Picking up out new PR Countryman in Denver late this week and my curious:
Did you or did you not buy the $1,900 maintenance upgrade option?
Also, did you buy the clear bra from your dealer (here it's $330)?

Many thanks in advance for your opinions and help. Jonbettie

 

I didn't buy the extended maintenance plan yet, but I will be. My car is in the process of being delivered to the dealer. When I go to take delivery and sign all the paperwork I will be purchasing the extended warrantie then. I am going to pay cash for it. Its not something I want tacked onto the monthly bill.

I think it is great investment. I just hope I do not exceed the 100k mileage well before the 5 years is over like I did when I purchased my last car.

 

I didn't buy the maintenance package - I thought about it, but I think you can get the things it gives you (oil changes and new tires?) cheaper elsewhere.

Also did not get the MINI extended warranty. Instead I switched to Geico for car insurance, they have an extended warranty that is pretty cheap.

I didn't get the clear bra, but that's just a personal preference - I don't like the lines it puts on the hood. I drove an '03 MCS for a bit over nine years without one, and while the front was a little pitted it never was terrible. The dealer said that with hit being higher and a bit flatter in front there might be more impact from rocks and such, I'll see how it goes...

Also in Denver BTW!

 

Before buying our CM4 we talked with the Service Manager about the costs for maintenance through the dealer and when (especially after the end of warranty) services come up and their cost. We asked specifically for guidance with respected to the maintenance upgrade, and he said if the dealer is doing the maintenance, then it pays off at over 12000 miles/year. We expect to drive the CM4 much more than that.

We expected the finance person to press for add-on purchases, and that happened. We also expected to press right back on the amount (everything we read said the prices are very negotiable). We ended up getting extended maintenance and extended warranty support for much less than half the proposed (ridiculous) rate, less than your number. It might not be the best possible deal, but it worked for us.

 

Wow, never thought those were negotiable - I would have sprung for them in that case, at half the cost...

 

The extended maintenance cant be negotiated much lower, unless it was when your initially negotiated price, going rate is @ $1800 (use to be $1200 but the upped it). I opted for it, still debating if it was worth it or not though.

 

I personally don't think the extended maintenance is a good value, especially when the car goes 15K between oil changes.. I change my oil every 5K and have the dealer do every third oil change while it's still covered...

The extended warranty I would recommend, my MCS was just out of warranty when the transmission gave out (6 speed Getrag)... I had them replace the bushings in the suspension while they were at it, net result was $6500... still kicking myself for not getting the extra warranty...

 

Very much appreciate the comments. Many, many thanks!

Can someone please give me a little more detail (yrs/miles) and going asking price for the extended warranty?

 

The dealer makes money on the extended warranty and maintenance plans. That means that the buyers lose at least a little on average.

However, if you live close enough to a dealer that you're really going to get every single piece of scheduled maintenance done there, you're going to do slightly better than break even, particularly if you drive the car hard enough to wear out the brakes a couple of times and the clutch at least once before than 100,000 miles is up.

In that kind of situation, the plan represents a moderate discount over the dealership's high prices for maintenance. It's not the most value-oriented choice you can make, but if you want your MINI dealer-serviced for the next six years, my bet is that you'll save money on it, even if you pay the full price of $1900 or so.

The dealership still makes money overall because not everybody who buys it will really take their car back to the dealer for every single piece of covered maintenance.

As far as the extended warranty, that's a similar financial game for them. They make money on it overall, but that's because not everybody who buys it will really take their car in for every click and rattle. On the Countryman, I thought the extended warranty was a good idea, since it was a new model with some new, expensive engineering and tech in it, particularly the AWD system and MINI-Connected.

With the warranty, if you can schlep it to the dealer for everything, either your car is so reliable over 100,000 miles that its problems never add up to $3000 and you lose money but have a great, reliable car, OR your car has at least a few problems and gets over $3000 in covered maintenance. You're basically placing a bet where if you lose, you have a car that runs great and trouble free.

If you're religious about dealer maintenance, the plans are a good dollar bet.

Reasons not to do it? If you might sell the car before 6 years or 100,000 miles, you'll lose the value. Even if a warranty is transferable, you'll miss the later mileage window where the warranty is most likely to pay for itself (big problems are more and more likely the closer you get to the 100,000 miles), and your buyer won't compensate you by paying a $2000 premium on the car because it has an extended warranty.

Also, if you have a non-dealer MINI mechanic, you'll be able to spend a lot less on oil changes and brake jobs, and you'll spend a lot less than $2000 on scheduled maintenance.

So it's not the best financial choice you can make, but if you're going to the dealer for maintenance anyway, I think it makes lots of sense, particularly on the Countryman because of all the new engineering in it.

 

It's around $3000 and around $3400 with the electronics included. It's 6 years/100,000 miles, just like extended maintenance.

 

Tippykayak, I can't thank you enough for your time and effort put into your explanation. You come to Colorado Springs and dinner is on me. At the Broadmoor!

What i garnered is that the value is directly proportional to the distance from the dealer. At 75 miles from the dealer I'm eventually going to find a local service outlet just out of convenience. Your reply is invaluable.

 

Hey, no problem. Next time I'm out in CO, I'll look you up. Are we talking Penrose? 'Cause I'll hop a plane.

 

Just as a point of information, the standard MINI maintenance package does not cover tires. Neither does the warranty. My dealer had a $1000 tire plan to offer me, but I didn't take that. I was thinking about just replacing the runflats when they ran out and getting normal tires and a goop kit.

 

At GM's Main Street in Motion (a wonderful opportunity to drive all kinds of vehicles) I saw the Chevy Volt, and I was surprised to learn a compressor + slime kit is standard equipment (so they don't have to haul around another wheel and tire).

 

On the tires, I just purchased a road hazard plan for $100 for all four runflats on my factory MINI CM tires from Discount Tire...

In part I did this because just days after I brought home my MINI CM, I got a screw in one tire. I drove it back to the dealer hoping to have the tire repaired - it was at 15 lbs pressure by the time I reached the dealer. But by the time the dealer could look at the tire it was at 0lbs, and they would not fix it...

Now happily because it was so new, they opted to replace the tire for free. But that's normally not the case, and since probably any place is going to have a similar policy I decided road hazard was worthwhile in case it happens again.

 

The buyer won't, but you can always sell the unused portion back at a prorated rate if you're past the factory warranty (4yr./50k). If you're not past the factory warranty, you can get all your money back.

 

Really? I didn't realize that was part of the fine print.

 

In my opinion the extended maintenance is well worth it. Just think about all that it covers. all required maintenance to 100k(which can be pricey) and if it is under $1000 which covers dings dents and a tire road hazzard warranty. If I am going to extend my warranty the place not to get it is at the dealership. $3400 is a bit much. (for 100k warranty) I haven't ordered my CM yet but am ready the day my $$$ comes in. Probably in time for a 12.

 

OOPS!!! I meant not to buy the extended warranty at the Dealer for the $3400 price. Sorry!!!!

 

I never considered the extended warranty because I always lease my cars and thereby turn them back to the dealer after 3 years. No need. I'm one of those car owners who needs to have new stuff and grows tired of cars after two to three years. I admit I am in the minority on this issue.

Having said this, if I was going to buy, I would considered the package and would haggle like a big dog over price. These things are money makers for the dealer. And, I get very nervous driving a car out of warranty. My wife's 2001 Toyota Highlander is a case in point. Good thing Toyota makes great products and will last forever as long as you give them proper care.