Rear ended. by my SA..

Topmini · #1 05-07-2009, 07:50 PM

Well this is just another sour story i guess about my mini dealership. First one basically was me going to the SA and telling them my car was making a rattle, and i suggested maybe my car was low on oil. Checked the oil, and yea, it only had 1.5L in it, and no warning light came on nothing, but seems nothing "bad" happened to the motor (i guess). they changed the whole oil (didnt fill it up) because i told them it would be best, and they did.
Long story short, once i went for my car (it took them 3 days, for an oil change + investigate about the rattle and came up with nothing for the rattle).....and they wanted to charge me for the oil +oil change (in mexico oil changes arent free aparently) i said i wasnt gona pay for some missing oil in my car especially if its new (9K miles at the time).

OK so that was the first bad encounter.

2 weeks ago i changed my exhaust, (alta DP + cat) my uncle and his friends helped out, it was about 5 hr job.
anyways, while we were under the car i noticed the transmission was "wet" or like leaking oil from the right CV joint (dont know if its called that).

so i took my car to the dealer today and told him about it. went to school and by 6 o clock i went on by to see what was going on.

Turns out the cv joint seal or something is broken so they have to order the piece and it is covered under warranty (i asked my SA if having mods affected anything, he said NO unless the girl at the warranty department notices) .. the piece is set to arrive in 3-4 days.

So the SA goes to retrieve my car (the mechanic that was working on it was there when i got there).. so i start talking to the mecanic and hes like, "you put in a new muffler right? it sounds awesome, and what not".
then the mini dealership manager comes and is like "hey your car looks rly different and unique"

SO im like YEA i own this all to NAM, and proceed to get in my car and hapily drive away home.

But before leaving the dealership i get out of my car and get somethings i had in the other car i was driving in and i notice that my car has no mufflers!

so im like WTF? and then i bend down and see the mufflers are there but they are pushed in 2-3 inches and then i notice it... a big old rear end.

seems like they put reverse and just rammed it backwards into a tall sidwalk (probably one in the dealership cuz i checked my odometer before leaving).

SO NOW im PIST...
I go back to where they fix the cars cuz i saw my SA go back there. (i dont think your supposed to go back there but i was mad)... and im like "looks like someone had a fun time driving my car into walls, and show him the damage.

hes like, "uh oh um let me talk to the manager".... he goes and comes back 3 mins later, and is like im sry about this, bring your car in tomorrow and wel get u a loaner and all will be fixed etc...

so then i ask him, what about my muffler? it isnt MINI spec, and it probably has damage... how are we gona fix that?
he reassured me that everything will be put back to normal. i didnt have my camera at the time, and i asked him if he wanted to take pictures, he was like na just bring in the car tomorrow, i already saw the damage.

so basically yea. SA rear ended my car.

PS: should i be a **** about it? and see if i can get a JCW areo kit (just pay the difference?) or should i just take the rear bumper fix and the loaner (and drive the loaner like it was stolen)

(693 words (copy pasted to word and word counted)
LOL it takes me 6 mins to write this explaing stuff on NAM
and it takes me 2-3 days (4hrs a day) to do a 1200 word essay.

Topmini · #2 05-07-2009, 07:58 PM

gokartride · #3 05-07-2009, 08:06 PM

Sounds like the SA is totally ready to make this right. Getting pissed is understandable, but I tend to use it with caution. I've had much more success being reasonable with my SA...in the end he has often gone out of his way to help me out. So initially pissed...fine....who wouldn't be? Now dial it back and let him try to make you a happy customer. Keep your eyes open though.

muladesigns1 · #4 05-07-2009, 08:08 PM

wow, thats sux! im surprised they didnt crack the exhaust manifold. guess the flex part works well. Hope they pay for it and the bumper. I would demand a new one!

Topmini · #5 05-07-2009, 08:15 PM

Yea i was PISSED but, i didnt like yell or anything at the SA, he was/is rly nice, and i just said well "it happens"
i would have gotten pist and yelled if he blamed it on me, good thing was i got out of the car BEFORE leaving the dealership, so that way no blame on me.

