For those of you considering servicing your MINI at either dealership in the DC Metro area, please read! Long story "short" MINI of Sterling's service department burned me today. I had an appointment to have them install an H-Sport Comp RSB and NM Engineering Ti heat shield (and scheduled a loner). Upon my arrival the assistant service manager relayed some very irritating news that's likewise of interest to all local clubs. They just took a turn for the worse. Even though I had an appointment, they refused to install either part - for the first time in 5 years since we've been giving them our exclusive business - general maintenance and performance modification installations. The assistant service manager informed me MINI of Sterling sent out a service memo that their dealership will NO LONGER install ANY aftermarket component on MINIs. They will only install official MINI parts purchased. This is not something coming down from corporate MINI. It is dealership specific policy now. So they wasted my time and mileage coming out there to install the parts when they had already issued the memo to forbid such further installations.

While trying to find an alternative dealer to do it, I discovered Passport MINI of Alexandria had implemented similar policy. Thankfully, this is not the case with Crown MINI of Richmond, and I understand MINI of Anapolis and MINI of Baltimore likewise continue to install aftermarket parts. Crown MINI is REALLY taking care of us. They're GREAT and a very loyal sponsor of HR MINI to boot. They will now be our primary dealership. strongly urge any of you enthusiasts to seriously rethink your dealership if you use either Sterling or Alexandria's services. Sterling's service is still good, but modding is what makes our MINIs fun. And that diminishes Sterling's attraction if they now refuse to install the items so many of us purchase. Forcing an owner wishing to modify their MINI to only use their stock/MINI parts on pain of installation refusal is nothing short of extortion. If you're local to the DC area, do yourself a BIG favor and avoid MINI of Sterling and rethink Passport MINI. Both dealership's focus has shifted away from the enthusiast in favor of the average consumer...

 

I don't know why anyone would use a dealer to install aftermarket parts.

I can't blame them for not wanting to install given all the grief those fun hating lawyers cause these days

 

I would definitely use a dealer because the dealer master techs do know them inside and out and I think overall dealerships want to help their customers. That tech knowledge is VERY valuable. Most dealership techs do a GREAT job. It's just a few bad apples that make folks fee dealerships and techs are just there to invent problems to increase profits. That's dealership attitudes and the bad ones are typically avoided (when possible) via word of mouth. Not all dealerships are bad. In terms of cost, with some dealer offered club discounts, the install cost ffrom a MINI dealer suddenly becomes similar to smaller shops. Yes. Annoying litigious customers were probably the cause of the problem to begin with. Really annoying enthusiasts are made to pay for it.

 

Like someone mentioned, it has to do with liability, I think its dumb to even ask a dealer to install after market parts..... most wouldn't even touch it.

They put something that isn't official mini equipment, something goes wrong, and they get sued / blamed, isn't covered etc...

Im surprised you even found a dealer willing to put things on. Most would just void your warranty.


This isn't just mini, its common practice amongst all car makers, they usually don't F with aftermarket parts.

There were some socal subaru dealers in the past that were cool with after market exhausts etc... but seriously most dealers would shy away.

 

Did you know MINI Dynamics is located in Centreville, VA? They have been installing all of mine and my wife's mods for several years now. Just had Manic Tunes done on both a few weeks ago. We met the owner thru the DC Metro MINI Club and can testify to their unbelievable customer service and great prices. Drop Scott an email at sales@minidynamics.com I'm sure he would be happy to install your mods.

 

This ^.

What happens when that aftermarket part fails?

It's the same reason why you don't bring Pep Boys parts to a shop and ask them to install them.

Dealers generally hate working with aftermarket parts. As a past tech, aftermarket parts are the first thing that are suspect in any given problem related to that part. Quality, fitment, NVH issues, electrical issues are all possibilities.

I'm not saying aftermarket parts are crap. But you must admit - there is some real crap out there. Look at the garbage on E-Bay from China. It's not a dealers job to investigate something decent versus a crap product.

If I were to have to pay someone to install a part, it would never be a dealer, but an aftermarket Mini spec. shop. (Way, Helix, DT.. Etc..)

 

I work in a motorcycle dealership. We never install aftermarket parts. We are not going to be responsible for someones else product. When there is a problem, you've only pissed off the customer...

