2003 Born on Sept 6th.

[Bad Ess]

I hope the suspension is not to soft from all the bouncing at sea.

[Clutch Cargo]

Quote:

Originally posted by indiman
Just got off the phone with Mini USA... he seemed to think that the 'E' stands for the plant that the car is manufactured in. I asked him if there is more than one plant and he said he thinks there is but couldn't give more info. Hmmmmm. Very interesting.

The MINI USA help desk is pretty helpless for any question that strays outside of its very narrow range. I don't understand why EVERYone doesn't want to know what the codes in the VIN mean, but it seems to be an issue only for us obsessives.

There is only one plant, in Oxford. But it has at least two production lines, as you can see from the "Essentials: Making The MINI" factory tour accessible at the top of this window.

My VIN is for a std-tranny Cooper, and it's TC38662. But I think I've seen S VINs that start with TC, I wonder if it's because a production line is normally but not always dedicated to either Cooper or S.

[ezrally]

Hey Bad Ess/others, OL is working!!

Only a day later (from 182) =awaiting transport

Maybe the "box" is next

[eBrit]

I feel sick!

Partly from following the wallowings of Jingu Maru...now in BIG storm ...

and partly...

from discovering my MCS is now in bl%%dy Yorkshire

Apparently it is now status "consigned to dealer" which really means its gone to some God-forsaken place called Thorne, which is surrounded by moors, has a canal, two stations and not much else...apart from the BMW QA centre, that is. From here it goes back to a holding area...until they can fill a transporter with 8 MINI's and BMW's needed by my dealer. Estimated delivery to them is currently "the middle of next week".

SO, the race is on ...

Will you nine sixers in the States get your MINI before eBrit who lives one hour from Cowley and ordered on January 2nd?

eBrit

Schitzo

[monica]

Quote:

Originally posted by eBrit
I feel sick!

...Will you nine sixers in the States get your MINI before eBrit who lives one hour from Cowley and ordered on January 2nd?

eBrit

Schitzo

I don't think so but it could be real close. Still too close considering there is an ocean between us. I hope this d*mn storm doesn't delay my MINI.

[snid]

My Sept 6th estimated, September 4th actual velvet red cooper is still status 155... wah!

[eBrit]

Quote:

Originally posted by eBrit
I feel sick!

Partly from discovering my MCS is now in bl%%dy Yorkshire

Apparently it is now status "consigned to dealer" which really means its gone to some God-forsaken place called Thorne, which is surrounded by moors, has a canal, two stations and not much else...apart from the BMW QA centre, that is.

Thorne! It has had occasional mentions on MINI2 before, but I've never really heard of it until today. IT IS NOW THE CENTRE OF MY WORLD My MCS is there

So I've surfed (and surfed and surfed)

This is the sum total of my knowledge of Thorne

Local Web Site says

"The Best Things:
co op, food shops, the natives
The Worst Things :
gippos peadophiles and especially townies
Hook-up Spot
(That hallowed spot where everyone hangs around with their mates dreaming of the time when they can get into the pubs or clubs -- a bench, a corner: you name it.) :
co op go there on skates boards wot eva no ********s or townies allowed or we will kill u so dont mess but if u think you want somewhere 4 a mess about on your board or blades come down
Clubs (Dance Music) :
youth club, white hart, red bear, green dragon, punch bowl
Music Venues :
none
Food :
turkey d's, golden cod, mill chippy, seven seas, bits and pizzas etc
Pubs :
hundreds
Cafes and coffee shops :
loads
Buskers, Street Entertainers :
elvis "


Arial photo of Thorne shown below. Where's my MINI? Is Thorne really this bad? (Can't be, surely?]

eBrit

[monica]

snid-
I wanted a velvet red MINI but I cracked under pressure. Good for you I'm going to go cry now...

[MINIMENC]

Slow day in Southampton - latest MCS was TD57936 - barely 10 more since yesterday. Must have had a lot of MC and CVT MC builds arrive.

Ebrit - sorry things are becoming so painfully slow for you. It's so ironic that after all the information you've been able to give us, there's very little about yours. Hang in there - we'll all have our Mini's by Christmas

[ezrally]

Quote:

Originally posted by snid
My Sept 6th estimated, September 4th actual velvet red cooper is still status 155... wah!

Not to worry, ours was:Fri=155
Mon=155/160
Tues=182 !

[Huey]

Quote:

Originally posted by eBrit
Arial photo of Thorne shown below. Where's my MINI? Is Thorne really this bad? (Can't be, surely?]

eBrit

May be we could organise a mass break out.....

[eBrit]

JINGU MARU - HALF WAY TO HALIFAX


At 6:00 this morning GMT Jingu Maru had reached Longitude 32.10W, Latitude 46.50N....she's half way

Monica...I hope you've got your camera ready for when she sails into New York/Bayonne Harbour

Huey...

Quote:

May be we could organise a mass break out.....

Maybe? I'm worried my car will smell of chips cooked in dripping for ever Could we set the Peaks Run on to it?

eBrit
"It can't be long..Can it?"

[snid]

Quote:

Originally posted by ezrally


Not to worry, ours was:Fri=155
Mon=155/160
Tues=182 !

As of this morning, I'm booked on the Aida headed to NY!

[monica]

Quote:

Originally posted by eBrit
JINGU MARU - HALF WAY TO HALIFAX

Monica...I hope you've got your camera ready for when she sails into New York/Bayonne Harbour

New York/Bayonne now we're getting somewhere. I would really love to try and get a pic. but I ned to have a better clue off where I should take it from. There are loads of ports around here, lots of areas not readily viewable from dry land and increased security due to 9/11 . Don't want to land in jail for wandering into the wrong area.

[eBrit]

Quote:

Originally posted by monica


New York/Bayonne now we're getting somewhere. I would really love to try and get a pic. but I ned to have a better clue off where I should take it from. There are loads of ports around here, lots of areas not readily viewable from dry land and increased security due to 9/11 .

Part 1 of your question is easy. I'll post up some maps later. Jingu Maru will dock at NEAT, Bayonne (North East Automarine Terminal) on the 17th. The BMW VPC is right next door.

Quote:

Don't want to land in jail for wandering into the wrong area.

As for not being arrested....a bit more difficult, especially as the Military Ocean Terminal is right next door. You could try asking for permission?

eBrit