[FiremanMike]

I had a call from my dealer last night, I am able to order my car, NOT take a pre-spec! I am #15 overall, #3 S in St Louis. Dealer said that the 'high on the list people' are being contacted and offered the chance to order. I will order this morning, the hardest decision is color, wife and I discussed this for hours. I may not decide until I tell him. So, people, have faith. It seems that it is about to happen.

Mike

 

[S2000&CooperS]

Mike, you're ordering a Cooper I assume? Let us know when you decide on the color and options!

 

[minicoopersgirl]

How Exciting is that! I can't wait to get that phone call.
Let us know all the details you can about the order.
Will they give you a delivery date or what kind of time frame are we looking at?
This is great news, time flies when your having fun

 

[tsipple]

I received a similar call from my dealer.

I think everyone needs to be a little patient, though. Give them time to call. If you're high on the list (30 or higher, say), don't panic if you haven't heard. Until the second week of February, at least.

 

[FiremanMike]

I just finished ordering my S an hour ago!! I had all last night to think on it, the color is the hardest as they all look great. Here is how mine is optioned...

Liquid Yellow/White roof
Bonnet stripes
Premium Combo Pack
Sport Combo Pack
Cold Weather Pack
17" S spoke wheel/All Season tires
Standard radio/CD player
Cloth/leather seats

I was told delivery is expected to be the middle of May. That works great as my vacation to Florida is scheduled the 1st of June. Iowa to new Orleans to Bonita Springs, Fla. Back trip thru Atlanta to St Louis (may need to schedule the 1st oil change then) and back home. On my route?


Mike

 

[blue-cook]

wow, that's great news, but I'm confused because in Southern California, where I live, the MINI dealer that I'm most closely working with (Crevier MINI) just told me that the S's won't be coming in until August !!!!

 

[gromit]

Cloth/Leather

Is this a valid option on US spec "S" models? I thought we only had a choice of full leather ($1250), space cloth or leatherette. This is good news but contradicts the brochure.

http://www.mini2.com/gallery/personal/S_mott/sprd 15.jpg

 

[Garfield]

We were just told a few days ago by the eastern rep (Sylvia) that there is no brochure. That is a show packet, and it's not completely correct.
Two more things, she said that the "Leatherette" is also offered in the "Profile" look or dimpled, AND also said we WILL be able to get Tartan Red interior in the "S".

By the way Mike, that trip is about 4100 miles, depending on route.

 

[BruceK]

I had a call from my dealer last night, I am able to order my car, NOT take a pre-spec! I am #15 overall, #3 S in St Louis. Dealer said that the 'high on the list people' are being contacted and offered the chance to order. I will order this morning, the hardest decision is color, wife and I discussed this for hours. I may not decide until I tell him. So, people, have faith. It seems that it is about to happen.

Mike

YIKES!

I'm #8 on the same list as FiremanMike! They haven't called yet, but now I've got the pleasant task of deciding what my Cooper S should look like - a car I've never driven or sat in -- I've never even seen a MINI in the flesh! Colors, options

Thanks to the members of this site who've posted here, I feel familiar with most everything about the car.

 

[RedShift42]

-Cloth/leather seats...

... That works great as my vacation to Florida is scheduled the 1st of June. Iowa to new Orleans to Bonita Springs, Fla. Back trip thru Atlanta to St Louis (may need to schedule the 1st oil change then) and back home. On my route?

Highly unlikely, Mike-- At least if my well-placed source is any indication. ...Unless you plan to go to Florida by way of Montana Apparently the S will have a 10k-mile 1st oil change and 15k-mile intervals thereafter.

And yes, that sounds long to me too.

As for the leather/cloth combo...howwhatwhere&how??
IwantIwantIwant!
Please tell me you're absolutely certain of this being offered (the only thing that could make me happier is learning a folding armrest will be offered). How much did they charge you for the leather/cloth?

 

[Garry]

The service intervals are the same in the UK for the Cooper.

Apparently due to the use of hi-grade synthetic oils.

Is the 50,000 mile or 5 year service pack available in the US? The cost here is £100 for all standard servicing for that period.