 

I have always wondered why folks go to dealers and pay 2x the labor to have a part installed....devolping a relationship with a local non dealer mini centric shop IMO is a good move....can save you 25%+ total when a big non warrenty job happens like a clutch using OEM parts (if you wish).....

 

It seems like everyone is missing the point: OP had an appointment scheduled to have these aftermarket parts installed, and they failed to notify him of this policy until he had already wasted his time getting down to the dealership. They could have notified him at the time of the booking if the policy had been in place then, or over the phone/via email if the policy came down after he had booked.

 

I’ll give the dealer the benefit of the doubt. There could have been a number of reasons why he was only notified the day of service. It could have been a tech saw what was on the board for the day and knew that a policy forbids installation of aftermarket parts.

I don’t think the negative post is really needed in this case as stuff happens, polices change. A simple heads-up would have worked. It does suck that the OP showed up and was turned away, but this stuff happens. I’m still not sure I’d pay dealer labour costs to install aftermarket parts because that ‘s getting burned right there.

 

Precisely, Dannyhavok! Thank you. And you're right, perhaps a simple heads up rather than a rant would have been more appropriate.

Others - thank you for responding. Really- I appreciate it. However, I'm not a naive dolt who figures ALL dealerships would do this. It's specific to my area that they do. A welcomed one. And why would I consider going to the dealership? Because the nice discounts given are competetive with the MINI specialists thus making it attractive to have the dealership's master techs do it. And possible cancellation of the warranty? That is made perfectly clear to the customer right up front (in writing in the installation quote) so there's no question later IF a bad aftermarket part (or even a good one) results in damage. This was a rant. And a warning to local clubs who came to depend on these dealerships be aware they must now take their MINIs to a specialist shop. It was uncool if internal policy had changed not to immediately notify their customer asking for the installation that they no longer provide the service (for whatever reason) so an alternative installer could have been identified. Liability? Perhaps - there's always a reason for internal policy changes. Always.

 

You are correct - it was perhaps unfair to make a disparaging comment about the dealer. I requested the entire post be deleted.

 

Don't delete the post. I thought your rant was informative and at no time was it in poor taste.

 

Update: I dumped MINI of Sterling. Permanently. There were other issues as well. Crown MINI of Richmond is now my "go to" dealership. They had no problem whatsoever with the installs, and said most in the region don't have a problem with it (which other club members in the region confirmed). Not only that, but as the warranty follows the MINI and is not controlled by the dealership, there is no longer any motivation to give my business to Sterling even though Calico Jack is still under warranty. For those of you in the area wondering, Crown provided exceptional service (far above that of MINI of Sterling's in my opinion). Although Crown's waiting area is not as nice as MINI of Sterling, all of their technicians are entirely focused on the customer (commuters and enthusiasts) and Crown is a strong supporter of Hampton Roads Club MINI to boot. So, for enthusiasts in the area who are considering finding a new service center, Crown is a great option!!

 

I can attest to this from the Mazda side of things. When I had my 3, I had the dealer install a new Exedy Stage 1 clutch (timely cause my original one bit the dust a week after buying it), then also had them install koni shocks and lowering springs. They had no problems installing the parts provided I knew and agreed to that the only thing that would be covered from that point forward was the labor used to install the parts. If the part failed due to mechanical failure, I was on my own to deal with the aftermarket company, not the dealer. No issues of liability from them.

 

I too think it was poor of this dealer not to pick up the phone & inform the OP of the policy change at the dealer in regards to installing aftermarket parts.

What this may mean is the dealer may find fault with aftermarket parts when you bring your MINI in for warranty work.

Glad you found a better dealer who takes care of you & is mod friendly.

 

After being personally "burned" by Mini of Sterling, I am trying to gather some info on others experiences with them. I had work I had not approved performed, my proper diagnosis of my issue was ignored and they did $2200 worth of un necessary work preformed over 26 days at the dealer, and my initial problem still remained. Lack of communication, mis guiding and outright untrue statements, and general lack of any sort of customer service are rampant with my experiences there. Sadly, my car HAD to return to them to correct what they did and did not do, so they have had my car again the last 5 days.
If you care to share your experiences at Mini of Sterling, please either PM me, or post them in this thread:

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...periences.html

Thanks for your time,

 

Anyone dealt with Mini of Rockville?