small2.pdf

ALSO--I placed my order August 9 and still can't register in the owners' lounge. It tells me I'm "too quick on the draw." I take it you ordered before they went on vacation?

 

I ordered on July 27th. They were probably already on vacation before my order was processed but I did get a production number after about 7 days and was able to access the owners' lounge. Turns out that my MA gave me an incorrect production number at first so I was unable to log in. he had substituted a digit. I had him recheck and I've been golden ever since. Might not hurt to make sure your digits are all correct. Thanks for the information on the Navi. I didn't get navi but did get MINI connected and havent been able to find much about it. I did download the latest version of the app, though. I'm excited about the new features and gauges.

 

The 2012 Owner's manuals are up on the Mini site now. I'd attach it, but the file size limitation to the board is 5mb (for pdf). The Owner's Manual is 9.7mb.

 

Haha I downloaded MINI ONTrack, Road Assist and MINI connected. Their vacation was only about 2 weeks (something like Aug 12-27) which probably explains how you got into the system. Great advice on checking the production number--it's on the printout on my order receipt though...I don't want to bug my MA too too much...but, the customer's always right, so maybe I will! I've been in my Acura since 2004 and all the silly little buttons are different, I can see myself sitting on the lot for an hour before I drive home, making sure I don't hit the escape pod button instead of turning on the wipers. Or whatever.

 

Also, my car (and probably everyone here)'s will be a 2013. Probably doesn't matter too too much as to the manual, right? It doesn't have a year written on my physical manual, just that it was printed in 2012.