Hello to all, I am currently agonizing over purchasing a MINI. I am hoping you guys can help me. My ONLY problem is that I am 4 to 5 hours from the nearest MINI dealers. That worries me alot with regard to any potential service issues. It is not a small thing to drive that far - an eight hour round trip is a whole day invested just to get the car there, and I would have to spend a whole 'nother day to go get it back, if ever there was something that needed attention.

But I just LOVE these cars! And there is nothing else out there that is anything like them. Sigh- wish there were more dealers out there. There is not even one in my entire state (Arkansas). I am dead in the middle of Memphis and Dallas, 4 hours (or a bit more) either direction. If only there was one in Little Rock (1 hour). Sigh.

I would appreciate any insight.

 

no real help to offer - You just have to make the choice - I would find other Mini owners in your area and ask them the questions... My wife has an 11 year old Toyota - we have been back to the dealer maybe twice since 96....

 

As much as I hate to say it, you might sleep better at night knowing a simple repair (even though it's covered under warranty) might involve a four hour trip and all the inconvenience that could entail.

 

On a positive note, I posted a howdy on the AMOK (Arkansas MINI Owners) page and have been tipped off to a (very good, they say) shop that can do service (obviously not warranty work tho) that is in Little Rock. So if it were just IMPOSSIBLE to get to the dealer, then I could go there. So it is looking like a "GO!!!" Guess I gotta get one of those badges that says I'm looking at options...

 

Are you looking at buying a 2007? Lots of MINI owners have to travel a long distance for service. You should check with that dealer to see if they offer loaners for any types of service...

I biased because I have a MINI and a local dealer... So I say go for it.

 

Go for it! I am 180 miles from North Scottsdale MINI and I ordered mine on August 30 (delayed delivery til December). I currently drive an '03 Jaguar X-Type and I am 180 miles from North Scottsdale Jaguar. It has been in for warranty work once in 4 and a half years. I have had some minor out-of-warranty work done locally. North Scottsdale will subsidize a rental. Just check out your dealer's policy up front.

 

You can also read through the "issues" thread on the 2nd gen MINI. That may give you an idea of what type of problems may be common. I still say go for it.

 

I, too, am far from a dealership, but the test drive(s) did it for me. I took the gamble. In over 11,000 miles since April 30, I have had zero problems, zero trips to the dealership. I wish you the same good fortune

 

i just bought an 04 two days ago, and i dont think i can even imagine ever selling it now. i too am biased because the nearest dealer is 45 minutes away, but seriously, its so worth it! annnnd! whenever you pass another mini you get a nice wave =) in all seriousness though, the minis are not known to "break", and i think most mini dealers do some sort of cheap rental because they know they are not near most people's home base, i know my dealer does =) definatly worth giving them a call!

 

Find yourself a good local independent BMW mechanic who works on MINI's. Then buy a used MINI that is past warranty and you never have to go to a dealer ever.

I live 2.5 hours from the nearest dealer but have a great local mechanic who works on my 2003 MCS. I still take my wife's 2006 to the dealer, but in 2 years it has only been to a dealer once for its routine scheduled maintenance.

If I were you, I'd find a nice 2005/2006 MINI with a little bit of warranty remaining. If the car has serious problems early on, then you are covered even if it is a hassle to go to the dealer. If you realize it is too much to handle, sell it either just before or just after the warranty expires. If it is a good car then the remaining warranty gives you some time to find your good local mechanic to work on it.