[irascian]

Just had a call from my dealer saying that my order, due to be completed 14th July has hit a problem because demand for the aerodynamic kit has far exceeded supply.

Basically they're saying they've had to order it from Germany and it won't be available until July 29th. They've given me three options:

1) cancel the aerodynamic kit
2) delay car delivery until the 29th (I can't pick it up until 22nd July anyway as I'm on holiday)
3) take car on 22nd and book it in for a day to have aerodynamic kit fitted.

Tempted to go for option 3 as I've got a few days off work on 22nd and wanted to put in some miles travelling around to see friends.

Anybody else heard about this sudden "shortage" - I suspect they didn't get around to adding the option to my order until today but maybe I'm just too much of a cynic!

[Washy]

This sort of thing has happened in the past with wheels and Xenon lights delaying factory builds.
Not heard anything about this one though.

A mate of mines got the kit fitted to his MCS and he has had 4 sets of side skirts, each time they are sprayed and fitted and within no time at all they crack and need replacing again. This may explain the shortage of aero kits. Not due to demand but due to a fault in the design? I don't know, just speculating, it would explain a lot. And lets face it your dealers not really going to own up to it after you have bought it...

Personally I would take the car and have the kit fitted at a later date.

J.

[mhoutman]

At the moment there are major strikes by metal union workers in the former DDR.

BMW closed there factory for that reason at München and Regensburg.

This could be a reason for short supply or possibly could influence MINI near future production as well.

I know an other example a couple of years ago when Volvo Netherlands (Nedcar) had to stop production of diesel cars due a strike at their supplier Renault France. Imagine !

[PhillyNeil]

Yes, except that as far as I know, all the aero kit pieces are plastic.

[bkwalker]

dont take delivery of it... just wait till its all complete!

i had to wait over 9 months for my MCS... i think a week or two wouldn't hurt u!

[irascian]

A week or two equates to a heck of a lot of inconvenience (three train station changes to get to/from work) and a hundred quid! I've put up with that for the last few months but can't see any reason to wait 2 more weeks.

To be honest, the aerodynamic kit seems a lot of money for plastic that cracks and I'm beginning to think best thing is to cancel it.