Something I'd not previously heard about...but then, our MINI dealership just opened here in Des Moines Monday 12/20.

Stopped by yesterday to look at the one base Countryman Auto in the "jewel box" showroom and noticed the Mulroney sticker's place of final assembly was in Graz, Austria.

Wonder if Magna Steyr's assembly process/quality control is better than Oxfordshire's MINI factory given the volume of issues reported for production there? I'm not familiar with the BMW X3 history to know if that's any indication...

Any thoughts on that topic? Obviously, not many have taken delivery yet of their Countrymen so I guess time will tell...new model/first year production but at a different MINI assembly location.

 

First I've noticed on the forum, but here is an article from last January.

www.carmagazine.co.uk/.../Mini-Countryman-2010-first-official-pictures/ -

 

Magna is the #5 automotive supplier in the world. They make many parts for almost every major automaker, and they are a very reputable company.

Magna Steyr (the Austrian division that assembles cars) has a reputation of high quality. They've manufactured cars for BMW, MB, Audi, Jeep, VW, Fiat and Saab. The first-gen X3 was a well built car, the major criticism related to its harsh ride and poor interior materials-- two factors that reflect more on BMW's engineering than on Magna's manufacturing. My parents have had 2 X3s, a 2004 (1st model year) and a 2009, and they are both very solid and had no assembly-related issues.

I would have absolutely no issue buying a car assembled by Magna Steyr based on my experiences.

 

from what I understand.....an Aston Martin is built in the same factory in Graz. If it's good enough for Aston Martin....im happy. I like how the Mini symbol and Aston martin are a little similar

 

We owned a 2006 BMW X3 and it was a great vehicle, no issues at all. Ended up selling so I could buy mini cooper S coupe. It was a win-win situation.

 

Great feedback...thanks! Its sounding so far that it's an advantage for the Countryman to be built by Magna Steyr in Graz given the issues reported here on Oxfordshire-built MINIs.

 

Well, I have to say most if not all the "problems" I've read about, especially on the later cars have been engineering issues, not assembly.....

Chain tensioners, clutch problems, carbon fouling, fuel pump failures - those are not assembly problems - ie:the tensioners are not failing because someone stuck them in wrong - and so on.

Point being, the same engineering teams designed and specc'd both cars, if the Countryman has teething problems, it'll be because someone bought parts from the lowest bidder instead of the highest quality not because someone in Austria couldn't figure out where to run the bolts in to hold those parts on.

 

Good point MiniDave....

As I'm not in the immediate "market"; just keeping track of potential replacement candidates, I can be patient (?) and see what Countryman-owning folks tell us about their experiences.

Am glad though that Iowa and Des Moines in particular, now has a MINI dealership. I'm very familiar with Willis Auto as we purchased our 2005 Volvo V50 T5 AWD from them (via Overseas Delivery) and have had very satisfactory service from them...not inexpensive..but timely, high quality, customer focused service.

Rick

 

For Pete's sake, maybe they will offer Euro delivery now, since they can't give me the excuse that in the UK it would cause problems being that they drive on the wrong side of the road

 

I like the way you're thinking Travelkids! We absolutely loved our Volvo OSD experience and that (MINI Countryman OSD in Austria) would really move that up on my consideration list.

Rick