Help... this is not cold start chatter anymore!!!

bssiesmth · #1 10-22-2009, 02:25 AM

Hello all,

Some of you may remember how I just sent my Mini for repars because of the cold start chatter issue. The dealer told me two things: there's no such thing as "cold start chatter" and "not to park downhill".

Sigh, well. I stopped parking the car nose down and the problem did seem to go away. For 3 or 4 days.

I left my car parked on a completely level surface for 40 hours and then started it yesterday night.

This wasn't cold start chatter anymore.

This was like a chainsaw inside my engine. The thing I thought about was a motorcycle chain inside a huge Coke can. It was an incredilbe noise. I thought that finally my engine would explode and Mini would fix it. Alas, it wasn't meant to be. The noise died after 2 minutes or so.

I'm completely lost at this point. I wonder if someone else has had this issue, so that I can go to the dealer (again) and tell him what on earth is going on with myc ar (since they don't seem to know / care)...

Thanks for any help.

MIN 18 · #2 10-22-2009, 09:46 AM

My chatter sounds like a chainsaw. If the sound goes out after the car warms up, I think that's cold chatter.

MINIdave · #3 10-22-2009, 09:59 AM

Bessie you have a bad chain tensioner, you need to have it replaced ASAP.

If all they do is replace the tensioner it only takes about 1 hour and it will cure that problem. I had that on my '09 Clubby and a new tensioner fixed it, easy peasy.

**Dr Obnxs** · #4 10-22-2009, 11:40 AM

print out some relavent posts. The copy of the service stuff in the other thread, go to the dealer and ask them if the problem doesn't exist why do so many have it and why did MINI issue upgrade instructions to correct the issue. Let them know this "we never heard of it" craap doesn't fly when it's known to pretty much every enthusiast and most of the dealers are straight up about the problem effecting some of the cars. Sucks, but you've been nice and they've blown you off.

next level is to contact Mini USA and let them know that you're dissapointed that the dealer is taking such as "what problem?" reply to what is a well known problem.

It's gonna take some biatching, but you'll get them to fix it.

Matt

bssiesmth · #5 10-22-2009, 01:45 PM

The nightmare is over.

I went to BMW. They told me my car was just fine, acted exasperated at me, and told me if I left my car there I'd have to pay for repairs. They basically told me I was making things up and left me over there.

I was furious, angry, exasperated, humilliated.

So I called the guy who sold me the Mini and asked him how much I'd get for it. He quoted $4K less than what I paid for it. I said SOLD. I left the car with him. It's over. I sold my POS. I feel liberated.

I just placed a deposit on a spanking new red MS3. My experience with Mazda has been top notch.

I lost a lot of money, but I learned my lesson.

Mini / BMW: NEVER AGAIN.

They haven't heard the last of me, though. I'll make sure many, many people learn about this car and will steer them away from it.

Again.

I feel liberated. Even if I lost money. It's an awesome feeling!!!

**Dr Obnxs** · #6 10-22-2009, 02:01 PM

the new MS3 looks to be a hoot. But really, they could have kept a happy customer by just saying "we know about the problem and will fix it." Instead, there's a car out there that still is under warranty that will need repair at thier cost, and a pisssed off customer who will never sing the praises of BMW/MINI cause of poor treatment at the hands of a dealer.

Matt

corcoranwtnet · #7 10-22-2009, 02:34 PM

Dr Obnxs,

MINI USA isn't going to get too worked up over a MINI in Mexico City...

**Dr Obnxs** · #8 10-22-2009, 03:04 PM

but BMW/MINI should be.... Still it's an example of bad customer service.

Matt

bssiesmth · #9 10-22-2009, 03:27 PM

My MS3 will be ready by Saturday. Yes!

I'd like to thank everyone on this forum for all their help. The Mini is an extremely cool car and I wanted to love it so much; you guys have built an extraordinary community, full of knowledge and people eager to help - it's so terribly unfortunate that BMW thinks they can treat customers like dirt and get away with it.

