Jet and Rust (et al):

I have nothing but positive experiences to report about my '05 MCS. I have about 2600 miles right now and have already installed a 15% pulley and Alta CAI. While I live in CA, I bought my car in Salt Lake City at MINI of Murray (Sales Manager Debbie is terrific!). I was able to get my car in about 3 months instead of nearly a freakin' year! :cool:

I hear lots of noises coming from undernneath my car, but nothing that I'm worried about. There's a bit of clutch rattle, but I think that that's normal. There's a bit of "clank" that occurs just after shifting out of 1st into neutral (I have the a 6-speed manual), and there's a bit of whirring or mechanical noise when the steering wheel is turned all the way to the lock. The latter (or perhaps both) seems to be the LSD, and from what I've read, this is normal. I'm taking a wait-and-see approach.

Again, I'm not worried much about theres noises. I'm more worried if the car doesn't "feel" normal. Oh yeah, I'm worried if the car starts to smell funny, too!

Anyhoo, feel free to ask any questions. Hopefully, I can help. Take care, all!

Johnny L: Can you tell us about the break in period? How many miles is it? What special things do we have to do/not do during this period?

(My husband will be banned from driving the MINI during the break-in period, because he would be tempted to drive the car sideways down the street, testing the G-force/warp drive capabilities on the poor car.)

I ordered the six-speed manual too, so I will listen for the clank. Does MINI consider this a normal thing?

Thanks for the help!

Johnny L :D Good to hear from you!!

Yes, please let us know about the motoring experience. DorianGray and I are at the VDC now. (our cars got off the boat yesterday.)

I'm resisting the urge to pick up the phone and pester my MA for more details on when my car will get on the truck and make the trip to Princeton! (OL still lists estimated delivery date as today!) :p

Go on and call the MA! Perhaps, you might be able to go and see the car at the dealership sooner than you think. :D . Must feel good knowing that you are so close. I still think you will have it for the 22nd...

Jet and Rust (et al):

I have nothing but positive experiences to report about my '05 MCS. I have about 2600 miles right now and have already installed a 15% pulley and Alta CAI. While I live in CA, I bought my car in Salt Lake City at MINI of Murray (Sales Manager Debbie is terrific!). I was able to get my car in about 3 months instead of nearly a freakin' year! :cool:

I hear lots of noises coming from undernneath my car, but nothing that I'm worried about. There's a bit of clutch rattle, but I think that that's normal. There's a bit of "clank" that occurs just after shifting out of 1st into neutral (I have the a 6-speed manual), and there's a bit of whirring or mechanical noise when the steering wheel is turned all the way to the lock. The latter (or perhaps both) seems to be the LSD, and from what I've read, this is normal. I'm taking a wait-and-see approach.

Again, I'm not worried much about theres noises. I'm more worried if the car doesn't "feel" normal. Oh yeah, I'm worried if the car starts to smell funny, too!

Anyhoo, feel free to ask any questions. Hopefully, I can help. Take care, all!

Thanks for the info. Sounds good (excuse the pun), the MCS is full of auditory cues that seem to add to the performance feedback of the vehicle. Let us know it you detect a funny smell... :D

Go on and call the MA! Perhaps, you might be able to go and see the car at the dealership sooner than you think. :D . Must feel good knowing that you are so close. I still think you will have it for the 22nd...


:D so close....and yet...unsure of where she's at. VDC? BMW truck?

I might call my MA...I just feel like a pest if I do. I know, I know, I'll get over it.

I may call on Monday to see if he has an update on delivery.

Yay it is built and it is in the shipping process somewhere. Those it does not show up on the WW site yet.

:D so close....and yet...unsure of where she's at. VDC? BMW truck?

I might call my MA...I just feel like a pest if I do. I know, I know, I'll get over it.

I may call on Monday to see if he has an update on delivery.


I'm with rustyb on this one -- give that MA a call! ;)

Believe me, I'm sure they're used to it and wouldn't mind one bit. After all, it's almost here! You've earned the right to be a bit inquisitive. :D

Yay it is built and it is in the shipping process somewhere. Those it does not show up on the WW site yet.


That's great goofytruax! I wouldn't worry about the WW site just yet though -- it took mine a couple of days post-build date to show up there. ;)

Johnny L: Can you tell us about the break in period? How many miles is it? What special things do we have to do/not do during this period?

