Man what a nightmare. Sorry that you had to go through all that but hopefully they work through it and get your new Mini. I am sure Mini will work through the issue.

 

Well, I just got back from the meeting. After waiting 50 min. for everyone to get there, I finally got to state my side of the story. Only a few arguments back from the service manager. Then we went outside to take a look. The regional manager took one look at the door and said that they were going to repaint the whole door. As for the roof, he didn't seem concerned about the fine scratches. He was more concerned about the repaint over the silicone. He asked the service manager if the body shop could do a better job on the top. The manager said probably not. I also told them about a discoloration in the head liner that I noticed yesterday. We had some rain this last weekend.

I had to leave so I could watch my son. My wife had already used 4 hours of vacation so I could go to the meeting. The Gen. Manager said that they would give me a call and let me know whether they were going to fix it or buy it back. I don't know if I want it back. It already has three layers of paint on the roof. But then, can I wait until June to get an 07 the way I want it. Of course there is always trying to find one on the lot the way I want it. Good luck though. Try finding one that has everything in the premium package except the sun roof. Not to mention, I will then have to drive around the beater I have been until a new one comes in.

Things that I have learned:

Don't get a black roof.
Dont' let anyone cut into the roof.
Never take delivery at night.
Never take the car home until everything is perfect.

I'll let NAM know the outcome.

 

thanks for keeping us posted. Best of luck

 

Good lord, I hate to see someone go through this kinda crap, let alone another Hyper Blue owner! I hope everything works out in your favor.

 

Civil MCS I wish there was something we (NAM) could do to help you cheer up. I know that your going through a very bad experience with all that has happened, no one deserve what you are dealing with. Hopefully everything will work out the way you want it to.
Good luck and keep your head up.

- KP

 

what an ordeal. Way to hang in there.

 

I hope this experience doesn't steer you away from a truly great car.

 

Wait...Wait...Wait...Wait...Wait...Wait...Wait...W ait...Wait...Wait...Wait...Wait...Wait...Wait...Wa it...Wait...Wait...Wait...Wait
I just emailed the Customer Sales Rep. to see if she had any idea what is going on. I just want to clear this up and get on with my life!!!

Lets start a poll!
Do I want it fixed or do I want them to buy it back and order an 07?

Don't forget to weigh in the agony of waiting for the car to arrive. It was hard the first time. I imagine it will be harder the second time considering that I have been driving this one for 3 out of the 5 weeks I have owned it. The wait for a second MINI will be twice as long as the first.

Don't worry jeffc, I have been bitten. I'll stick with MINI

 

Go for the buy back and an 07.

You'll never trust the current car and it will spoil the ownership experience. Plus with an 07 you might even get them to throw in a few free extras for your trouble.

I know the wait will be a big pain but it will be worth it in the long term.

 

I doubt it. They still haven't amitted fault or offered me anything for my troubles. The way they see it, They are already out the profit from having the top repainted once.


Oh, and the lower chrome grill, apparently I was only charged of the upper grill. The "at cost accessories" that were part of my deal, must not have included the grill. The $97 I paid and the $97 the accessory catalog has for the set aren't the same.

The JCW air box and strut brace weren't at cost, but I added those after I had ordered the car. I let those go. Only a $107 mark up between the two.

 

how'd this work out?

 

1st things 1st...Civil, Love the car! Beautiful colors! Enjoy the Mini ride. Hate to hear how you AND the Mini have been treated. I agree with others on documenting everything. That way, you won't forget one detail. I bought my MC used and didn't have to go thru all the fun of picking out colors, interiors, etc. So try to remember the fun you had doing that and the fun you're going to have in the future driving your new baby. Good Luck!

 

Well, here we are two weeks later. Talked to the sales manager last friday. I got the excuse that he and his supervisor had been sick for the last week. He would have to wait until the 2nd to talk to his supervisor. Here we are a week since I last spoke to him. I left a message for him. In the mean time, I got a $1600 estimate to fix all of the paint on the car. When I told him about it, he said, "You mean if I give you a check for $1600, you would be happy." I told him that and replacing the headliner. That is all that I ever wanted. The headliner would be a warrenty item anyways. He said he would get back to me by the 2nd. We'll try calling again tomorrow.

I just want this all behind me.

 

All I can say is WOW. Sounds like you've been putting up with just about everything. I got my MC from Irvine and picked it up at night and my biggest problem was it was a week and a half late being delivered, but that's not the dealers fault.

Hopefully they'll fix the problems. I love my Mini and I'm sure once you get yours you'll love it also.

Good Luck

 

Well after 3 weeks later and a dozen phone calls this has finally come to a conclusion. I signed the release from liability and picked up a check. I did get thanks for being so patient. Now I just need to get the paint fixed. I finally got everything worked out in three months, several hours of my time and 6 trips to the dealer. I was told two weeks ago that they had cut the check, but the date on the check is the 25th. I was lied to and strung along for three months. You can't trust anything you hear from Asseal. I still have to go back and have the headliner replaced and the convenience programmed for the windows. Though all of this, nothing was done to apologize for the hassle I had to go through. No package, no sorry, nothing.

I did get two hats and a key chain!!!

Heres a question for NAM. Do I stay with the gloss black for the top or do I change the color?

Astro black maybe?
It would be interesting to hear your thoughts.

 

Hi WELCOME to NAM from the UK !!

 

Civil MCS,

If I may, I'd like to make a few suggestions...

1: Seek out a scratch repair company that airbrushes the scratch in. They do repairs at various dealers in my area (Norfolk/Virginia Beach) and generally, it's an invisible repair. The cost is around $200-300 for the repair. This would be for the scratch/chip(s) in your door.

2: They weren't kidding about the spider webbing in the roof. Black paint is a total SOB to keep totally scratch-free. Give it a month or so and then go to http://www.zainobros.com and order their "swirl remover" product. Follow the directions and the spider webbing will be gone. Heck, use their polish products too and your MCS will practically explode from shining so hard. I used to use their products on a Thunderbird I had and dust, rain and bird poop would run away in fear of it.

3: The paint on the silicone parts of the roof rack will never stick. Let it peel off naturally. It might help to very carefully score where the silicone meets the roof surface with a pointy X-acto knife and then let it flake off of it's own volition.

I don't own a Mini yet and I hope not to face a situation like you have. Frankly, I'm amazed at your patience. I would probably be in jail from inserting the roof rack in the dealerships' personel's dark places.

Edited to add the following...

The spider webbing, or swirl marks in your black roof come from not using a white (other colors tend to bleed into the paint) made in the U.S.A. 100% cotton terrycloth towel to wipe/wash the area. Cotton towels made in other countries say they are 100% cotton but it has been proven that they lie like a cheap rug.

 

Well I am not inclined to believe that MINI USA will care, MINI CAN, didn't seem to care when I caught the place I bought mine running a parts scam.. not installing parts that were on my invoice...

I still like the car, and maybe they know that... and don't care that much...

I got a free pen and keychain when I picked mine up.