Hello all!! I had a 2010 mini cooper ( ILOVED IT). I wanted to supersize it with the new countryman.... What a mistake!! I now have 2000 miles on the car. The crome Beltline is falling off.. I hear static in the rear speakers when the radio is off oh and the driver door is not even aligned. oh did I forget the car came from the factory with out a weel alignment... so that you get a mental picture. I have a black countryman with half of the chrome belt line falling off it stears to the right the drivers door looks open all the time and I get to hear static when the radio is off... But to top it all off!!! Mini of ontario told me that the speaker noise is from my fuel pump!!! really.. the door nothing can be done and the crappy belt line is back orderd for who knows how long.....BUT the best is yet to come. who ever cleaned my car was kind enuff to put swirls on every f***ken inch of my new car! THANKS MINI OF ONTARIO!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Marcel 123, You have described some very good reasons to look a car over very carefully before signing on the dotted line, pulling the trigger, or taking the plunge. (There are a few more that I can't remember.)

Can we assume you have left it with the dealer to allow them to correct these issues. Certainly they wouldn't want you to keep the car as it is.

It is a shame that the first model year is often found to be troublesome. Patience is something one needs at a time like this.

Good luck

 

Sounds like the wisdom of age!

Take a deep breath and let the dealer make it right.

- The swirl marks can be removed by a competent detailer and some #4 machine polish;
- The chrome beltline is a known issue and it will just take time for the parts to get into the distribution system;
- The dealer can do an alignment;
- The static in the rear speakers should be looked at by a good audio technician, not just the dealer (BTW - how did they arrive at the fuel pump diagnosis?);
- The door CAN be aligned unless there is something REALLY WRONG with the parts/assembly process.

Again, let the dealer fix these things. I know this is a major league disappointment to you (and to anyone!), but stick it out.

You may want to capture photos and any documentation about these issues. Prepare a concise list of the issues and make copies. Ask to meet with the GM of the dealership and give the GM the list letting her/him know your level of disappointment. Take notes in the meeting (that has an interesting effect on the dialogue!) and follow up with a letter summarizing what was said. Send the letter to the GM of the dealership with a (noted) cc: to MINIUSA. However, the crafting of the letter should be done calmly, logically, and respectfully. It should make a rock-solid case for immediately effecting the needed repairs and note all the commitments made by the GM.

Blow off steam here, but remember that the strategy is to not alienate the dealer. Instead, partner with them with a goal of Customer Service excellence. Have them agree that this is the goal going forward in addressing these issues. The letter should state this intention so that it is on record in case the dealer doesn't follow through completely.

I know, it's easy for me to say these things, but I have been in a similar situation to you and it eventually worked out. All it took was, initially, blowing-off some steam and then the wisdom of grgramps' words...

 

The only problems I have is parts...I purchased the car and drove it off the lot the first week in Dec 2010...I bought the Garmin NUVI (and mount) and JCW Gauge to go on the Steering Wheel.

I just got the parts in June except...you can't mount the Garmin NUVI with the JCW Gauge...it's got to be one or the other by itself. It took almost 7 months and 11K later to get the parts to find out it didn't work...

My wife is furious because, she still didn't get her Garmin NUVI mounted yet.

But I did get my JCW Gauges (Torque & Temp) mounted.