Hello to everybody this is my first post in NAM and i just wanted to tell you guys something about myself.

I'm a Mini technician. I've been with the company for only 2 months, before Mini i worked for Honda/Acura for the past 3 years and before that i worked at a VW restoration shop.

I can honestly say that Mini is a really good car compared to other cars i've worked with. The problems are common and the repairs are straight forward. In the past 2 months I've gone to BMW training for the diagnosis system which is a lot more difficult than Honda, it takes a full week to learn how to maneuver in the world of german acronyms and to understand the way the cars obd system is put together(sometimes mind blowing. )


well i just wanted to introduce myself here.
i don't drive a Mini yet but everyday i get more excited about going to work and dealing with the cars and the owners of this machines. Mini owners love theirs cars, is not just an automovile but a representation of them, and their passion is really noticeable. which makes my job better, when i'm able to get the car back in shape and have the customers back enjoying the drive.

i'll try to post any answers you may have about the cars, and the repairs. thanks for reading

 

Now, start saving for you next car!

Matt

 

Welcome to NAM, Joey...thanks for reporting in. Very interesting perspective you've got on all things MINI. I'm sure you'll get "a question or two" because you're right...MINI owners do have an unusual level of attachment to their cars. It's a good thing!! And trust me.............an enthusiastic MINI tech has very high status around these parts.

 

i have always been a fanatic of small cars(i have owned 4 Civic hatchs and 3 CRX's) so turning my back on big SUV's and minivans was easy. before i decided to apply for Mini I searched the web to see what the owners were saying, and the level of excitement and the loyalty to the brand was what made me switch from Honda to Mini. i can say it was the best decision in my career. I have to drive 35 minutes to go to work, as opposed to the 10 minutes before, and i don't mind at all.

i have been on a couple of test drives with customers and there knowledge of the car baffles me. they know about the cars, the company and they share their experiences with each other. is great to work for this kind of customer. that's the way i see it; not me working for the dealership but for the customer and i can say i have a great boss...

so keep on driving and enjoy your Minis, hopefully i only see you on the schedule maintenance

 

soooooooo Joey.........where do we find you......what shop/dealer do you work at ?

 

Welcome, Joey! We're all excited to have you here. Will you tell us what dealership you're working at?

(EDIT--just noticed someone else posted the same question while I was typing...inquiring minds want to know!)

I just made the switch from Acura owner to MINI owner. It was a hard decision, because the Acura just _lasts_ forever, and the MINI was a little more of an unknown, but I fell madly in love with the MINI and couldn't resist. Plus, Acura no longer has any models I really like (long live the 94 Integra!).

My MINI finally arrived 3 days ago, just in time to be my 30th birthday present to myself, and so far I'm absolutely delighted (expect for questioning my decision not to upgrade the sound system to H/K).

I'm sure you'll be a great asset to the NAM community...now start thinking about your own MINI!

 

Welcome to NAM!

Hopefully you'll visit the performance mods discussion area too. With all the available mods for Mini's it would be interesting to hear your take on some of them, how they may be bad for the car or how something may be incompatible with some other bit and such.

I'm curious to hear where you're located also...I'm expecting to pickup my first Mini in a few weeks...maybe you're doing the prep on my car!

 

Welcome to NAM

 

Great to have your perspective! I'm sure it won't be long until you get one of your own. ( I hope!)

 

Joey - welcome to NAM! I personally prefer talking, and listening too, the MINI technicians rather than the sales people. It's good to know you're here.

T

 

thanks to everybody...
i do hope on buying one, i may wait for the turbo S because i'm a huge fan of turbochargers. right noe i drive an SRT4 and i really like the boost!

i'm actually employed by Classic Mini in Mentor, Ohio so if you stop by say hello!

 

I do believe you will be the most sought after NAMer for opinions and we can overlook the absense of a Mini under your butt for awhile.

Welcome and look forward to your insights.!

 

Now you need to go start an "Ask Joey" thread

I'm in Detroit, but I bought my car from Classic.. and you may be meeting it before long sly:

 

Hallo Joey,
it is fun to know a Mini Technician reads and writes on this forum.
Billie

 

sorry to hear that your car is not runing up to spec.
hopefully there's nothing major going on

 

Nothing major. Just this with my gray leatherette seats. Seen anything like it before?? (see.. you really do need an "Ask Joey" thread )



Other than that, it'll just be a scheduled maintenance visit

 

Welcome Joey !

Glad to see a MINI mechanic on-board. And I will second the request for an "Ask Joey" sticky thread!

 

Ask Joey sticky thread! That's a great idea!

My Mini is coming home via Classic Mini of Mentor! How cool!

 

yes i have actually seen that problem with the fading of the leather. should not be a problem at all to replace the cover and get you back on the road

about the "sticky ask joey" thread... because of the fact that i have only worked on this cars for a couple of months, i'm still seing new problems that i have no experience with, so i may not be fully able to answer all the questions. (give me a year and i will be able to explain how every part of your car should work and what may cause the problems )

i will of course answer any question to the best of my knowledge... thanks!

 

Joey,

It looks like you are getting a very warm welcome from your fellow NAM'ers. Please allow me to put my 2 cents in as well. I totally agree with everything the other NAM'ers have posted. Thank you for taking your time to post on here, and introduce yourself. You might very well be the most sought after tech if you keep up the postings here. You'll get customers from Seatlle asking their dealer to get you sent to their place of business for a "working trip" :P

Seriously though, thanks you very much for getting to this board. We'll all do our best to not abuse your hospitality.

-Jason

 

thanks jason. there's no problem with anybody asking questions, so ask all you want. i just want to make sure they know that i may not have all the answers, since i'm still new to BMW/Mini world.

there's a lot i need to learn and i wanna make sure that when i answer a question i give the best answer possible. that way the person who i'm talking with can trust me. my job depends on trust, and i want to earn it honestly, by fixing the cars as qucik/safe as possible and getting the riders back on the road enjoying the Minis.

i will try to make it to the next meet that way i can say hello in person!

also to "ImaVunDerBrah" please call and talk to anybody on the service counter to make sure the part is in stock that way you don't have to come back another time and the car can be repaired the same day you may need the last 7 digits of your vin, starting with a "T".