Fantastic factory tour today! - MINI Cooper Forum

Nick2 · #1 (**permalink**) Dec 16th, 2006, 05:58 PM

I had my eagerly awaited factory tour of the Oxford plant today. I was simply blown away by the place - I keep thinking about how they manage to get the right wheels with the right trim on the right car etc.......its mind boggling but they make it look so cool and easy!

I was amazed at how close to the action we were - dodging sparks from welding robots and having to consciously keep out of the way of the workers or associates as they are known there - it was great.

The guides were excellent and spouted loads of facts and figures with real knowledge, enthusiasm and humour.

We literally saw bits of metal being welded together at one end and shiny new Minis coming out of the other. Apparently its a 24 hour start to finish process with the cars off to the dealers/docks within 24 hours of that. I think my dealer must have taken more time PDI ing the car than it actually took to construct!

All in all a truly memorable morning and thanks to the people at Mini if they are reading this - its a must do in my books.

Nick

supa-dupa-cooper · #2 (**permalink**) Dec 16th, 2006, 06:37 PM

glad you enjoyed it, what time are saturday tours? im going to go again next year.

I was amazed how everything came together too! My MINI was built on 1/03/06 and delivered to the dealer on 3/03/06 so a very quick turn around then!

Nick2 · #3 (**permalink**) Dec 16th, 2006, 06:47 PM

Don't know whether they have others but our was at 0915

Nick

@Mini@ · #4 (**permalink**) Dec 16th, 2006, 07:05 PM

How Funny I was there today too! but it was a laugh i have wrote my little adventure on mini2mini.org.
Brillant place and so interesting!

Joanne

118 · #5 (**permalink**) Dec 16th, 2006, 07:07 PM

it's ace isn't it - a few of us from KAES MINI Club went last week and had a fab time. I've been 3 times now, and will always go again and again

kevkbuk · #6 (**permalink**) Dec 16th, 2006, 07:58 PM

Did you see lots of Cooper Ss waiting to be 'fixed' ???

118 · #7 (**permalink**) Dec 16th, 2006, 08:00 PM

I don't remember noticing any

@Mini@ · #8 (**permalink**) Dec 17th, 2006, 02:50 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by kevkbuk (original)

Did you see lots of Cooper Ss waiting to be 'fixed' ???

There was a few lined up at the end of assembly line about 8 we watched a guy check a cooper on a computer as the front washers wasnt working or the rear wiper. very clever what they do.

*Vikki* · #9 (**permalink**) Dec 18th, 2006, 01:30 PM

yes i saw a few, they are having major probs with getting the lines of the bonnet etc to match up and not leave huge gaps! went with kaes club.