Just thought I'd share this log for anyone who is ordering or waiting for their MINI.

I call this my "tick tock log" ... as the MINI waiting is affectionately referred to as the "TICK TOCK" on metroplexmini.org

Apologies for the long post, but hopefully some good info for those enjoying the tick tock .....

September 12 - Ordered '06 MCS PH/S from MINI of Dallas
Advised by MoD that I should receive a production number
before the end of the month.

September 28 - Received production number MINI USA assistance
( I had emailed them on 9/26 ) and also received a call from
MoD that day as well.

October 4 - status in Owner's Lounge is "On Order"

October 6 - emailed MINI USA and got details of order
since they were not displayed on the web site

October 7 - bugged the MA and was told that tentative
production date had moved from week 44 to week 43

October 17 - status in Owner's Lounge changed to
"Scheduled for Production"
ASK-MINI says "estimated completion date October 31"

October 21 - website still says "Scheduled for Production"
ASK-MINI says "your vehicle is in the paint shop"
estimated completion date is still October 31

October 31 - website says "scheduled for production"
ASK-MINI auto-attendant says "paint shop" &
"estimated completion date 10/31"
Dealer (MA) has "entered paint shop on 10/20"
Live rep at ASK-MINI says "your vehicle was completed
Saturday, 10/29 and is heading to distribution today"

November 2 - ASK-MINI said it was "at the port waiting for ship
assignment". No update in Owner's Lounge.

November 3 - Owner's Lounge updated to "Awaiting Transportation"
ASK-MINI auto-attendant says "Being transported to the
port of exit"
The live ASK-MINI rep says the latest is that it
finished production on 11/1 and have no further
information - odd, since yesterday they said it was
at the port

November 4 - entered the VIN on the shipping website
and found that the car is scheduled to ship on the
UNDINE on Monday, Nov 7 - arrive Charleston, SC 11/17
(fingers crossed) - website is:
http://schedule.2wglobal.com/AppTrac...trackType=Auto

November 7 - according to shipping website, departure delayed
until November 8 - ship was late arriving

November 8 - loaded on ship 16:43GMT, ship departed Southampton port approx.
19:00GMT - could track movement on the Southampton radar at: http://www.southamptonvts.co.uk/com/smovements.htm
schedule to arrive in Charleston, SC on 11/18

November 9 - Go to
http://cgmix.uscg.mil/PSIX/PSIX2/VesselSearch.asp to find the call sign
of the ship. The UNDINE's call sign is SHJC.
Find the "observation tables" on http://www.oceanweather.com/data/index.html
and copy down the latitude and longitude reports for your call sign.
Though you can track it directly on the oceanweather sight, it's easier
to visualize by putting the latitude and longitude in on mapquest at http://www.mapquest.com/maps/latlong.adp.
Remember that once you get
West of 0 degrees longitude, you'll need to enter it as a minus like:
46 18 00 (latitude) and -12 36 00 (longitude) - you only have degrees and
minutes data

November 10- The Owner's Lounge still says "awaiting transport" and t
here are no order details entered.

November 12- Found another site to track the ship at (thanks NAM boards!)
http://www.sailwx.info/shiptrack/

November 18- shippers website says cargo discharged at Charleston, SC
on Nov. 18, 03:00 - so it must be in the VPC at Charleston
NAM boards say there is a delay at the VPC - but could be just a rumor

November 20- Owner's Lounge updated with vehicle specs. It also says at distribution
center. It also says estimated delivery 11/24/2005 ... of course, that's
Thanksgiving Day so I highly doubt that. Will call and followup with MA
tomorrow.

November 21- MoD trying to confirm when the car will get to the dealer
There is some conflicting information
MoD finance office supposed to call today with final numbers and
details of add-ons like extended warranty

November 26- Car apparently was delivered on Wednesday Nov. 23 - we had left town
for Thanksgiving. Called the MA on Saturday on the way home and he
said it was there and waiting to be prepped (they got a large shipment in)
Scheduled deliver for 11/29, 2PM, and picked up copies of all the
extended warranties and add-ons to review BEFORE picking up the car.

November 28- Got final numbers, etc. Confirmed delivery

November 29- Picked up the car at 2PM as scheduled. Smooth transaction and I love
the car

 

What a cool timeline. I am going to save this one so I can track mine when it starts to ship. Heck at this point I dont even have a prod #. You got yours SOOO fast. We ordered on 10/8 and are still awaiting a #

 

Great looking MCS!

Make sure to post some photos in the Purple registry thread!

 

Congrats and great looking MINI. I almost went with Purple Haze. Great info! so 10 days to get across the pond. I think your timeline will help alot of us out who are watching the clock tic-toc.

Metroplex-MINI is a great and very active cub, I am sure you will enjoy your MINI with them.

 

Great Post dxturner


As someone who just got their production number this is extremely helpful to follow step by step...

No doubt I will refer back to this thread frequently over the coming weeks....

 

I have also started a copycat journal for mine, except mine has pretty text

Thanks for the idea

 

Well, be careful with that assumption - the UNDINE was the fastest ship from southampton to charleston - maybe because it came direct, but from reading other threads it seemed to be much faster than other ships. It actually made up time on the trip over - it left a day late and still hit the projected arrival.

 

pretty text is so over-rated

 

Don't know if it is good or bad but in over 15 years things have not changed!

 

Just found this thread, I had been posting findings on the one that sets out how to track. Hoegh freight had my VIN assigned to them & I was able to find it a week before the ship reached Southampton. Some vessels now go to Spain Santander port for 24 hours before heading across the ocean.
My first pick up for ship tracking was while the vessel was moored in Antwerp.
Not sure the length of time yet it will take as my car just reached Baltimore port late yesterday. The Mini Site says it is still at the port in the UK which is just nuts. Computers have made analytics/logistics so very, very easy. I am sure the car is scanned as Mini would want to know where its inventory was located! There was an interesting article discussing how the pandemic had impacted mft. and states that this area is one that needs improvement.
The dealership I dealt with has acted put out anytime I have questions as if a answering a couple sentences to an email inquiry was a burden to them. That and some questionable practices means I will never go to them again. The odd thing, a MA at a different dealership has been in touch and helped a lot! Guess where I am going to look for the convertible I have been dreaming of? The tracking would have been so much more fun with just a little interaction with my dealer.
Have also found all the public webcams that are running around the port in hopes of "seeing" my car and while I have some neat views of the port so far not my ship. Have also watched some YouTube vids about RoRo vessels. There is a free documentary there which is excellent and so interesting. Those RoRo auto carriers are just amazing as was looking at the enormous machinery that was loaded as well as cars.
My last car, which I loved has been mine since 2006 which is the longest time I have ever gone without trading vehicles. It speaks well to the quality of BMW products. I might well be purchasing another if mine was still imported into the US.....Nah, once I found Mini it was a done deal! I was surprised at how much I am looking forward to getting my Mini and so much of the information on this site made the experience far, far better.
Got notice I am scheduled for the vaccine yesterday, the same day my car reached Baltimore. If good things happen in threes, I should expect another happy event soon.