[Tazminia]

Quote: Originally Posted by FentonMcD

4/3/04

Berth 3

17:50. Looks like the MINIs are here!

News like this sure is easy on the eyes
Thanks for the update!

[rsinsheimer]

It turns out that Ralph Schomp MINI (in Colorado) has a discount store on eBay for OEM MINI Parts.

The reason I'm bringing this up now is that I noticed that they're saying that if you install the driving/rallye (choose your name) lamps and you've purchased your MINI with the Krypton lamps with the washer system, you need to think about the effect of the additional weight of the rallye/driving lamps.

Please see their web page for further details (and a pretty decent price for the OEM lamp kit).

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7964744728&category=33 709#ebayphotohosting

[AprilWhine]

I have the Xenon lights and don't think I need driving lights, but when has need mattered? Thanks for the tip about installation.

[Kellzir]

Quote: Originally Posted by FentonMcD

4/3/04

Berth 3

17:50. Looks like the MINIs are here!

That's GREAT news! especially for my mini thanks for informing us.

[erickvonzipper]

Quote: Originally Posted by Ken30307

Oh..and today while backing out of my driveway and trying to avoid a cat that dashed behind me, I tore the side mirror off of my Saturn! I hope I make it to the 25th of April!

K

Ouch, I hate when that happens.

One time, when backing out of a gated enclosure, I almost tore the door off my Saturn. Bent it back waaay past 90 degrees. It wouldn't close and had to be rehung at a body shop. I was wearing the big pointy cap after that one.

How's this for grrr-ness? A couple of days ago I see a Cooper S sitting in front of my next door neighbor's house. I figured that someone with good taste was visiting. Then I saw it there again yesterday in the driveway while my neighbors were out front. He bought it for his wife right off the dealer's lot. Their weight time for their new Mini: one day. I guess that's what can happen when you are able to find a car either exactly, or close enough to exactly what you want. And here I thought I'd be the first on my block.

Zip

[rsinsheimer]

Quote: Originally Posted by AprilWhine

I have the Xenon lights and don't think I need driving lights, but when has need mattered? Thanks for the tip about installation.

The Xenon lights, yeah, that's what I meant to say! That's the ticket!



I rather agree, if you've got the Xenons it's hard to imagine why one would need the driving/rallye lights too, but they do look cool.

If one were going for the rallye look, the four PIAA lamps that some of the websites are selling would be the hot ticket, and wouldn't weigh down your bonnet!

For example:
http://www.altaminiperformance.com/p...r/lightbar.htm

$400, such a deal!

In California you'd get the pleasure of a long chat on the side of the road with one of our ever-helpful CHP if you were caught driving on the highway with the lamp covers off.

[Ken30307]

Yes...but you have the satisfaction of knowing that your MINI was built JUST for you and it's EXACTLY what you want. When I was looking at my MINI..they were some that were close to what I wanted..but I wanted MY MINI...it's worth the wait.

Quote: Originally Posted by erickvonzipper

Ouch, I hate when that happens.

One time, when backing out of a gated enclosure, I almost tore the door off my Saturn. Bent it back waaay past 90 degrees. It wouldn't close and had to be rehung at a body shop. I was wearing the big pointy cap after that one.

How's this for grrr-ness? A couple of days ago I see a Cooper S sitting in front of my next door neighbor's house. I figured that someone with good taste was visiting. Then I saw it there again yesterday in the driveway while my neighbors were out front. He bought it for his wife right off the dealer's lot. Their weight time for their new Mini: one day. I guess that's what can happen when you are able to find a car either exactly, or close enough to exactly what you want. And here I thought I'd be the first on my block.

Zip

[crosebud]

Quote: Originally Posted by rsinsheimer

If one were going for the rallye look, the four PIAA lamps that some of the websites are selling would be the hot ticket, and wouldn't weigh down your bonnet!


