Our CM is 3 months old....keeps stalling,

1st visit - dealer said o2 sensor....replaced.

2nd visit - dealer said leak in intake...replaced.

3rd visit - this week....what now?

My question - this car is 3 mo. old.....should I be asking for a brand new car....they clearly have a lemon here?

 

auto or manual? if manual it could be operator error.

 

Not necessarily a lemon but maybe poor service techs diagnosing the issue.

 

Where do you live? Altitude, temp, etc?

 

My money is on hpfp.

 

More then 3 times in for same repair = Lemon

 

I think I really need to stop reading this forum until my CMS4 gets here! I'm starting to have serious second doubts on my decision to buy my first Mini!!!

OP: I hope you start to have better luck here soon with your CM!!

 

Perspective: How many people are NOT saying their CM stalls?

 

No stalls here.

(Thanks Frisco!)

 

My CM4 is my first MINI, although I rallied (and rebuilt) one in the 70s with a friend. I read a lot at NAM while contemplating the next vehicle, getting the choice down to 5dr GTI or CM4. After ordering the MINI I continued following NAM, learning about moving the microphone, considerations in tire choices, what problems others were having (to look out for), and generally noticing that there really were few problems coming up with the new model. After delivery, I was better prepared to deal with the few issues that have appeared so far when approaching the support dealer.

I hope you get excited rather than discouraged, because there's a lot of sharing the fun here, too (and on the Facebook group and with the local MINI club)...

 

I so have been feeling the same way!!!

 

I have posted issues I have had with my Mini, and I would say that I am absolutely disappointed with Mini, as a company. That being said, my CM is still the most enjoyable, all around car I have owned. I just wish the company supported its owners better. I would still recommend the CM to anyone out there. Just be prepared to put up with a lack of care from Mini.

Mark

 

Thanks!! I know a Countryman is the right choice for me, I just get caught up in all the craziness on here sometimes! I need good solid advice to keep me grounded! One of the biggest problems is the two month wait leaves a lot of time for the imagination to run wild!!!

 

Just to help you out a bit on the good side of Mini, 2011 All4, first oil change at one year and 13000 miles. Never had a problem, and the only time it's been to the dealer since I drove it off the lot was to get my free oil change at the one year mark.

 

I most definitely need to hear more stories like this!!

 

The car is my dad's CM auto. Stalls at slow speeds. i.e. when approaching an intersection or idling at a red light. Kind of dangerous.
I will keep you posted.

 

We live in Vancouver, BC. Dealer is in Richmond, BC

 

Mine had an issue with the engine cutting out at start that was related to a failed temperature sensor. The sensor was telling the car it was overheating. They'd see the problem when they ran the codes off your car's computer, though, so they would have caught that already. I just mention it because my SA said it was a known issue with the part.

It's an auto, right? Hard to pin that on operator error.

As far as MINI supporting drivers, I'm sorry that other folks have had bad experiences, but I've had two problems with my CM so far and two very pleasant experiences getting things solved. I had a bad brake fluid sensor which was fixed over two days (had a loaner) and this bad temperature sensor, which was fixed overnight (again with a loaner).

They don't charge me for anything or give me a hard time. Everybody at the dealership seems to be running around trying to make sure that I don't have to wait longer than necessary. I get phone calls at or before the time they say they'll call, and my loaners are already set before I get to the loaner desk. I also have a single SA that I call directly and who takes care of me all the way through the process.

Maybe I've just had easy problems so far, but I'm only slightly annoyed at the two failed sensors and very, very happy with my treatment at the dealer. It's a huge contrast to the way I was treated at my Jeep dealer for the previous 9 years. There, I had my first warranty repair blamed on my dog (it was the rear wiper motor, and they claimed that the failure was caused by my dog leaning against the housing) and was sometimes called back in a timely fashion and sometimes completely ignored.

 

I have had an enjoyable experience with my 2005 Cooper S. It has never let me down. It had a check engine light that turned out to be an out-of-range oxygen sensor; it did not affect the car's performance and MINI replaced it and gave a 100K warranty on the new sensor.

Message boards for all auto makes that I have looked at usually get the most posts from people with problems, while those with good experiences seldom post.

Looking forward to my time with the CMS4 when it arrives...

 

Lemon laws vary by state but the national lemon law requires the same problem within 1 year go uncorrected after 3 tries... The nature of the problem must present a safety issue or significanly reduce the value of the car. If after 3 trips to the dealer the problem comes back, you could claim lemon by sending Mini a certified demand letter stating the issue with dates and documentation. Go directly to Mini Customer Service and bypass the dealer. Ask them to replace your car or buy it back for purchase price.

 

You are correct that the Lemon Laws vary by state. I wish the OP luck. One word of advice if you plan on pursuing the lemon law- be prepaired to be patient... research your states lemon law. As someone mentioned once you've built a good case (keep all service records- any time they touch the car insist on getting an RO.) by pass the dealership by writing a certified (return receipt) letter to MINI and if their response to your demands is not acceptable consider seeking legal advice.

It's interesting you quote the 4th failure of the same problem results in a lemon. I am just now finding via this forum (after the fact) that MINI headquarters is not very supportive of their customers. I loved my CM but, I didn't have the patience to wait for my thermostat to fail for the 4th time (failed 3 times along with other issues). In my dealerships defense they provided me with excellent service- always made every effort to have a loaner car for me because I was a frequent flyer. You know the old expression "SHHHH or get off the pot" lol.