GDOG
Member
Looks like mine, except for the mirror caps and grill! I'm lovin' the wheels!
Delivery Stories
Toi
Well-Known Member
The dealer increased the price of your MINI Cooper SE by $1,500 for the privilege of ordering in March? Or did you have to put down a $1,500 deposit that was later deducted from the price you paid at delivery?
It's my deposit anniversary: I ordered my MINI Cooper SE one year ago today!
I'm glad I didn't cancel my order when the pandemic closed the factory just before my SE was scheduled to be built in March. My SE arrived August 24th. For 2 of the past 4 weeks, my SE has been languishing in the body shop getting a scoopless hood.
I have my SE back now. The hood looks great but it's still not whole because there's confusion about obtaining the correct hood emblem. I was surprised to learn the hood emblems are made so that the mounting pins break off when you try to remove them. So the hood emblem couldn't be transferred from my original scooped hood to my scoopless hood.
I was even more surprised to learn that the dealer had ordered a hood emblem based on my car's VIN and there weren't any MINI Cooper SE hood emblems in the US, so it was coming from Germany. Can it be that the MINI Cooper SE hood emblem is different from the MINI Cooper hood emblem for every other Hardtop?
Unfortunately, the parts department didn't have the hood emblem for a base MINI Cooper Hardtop, either. It would have to be ordered. Fortunately, it would not have to be ordered from Germany. The parts department representative said it will arrive this week.
So a year after placing my order, I still don't have my unique, de-scooped MINI Cooper SE ready for its close-up. I do have a really fun car to drive, but it has nostrils. And get this, the nostrils are different sizes! MINI must have worried about preventing the hood emblem from being installed upside-down!
I'm glad I didn't cancel my order when the pandemic closed the factory just before my SE was scheduled to be built in March. My SE arrived August 24th. For 2 of the past 4 weeks, my SE has been languishing in the body shop getting a scoopless hood.
I have my SE back now. The hood looks great but it's still not whole because there's confusion about obtaining the correct hood emblem. I was surprised to learn the hood emblems are made so that the mounting pins break off when you try to remove them. So the hood emblem couldn't be transferred from my original scooped hood to my scoopless hood.
I was even more surprised to learn that the dealer had ordered a hood emblem based on my car's VIN and there weren't any MINI Cooper SE hood emblems in the US, so it was coming from Germany. Can it be that the MINI Cooper SE hood emblem is different from the MINI Cooper hood emblem for every other Hardtop?
Unfortunately, the parts department didn't have the hood emblem for a base MINI Cooper Hardtop, either. It would have to be ordered. Fortunately, it would not have to be ordered from Germany. The parts department representative said it will arrive this week.
So a year after placing my order, I still don't have my unique, de-scooped MINI Cooper SE ready for its close-up. I do have a really fun car to drive, but it has nostrils. And get this, the nostrils are different sizes! MINI must have worried about preventing the hood emblem from being installed upside-down!
MichaelC
Well-Known Member
Thanks for the update, @insightman - I can't wait to see the final results! Here's hoping you get the right emblem and there are no further delays.
Sounds really cool.
Looking forward to a pic !
Norbu72
Active Member
I’m finding that waiting to get loaded onto a ship is worse than any of the previous waiting. Although, closely followed by the 3 week plant closure. There’s something about knowing that my car is done, it now exists but it’s just sitting in a giant parking lot doing nothing. I did find out today from ASK MINI that it’s assigned to a carrier company but they couldn’t tell me which one or when it might be loading.
I’m, of course, tracking all of the ships I can identify that are arriving at the port. A large Roro ship just left for Oxnard (my US port) yesterday and my Mini is not on it. [emoji26]
I know many of you out there have been sitting in port for longer than me but others seem to have turned around really quick. Maddening, and I have no idea how order is determined.
Sent from my iPhone using Inside EVs
I’m, of course, tracking all of the ships I can identify that are arriving at the port. A large Roro ship just left for Oxnard (my US port) yesterday and my Mini is not on it. [emoji26]
I know many of you out there have been sitting in port for longer than me but others seem to have turned around really quick. Maddening, and I have no idea how order is determined.
Sent from my iPhone using Inside EVs
Same story here too! I messaged my dealer and hopefully they can get some better news out this. All ASK MINI was saying there is some delays. I feel like I want my $850 destination charge refunded if they can’t even provided me any estimate time line. Just really frustrated...
Norbu72
Active Member
Congrats!! I do like to hear the happy ending stories and that sounds like a fantastic first drive in the new SE.
Sent from my iPhone using Inside EVs
KeninFL
Member
@MichealC & @Norbu72 - thanks. My first drive could have been anywhere and it would've been memorable. The MINI is just so right to drive. Maybe I'll find something to grumble about (like the brake lights coming on so readily) but right now I'm very pleased with the car.
I'll get a pic posted soon.
I'll get a pic posted soon.
KeninFL
Member
One of the few minutes it's not moving since yesterday.
I'm a little surprised but not disappointed about the thumbs down expressed in this forum for the EY blade and mirror caps. I think MINI was right to use silver white/black roof in their launch events.
But each to his/her own. Whatever your preference I hope you are as pleased with it as I am.
Sharp !
Enjoy !
I'm all-in on Energetic Yellow. Your SE looks great! I let my wife choose the color and I really like our Moonwalk Grey with the yellow bits.
Very, very soon I'll be able to post a photo, too. Maybe from the National Drive Electric Week event in Kalamazoo, MI, this Saturday. Unfortunately, the organizers didn't know there was such a thing as a MINI Cooper SE to put it on the list of selections, so I'm registered as "Other Plug-In Vehicle."
KeninFL
Member
I was this close (index finger and thumb a mm apart) to choosing Moonwalk Grey. I originally picked BRG w/black roof but the order was submitted w/EY blade and caps which Mini doesn't do. So back to the dealer to look at Coopers instead of trying to pick from a color chart. My wife and I considered Chili Red, then Moonwalk Grey again, BRG/black w/black caps and around and around. Silver White was a kind of default that we couldn't completely disregard. So we went with it.
What I was always sure about was that the Sig+ and Iconic choices had nothing I wanted to pay more for. I've had a dozen cars w/sunroofs and I never used them. I liked the Hoop Spoke wheels better than any of the 17's and preferred the high-wall tire for the ride. I (almost) never turn on the radio and the heads up display seemed to me a redundant gimmick. As for leather in a Mini - seems like putting a tuxedo on to play in the yard.
But it's just preference. I think I would have been ok w/any of the choices because the car is so right for what I need.