In California you'd get the pleasure of a long chat on the side of the road with one of our ever-helpful CHP if you were caught driving on the highway with the lamp covers off.

Oh no, are driving lights illegal in California?

[rsinsheimer]

Quote: Originally Posted by crosebud

Oh no, are driving lights illegal in California?

I may be out of date, but they sure were 20 years ago when I had a long conversation on this topic with a CHP. It's not that they're illegal, exactly, it's just that using them on the public roads is illegal. So if you look around, you'll see lots of pickup trucks with tons of driving lights on racks above the cab, but they're all covered with a plastic shield. That's not to protect them, it's to keep the CHP away.

Kinda takes the fun out of them, and then there's the extra special feeling you'll get when you accidentally turn them on with the covers in place, and turn the covers into plastic slag.

[crosebud]

Quote: Originally Posted by rsinsheimer

I may be out of date, but they sure were 20 years ago when I had a long conversation on this topic with a CHP. It's not that they're illegal, exactly, it's just that using them on the public roads is illegal. So if you look around, you'll see lots of pickup trucks with tons of driving lights on racks above the cab, but they're all covered with a plastic shield. That's not to protect them, it's to keep the CHP away.

Kinda takes the fun out of them, and then there's the extra special feeling you'll get when you accidentally turn them on with the covers in place, and turn the covers into plastic slag.

Interesting. I've been wondering why I can't seem to find any MINIs on the streets around here with driving lights. Maybe this is why. I don't have to have the lights or anything and didn't order them with my car. But I think they look cool.

[paulr]

Quote: Originally Posted by rsinsheimer

Someone else already told you the sad fact -- your car has to move further from Chicago before it gets put onto dry land. It'll get extra-special TLC at the Charleston factility, then it gets shipped off to Chicago. One (of many things) I don't know is whether they truck it all the way from South Carolina to Illinois, or whether there's a rail component somewhere along the way.

Anyone?

I ride the train in/out of Chicago every weekday from lovely Geneva and pass a rather expansive vehicle processing facility on the Union Pacific just west of West Chicago. I see lots of VW, Audi, Toyota, and Nissan cars but never any BMWs or MINIs. It would be cool to see my MINI there on my way to work and say, 'hey that's mine!'

I'll ask my MA next time I talk to him.

-paul

[paulr]

Quote: Originally Posted by Don Plumley

Understood - thanks AprilWhine and btdoyle!

I'm planning on a 4/22 pickup - that's a week for the VPC and transit and a week for dealer prep, so hopefully everything stays on schedule and I can drive it back before the end of the month!

Hi Don, another MB cruise mate! Were you a week 12 production? What did you order?

I also ordered mine from Patrick and was given an estimated delivery of around 4/21.

Maybe I'll see you at the dealer

-paul

[rsinsheimer]

Quote: Originally Posted by crosebud

Interesting. I've been wondering why I can't seem to find any MINIs on the streets around here with driving lights. Maybe this is why. I don't have to have the lights or anything and didn't order them with my car. But I think they look cool.

In fact, the MINI Rear Fog Light was illegal in California until January 1 of this year.

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d12/vc24602.htm

I guess they measured that it was "not lower than 15 inches" when there was no one sitting in the car.



-- Roger

[SteveR]

To all my Mini friends:

Found my Mini!
I had written a 6 instead of a G in my VIN. (got it by phone...askmini)
So I thought my car was on the K-line (maybe Andes Highway)
My car was on the W&W line's Cypress Trail. She is now in N.Y.! Unloaded 4/2 I think.
"At distribution center" should show up at OL later today.
What helped solve my mystery was "review order detail" at the OL site.
I had never looked in there before....

One thing that I don't understand....if I live in Maryland, why did they choose this ship?
The Cypress Trail does not go to Baltimore.
The next ship, Madam Butterfly arrives in Baltimore on 4/6.
Maybe it gets to the dealer faster by road transport, and all the costs just cancel out?