Let me put that cost into perspective... 3 tanks of gas!!

cheers

 

[FiremanMike]

I can only pass on what I was told, middle of May was given as a certain 'in my driveway time'. As to the interior, I have a non-S brochure from England. As we discussed the options, I went between the brochure and the option list MINIUSA put on the site a couple of weeks ago. At no time did he say NO, we can not do that. He knew what I wanted as to the cloth seat with the leather side pieces. If I get a call back I will opt for cloth only then. I did not see an armrest, that would be nice. 10K between oil changes? Nah, I will do it myself at least the first time or two at 3.5K. It makes me feel better.

Mike

 

[Garry]

FiremanMike

Be cautious of do-it-yourself as it may invalidate your warranty.

Check with your dealer first.

Cheers

 

[Garfield]

10K between oil changes? Nah, I will do it myself at least the first time or two at 3.5K. It makes me feel better.

Mike

So it looks like you'll be doing ON that trip.
See above...4100 miles.

 

[PigLick]

blue-cook, I'm also on the list at Crevier. I tried to private message you, but it didn't seem to be working. Just thought it would be nice to touch base with another person going through (one of) the same dealers I am. PM me if you'd like.

PigLick

(PS sorry for the off topic post).

 

[S2000&CooperS]

Just spoke with my dealer (Crown BMW in Richmond) a few minutes ago......the MINI rep Sylvia is coming with her MINI next week (have the specific date and time but would rather not say). I was told I am in the top 5 for the Cooper S and #1 for the Cooper.

They are going to have 3 demos in March: 2 Coopers - 1 for test drives and 1 for the showroom, 1 Cooper S for test drives.

I asked them about ordering cars and they said we will be able to as soon as they get an allocation, which I assume the will be after the pre-spec'd cars meaning probably late March/early April delivery for the Cooper and ??? for the Cooper S.

 

[BruceK]

I had a call from my dealer last night, I am able to order my car, NOT take a pre-spec! I am #15 overall, #3 S in St Louis. Dealer said that the 'high on the list people' are being contacted and offered the chance to order. ....

UPDATE:
Since I'm on the same dealer list as FiremanMike (and a little impatient), I called the St. Louis MINI dealership and was told that only the first 15 people in the combined list (both Cooper and S) were being contacted at this time. The MINI salesperson said BMW wanted input as to how to supply the first batch of cars so they could meet the needs of the dealership's customers. Describing it that way, it didn't exactly sound like an official, specific customer order to me, but a way to find homes for the pre-spec cars quickly. (maybe that's the same thing? )

Although I'm # 8 on the Cooper S list, he pointed out that I am farther down on the combined list (# 34 overall) and I basically got a pleasant "don't call us, we'll call you" when the time is right to place an order - or when BMW wants more information.

So, I'll just kick back and wait to see what happens.

 

[Garfield]

Oh geez, I got asked this same question 3 weeks ago. This is not ordering, this is "what do you think you'll get when you order".
Bruce, what you wrote is exactly how I was asked, I got all excited, and then it was nothing. Besides, I've changed my mind twice since then.

 

[MINIAC]

Re: Re: US dealer called, We get to order now!

The MINI salesperson said BMW wanted input as to how to supply the first batch of cars so they could meet the needs of the dealership's customers. Describing it that way, it didn't exactly sound like an official, specific customer order to me, but a way to find homes for the pre-spec cars quickly.

If BMW wanted input for pre-spec'ing cars I would think that all of us in the front of waiting lists would be contacted. I'm # 3 on an 'S' waiting list and haven't heard anything. I suspect the dealer is trying to match customers to pre-spec'd cars.

The following dealer "tells it like it is":

I asked my dealer about ordering cars and they said we will be able to as soon as they get an allocation.

 

[tsipple]

Yes, that's what I'm hearing, too: BMW wants to get some sense of what the "pre-spec'ed" cars should be like, but the dealers are not yet promising an exact match to your preferred options and color choices. (They're leaving some "wiggle room," in other words.) Still, it's a positive sign that events are moving forward...