A timetable of 2006 model year rumors:
Early April > I receive some very reliable information from two different sources that MINI will be introducing several JCW parts as factory options starting with November production.
Early June > More independent information is received from another very reliable source that MINI is considering pushing back the start of the 2006 model year until November of 2005. Light bulb goes on… three different sources seem to point to a late 2006 model year arrival. An MF post goes up.
Mid June > Another independent and reliable source indicates that MINI has now made the decision to start the 2006 model year in September, which is the traditionally time frame. Light bulb goes out. Frustration sets in and I post entire timeframe of information to let readers figure it all out themselves.
Early July > Official information is released and one of the “reliable sources” (their “reliable” moniker now gone) mentioned above buys me a beer.
<p>Any idea about when these changes might be available to build (and therefore order at the dealer) on Mini’s website?</p>
<p>That is an excellent report. Really!</p>
<p>Where is the “official” information available from?</p>
<p>All official information on production timetables is released by BMW/MINI Press. Obviously it has yet to be released for 2006.</p>
<p>But you say “Early July > Official information is released” in your post above indicating it’s now out?</p>
<p>Sorry mate … long day. Duh! We’re not in July yet.</p>
<p>When do dealers usually start allowing customers to put their names in a queue for new model year cars? I know I put my name in for my 2005 in late July ’04, but I was wondering if there was a more general date, for example when they put the car into their ordering database. Being that there are questions about when the ’06 models will start being built, I thought I’d ask when we could start putting down a down payment and get our names on the list.</p>
<p>Gabe,</p>
<p>I think most of us get the early July comment, no need to explain. I enjoy a nice, human, frustration post every once in a while.</p>
<p>Not to bash anyone, but I love the fact that Gabe tells us all that basically he has no reliable information about when new stuff is happening and THE FIRST QUESTION is: ‘Wait… do you know when this stuff is coming online?’ So basically my point is READ people…READ</p>
<p>cheers</p>
<p><em>Early July > Official information is released and one of the “reliable sources” (their “reliable” moniker now gone) mentioned above buys me a beer.</em></p>
<p>Cheer up Gabe–if it turns out to be a september release, it won’t be one beer, it’ll be three beers!! Heck, you’ll be halfway to a sixpack!</p>
<p>The day someone buys you a beer for something on your web site, is the day you know you have a very successful web site! :)</p>
<p>heres hoping for a november production schedule!</p>
<p>it’s great that a new mini is coming… im about to get a 2005 model, but Im starting to consider the 2006… But the only thing that makes me get the current model, is that I had very bad experiences with “Introduction Cars”, for example; new model, new mechanical parts, new electrical partes, etc.. We all know that new cars comes with “bugs” the first year of production… And since that Im planning to get the MCS Automatic, here on Mexico is expensive… so getting a car expensive that I gonna start getting problems with, its to get a real thought…</p>
<p>I’m open to hear opinions in what desicion should I take…</p>
<p>jackorange, <em>’07</em> will be the new model. ’06 is the last year of production of the current model, but with some “incentives” thrown in. The ’05 and ’06 will be mechanically and visually identical.</p>
<p>ohh ok.. but I was talking about the new model the 2007… i got messed up with the dates… sorry…</p>
<p>Just came across a web page saved on my hard drive from April 23, 2004 tittled: Official News on The 2005 MINI Refresh. That’s when MINI PR put out the full details on the next year – what a huge difference this year!</p>
<p>Jono is the word troll familiar to you at all?</p>
<p>MINI UK has just announced a bunch of changes effective with September (Week 36) builds:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.mini2.com/forum/showthread.php?t=94121" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.mini2.com/forum/showthread.php?t=94121</a></p>
<p>Included is the availability of Recaro seats in Panther Black Gravity Leather.</p>
<p>I love this story. It shows how reliable sources, reliable as they may have been in the past or perhaps in the future, sometimes just get it wrong. I loved how you seasoned the crow you had to eat and well, you just semed very human. I hoped the beer helped things go down just a little easier.</p>
<p>I’m on a waiting list to order my 2006 model but there are 2 things that I <em>hope</em> will be fixed/changed in the 2006 models:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Fix the no-build issue whereby you cannot get satellite radio and the Nav system together. I MUST have both, and would prefer XM to Sirius, but would take the latter if necessary.</p></li>
<li><p>Fix the integrated Bluetooth issue. My dealer informed me that the integrated BT option is not yet ready (software issue) and until further notice, I would have to get that nasty dealer-addon thinggy instead.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>I really must have integrated BT, XM (or Sirius) and Nav.</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>Hey! Newbie here- long time reader, first time poster (love this site!). I planned on ordering my first MCSC the weekend of August 26 here in atlanta (global imports mini). </p>
<p>With the timeline as it is, does this mean i’ll make the cut-off for the ’05 production or must I be forced to receive an ’06 model sometime in january?(!) I didn’t want anything that was only pertaining to the ’06 models…Anyone have any suggestions/advice on my timing and what to expect? Thanks in advance!</p>
<p>cjupin,</p>
<p>You will be ordering a 2006 by that date, the first batch of ’06 MINIs should be arriving in the US in September, as they are being built as we speak. The timing depends on your dealer and whether he has a backlog. Flow MINI in Winston Salem, NC told me that if I ordered an ’06 I would have about a 2 month wait. </p>
<p>So, place your order, learn how to track your production and your trip across the ‘pond’. :)</p>
<p>I tried ordering an 05 MCSc on Aug. 16, but my dealer said they had already filled all their “slots” for 05, and could only order 06 from now on. Expected arrival date is mid October. Anyone else have this problem?</p>