Hello,

I am Carlos from Puerto Rico, and I recently purchased a 2012 Hardtop with baker street package, for my surprise on the owners lounge it appears as a 2013 model. The "Black Mamba" as I named it :funny huh: is (at this moment) awaiting for transportation. I am very happy, but to be honest very scared at the same time about this purchase. Mostly because in Puerto Rico vehicles cost 30% more than in the States. Believe it or not, the base hardtop (non s) with the baker street configuration is setting me back $29,000.00.....!!!!!! I made my mind to buy this buddy for my college graduation present. I just hope I made a good decision. Please let me know of anything that I need to be aware, like problems, situations or just random pieces of knowledge.

Thanks

 

Hello and congratulations, Carlos

My main advice is to disregard the car's computer's oil-change advice.

My 2011 MINI Cooper S first hit the road in May of 2011, but now, on startup, the computer still says my FIRST oil change is due until I've gone another 6000 miles. That would be almost 2 years on the ORIGINAL oil This is what we call "insanity."

MINI claims to use a "proprietary algorithm" for conditions-based service It seems that algorithm just checks how much gasoline has been consumed.

I changed oil and filter right after the break-in miles (probably not necessary), again at about 6,000 miles. Then, intelligently and responsibly, my dealership changed it after one year at no charge

I'd encourage you to change oil and filter every 5000 miles, or so, using MINI-spec oil and filter.

Other than that, ENJOY, man!

 

Hi,

Nice MINI you got

Good to know, this is the first time with a vehicle that uses synthetic so it will take some time adjusting although it's a nice change from the 3,000 mile regular service on other cars Thanks for the advice!!!!

 

Just wanted to add a picture of my MINI

 

 

Black Mamba is very pretty indeed

 

Welcome to NAM, Carlos. I'm curious as to the reason for the extra cost in Puerto Rico: is it mostly the "island premium" (extra transportation from the mainland), or are there also other reasons (fewer competing dealers, taxes, etc.)? Also, what is the POE on the mainland for MINIs shipped to PR?

 

Hi razz, sorry for my late reply.

I believe the extra cost comes from a combination of the factors you mentioned, mainly taxes though. Puerto Rico as a US territory doesn't control it's ports or who comes in. Everything has to go to the mainland first, to then come to PR. The tax covers the cost of bringing goods to the island. In the case of vehicles, the government cashes in -BIG TIME- charging a high enough tax to cover transportation expenses and I would dare to say more than 2/3 goes to their pockets. The average tax for vehicles is 25%, but in my case, europeans vehicles pay 30%. The other reason, just as you mentioned, there no existing competitors for Autogermana. They have exclusive rights to sell new BMW and MINI. When I was buying/ordering, I got the dealer to go down from $30,895 to $29,000, which is just enough to cover the tax.

I was scared of buying my MINI, because autogermana believes that they are an elite part of society and being the only ones that could service MINI or BMW they can charge whatever they wanted. The sad part is they do have a tendency to OVER charge a premium on their services. hopefully, my MINI will be good to me

As for the POE, I honestly don't know from where on the mainland it will come. I do know that my uncle, recently shipped his car and it came from Port Everglades.