It'll be interesting to see the reaction when I finish the web site I'm designing about my experiences with the car (4 months of ownership, 1 month spent at the dealer, the treatment I received by everyone involved, etc). I wonder what BMW will do about it. They probably won't care. I don't know.

Oh, well.

Flyinace2000 · #10 10-23-2009, 06:11 AM

Sad to see you go. But if i got the treatment you got i wouldn't have stayed either. Luckily my dealership is one of the better ones.

someguyfromMaryland · #11 10-23-2009, 06:40 AM

Bssiesmth,
I agree MINI doesn't care about one screwed over owner in Mexico, but in my experience with prestige marques (MB, Volvo, BMW) they are smart enough to have someone on staff monitor boards like these and they know how much damage can be done via the web by the one screwed over customer.

That said, I have no idea how they let this get this far. Have at 'em!

ftttuhzbmcs · #12 10-23-2009, 07:29 AM

I'm wondering if BMW sends their problem children to the MINI side to straighten them up with the promise of bringing them back when they do or to exile them there for good. 4 out of the 5 dealers I've been to just rub me the wrong way and I vow not to return. If my MINI was having apparent problems and the SA told me there was no problem and then made me feel like I was making it up, I would probably do what bssiesmth did.

Robin Casady · #13 10-23-2009, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ftttubrgcm

I'm wondering if BMW sends their problem children to the MINI side to straighten them up with the promise of bringing them back when they do or to exile them there for good. 4 out of the 5 dealers I've been to just rub me the wrong way and I vow not to return. If my MINI was having apparent problems and the SA told me there was no problem and then made me feel like I was making it up, I would probably do what bssiesmth did.

Are the BMW SAs better? The MINI SAs at MINI of Mountain View don't seem like they came from BMW. At least some of them seem to be MINI people, and wouldn't fit in at a BMW dealership.

**Dr Obnxs** · #14 10-23-2009, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bssiesmth

My MS3 will be ready by Saturday. Yes!

I'd like to thank everyone on this forum for all their help. The Mini is an extremely cool car and I wanted to love it so much; you guys have built an extraordinary community, full of knowledge and people eager to help - it's so terribly unfortunate that BMW thinks they can treat customers like dirt and get away with it.

It'll be interesting to see the reaction when I finish the web site I'm designing about my experiences with the car (4 months of ownership, 1 month spent at the dealer, the treatment I received by everyone involved, etc). I wonder what BMW will do about it. They probably won't care. I don't know.

Oh, well.

I'd love to read it....

Matt

Nimcosi · #15 10-23-2009, 08:10 PM

Anyone else feel kinda of played after reading the OP's other threads that all seem to have the same bend.

bssiesmth · #16 10-23-2009, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nimcosi

Anyone else feel kinda of played after reading the OP's other threads that all seem to have the same bend.

This is the first time in my life I've ended up hating a car and its company.

I had a Honda. I loved the car and the company. I had a Mazda. Loved the car and the company. Same thing with Nissan. I took the car once a year for servicing and drove the other 364 days of the year. No big deal.

I don't think anyone deserves to be treated the way I was treated by BMW. Nobody deserves to have their new car away from them for 1 month out of 4 months of ownership. Nobody deserves to be told that their car is fine when it's obvious it has a problem.

I know many (most?) Minis are OK. I'm sad mine was a lemon, but I still feel angry about my dealer treating me like an idiot.

This is the last time I buy a Mini / BMW, that's for sure.

Benibiker · #17 10-23-2009, 09:01 PM

All they had to do is change the tensioner and it would have been fixed, another happy customer. Mini/BMW should be worried about any unhappy owner where ever they're located, a customer is a customer.

MiniBistroR53 · #18 10-23-2009, 09:27 PM

Seems to me like they tried taking advantage of you...possibly b/c your a woman!?! Not being an ass or anything...For real, I know places that tell women that parts need to be replaced, when they really dont, because they need to make a few bucks etc etc etc...but a BMW dealership should not have acted that way...

corcoranwtnet · #19 10-24-2009, 01:30 PM

I don't think bssiesmth knows that he's a woman...shhh.