Quote:

Originally Posted by gokartride

Sounds like the SA is totally ready to make this right. Getting pissed is understandable, but I tend to use it with caution. I've had much more success being reasonable with my SA...in the end he has often gone out of his way to help me out. So initially pissed...fine....who wouldn't be? Now dial it back and let him try to make you a happy customer. Keep your eyes open though.

and some more pictures.

Dont know what to say about the muffler, im guessing il ask adam or something to see if i should replace the whole muffler or take it off and fix it or what should be done.
Im gona check the engine manifold tomorrow, see if any damage was caused to the DP or turbo itself cuz it looks like a pretty hard rear end crash

These red points are were it looks different than before, i guess maybe the V clamps will have to be changed, and it seems that now the Cat is hitting up against the heatshield.

Oxybluecoop · #6 05-07-2009, 08:15 PM

So they attempted to pass your MINI off to you without saying anything about the obvious damage to it inflicted by one of their employees. Not cool and IMO major compensation is in order here given your options on how to you could handle the situation.

gokartride · #7 05-07-2009, 08:21 PM

Yes, I could see where things like this could happen up at a dealership. Good that you caught this and that you know enough about your car to trace the damage back to the undercarriage. It is likely the SA did not even see this. Somebody got in big trouble though, you can bet on that!!!

Topmini · #8 05-07-2009, 08:22 PM

now that i think about it, thats 100% true, the mechanic maybe didnt say anything about backing up into a wall/sidewalk, and thought he could get away with it.

and if i had even left, got home (5mins from dealership) and gone back to talk to them, they might even be blaming it on me for all i know and then after that well i would have to gotten a lawyer involved (good thing my dad is a lawyer).

SO what should i do? they ARE going to change the bumper, + lend me a loaner.
the question still remains SHOULD i get the Aero kit and pay the difference, or just beat out the mini they lend me and crash it into a sidewalk like they did and turn it in and not say anything.

also, creepy thing is that right after i dropped my car into the dealership i was driving home in another car and was thinking about another guy that posted here on NAM that he got rear ended and what not, but i just thought about it. (maybe i invoked a rear end crash)

Quote:

Originally Posted by OXYBLUECOOP

So they attempted to pass your MINI off to you without saying anything about the obvious damage to it inflicted by one of their employees. Not cool and IMO major compensation is in order here given your options on how to you could handle the situation.

muladesigns1 · #9 05-07-2009, 08:26 PM

Personally I would be more mad at the fact that they actually tried to hide it from you! What does that say about there image and reputation? I mean lets be honest here. theres now way in hell a guy can back up a car and hit something hard enough to push the exhaust and rip the bumper and not know it. i would have them repair it then ask what there going to do to make up for there covering up damage to you.

ThumperMCS · #10 05-07-2009, 08:40 PM

99% guarantee you it was a dealership valet/lot attendant and they didn't tell anyone about it. I've worked in numerous dealerships and seen/know it happens unfortunately.

If it was your SA, he would have told someone about it...unless he is a total scumbag, but I doubt it. Your SA probably didn't even know about it or notice it.

Oxybluecoop · #11 05-07-2009, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThumperMCS

99% guarantee you it was a dealership valet/lot attendant and they didn't tell anyone about it. I've worked in numerous dealerships and seen/know it happens unfortunately.

If it was your SA, he would have told someone about it...unless he is a total scumbag, but I doubt it.

Yep that's true I was a lube tech at a few dealerships back in high school and we had valets that wrecked a bunch of customer cars. Even had one owner witness it and we had to pull him off the kid.

Topmini · #12 05-07-2009, 08:53 PM

yea well i know it wasnt my SA, im just saying like the mechanic/valet or who ever drove my car 800meters (i checked odometer) crashed my car and didnt tell my SA he did.

actually now that i remeber, when i got to the dealership i saw like 2-3 guys around my car talking one even opened the door and stuff, (they didnt know i had just got there, and were maybe talking about the damage)

i mean if i hit a car i would tell my other mechanic friends about it and laugh right?
i mean the mechanic that saw what was wrong with my car even told me "hey you put a new muffler in right?" dont know if that was like sarcastic trying to be funny in your face kinda of thing

anyways WHAT DO I DO!!!!!
DEMAND aero kit? hjahahah JCW stage 1? a mini cabrio loaner?
lol

