The dealers get allocations for a model like the SE, that is a build slot, so they spec out what they want it to be for trim/options. All Minis are 'custom' build, whether the customer or the dealer spec's it out.FWIW, I paid my $250 reservation fee on 5/31, met with my MA to confirm my choices on 6/14, and he emailed me my production number yesterday (7/21). As best as I can tell from the printout he provided me when we met, the dealer did not have any specific allocations into which I was slotted (is that how it works?).
Are dealers allowed to order SEs for their dealership? I thought every SE order had to be initiated by a customer (of course, a dealer staff member or relative could be used as a "customer").The dealers get allocations for a model like the SE, that is a build slot, so they spec out what they want it to be for trim/options. All Minis are 'custom' build, whether the customer or the dealer spec's it out.
Manufacturers can have limitations on specific components and that may limit how many of a certain type of vehicle they can build. My plant (Tier 1) supplies 2 plants from a certain Big 3 manufacturer and the non-hybrid/plug-in hybrid version of one of their vehicles takes a specific fan, which the Tier 2 supplier to us can only build so many of a week, which is less than the manufacturer's line can build. So, if they're not building hybrids (which happened recently for a week), the fan supplier can't keep up.
With Mini, it could be batteries or inverters that limit the number of SEs they can build, so the allocations are limited and have to be spread across dealers world-wide.
I don't know about Mini's restrictions, but I would assume they can order whatever they are allocated for so they can have vehicles on the lots.Are dealers allowed to order SEs for their dealership? I thought every SE order had to be initiated by a customer (of course, a dealer staff member or relative could be used as a "customer").
That must be a frustrating experience for you, probably six months. Good information on the sequence of prod.# and VIN. Question is, are they consistent?
My dealer had at least 8 on order last year at this time. I went over the list, and put my deposit on the red base.Are dealers allowed to order SEs for their dealership? I thought every SE order had to be initiated by a customer (of course, a dealer staff member or relative could be used as a "customer").
MINI must like your dealer a lot (because they sell lots of MINIs) to provide that many allocations. If your SE wasn't one that was available because another customer bailed, then it's clear that MINI wasn't prioritizing customer SE orders over dealer stock orders, as I previously believed. With the strong demand for SEs, I'm surprised all dealers didn't order a bunch of 'em. Thanks for clarifying.My dealer had at least 8 on order last year at this time. I went over the list, and put my deposit on the red base.
It's quite a process, ordered mine online May 8, 2022, selected the closest and supposed largest So Cal dealer not knowing to first ask about allocations. Spoke with them over the next few days before I found out that the "order system" hadn't opened back up (this may have just meant that this dealer had too many orders and weren't allowed to order any more, who knows as they wouldn't tell me).
Finally on May 17, 2022 my order was placed in the "system" which I thought meant a production number, no it didn't, I didn't receive that until July 20th. I subsequently called Ask MINI and found that the production week for my car is 34th week right after the factory summer break.