Can anyone tell me if some accessories are added on at the Vehicle Distribution Center, or are they installed at the dealership? I just read on different thread that driving lights are installed at the Vehicle Distribution Center. If this is true, the dealership in Denver is trying to pull some shenanigans on me....telling me that the dealer installs them all.....and jacking up the price of an already maxed out Mini Countryman all4 order.

Thanks in advance for any help or information,
Truman

 

Welcome to NAM Truman,

If the driving lamps are listed on your VIR then they should be installed at the VDC. That is what we were told and the cost was $599. That was our bottom line as well.

Did you check you VIR closely for any errors after you placed your order ?

 

Hi. Thanks!

The only information I am aware of, and please forgive the newbie ignorance, is the information listed at the owner's lounge (which is not entirely inclusive). Is the VIR something the MA should have given me? The MA never told me that the driver's lights could be installed at the VDC...he made it sound like ALL the accessories are added onto the car after it arrives at the dealership. This kinda upsets me, since they want to charge nearly $1000 for installation of the driver's lights at the dealership. It makes me wonder what else he has done and/or said to mislead me and misrepresent the whole ordering process. I've had zero contact from the MA since placing the order. Is this normal? I'm less than impressed with the customer service so far....and I have not even taken delivery of my Countryman.

 

My dealer has stated the same procedure.
All accessories are installed at the dealership.
Thus, the final cost is dramatically higher due to dealer labor.
I believe each dealer will play this game if they do not have
any other competition/dealers within reasonable proximity.

There are some members here who not only had some items installed, such as driving lights and JCW Aero Kit, at the VDC (Vehicle Distribution Center) but also paid the listed price with no extra install/labor charge.

I really pushed for the Aero Kit but my dealer wanted $3700 installed.
I ultimately added a few more extras instead. The Aero Kit, as well as the Diving Lights, can be installed anytime after delivery & possibly more negotiable after sales & interest cool.

It's Dealers choice I guess, $1k bucks is serious money for those lights.

 

On the MCS, the driving lights are installed at the dealership. I would guess the CM is the same way.
Annette

 

Again this is a matter of how your dealership handles it, and sometimes when you order it, but any mini should have the driving lights, if ordered at time of purchase, installed at the VDC, including the MCS.

Now it seams some dealership, decide to do it themselves, because either they are worried that you might not take delivery and the money for them would be harder to recoup on a resale. Or they have no competition and are trying to get more money off you.

In my case I was on the fence when I order the car, and did not order the driving lights at first. Emailed my MA, after the car was built and on the way Bremerhaven, that I wanted to add them if possible, but only if installed at the VDC for the accessory price (they actually wound up being $605.00). He had to check with the manager if they could still add them to the build, and if it would go through, and after a day it did. I'll wait and see. But obviously if they just do it at the dealership, they wouldn't need to add them to the order.

 

The only other consideration may be the actual VDC, some handle a lot more cars than others, and may be equipped to do a lot more services. Some of the smaller ports may not have the facility/ability to do what they are suppose to so it's handled out of the dealership. Just a thought, but if that is the case the dealerships should not be taking advantage, I would probably try calling Mini of America for an answer if they were charging me more w/o a reason.

 

Try to contact eeyore on this forum. She/he got his in the Denver area (but lives in Wyoming) I believe and has a fully loaded All4 Countryman with installed driving lights AND aero kit and I believe she/he said he didn't pay anything over what the miniusa site listed for the part (in other words, no install charges).

My MA indicated $800 for installed driving lights...but that it would occur at the VDC. I said no thanks (but it wasn't on my original order either).

Hope that helps

 

Thanks to everyone for his/her thoughts. It is very much appreciated!

 

Wow it sounds like this is just a crap shoot with any given dealer.

 

I had the driving lamps and sport stripes "dealer installed" In actuality the driving lamps and stripes were installed at the port prior to delivery to the local dealer. The cost for the driving lamps were $849 (list was $599) and the stripes $225.

 

My guess is your dealing with RS MINI. Just give Loveland a call and ask how much they will charge to install the driving lights.