[johnsocal]

I heard that while 05's are on ships on their way to American shores and the first batch could be here within the next 2 weeks or less but it rumored that those cars wont actually be able to go into customers hands until early September.

Does federalizing 05's require that these cars will not actually be sold to the customers (and taken home) until early September or something?

It appears that it doesn't prevent people from placing orders and etc for 05's, but does look like it prevents them from being taken home?

[gabe]

Quote: Originally Posted by johnsocal

I heard that while 05's are on ships on their way to American shores and the first batch could be here within the next 2 weeks or less but it rumored that those cars wont actually be able to go into customers hands until early September.

Does federalizing 05's require that these cars will not actually be sold to the customers (and taken home) until early September or something?

Does this not prevent people from placing orders and etc, but does it prevent them from being taken home?

Actually there are 2005 cars sitting in New Jersey right now... i think we'll hear more about this in the coming days.

[afromanbob]

Mines not even built yet! *cries* ...

[johnsocal]

Quote: Originally Posted by gabe

Actually there are 2005 cars sitting in New Jersey right now... i think we'll hear more about this in the coming days.

What news is expected in the coming days?

[Poisonedwell]

Where did you get this info johnsocal? My 05'MCS is scheduled to ship tomorrow so I hope you're wrong

[TomH]

Just out of interest (since it obviously doesn't affect me)... What is "federalization"?

The few useful results I could find with Google suggest that it is something to do with meeting US regulations (on emissions maybe). But wouldn't cars built for export to the US come from the factory with all these requirements already met?

[sequence]

Quote: Originally Posted by TomH

What is "federalization"? The few useful results I could find with Google suggest that it is something to do with meeting US regulations (on emissions maybe). But wouldn't cars built for export to the US come from the factory with all these requirements already met?

Exactly. Sounds like yet another M2 rumor that does no more than create unwanted anxiety. Jimbo

[atmtn]

Quote: Originally Posted by sequence

Exactly. Sounds like yet another M2 rumor that does no more than create unwanted anxiety.

It's possible this is nothing more than a rumor (which I certainy hope, since my 05 hits U.S shores tomorrow ), but I spoke with my father (who is a GM that's been working in the auto trade for longer than I've been alive) and he said it's not unthinkable. According to him, federalization does indeed have to do with inspection of new models to assure they meet various federal standards before they can be released to the market. He didn't go into great detail, but did mention that he would be surprised if BMW hadn't sorted this out prior to sending the Minis to U.S docks, as that will just create a pointless pile up of incoming vehicles. Hopefully that's the case...

[BrantV]

There's nothing special about September for model year changes in the US, like other countries. Some cars have increased the model year as early as April/May.

I do wonder if the increase in HP requires new emissions certification?

[johnsocal]

Quote:

There's nothing special about September for model year changes in the US, like other countries. Some cars have increased the model year as early as April/May.

I do wonder if the increase in HP requires new emissions certification?

And most likely the new 5-speed getrag in the MC needs to get re-tested for emissions too.

The extra weight of the 05 convertible might cause that particular model to get held up. The extra weight of the canvas roof and mechanics in conjunction with its non-aerodynamic design might alter its emissions and mileage ,but hopefully that wont cause delays with the 05 hardtop.

When the Mazda RX8 launched in the US last year they had alot of cars sitting at the US ports on both coasts for almost an extra month until they got the final certification of approval.


Note: This might be MiniUSA's topsecret way to sell off all those 2004 MC40's they can't seem to get rid of (how many of those 1000 MC40's have they sold anyway?). By delaying the 05's some people will buy an MC40 just to get a Mini before summer is over (yes, I'am joking)

[Poisonedwell]

Quote: Originally Posted by johnsocal

Note: This might be MiniUSA's topsecret way to sell off all those 2004 MC40's they can't seem to get rid of (how many of those 1000 MC40's have they sold anyway?). By delaying the 05's some people will buy an MC40 just to get a Mini before summer is over (yes, I'am joking)

I can't see why anyone would drop over $27K for a Mini...just doesn't seem rational to me...
I know its loaded to the gills but damn that's expensive

[atmtn]

Quote: Originally Posted by Poisonedwell

I can't see why anyone would drop over $27K for a Mini...just doesn't seem rational to me...
I know its loaded to the gills but damn that's expensive

My guess is it's all relative. After all my options, mine ended up breaking the 27K mark (at MSRP) and will eventually go well past once I install an aero kit. Honestly doesn't seem like too much to spend to me, considering what a kick ass car it is. It's like I have coworkers riding around in Porsches, H2s and Ferraris (some with one of each) and I could never imagine wanting to spend that kind of money on a car... They, on the other hand, have no problem with it.

[KatanaPilot]

My 04 MCS was the among the first batch that arrived in the US. (Production date was 9/4/03; 04 production started on 9/1/03) It was held at the VPC for about an extra week while MINI "prints the new window stickers".

[stryder]

Interesting info Katana, seems to make sense too.

Makes you wonder what kind of operation they are running when they're caught by surprise and need to print window stickers 2 months after the car was ordered and all of its options picked.

[KatanaPilot]

I should have been more clear.....

As I recall, the reason for the delay was they had to wait for EPA approval for the "gas mileage" numbers on the stickers. From what I could find, EPA gas mileage rating for 2003 MCS is 24/33 (according to edmunds.com), and EPA gas mileage on my sticker is 25/34.

I wonder if the 05s would be any better..... maybe 26/35?! :-)

[BrantV]

Quote: Originally Posted by KatanaPilot

I wonder if the 05s would be any better..... maybe 26/35?! :-)

Probably not. Unless they made some significant efficiency gains. The new models put out more HP, and have lower gearing requiring more RPMs at the same gear + speed. Not your best starting point for better fuel economy.

[stryder]

Ahh, red tape, everyone's favorite delay. Yeah, I wonder what the milage will be, its like a little mystery aparently!

[sequence]

Quote: Originally Posted by BrantV

I do wonder if the increase in HP requires new emissions certification?

This I could see-- esp for cars going to CA or CO, due to their more rigorous emissions laws. But for other areas of the US? I'm not so sure. I'm also not too worried about it--yet. Get your act together BMW....

Then maybe it's not related to emssions, maybe "federalization" is DOT compliance, for safety reasons? (speaking as a Fed.) Perhaps "federalization" is only for the cabrio.

Anyone know if MINIs were held up for "federalization" when the first ones hit shores here in 02? Jimbo

[stryder]

CA has the strictest emissions, but all MINIs are 50 state emission legal, they have the same package, so if one state is problematic, they'll all get the same treatment because all cars are the same. It seems more likely its a federal issue, like the gas milage anyway, since almost all relevant regulations are federal.

The first '02 MINIs appeared on a specific date at dealers but I don't even know if anyone got delivered on that day, besides demo cars March 24th 2002 I believe. After that cars trickled in, but no one really knew when to expect things specifically, and the owner's lounge didn't say much. I remember tracking mine from late March when it started production until delivery in Late April. As we now know, the OL is pretty slow and often out of date, so who knows what the delays were.

We do know MINIs weren't sold in Texas for many months because of regulatory issues with setting up the dealerships.

I'm inclined to think MINI expected something like this anyway, its not like they guarenteed a delivery date, and if its only a week or two delay, (especially since I don't think anyone initally expected July builds to finish as early as July 1) they may not even bring it up, though Gabe is alluding to some sort of announcement/explanation shortly.

[BLUE BEAUTY]

They told me .. Early to mid July production ... delivered by Sept. 1st .."but likely in August"