MiniMoons,

It's entirely possible your car could make it on the ship the 10th. If I miss the 5th I may be with you on the 10th. :) Some cars have made it on a ship the same day, and within 2 days happens all the time. I'm hoping for similar luck, because I finish on the 3rd, and want to be on the ship on the 5th!

-mike

not to change the thread, but go to the July production group thread because owner pics of new 05's are starting to post . Kurt Collins' CR/B, CR/B/S/Chrome/Anth MCS is to die for! Jimbo

mike -

I'm w/you - I hope mine makes it on the boat on the 5th w/yours. It would be my luck to make it to the dock in time, but get bumped to the 10th. Yikes! :rolleyes: So I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we both make it on the 5th. :D

As for the '05s I got to touch and caress my first '05 today. The traveling MCC was at my local dealer today, so I went down to check it out. (It's very cool. It just looks fun!) As soon as I opened the front doors, there, not even 10' away, was a '05 MCS EB/EB with black bonnet stripes (it's the first and only '05 they have so far). Once I finished drooling, I hustled my butt over and got in. My observations (and my opinions, so not trying to start debate, just my thoughts):

1. I'm so glad I went with EB. It's what I always wanted and I'm glad I wasn't talked out of it. :D
2. The massively ugly blank off plate in the back where the rear fog light goes is not that massive or that ugly to me. If for some reason I don't put a fog light in, I will probably have my painter paint it to closely match EB and make it disappear even more. I think the biggest thing is that obviously on a lighter color it does stand out, but on the darker colors it's not as horrid.
3. I like the map lights. I think those will be quite handy, rather than that little light by your knees that was the previous option.
4. I'd rather have map lights than the clock. I don't need a clock, that's why I wear a watch. And I'm always running late, so I don't need a clock to tell me that. :D
5. The rear view mirror was not that big. Since it has the garage door buttons in it, I guess it needed more room to fit the electronics. :confused: Either way, it's not that hideous.
6. I don't like the chrono gauge pack. I like the original speedo set up.
7. This paticular EB had the blue dash (I guess cool blue as it did not look dark enough to be HB, but I could be wrong), which was very nice, but I am glad I personally didn't order it. It also had the gravity blue and black leather seats, even though I thought those were discontinued for '05. :confused: Having both in the same car created to me a bad color clash, esp. by the doors where you could see the colors right next to each other. (I am super color/shade/hue/value/chroma sensitive. I drive my husband nuts.) So, I like the seats, or the dash, but not together.
8. The int chrome pack is quite nice if you like the bling bling stuff! It was especially noticable on the MCC as they had it under bright lights with the top down and it was very shiny and sparkly. :D :D
9. I like the new side visor, and I think the passengers will like the new "oh sh*t" handle.
10. The new door arm rest was quite nice. I forgot to check on the storage issue.
11. The new storage between the down tubes is nice, and they even had a little removable rubber tray so it will be easier to take out and clean, as well as keping the coins, etc. from sliding around.
12. I like the puddle lights. With all the icy/snowy days we get here, it'll be nice to see that I will pobably bust my bum before I actually do. :D
13. It did not have the anthracite liner, so I still haven't seen that in person. :( But that may be a good thing since they weren't able to get it in my order.

Well, sorry for the long post, I was just quite excited to sit in the new '05 MCS and poke around at all the changes I had been seeing on the web for the last 2 months. And since it was EB, it was like almost having mine. :D

speed_racer,

What dealer? I just so happen to be in Chicago at the moment... I'm leaving tomorrow evening but a friend of mine who lives right nearby here, who by a really strange coincidence also has a Week 32 HB/B on order, is going to pick me up tomorrow and take me to the dealership in Naperville, IL where they have at least one 05, a black demo 05 MCS! So we get to go driving around in it!

-mike

5. The rear view mirror was not that big. Since it has the garage door buttons in it, I guess it needed more room to fit the electronics. :confused: Either way, it's not that hideous.

You may be the first one here to see the garage door buttons in person. What did they look like? How many buttons? Are they under the mirror?

