How to Track your MINI SE Build and Shipping

How long does it usually take to go from Getting a VIN to actually moving past Production Begins?

 

In my case, it took about a week for it to move past production begins. Actually production took another week and now mine has been sitting at the port for a week waiting for a ride across the pond.


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I've checked every day (well, I didn't bother for the first 3) since I ordered. Here's how long it was in the various states (so far)...

Order Received: 9
Scheduled For Production: 8
Production Begins: 10
Exterior Body Assembly Begins: 3
In The Paint Booth > Entering Assembly Line > Assembly In Progress > Quality Check > Final Assembly > Ready For Transport: 1
Awaiting Carrier Assignment: 3
Dispatched From Factory: 2
At The Port: this is where I currently am, I'm on the 5th day of this status.

I had a car made in 2021 and tracked it then as well. It spent 16 days in 'Awaiting Transport' status on the web site, which I think encompasses the last three above.

The phone system had a little better granularity, and in there I can see it spend 7 days waiting for the boat at the port. Of course, both of these systems reported the car was on a boat 2 days or 3 days after the boat it was on left. And the phone system doesn't exist anymore - the phone system changed on 9/21 and it now just directs you to the website.

I've been pretty happy, because the dealer had us prepared to worry that we might not get the car before the end of the year and it's coming in potentially faster than our 2012 order. We also ordered a Jeep Wrangler a few days later, and that hasn't started being built yet - Parts have been gathered... for a while. They didn't lead us to believe there would be any major delays, but they were also not helpful at all in any way! We definitely weren't prepared for the Mini to arrive first. Although Toledo is a lot closer to NJ than Southamton, so if it does get built soon the Jeep might still have a chance.

And hopefully we can get our charger installed before it shows up! There's an electrician pulling permits for what we need, but you never know what's really happening with these sort of services.

 

Hello, ordered mine and put $1000.00 deposit down for a 2022 SE in mid-November and contacted the dealer today to see if I can get a production number (United States order). He said that its not available yet and that it is in queue. Something about waiting for allocation to become available and told me he expects it to get a production number in January 2022. Is this normal? or an issue because of the chip shortage? Anyway waiting is painful...

 

Yes. I waited for over three weeks. Got really impatience haha. Another dealership reached out. So I was able to jump on another order. But yes what you heard it true. Have to wait for slots to be available. This process is a true test on how impatience I can be


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We also jumped to a SE a dealer had ordered. I guess that makes us impatient too We got our deposit back and got our SE two months sooner. The car wasn't as we would have equipped it, but it was close enough. Ironically, now that we've seen more new hatchbacks driving around (not SEs) we glad we didn't get the color we thought we wanted We had ordered one in the silver white and ended up with one in the classic chili red.

 

After ordering my SE at the end of November, I learned about this custom build monthly allocation that each dealer gets. Once they've custom ordered all of their allocation slots for the month, they cannot order more cars until the next month. Here in Los Angeles, there are several Mini dealers, so all I had to do was call around to find a dealer that still had allocation slots left and I was able to put in my order the day I called. My car is currently in "the paint booth" step of the build process.

 

Just FYI, on the SE Facebook page, the typical wait is currently about three months on new orders. Also, the ongoing chip shortage is causing even more issues for Mini. Apparently, some of the optional driver assist features have also been dropped now, in addition to the H-K stereo dropped this summer, according a post.

 

do you happen to know which driver assist features have been dropped?

 

One that was specifically mentioned was the back-up sensors. I think it is a very fluid situation. Some SEs are just showing up at the dealer with different features deleted due to Mini's apparently worsening chip shortage. Then the buyer must decide if the missing feature(s) are a deal-breaker.

 

I see a lot of Pepper White and Chili Red in San Diego.

 

On my Signature Plus, they deleted the optional $750 Driver Assistance Package (which bundles Active Cruise Control with Parking Assistant — that’s the program that automatically parallel parks the car for you) from my order. Which was disappointing, since you expect a car that you order to your exact specifications to be built to your exact specifications.

But both of the features in that package were nice to haves, not must haves, for me (although I expect the Adaptive Cruise to be a must have for most used buyers; I had added that package more for resale value than for my own use), so its omission wasn’t a dealbreaker for me.

 

Just for info, I picked up my Level 3 / Iconic SE yesterday and there were no omissions from spec. The HK is there, all parking sensors, camera and park assist, driver assistance systems. There was a period in the third quarter where HK and parking sensors were omitted due to the chip shortage but I got a message direct from Mini saying that cars built from September onwards which had those items as part of the standard spec would get them. Anyone who bought a level 1/signature or level 2/signature plus who added them as optional extras may not get them.

 

Has anyone experienced the problem with not being able to register at mygarage.miniusa.com? Once i created an account and was able to login, i get sent to a page that wants my address and phone number.

I must have entered the info 10 times - different computers and browsers. The error always comes up

"This is not a valid address according to the U.S. Postal service. Proceeding with this address may result in an incomplete set of vehicles."

I used the contact link to send them a message explaining the problem, but no response. Once i get a production number or VIN from my dealer, i guess i'm out of luck and won't be able to track it.

 

I could tell you that it might be a blessing to be denied access to My Garage because it will prevent you from giving up hours of your life refreshing that screen, waiting for something to change--then being disappointed when things change, but in the wrong direction.

However, I won't tell you that. Instead, you should type your address into the USPS Zip-code lookup page. I just did it and left off the "Ave" from my street name and left out the +4 Zip-code digits. When I clicked the Find button, the results included the "Ave" and my +4 Zip-code digits. Those results confirm how my address is listed on the Big Government hard drive. I'm assuming MINI is accessing the same database, but assuming anything when it comes to MINI often an exercise in futility..

 

Don't worry, you'll have plenty of agonizing weeks/months tracking it once you get your VIN. Enjoy your life for now, until you start the production/transport self-imposed misery. All that matters is some day you'll enjoy your new little beauty and will try to give pacifying advice to another in your current situation. Holy crap, I just realized it's almost like having a baby. Except I wasn't the one making it!!!

I honestly forgot everything I endured (with the car, not the baby), but it will all come flashing back when I place my order for the new MINI hovercraft fission-powered fun-stick. I almost didn't enjoy buying our Toyota Hy-Hi off the lot. It was just too easy...

 

Thanks for the tip - still didn't work. I copied the address EXACTLY from the USPS lookup page, except the zip code, which only accepts 5 numbers.

No worries, i'm coming from a 6 month wait for a Tesla, only to finally see the car in person and not being able to accept the build quality. The wait for the Tesla was basically radio silence the entire time. I actually believe that experience was necessary for me to then re-visit the MINI and seriously investigate the utility of owning one. My wife and i are now convinced this is the EV for us. We already own an R53 as our toy, so we have been MINI fans for almost 10 years now.

 

I'm right there with you. Our R53 (Scooter) has been our baby since we got him 10 years ago. It's the weirdest coolest thing. No other car in our lives has ever meant anything like this to us.

 

How long is it generally before a VIN is available after you've got a production number? Do you always have to request that from the dealer as well?

 

Call your MA every week asking for the VIN. Stop calling when they convince you they understand you want the VIN ASAP and promise to let you know the minute they receive it.