Tygo · #13 05-07-2009, 09:08 PM

It doesn't sound like they tried to hide it, sounds like someone did, but the manager sounds like a reasoneable guy. I honestly wouldn't push too hard, they could turn it right back on you and screw you out of your warranty repairs if your exhaust is modded. I don't see how this would get you a free JCW aero kit... good luck though.

muladesigns1 · #14 05-07-2009, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tygo

It doesn't sound like they tried to hide it, sounds like someone did, but the manager sounds like a reasoneable guy. I honestly wouldn't push too hard, they could turn it right back on you and screw you out of your warranty repairs if your exhaust is modded. I don't see how this would get you a free JCW aero kit... good luck though.

an aftermarket exhaust does not void the warranty. see my list of mods in my sig. the dealer replaced a noisy clutch plate for me and ended up replacing the entire clutch assy. while I had all these mods. the only time a mod voids warranty is if the mod caused damage to the vehicle. Ive never seen an exhaust or CAI cause damage to a vehicle yet.

Oxybluecoop · #15 05-07-2009, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Topmini

anyways WHAT DO I DO!!!!!
DEMAND aero kit? hjahahah JCW stage 1? a mini cabrio loaner?
lol

I wouldn't recommend trashing their loaner as payback but the compensation you receive will depend on your negotiation skills.

Sketch · #16 05-07-2009, 11:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OXYBLUECOOP

I wouldn't recommend trashing their loaner as payback but the compensation you receive will depend on your negotiation skills.

I agree. Keeppositive and surely the SA will get your car back to how it was.

Topmini · #17 05-07-2009, 11:42 PM

aw man, i really wanted the aero bumper.
seeing they are litteraly gona get a new part and paint it, might as well upgrade to aero kit since i dont think the price range is too different...
or is it?

does anyone know actuall prices?

Topmini · #18 05-07-2009, 11:48 PM

just got off the phone with my dad (the lawyer), he says hes gona make a letter addressing the issue if things dont get solved quick, since they damaged private property and didnt take responsibility.

tomorrow i go to the dealer but, i still have yet to know what to do about the mufflers...... does anyone know if it would be good to try and fix em? or swap out the v-clamps, or idk what to do srsly.

any ideas?

muladesigns1 · #19 05-08-2009, 05:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Topmini

just got off the phone with my dad (the lawyer), he says hes gona make a letter addressing the issue if things dont get solved quick, since they damaged private property and didnt take responsibility.

tomorrow i go to the dealer but, i still have yet to know what to do about the mufflers...... does anyone know if it would be good to try and fix em? or swap out the v-clamps, or idk what to do srsly.

any ideas?

that can only be answered by being under the car looking at it. If theres anything bent, have them replace it. If its a matter of readjustment then thats all they should do.

geekswrath · #20 05-08-2009, 07:17 AM

What makes this all the worse is that you have PDC, so no excuses from the dealership.

Topmini · #21 05-08-2009, 09:50 AM

whats PDC sry i dont know

****For vehicles with
Park Distance Control (PDC) haha thanks found out already. lets hope those little sensors didnt get fuked up.

CR&PW&JB · #22 05-08-2009, 10:32 AM

My guess is the sidewalk curb he hit wasn't high enought to be picked up by the backing sensors. Your exhaust hangs a few inches lower than the sensors and that was all the difference needed.

Topmini · #23 05-08-2009, 11:18 AM

my dad said i should demand a new muffler.
idk what to do.

iwashmycar · #24 05-08-2009, 11:35 AM

eh technically if there isnt any damage at all (not even scuffs) whats the point in a new muffler?... If there is the smallest scrape on it, by all means, its thier fault!

Topmini · #25 05-08-2009, 11:45 AM

just got off the phone with my SA, he said they wont have a loaner until 3:00 (2 hrs).
now im starting to get pissed off, they should have fixed this since the morning i called him 1 hr ago and they haddent even looked for a loaner.

and yes the muffler tip has some dents and scrapes, and like i said it shifted about 2 inches from normal position so maybe the clamps broke or whatever i need to get under and check.