Just to keep sharing the excitment, I thought I'd post some pictures I took of the first Mini Convertibles I got the change to sit at the Apple Worldwide Developers Convention at the beginning of July. It has a number of pics of the new features of the '05 Cooper as well.

http://homepage.mac.com/eyebite/PhotoAlbum22.html

All I can say is after sitting in one, I immediately left the conference and placed an order for my car! (And now it's being built!!!)

(And I just called to find out my car is estimated to be completed on August 10th! ... I think I'll throw a Birthday Party!!!!)

mike - it was Baron Mini in Kansas City. From talking to the MAs, it sounded like the EB/EB would become their first '05 tester, but that day it wasn't budging off the show room floor. :( However, maybe between now and the time mine arrives I can sneak in a test or two. :D If you get to drive the one in IL, please post your reactions!!!!

BrantV - there were three buttons on the underneath side of the mirror, more towards the back than the front. I had to lean forward a little to see them. They were each 1/2"x1/2", squishy buttons. I say squishy because they were a soft, rubbery material. The one closest to the driver had a little light, which looked like it would be a LED. They didn't have any markings on them such as a little house like I've seen on Homelink equipped cars. They were dark gray like the mirror itself. All in all they were pretty incognito. You couldn't really see them from outside the car either.

Sorry I didn't post any pics of the buttons - I've only seen a few fuzzy ones over at Motoringfile so it would've been great - but I had no idea they'd already have an '05 sitting on the floor! If no one is able to get a few pics up here in the next few days, I'll see if I can make time to force myself to go sit in it again and take some pics. :D

Finally got a change in status on my wk 33 build - it now says that my "Mini will be complete on 8/11". Where is that in the production schedule?

Is it:
112 Order scheduled for Production OR
150 Production Started (Scheduled for Production)
??

The next step is paint shop..... ??

The last time I spoke with a rep, they said that it had been assigned to a 7/19 batch....?? all of this is very different to what everyone else is reporting, so I thought I'd put it out there...

and no VIN.... Where will that show up? on askmini? OL? or from a rep??

Nevermind my last post!

Went into OL.... status changed to "scheduled for production" and I have a VIN!!

This is SO exciting!, second to the day my MA called to say that I was top of the waiting list and should come in to place the order!!

This is the day that I set as the milestone for reality to set in, so that I could start looking into insurance and financing...... so "let the games begin"!!!

Baxter is a preemie! He was born early! :D

While at the dealer yesterday, I got the latest price print out w/my dealer accessories listed so I can start finalizing financing. I noticed on there it said code "182 - handover to carrier/load assig" but it also said "act. production date 8/2". Well this morning I was looking at the papers again and decided to check OL and ASKMini. Both are saying the same thing - awaiting transport! So Baxter must've been born early, right? And since today is just 8/1 and it was already listed as code 182 yesterday, that means he was technically a week #31 and I shoudn't even be here - I should be in the July thread! Hopefully you guys will let me hang around, though. I feel much more bonded with you guys, and besides, he may still have a born-on date of 8/2 for some reason. :confused:

Anyway, off to check the WW site yet again and see if he's showed up there! :D

I think, unless it was born on 7/30, that it's a week #32. A holdover from when completion by friday was a goal. With the factory running 24 hours a day (is it 7 days a week?), I don't know how relevant that is anymore.

Thought I'd just mention that as of early this morning, ASK.MINI says my car is in the paint shop. Looks like it's on time for an Aug 3 completion, maybe even a day early! :)

-mike

I'm happy and sad at the same time - my MCS has been booked on a ship, and is already received at the terminal! :D However, he's headed to Charleston, SC! :confused: I thought he'd go to NY, so I've only been checking those ships, and thinking I'd leave on the 8/5 ship. Instead, it shows he's booked on the 8/12 Patriot voyage, which doesn't land in SC until 8/23! grrr..... :mad: The Liberty is headed to SC departing 8/5 and arriving 8/15, but I get to wait a week! Sigh, sometimes the world of instant technology can cause temporary insanity when it concerns Mini deliveries! :D

mike - I'm so disappointed our kids won't be able to keep each other company. Maybe as a few other people here get done in the next few days he can find a friend to travel with.

speed_racer,

Hmm, maybe since my car is going to the Midwest also, it might end up on a ship to Charleston. I'm hoping it'll go to NY but maybe not. I'm asking my dealer if they know which port their cars come into. :)

-mike

Since my MCS is due on wk # 33, it has started production as of 5am this morning in Oxford. Estimated finished date is the 11th, instead of the 13th as I was told earlier. :D

Woohoo! Just called ASK.MINI and they said that as of today my car has completed assembly and is going through the final quality check before it rolls off the production floor and gets to a ship!!

