Phone rang at 8:00 in my hotel room and my coworker here in Oxford told me I was scheduled for a 9:30 tour at the MINI factory.
Can't say how much fun it was to see how our cars were built. Most of the assembly is robotic. Unfortunately but understandably no photos are allowed on or in their premisis. I just have a photo of me standing by the sign on the roadway.
I was the only MINI owner in the tour group. The rest were part of the BMW quality group in the UK. Needless to say there were some discussions regarding some build quality and dealer issues.
MINI just started doing factory tours 2 months ago so they have some polishing to do but it didn't matter for I was enthralled seeing all the MINI's going down the production line.
Talk about the ultimate club event. We
work with MINI for a package for our club to come over to the UK for a factory tour. I'd do it again.
Check in the news section (probably have to search) for photo's of the production facility (inside and out) from when I went just after launch in 2001.
FNIVME2,
Sounds wonderful, I am in England in November, please give details in how you organised the tour or phone numbers.
Thanks!
I look forward to the tour
Keith
It's funny, after reading the two new MINI books I just bought, one by Paternie, and one by Robson, and seeing all the assembly line pictures, I knew I HAD to do a factory tour some time in the future.
My wife and I have got the air miles to go but we just have to find the right time.
It would be a fantastic trip, touring with the NorCalMINIs!
Keep us posted for any trip like this!
Last edited by MotorOn; Jun 25th, 2003 at 09:51 PM.
No matter how fun the tour was it's great to be home.
My co-worker was on holiday just before I left so when he sends me the contact information I will post it. Unless someone finds it through the suggestion by Paul.
Who want's to take the lead in trying to organize a trip to the UK for our NorCalMINI's to do a factory tour?
Paul and LorraineH,
Nice part of the country ya'll are in. I had some work in Leeds and passed through both your areas. Wouldn't have known where Milton Keynes is if my co-worker hadn't jumped off the M1 to get to the M4 to get me to Heathrow.
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