Hi guys! new member here...
looking for your thoughts.

Purchased 2012 mini countryman s manual brand new...
Towed within first week back to dealership because the fan sounded like the car was going to explode after short driving trips.
Problem fixed apparently a thermostat known issue?

After 5000 miles clutch failed and had to be towed back to dealership. Mini installed a brand new clutch at no cost. (ive seen many people having this issue)

Last week brought car in for regular service(at 40k miles). I was informed thermostat was leaking so they installed a new one. One day later car dies on the highway after shaking and the engine is smoking. Long story short the part they installed was bad and now i need a brand new engine installed in the car.

I do not want this car back... its clearly defective and a 1 1/2 year old car should not have all these problems. Ive filed a claim with mini and am waiting to hear next week. Not to mention the value of the car is greatly diminished with a new engine and clutch installed so soon.

Thoughts on if i should sue if they dont offer me a new car?

thanks in advance for comments!

 

Read your states lemon laws. Since you've gone back for same issue twice (thermostat) which caused engine failure you may be able to get a new car with a lawyer in place.

 

I've spoken to the MINI manager at my local dealership about buy-backs, in general, and it was an interesting conversation. I guess that MINI does frequently reach out to folks who have had "troublesome" cars, to try to find ways of improving the situation. Even if there are no "lemon laws" in that state or the situation doesn't directly fall under the "lemon law" description.

For example, he described where a guy left the showroom in his new car, and didn't make it 10 miles without the car dying. Turns out some troublesome prep work had been done, causing oil to leak, and the engine to be fried. While MINI had no problem replacing the engine, of course, they did understand that the guy would never be happy with the car. So they allowed him to get into another car.

Wasn't really a lemon law situation, since those typically involve repeated repairs for the same issue. But the net was the guy was able to get out of a vehicle that he'd never be happy with, MINI repaired that car and sold it with appropriate verbiage, and the guy got into a new MINI, telling everyone how great MINI and the dealership was.

I think your interest in getting into another MINI is in your favor. I'll be curious if MINI pushes you back down to deal with the local dealership. Not sure if MINI dictates to the dealership or the dealership makes the case to MINI.

Good luck!

 

great insight!

thanks for replying...

will post this week mini's response...

fingers crossed!

 

Strong bump but what was the solution?

 

I wonder why the OP thinks the value of the car will be diminished by a new engine and clutch?


Not the same as if it had been wrecked.....


If his plan is to keep the car or stay in a MINI, I think I'd rather have a properly repaired and running car that I already know, but I can see how some people would get gunshy and want a different car.


I'm sure MINI's involvement would be different for a car right off the showroom compared to one two years old with 40K on it.


Also curious to see how this turned out.

 

putting in a new engine or replacing a clucth wont show up, all its say on carfax is car was serviced ..
unless it is a recall then it will show what recall was done