Hello, everyone! I've lurked in the forums for a couple of days, but this is my first post. I'm saving for a 2009 Mini Cooper S (hardtop) and had a question about the 3 year maintenance program offered with new Minis. I understand that Minis shouldn't need basic maintenance as often as other cars, but before I drive 120 miles roundtrip to have my (future) Mini serviced, is it possible to just take the car to a local BMW dealership? Will the service at a regular BMW dealership be covered by the Mini maintenance plan (i.e., will it be free)?

Thanks for your help!
(hoping to purchase a 2009 Laser Blue Mini S!)

 

No, you have to have the service done at a MINI dealership, and it does appear that Towson is the closest one to you.

On the plus side, you're not going to have much in the way of routine maintenance in the first three years, so you shouldn't be making the trip very often.

 

My nearest dealer is 180 miles each way and I think I've been there 4 times since I bought my 06 MCSa in July 06 - and one of those was a warranty issue, not routine maintenance. Just treat it like a fun road-trip for you and your MINI and it'll be fine

 

Has anyone actually verified this? I know that if you purchase a Lexis and don't live near a Lexis dealer you can get it serviced at a Toyota dealer and it is covered by the maintenance plan. I would think BMW/Mini would have a similar arrangement, but I may be wrong.

 

Ha, ha...the plot thickens! I appreciate your answers! This is such a great place to find out the truth.

 

With eleventy-kajillion BMW dealerships in the country and less than 90 MINI dealerships, if MINI owners were able to take their cars to BMW dealerships for routine maintenance, almost all of them would probably do so. Sadly, they can't - which is why so many people routinely make day trips out of their service visits.

 

Unfortunately, I think that's the case. I'll have to talk to the dealership when I go in for an appointment. It's really not too much of a big deal to me, since I'm going to get a Mini, regardless if I have to drive to Maryland to get it serviced, but it would be nice to not take a day off work to get this done.

I appreciate the help, everybody!

 

We are all experts here. For scheduled mtce U HAVE to use a MINI dealer. Besides yr in denver. ralph Schomp service department is one of the best.

 

I have no problem with Ralph Schomp. I bought my BMW from them (Ralph Schomp BMW) and they have done all of the service on it and I plan to let them (Ralph Schomp Mini) do all of the work on my new Mini too.

The questions was for people who were not near a Mini dealer, but were near a BMW Mini and it looks like they really don't share service

 

I just picked up a MCS from Ralph Schomp, and I seem to remember my MA telling me that the 3 year scheduled service was a deal through them specifically, as they were the dealership who sold me the car.

That's a slight inconvenience, as I live about 1200 miles from Denver.

 

I believe it even says in the owner's manual that any MINI dealer will provide warranty service.

 

Well, there's the warranty, then there's the covered maintenance plan...

 

...both of which will be honored at any MINI dealer.

 

That's what I was hoping. I just haven't had time to look into it yet.

My nearest MINI dealership is still more than 100 miles away... but it's a lot closer than 1200 miles away.

 

My nearest dealers are 300 or 350 miles away... Looking forward to my maintenance trips!