While traveling down to TN to visit relatives from Charleston, WV, the MINI had a rough idle at low RPMs when I stopped to get gas and take a rest break. She ran great at highway speeds. When I arrived, the MINI stalled out when I put it in park. In order to further investigate, I took it on a short jaunt to a local bread store. At every stop sign, she felt like she was going to stall. When I came out of the shop, she refused to start.

I called MINI roadside assistance. 3.5 hours later (after 3 calls, 2 tow trucks - long story - needless to say MINI roadside assistance was less than impressive) my MINI was on her way to Century MINI in Greenville, SC.

It has now been 17 days without the MINI. Century MINI has called me once on February 23 to find out what the problem was. I called them numerous times. They finally got her started but said she's still running rough. They gave me the "bad gas" line - I've never put anything less than 92 octane in her from reputable gas dealers. The last time I talked to them, on March 2, they said they'd have to pull the head and it was possible that "internal rules" may prevent them from being able to cover this under warranty. As a 2008 Cooper with only 11,000 miles, I find that reprehensible.

Curious about their service and scared of what I'll hear, I haven't called them since.

I'm feeling completely let down by MINI and my confidence in the car and the possible repair is waning.

Anyone out there have a similar experience of total noncommunication from a dealer regarding a major repair?

Any suggestions?

 

i had a similar experience. after filling my cooper at a "shell" station, my car started to sputter and lost a lot of power. luckily, i was able to coast downhill back to the station. i was towed(on mini's dime) to niello mini. the next day they told me that the fuel pump was faulty and it would be fixed under warranty. two days later they called and gave me the bad news. they couldn't start the car and checked the gas tank and it contained %90 water. they estimated a $2000 repair not covered under warranty. after about a 20min. cooling off period, i called the dealor management and talked to the manager of the dealor. he told me to call my insurance company and call the gas station. i called the station and, yes, they had water in their premium tank. two and a half hours after hearing the bad news, the station's insurance called the dealor and authorized payment for the repairs. $1870!! the car runs great and absolutely no problems.

 

^^Sounds like you may be on to something, dpcompt.

I was actually thinking that maybe you put regular gas in by accident. I did that once. Went to a station that had the fuel type selections in reverse order from the station I usually went to, and I grabbed the 87 octane instead of 93.

 

they do that in some cheap *** stations, so people that are used to putting the cheap gas in dont notice and put the high end high priced gas into their cheap as cars.
looks like it happend the other way around for you, but well less people put premium in their cars that normal unleaded.

***it happend to me too, and i inferred this im not sure if this is the reason they do it, but it sure as hell looks like it to me ***

 

i put regular in one tank to see what the difference would be. it just ran a little sluggishly. bad gas is a totally different animal. it ruined my fuel pump and the car would not run until all the water was flushed out the tank, the fuel lines, and the engine.

 

putting lower octane fuel in the car will not damage it. it simple degrades performance....and not even enough to tell by ur butt dyno. The previous owner of my car used 87 only on my car, for the entire 25,000 miles they owned it....this isnt my assumption, this was a released statement from BMW.

sorry to hear bout your MINI misfortune. id call again and go over peoples heads until you can get someone that can help you. if the opportunity presents itself, take the car to Cincy...they'll take care of you. they replaced my clutch which wasnt "supposed to be covered" and they let me run around for a week in one of their BMWs lol.

besides, you have a cooper, you dont even have to run high octane do you? I dont buy the gas thing they...unless it actually has water in it somehow...

 

Just a brief update - still no MINI after 26 days without it....

After receiving a call last Saturday to "rate my experience" with the dealer, I called them. They told me that while I had some bad gas, it wasn't enough to cause all of the failures the car experienced. In addition they told me I had a broken valve spring, 3 of the 4 cylinders misfiring, and they changed out the lifters. None of it makes any sense to me. Now, the car has a timing issue that required a "special tool" that they didn't have. I was told I'd have the car back yesterday or today. Still waiting for the call....

 

wow, very unacceptable....did they give u a nice rental?

 

Yeah, that's crap. Really bad news. Please report!

 

Never let your MINI go to Century MINI. Century did horrible things to my car, and would not take the blame regaurdless of the fact they were they only people to touch the engine of my MINI. I have heard a few horror stories about Century MINI, and Century BMW where MINI is located has a very bad reputation in area from what I have heard.

 

Now it is day 41 without my MINI. Here's the update:

After repairing the timing, I am told that the engine is still making strange noises and the cause is unknown. The MINI field service manager and a MINI engineer have been looking at the issue and have no idea what is causing it.

Some of you asked about a rental - neither MINI USA nor Century MINI have provided me with a rental car or loaner. The sad part is that my MINI was the sole car for my family of three.

I have contacted MINI USA and requested that they repurchase the car under the state's lemon law. Immediately after contacting MINI USA, I received two more calls from Century MINI to update me on the status of the car - essentially telling me that they stand around the car and scratch their heads every day. I haven't received a call in over a week.

This has completely soured me on MINI and I was a complete devotee. I have never been treated so poorly in my life.

 

bump

 

in 41 days, they could have put a whole new engine in! Several times. Escalate away.... Check the states lemon laws and start the process of really pushing Mini. While cars have problems, some of which can be hard to solve, the combo of your problems and what seems to be a close to incompetent service department is creating an unacceptable situation.

BUT just waiting will NEVER help. Get on the phone daily to get updates and the latest plans from the service manager. Keep a log of contacts, calls and notes from the discussion. The person with the greatest interest in resolution is you, not them, and sadly it falls on your shoulders to push hard to get progress to occure.

Matt

 

As we approach day 50, it is official. MINI USA will be repurchasing my MINI. It's sad to have her taken from me so abruptly.

My parents went and picked up my stuff out of the car. The car is in the corner of the Century MINI garage with its engine completely gutted. When they went back into the engine, they found two cracked piston rings and two seized pistons. They are now waiting for parts to come in from Germany. God help the next owner.

Of interest, one of the mechanics stated that MINI tells them to use the bad gas line for everything.

 

I hate that you've had the problems, but in a way I'm glad of the end
result. The fact that they've soured you on the MINI brand is terrible,
and I can definately understand.

At this point, even if they had found the problem and fixed it, I doubt
you would have felt the car was "right". A rebuy can at least let you
move on.... I just wish it was into another MINI.

I hope they do right by you money wise on the rebuy. I'm thinking it
may have been more a dealership issue than a car brand issue... and
if that's the case you might eventually come back and join us.

(I've had nothing but good dealings with Cincy MINI.... maybe we'll
see you in a new AWD MINI down the road <g>)


Keep us informed... and if you get the urge to get behind the wheel
of another MINI someday... I'm sure one of the members here would
gladly let you copilot on a run <g>.

 

That's criminal.

 

not surprising....

Matt

 

I am glad its coming to an end for you. how are they handling your repurchase? They giving you what you paid new, or what the car was worth at the time of breakdown? Have you definitely ruled out another MINI?