-mike

After weeks of being "scheduled for production with no confirmed date" ASK-MINI says my car started production today!! Woo Hoo!!!
A little earlier than they previously had said (Aug 9), but I'm not going to complain.

Called AskMINI and my MCS is in "Final Assembly and Quality Contol Testing" today :)

Woohoo! Just called ASK.MINI and they said that as of today my car has completed assembly and is going through the final quality check before it rolls off the production floor and gets to a ship!!

-mike

apparently it's twins ;)

apparently it's twins ;)

Yep, we must be side by side in there! :)

-mike

apparently it's twins ;)


Wow, three of us all done right in a row. Very cool. Now, I'm willing to place a bet the BartMack gets his first, being an east coast location, then I get mine, then mike gets his, only because you have to have it shipped. I wouldn't be surprised to find out that yours lands at the dealer before mine (Peabody, wasn't it?). Anyway, yay for us! :D

I'd say that's a good prediction speed_racer. Classic MINI actually, but yeah, given the whole shipping business I think I'll be the last of us 3. :)

-mike

Wonder if they purposefully scheduled many of the HyperBlues for the week to come out of the paint shop together? Looks like I'm going to be calling MINI.

Ok, because it's hotter than hades here, and I'm not feeling productive, I scanned through and came up with a role call of sorts for all of us here. If I missed anyone, I apologize! Anyway, this is the latest that I could find, by all means, let us know of updates so we can celebrate with you (or feel your pain). :D

week #32 (8/6):
BartMack - 8/5 sail away, sail away, sail away......
mlebeau - sitting in Southampton trying to hitch a ride across the pond on the Patriot
BrantV - completed production 8/3 (another preemie!)
speed_racer - sitting in Southampton trying to hitch a ride across the pond on the Patriot
Appy - complete 8/5, waiting to go to dock (yet another preemie!)

week #33 (8/13):
parkerea - week #33, but no updated info
joeyjoe9 - scheduled completion 8/9
MiniMoons - scheduled completion 8/8
fs-mini - scheduled completion 8/11
cadbury - scheduled completion 8/11
sequence - est completion by 8/13
Sportty - est completion by 8/10
cooperduper - scheduled completion 8/8
tfaust - est. scheduled completion 8/12

week #34 (8/20):
John in Vancouver - week #34 but no updated info (all alone so far! :( )
aautobee - est. scheduled completion 8/14

Unknowns:
Wetworth - you were told 32, 33, and 34, what did you end up with?
RallyMINI - production #, but what week?
schorah01 - production #, but what week?

If you don't want to call out, that's cool ;) I was just curious who would be finishing near each other and possible shipping with each other. No matter what Mini speed to all! :D

edit: thanks for participating guys! I have updated accordingly :D

Useful FYI: Since I actually live in Cleveland and work in Mentor, my car is on its way to Classic via Charleston. I checked, and aparently they can get processed at either east coast VPC, I imagine it depends how busy each VPC and how much room there are on ships. I expected NY at first, but then waited a few days to get put on the incredibly slow Emden, which took 14 days to get from Southampton to Charleston. :( I know the feeling of waiting.

According to MiniUSA, My MCS is scheduled to be finished by 8/13 and sent to Southhampton early the week of 8/16. Man they're really cranking these babies out!! Jimbo

I think it's week 34, but I really don't care anymore about week #'s: my baby's being built next week!!! Finally! Jimbo

I just talked with ASKMINI and it is confirmed that my build week is 34 (16th August) and that I should get a VIN that week. :D

I assume I'm week 33 ... According to ASKMINI, production started on 7/29 and will complete by August 10th. Next time I call I'll verify the week number to be sure.

Woo-hoo! My MINI is scheduled to be completed on August 9.