[Sejanus]

Quote:

Originally posted by stanMINI
My car has been sitting on the dock for a full week now. The problem is not so much the length of time, but the unfairness of the process along the way. MINI has made the mistake of letting enough information out to let people see just how unfair and unorganized the process is. In addition to that, they provide a customer service phone line that can provide very little additional information and no means to escalate problems and intervene to make the delivery process more equitable. End Rant!

All very valid points, but I'd still rather have some info than none.

[Daft]

I couldn’t agree more. I’m in the same situation as you are. My car has been finished since 7/05 and I still don’t have it. Everytime I call and get the same info “it hasn’t made it to the VPC yet” I want
the person on the other end of the line to be able to say that they can do something about it.

The problem with having this information is that it raises expectations. When they aren’t met. I get angry. Right now I hate MINI. I want my car or a very good explanation for why I don’t have it! I have neither. End rant.

[~sugar~]

My Cooper is status 160. When will I be able to track it through the WW site? I noticed the message that states:
"Wallenius Wilhelmsen Lines has indicated that BMW/MINI has advised them to no longer provide information regarding the shipment of Minis directly to the MINI purchasers. BMW/MINI has stated that all inquiries (e.g. email, phone calls) regarding MINI shipments, or shipment issues, are to be dealt with by contacting MINIUSA or through the local MINI dealership." Will I not be able to use the site?

[Sejanus]

Quote:

Originally posted by ~sugar~
My Cooper is status 160. When will I be able to track it through the WW site? I noticed the message that states:
"Wallenius Wilhelmsen Lines has indicated that BMW/MINI has advised them to no longer provide information regarding the shipment of Minis directly to the MINI purchasers. BMW/MINI has stated that all inquiries (e.g. email, phone calls) regarding MINI shipments, or shipment issues, are to be dealt with by contacting MINIUSA or through the local MINI dealership." Will I not be able to use the site?

I think you'll still be able to use the WW site, they just will refer you to MINIUSA (or refuse to answer I suppose) if you contect them directly via phone, e-mail, post, etc. Your car should start showing up on WW when it arrives at Southampton. As for the wait, hang in there folks! It drove me crazy (my wife started accusing me of being obsessive when I hit about day 6 on the dock), but your MINI will get off that pier!

[Terrence]

Don Juan ship arrived Aug 13 car still sitting at port .

[dwkane]

32 days in New Jersey. Unloaded off the Takasago on June 21, got to the VPC on Aug 1, then at the VPC since then. As of this morning, ASK-MINI tells me it's on the truck heading for the dealer. I'm too numb to get excited about it yet. It also spent 31 days at the port in Southampton. It was a June 7 production car. Now I get to go out to New York from CA to pick it up and drive it home.

[Terrence]

Quote:

Originally posted by dwkane
32 days in New Jersey. Unloaded off the Takasago on June 21, got to the VPC on Aug 1, then at the VPC since then. As of this morning, ASK-MINI tells me it's on the truck heading for the dealer. I'm too numb to get excited about it yet. It also spent 31 days at the port in Southampton. It was a June 7 production car. Now I get to go out to New York from CA to pick it up and drive it home.

DWKANE .. you are a saint i thought my wait was bad .

[~sugar~]

Just called MINIUSA, and my car left Southampton today to be delivered in PORT HUENEME, CA. He said it would get to the "port of exit" in about a week. Is the port of exit the destination or something else? I know it will not reach Cali in a week.

[Sejanus]

Quote:

Originally posted by dwkane
32 days in New Jersey. Unloaded off the Takasago on June 21, got to the VPC on Aug 1, then at the VPC since then. As of this morning, ASK-MINI tells me it's on the truck heading for the dealer. I'm too numb to get excited about it yet. It also spent 31 days at the port in Southampton. It was a June 7 production car. Now I get to go out to New York from CA to pick it up and drive it home.

Man oh man! I'd a been a gibbering idiot by now if mine had dragged out that long. Good luck!

[dwkane]

Thanks. I consider myself a very patient man, and this experience certainly tested that. In my post I mistakenly said my car was loaded off the Takasago on June 21st, and I meant July 21st. It sat at the port in Southampton from June 12 until July 13, when it was loaded. The dealer called me a few minutes ago and told me they will have the car tomorrow, and I can pick it up Wednesday morning. I'll fly out to New York from San Francisco on Tuesday night, and have 6 days to drive home. I wonder if this is a new record, 82 days from production date to delivery on the east coast.

[BruceK]

Quote:

Originally posted by dwkane
Thanks. I consider myself a very patient man, and this experience certainly tested that. In my post I mistakenly said my car was loaded off the Takasago on June 21st, and I meant July 21st. It sat at the port in Southampton from June 12 until July 13, when it was loaded. The dealer called me a few minutes ago and told me they will have the car tomorrow, and I can pick it up Wednesday morning. I'll fly out to New York from San Francisco on Tuesday night, and have 6 days to drive home. I wonder if this is a new record, 82 days from production date to delivery on the east coast.

You are extremely patient. It's great to hear that you and you new MINI will soon be united.

I also flew to New York to pick up my MINI, and I had a great trip home (although your trip will be a bit longer than my 2,300 miles). I hope you can take the time to enjoy the journey with your new MINI.

Of course, the hard part will be to let the MINI break-in properly for the first 1200 miles. I made sure I varied my vehicle speed and also shifted between 4th, 5th and 6th and back down again every 5 minutes or so to let the engine run at different revs.

Once you're past 1200 miles or so, you'll really enjoy the car!

[dwkane]

Thanks, Bruce. I'm looking forward to the drive. I had originally planned to take a 2 week vacation at the beginning of August, and have a total of 18 days to drive it back with my 10 year old son. When it finally made it to the the VPC on Aug 1, we had to decide what to do. Since my son wouldn't have been able to come along if I waited any longer, we decided to go out that night and take our chances. After all, once it makes it to the VPC, it should at the dealer within 3 or 4 days, right? Not this car. It had been damaged somewhere along the line, a large scratch to the right quarter panel, and had to be repaired, but we couldn't even get that info for a week. That was the worst part of this wait, being out there waiting and wondering when it show at the dealer. We still had a nice vacation, staying with friends in Connecticut for a week, then taking the train to DC and spending a week there. But it was disappointing having to come home without the car. That was the risk I took, though.

[peppericee]

To make this clear: When the WW site says "DELIVERED FROM," does that mean that the car has been delivered to the VDC? The ship with my MINI arrived at the port yesterday. Today I checked the website and it says it was delivered from Port at 8:00 AM. Can I assum it is at the VDC or waiting in another lot? Thanks all.

[Sejanus]

Could be either way, but my guess is your MINI is sitting in a lot. Its time to start checking with MINIUSA if they still answer those kinda questions.

[Callaway]

Anyone ever watch the HBO show, "The Wire." I can guarantee you'll learn alot about why your Mini is at the docks so long. They are probably taking all the smuggled stuff outta the nooks and crannies of your car.

http://www.hbo.com/thewire/

PS> JK btw

[edm81363]

Mine was there for a month. No damage, just sitting there.