I have a 2013 Mini, purchased new in October 2012. While I am within three years of the cars purchase, I fully understand that since the car has 46k on it, the service warranty has expired. But I am now being told that I need a brake fluid flush and cabin air filter change, both items being based on a two-year time interval. But the dealership says the clock started in September 2013, since it is based on the model year of the car. I thought the clock started based on the production date of the car - which was in service a full year before that. Am I being ripped off with this? It sure feels like it...

 

If you're doing any performance driving, then I'd say it's a good idea. Since brake fluid is hygroscopic it absorbs water and reduces its high temperature performance.

Track rats change their brake fluid after every few days on the track, but an average street car can go pretty much forever on brake fluid as it's not being stressed much.

 

Thanks but that does not answer my question. I am at the dealership having it changed. I do not question that it should be.

 

The in-service date should be used when thinking about brake fluid since it will start to absorb water then, and similarly the cabin filter will start to trap particles on that same date. The dealership is wrong to use a date almost a year later. Take your concern up the chain of command. Good luck...

 

Wait, you're upset that the dealership didn't replace it last year? If the car was bought in Oct '12, that means it was likely built around Aug '12, so the first brake fluid change should've been Aug '14.

As for being "ripped off", you didn't mention a price so your question is without context.

 

Take a look at the document listed in post #4 here. It specifically says from the production date. This is an earlier gen MINI though, not sure if that would make a difference. I have, however, found a few things online where it says every 2 years and doesn't specifically say from production date. This post here, says every 2 years (dealer recommended). Again, earlier gen MINI, but that is a guide and not an official list. Not sure if any of this will specifically answer your question, but hope it helps. You can also call around to dealerships and see if they all recommend the same. Also, maybe call a MINI specialist shop. They have pretty good knowledge about what really needs to be done and when.

 

Thanks, BRGPA - I called Mini Customer Relations, but was told by the agent that he was not a technical expert, and that the service department's decision was the final word on issues like this - and that Mini customer relations actually is geared to support the service department rather than the consumer in these cases.

Ryephile - Yes, I am upset that this item was not considered when I believe it should have been a year ago. The car entered production on September 4, 2012, and was finished September 13, exporting from Southampton Port, England on the sixteenth. I should have had the fluid changed two years from my first drive that month. For some reason, my key chip tells them the change is due in September 2015, while the 3 year/36 month warranty says "Brake Fluid Service (two years from production date)." Price? Is that really important here? Whether it is $40 or $140, that does not change the fundamental issue that I believe what the customer was told in writing should be honored over what the key chain chip says.

 

Ok your first question is whether you were being ripped off. If you meant that your dealership was trying to skirt giving you the fluid change as part of the included maintenance, then I agree they should be held to that contract. It sounds like whomever programmed your key put in the wrong year. Talk to the dealership service manager and it should be cleared up easily.

 

On my Condition based Service (CBS) interval sheet I see the cabin air filter is replaced every 15K miles,

...but if you refer to your owners manual page 61 you can use it to follow along and cycle through the On Board Computer (OBC) and check the service intervals and services due for your car that is being maintained by the CBS intervals as recorded by the OBC.

As to your question, "Am I being ripped off with this?" Possibly. What type of relationship do you have with your dealer? In my experience service intervals begin with the purchase of the vehicle, unless it is tied to miles of operation. For example: If the vehicle is a dealer Demonstrator and it has been used for a year and has accumulated 15K miles, I would assume the dealership would have performed the proper maintenance on that vehicle before it was sold. if the car is brand new and sat on the lot for 2 years and has only accumulated 12 miles on it, the same condition existences, If this car has a three year 50K mile warranty it is based on the date of purchased and not the date it was manufactured.

So back to your dealer... $12.00 for the cabin air filter, but yes the OEM filter cost $45.00 retail (yea, really? talk about being ripped off) this is something the dealer should replace out of the kindness of his heart if it has never been done before, and if not, well screw 'em you can pick it up and replace it yourself in about 2 minutes, 5 if you have never done it before.

As for the Brake Fluid, check your OBC CBS interval, it is possible the Dealer put off doing it when it should have been done to let it roll onto post Service Warranty time. But you will also have to find out if it is covered by the Service Warranty. For example, tires and brake pads normally are not covered.

EDIT: Wow a few posts got uploaded while I was writing this...

Best of luck.

Motor on!

 

OK - so here is how the ordeal played out, to anyone who may be interested...

After finding on the brochure what I felt was a pretty clear directive that brake fluid changes should be performed "2 years from production date," I went back to the service rep (I was in the service waiting lounge having the work done at this point, figuring that regardless of who ultimately won the battle of the bill, the maintenance should still be done). The rep showed me his readout that clearly indicated the items were due for service in September 2015.

So I do not believe there was any dishonesty at play here. But the service rep was utterly inflexible as far as the disposition of the issue, embracing a rather binary approach to my dilemma: "If the key tag says September 2015, that's what I have to go by" was the essential paraphrase he kept parroting, despite my telling him that the agreement I quite literally signed onto with the car purchase stated differently. He did indicate I could speak to the service manager, who was on a conference call. I agreed to wait for him (I was waiting for my car anyways, so I was not losing any time).

The service manager finally invited me in his office and immediately stated that they were going to do the work and not charge me. He was very gracious about it, but I still pointed out to him the discrepancy in case other customers had similar issues. He thought that Mini may have changed the interval to three years and the keys were automatically updated with that information, but agreed that my service agreement was the one with precedence.

I suppose this thread is worth keeping up in case someone else runs into a similar situation. I thank everyone who responded.

Now that I am out of service warranty and lapping at the edge of the 50k car warranty, I have to seriously consider whether I am going to break from the corporation-based service and go with an independent technician. I had always felt comfort in the "chain of command" that a dealership inherently offered - that climbing the chain diligently would at some point would find a sensitive ear. That alone made the generally higher dealership service prices reflect a value. My not-so-happy experience with Mini USA Customer Relations on their 866 number gave me pause to reflect on that notion.