Well I should be able to see my Dark Silver Cooper S sooner than I thought!
I had expected an end of April delivery considering that I ordered the car on 3/4/2005.
Only about one month from order to delivery! That is fantastic.
Thanks to April, and all those who had posted hints and links about their car's journey.
All the information from this Minni2 forum was helpful!
Good luck to all the April and May production parents!
Steve

[AprilWhine]

For Steve and Monkeynet:

MINI has vehicle processing facilities at NY, SC and Pt Hueneme CA. That is why all cars come into one of those three places.

Steve, my car was on the Cypress Trails also. The WW site hasn't updated yet, but the car was turned over to the VDC on 4/2 and I have an estimated delivery date of 4/7.

[Tom B]

Quote: Originally Posted by Ken30307

Yes...but you have the satisfaction of knowing that your MINI was built JUST for you and it's EXACTLY what you want. When I was looking at my MINI..they were some that were close to what I wanted..but I wanted MY MINI...it's worth the wait.

Ken,
My feelings exactly. The wait was, at times, excruciating, but it's almost over.

Tom

[Tazminia]

Quote: Originally Posted by SteveR

To all my Mini friends:

Found my Mini!
I had written a 6 instead of a G in my VIN. (got it by phone...askmini)
So I thought my car was on the K-line (maybe Andes Highway)
My car was on the W&W line's Cypress Trail. She is now in N.Y.! Unloaded 4/2 I think.
"At distribution center" should show up at OL later today.
What helped solve my mystery was "review order detail" at the OL site.
I had never looked in there before....

One thing that I don't understand....if I live in Maryland, why did they choose this ship?
The Cypress Trail does not go to Baltimore.
The next ship, Madam Butterfly arrives in Baltimore on 4/6.
Maybe it gets to the dealer faster by road transport, and all the costs just cancel out?

Well I should be able to see my Dark Silver Cooper S sooner than I thought!
I had expected an end of April delivery considering that I ordered the car on 3/4/2005.
Only about one month from order to delivery! That is fantastic.
Thanks to April, and all those who had posted hints and links about their car's journey.
All the information from this Minni2 forum was helpful!
Good luck to all the April and May production parents!
Steve

Steve, from what I have been able to gather, a lot of the WW ships and even the K-Line I was on stop at Baltimore but for other deliveries, not our Minis. They still need to go to the VPC which uses the Charleston SC port. So they DO make a stop up north first, but nothing as it relates to us.
Hope that helps and congrats on making U.S. soil!
Randy

[btdoyle]

Grrrreat news. looked at the owners lounge at my order details and what do i see? a 4/11/05 delivery date! I am guessing that this is a little optimistic for a delivery date so I don't know why they put that up since I did not even think my car was getting into the port until the 11th. Maybe it is on another ship the 11th is next Monday! I do not think i can get out there until maybe Thursday but still. That is really exciting. Check it out!

[btdoyle]

How many of you guys and gals are going to have daytime running lights programmed to be on when you get your car? I am seriously considering doing it. It is supposed to cut down on avoidable pedestrian accidents quite a lot.

[Tazminia]

Quote: Originally Posted by btdoyle

How many of you guys and gals are going to have daytime running lights programmed to be on when you get your car? I am seriously considering doing it. It is supposed to cut down on avoidable pedestrian accidents quite a lot.

The wife and I decided to not have the running lights on during the day. Don't ask me why...maybe we are just old fashioned. I never was a fan of them even though they are probably a good thing to have.
From my experience on running to calls of pedestrian/vehicle accidents, the largest (by far for around here anyways) cause was the pedestrian running/darting out between cars and not paying attention. We had come to the conclusion that if the person was going to be that careless and not look, no amount of lights would prevent those particular accidents.
Hence, I just don't want to have lights on all the time.

Also, on your delivery date...(mine is the 10th) is that to us or the dealer? I never had heard either way.
Randy