(My husband will be banned from driving the MINI during the break-in period, because he would be tempted to drive the car sideways down the street, testing the G-force/warp drive capabilities on the poor car.)

I ordered the six-speed manual too, so I will listen for the clank. Does MINI consider this a normal thing?

Thanks for the help!


i think the break in period is something like 1250 miles. i'm too lazy to look it up :rolleyes: but you're supposed to [supposedly] keep it below 4500 RPMs. i've heard that some people go by this, and some don't think it will harm the car.

SilverWolf,
Have you checked for an EDD yet? I would wager that one was there by now, since our vehicles are on the same vessel. Not too much longer now... :p

still don't have one. lol.


this is all i've got:

The break-in period is 1250 miles. During this time, the manual says that you're not supposed to rev the engine past 4.5k rpms.

Here's what I did:

I bought the car, let it warm up, and I drove it HARD! That is, I accelerated hard and did a lot of aggressive engine breaking. While I never really redlined it, I didn't necessarily treat the 4.5k rpm mark as sacred. I subscribe to the school of thought that you have to drive a car hard in the beginning to get the rings to seat properly, particularly since the MINI has a long oil-change interval. Anyway, I feel that my car is running like a top right now. I think that if you "baby" the car, it'll never "grow up."

Now, when I drive the car, I try to redline it a lot; it's made for that. I know that there'll be others who might disagree, but I say, "Drive it till it breaks. Then fix it and drive it some more." I mean, this is a sports car; it's not a little red wagon! :D :p :cool:

That's great goofytruax! I wouldn't worry about the WW site just yet though -- it took mine a couple of days post-build date to show up there. ;)

I second this notion, as it did take a couple of frustrating days for the W&W site to reflect the true status of my car. I thought I had been bumped, but then I remembered a post from jetstar that mentioned waiting and checking again, which did the trick.

still don't have one. lol.


this is all i've got:


That's horrible. Do you suppose it is taking a bit longer because the car has to travel farther? Strange, indeed :confused: .

At least your OL stipulates the interior you have chosen. There is a dearth of information on my car in the "REVIEW ORDER DETAILS" section of the OL (i.e., not all options are listed, and the interior is not specified), and it is a bit unsettling :confused: because there is no way to know if the car was built exactly to spec. I will see soon enough.

OK gang, the oracle known as the Owner's Lounge has determined that my car is at the Distribution Center. Yoo-hoo! (duh)

The estimated delivery date is .....drum roll.....June 17th! :eek:

At this point, I'm totally amused. I must be REALLY demented :D

Thanks everyone for the break-in period info. I may subscribe to the Johnny L school of driving and just drive it, while being mindful of the 4,500 RPM limit.

I finally got an estimated delivery date from the OL: June 26th. Of course, with the way the OL works and the experience of others like jetstar1, we'll see if that date is anywhere near true.

In any case, getting the date just adds to the already unbearable suspense and excitement! :p

Thanks for the info that W&W is slow on the uptake. The OL is now showing awaiting transport so that is a good sign. The next ship leaves the 20th so hope fully My Mini will be on it. What is funny is the ship that just left (18th) gets to charelston on the 1st and the one leaving the 20th gets there the 2nd.

Thanks for the info that W&W is slow on the uptake. The OL is now showing awaiting transport so that is a good sign. The next ship leaves the 20th so hope fully My Mini will be on it. What is funny is the ship that just left (18th) gets to charelston on the 1st and the one leaving the 20th gets there the 2nd.

Perhaps the second ship has a supercharger on it :D

OK gang, the Owner's Lounge shows a NEW :eek: Estimated Delivery Date for my MINI, and it is......

June 18th!

:rolleyes:

This is gotta be the date that the car arrives at the dealer. Or else the OL is just messed up. I'm hoping for the former, and believing the latter :D

I'm still amused by this whole EDD thing. I'm sick, I know it.

Delivery date 7/2/05! It just updated. My wife has officially declared me obsessive.

The funny part is that th ship is scheduled to dock in South Carolina on 7/1. How are they getting it to me by 7/2?

Delivery date 7/2/05! It just updated. My wife has officially declared me obsessive.

