My MINI is booked on the Don Juan, which should get to Halifax on the 18th. I think August 25th is a realistic date that I could be driving it.

2015 BRG, auto, 3-cyl, Sports Suspension, HK, storage package, fog lights, heated seats (yuck), spare tire.

Canadian cars come standard with 16" Victory spoke wheels, carbon black colour line, and I think no auto-climate control.


Here's my story.

In January my beloved 2006 MINI Cooper Classic (that was a Canadian model designation) met with a big white truck that did not stop for a red light. I couldn't stop in time to avoid it.

The insurer gave me the option to fix the car or not. It took me a while to decide, January and February are very busy months for me. I regret my decision, but I was told by a trusted mechanic that it would never be the same, I was worried about how long the CVT would last and I was pretty sure I would be happy with an F56, an R59 or a Honda CR-Z (and I was later tempted to get a VW bug).

I last saw my car on March 17th.



On March 15th I sat in an F56 for the first time.

That car was not available to test drive, so I waited until an automatic was on the lot.

After the test drive, I knew I needed the sports suspension and no sunroof. The dealer said this couldn't be done, so I had to ask MINI.ca

Having convinced the dealer, we agreed we were into negotiations.

But I wanted a spare tire, which the dealer said I could not have.

Really? So I had to ask MINI.ca, who wouldn't help this time. So I sent pictures of the spare and links to threads at NorthAmericanMotoring,com, and finally we asked the dealer in Toronto where we had bought my last MINI. He said we could get the spare, so we told the local dealer we were prepared to buy from Toronto again.

Ah, sure. It was still touch and go after that, we had even physically got up and walked away from the negotiating table.

Well, it wasn't actually officially ordered until July.

But here's a surprise.

The car was built on August 1st.

It's still a full year less time than it took me to buy my MINI Cooper Classic.

 

I think you made a good decision, especially because of the CVT. Thankfully you won't have to endure the delays those of us south of the border will face.

As for the spare tire, I've been driving around with one for the past 6 years. On my '07, I bought it after delivery, but from the dealer. I've since seen them on various websites, so they shouldn't be too hard to find after the F56 has been around for a while. Mine is a space saver, and I bought it after I scrubbed the life out of the runflats, maybe 1 year after delivery. I put it behind the passenger seat (the angle is critical), and lock it in place with that seat. I never carry passengers back there, so it's no loss of room; the front seat passenger loses maybe 1" to 2," which is no big deal even for my tall husband.

I'm hoping I can do that sort of thing with the F56. I hate runflats!

 

Here comes my car!

 

...

 

Nice!!

 

Happy for you!!!

 

Happy...but jealous!

 

mine is on a boat, not supposed to get to vdc until 20 aug. then i have to wait for the epa to get their stuff decided. the wait is driving me crazy

 

see below

 

Now they anchor.
They use a Minnie, one forward and two aft.
They prefer the gray ones so the mud doesn't show later.
The sunroof models sink quicker.

 

So true, but we need to be nice to our northern neighbors it not their fault on our EPA government

 

After literally and/or figuratively floating around the North Atlantic for two days, the Don Juan picks up two escorts and, fashionably late, passes between Georges and McNab's Islands before sunrise.



At the Autoport, they tend to park the MINIs along Morris Avenue.



Does anyone work for or ship with CN?

 

Morris Ave

 

So sad to hear about your 06 Classic

but congratulations in the meantime!

My F56 had just arrived at port on I believe Thursday? Don't quite remember.
Mine was on the Independence II, It's still at the VDC in Bayonne, NJ according to my dealer, not sure how long they're usually at the VDC for.

 

You indicate in your signature that your F56 is a 2015. That being the case, "usual" time at VDC is irrelevant right now for US delivery cars. You will see your car sometime in October given all current info, due to EPA hold on all 2015 F56s. Mine has been at the VDC since July 23rd.

Here's a link to lots of discussion: https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...us-thread.html

Also see "Free the MINIs." Great picture!

 

Aah, I guess we've still got a while now huh?

Thanks for the link, I'll be sure to check it out

 

^^ Anaphor, please go do some reading in the "Week 27 Build status" thread.

Unfortunately the 2015 F56 is not EPA certified yet and there will be a delay before anyone receives their cars. October 1 is the date that is thrown around the most.

 

Check out this EPA e-mail posted today in the week 27 thread. NOT GOOD! Seems this is BMW's delay, not the EPA's accordeing to this e-mail..:(:(:(

As background information, before a vehicle can be introduced into commerce in the U.S., it must receive a Certificate of Conformity (certificate) from the EPA which certifies that the vehicle meets all applicable emissions and fuel economy regulations. All manufacturers must submit an Application for Certification (application) to the EPA in order to receive a certificate. The reason that this model of BMW is being held at the port is because EPA has not received BMW’s completed application for this particular model, and therefore it is illegal for that vehicle to be released to customers if it does not have a certificate. Because we have not yet received the application, we cannot commit to a specific time frame as to when the certificate will be issued.

It is also important to note that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and other government agencies have their own regulations that may apply to this importation. While the vehicle may be legally introduced into commerce from EPA’s perspective once the certificate is issued, there may be other requirements beyond EPA’s purview that need to be met before the vehicle can be released.


David C. Hurlin
EPA Imports Line
Exemptions & Exclusions
Managed by Jacobs, Contractor
Phone: (734) 214-4098 or 4100
Fax: (734) 214-4676

So the EPA says they are not the hold up, BMW is the hold up. I provided my MA with a copy of this email from the EPA

 

It's a shame...

Still waiting to hear back from my MA even though I'm pretty sure I'm going to get the same answers as everyone else.