The funny part is that th ship is scheduled to dock in South Carolina on 7/1. How are they getting it to me by 7/2?

they're not.. haha.




no EDD for me still, but i'm not worried. in fact, maybe it's better that way.

they're not.. haha.




no EDD for me still, but i'm not worried. in fact, maybe it's better that way.

I think you are right. The EDD is meaningless, as everything in the OL has been, and you are able to see when the ISOLDE gets to each port. No too much longer now. I should have my car by the end of this week, provided there are no problems...

Jetstar, we should be viewing some MCSC pics soon! :D

Delivery date 7/2/05! It just updated. My wife has officially declared me obsessive.

The funny part is that th ship is scheduled to dock in South Carolina on 7/1. How are they getting it to me by 7/2?


The odds are not in your favor on this one... :p

I think you are right. The EDD is meaningless, as everything in the OL has been, and you are able to see when the ISOLDE gets to each port. No too much longer now. I should have my car by the end of this week, provided there are no problems...

Jetstar, we should be viewing some MCSC pics soon! :D

I sure hope so :D As soon as I figure out how to do that!

I will call my MA tomorrow to see what the deal is with the delivery date, and to have him save the window sticker so I can fax to my insurance agent.

Ok so My mini is sitting awaiting transport. I keep checking W&W's site but no word yet. I'm trying for patients but it just doesn't seem to be coming to me. I got thinking last night about a name for my MINI and the name Sith Lord came to mind. I have a Chile Red with Black top and chrome lined coming. What do you think?

Ok so My mini is sitting awaiting transport. I keep checking W&W's site but no word yet. I'm trying for patients but it just doesn't seem to be coming to me. I got thinking last night about a name for my MINI and the name Sith Lord came to mind. I have a Chile Red with Black top and chrome lined coming. What do you think?

I like it, but I'm biased. My black Silverado SS pickup truck is named Vader.

I have a name picked for the MINI, but I won't reveal until she arrives, and I look at her for the first time. My husband thinks this is a sign that I'm officially nuts. :D

I like it, but I'm biased. My black Silverado SS pickup truck is named Vader.

I have a name picked for the MINI, but I won't reveal until she arrives, and I look at her for the first time. My husband thinks this is a sign that I'm officially nuts. :D


hehe. i keep referring to my MINI by name as if he's already here, or a person or something. i don't need to see Callum to know that's his name. and i think he likes it.


lol.

Yay I'm finally booked but alas I have to wait 3 extra days in at the port. Sail date of the 23rd on the TRINIDAD. The LIBERTY leaves the 20th so here's hoping I slip some money in the right dock workers hands to move up a ship.

Yay I'm finally booked but alas I have to wait 3 extra days in at the port. Sail date of the 23rd on the TRINIDAD. The LIBERTY leaves the 20th so here's hoping I slip some money in the right dock workers hands to move up a ship.

You never know, you could get picked up by one oof the K-Line ships, or you might have been already. I haven't checked the schedules, but I'm sure it's a possibility...

The W&W site has the Isolde as having left NY/NJ headed for MD as of 7:48 June 19.

Nice :D !

Ok so My mini is sitting awaiting transport. I keep checking W&W's site but no word yet. I'm trying for patients but it just doesn't seem to be coming to me. I got thinking last night about a name for my MINI and the name Sith Lord came to mind. I have a Chile Red with Black top and chrome lined coming. What do you think?


If you are going with the Star Wars theme, red and black brings Darth Maul to mind...

The Owner's Lounge updated today to reflect the current status of my car as "At Your MINI Dealer." Estimated Delivery Date of June 18th. :eek:

I left a message for my MA to call me this morning. We'll see what this means! They better be prepping her for a speedy presentation right now! I mean, how long can dealer prep take? She 's a little car :D

The Owner's Lounge updated today to reflect the current status of my car as "At Your MINI Dealer." Estimated Delivery Date of June 18th. :eek:

I left a message for my MA to call me this morning. We'll see what this means! They better be prepping her for a speedy presentation right now! I mean, how long can dealer prep take? She 's a little car :D


As "slow" as the OL is, the car really must be at the dealership. You should be receiving a call today scheduling the much anticipated delivery... Give us details, we are all very happy for you! :D