[quote=lastrega;1876641]I think that you had the convertible in. I didn't see any GP's in the parking lot... :D

 

[quote=JustJAY;1877259]
Cute, very cute indeed...

After so many MINIs we are running out of names... maybe I should go with a male name or I shoudl ask the dog after all we are getting one mostly for her and her weekly travel..

so after the clubman arrives we will have: HIS and HER convertible
Marina's racing toy (GP) , Duchessa the Dog coach (Clubman) .. thank God the cat doesn't enjoy cars

 

[quote=lastrega;1876641]When I picked up Wensley from the tire rotation (October 28th) I saw a GP sitting out front, didn't catch the roof number though......

Wow how I wish I could buy another MINI, Leona needs one

Mike

 

I love tate's sales staff, but after hearing these stories of the service department, I think I'm going to be going up to Towson. Especially since my throw out bearing is making a bunch of noise.

BTW: Scott just had a baby last week, and they have a new JCW car there that they let me test drive. They'll be putting the JCW suspension in it soon and placing it in the showroom, so if you want to drive it, I'd check it out shortly.

 

Curious if it is the throwout bearing or the flywheel. In the R53 it seems to be the flywheel, have you seen this link ? http://www.murmini.com/articles/2007/04/01/dmf

Could it be the flywheel problem has continued into the R56 ?

Mike

 

Kurt's previous R56 MINI got that problem. He might be the one to know some details on that issue.

 

Never seen that link but it does sound similar. What bugs me the most is that I only have 6500 miles on it, but since I know it's common, i'm just living with it for now until prolly the spring.

 

Try the slow pedal release, with mine it works, that's why I'm slow to have it replaced, hate to have the front end of my car pulled apart. Mine started around 6000 too.

 

The grille on my mini was loose so they replaced the bolt that held it in. They got one that was too long and pushed it right through my hood. STUPID

 

I got some pics of that car. I'll post them up when I get a chance to download them off my cell phone.

Also, I was just at Tate to have them install the missing rubber door strips on my '07 MCS. I was there for an hour and a half when they told me that they weren't covered under warranty. Mini left them off build dates after 8/1/07 so they weren't going to warranty them. This is after I made an appt and got there at 7:15 AM!! Then, they tried to sell them to me for $46 . I said NO WAY and then they said how about $22. I ended up buying them and putting them on myself. Took all of 30 seconds to do it. What a joke! They could of told me all of this when I called them the first time about this problem or when they called me back to make an appt. You'd think that after buying a $30K car there, they could at least snap on a couple of $11 parts to satisfy the customer.

Mini of Towson has way better service and a better atmosphere.

 

I guess with all of these posts and threads started about Tate that everyone must experience the "Tatetonium" at least once.

 

Short story version:

Valet breaks my Alta short shifter that Tate installed. I order a new one and have it shipped to Tate. The exact same mechanic who installed the first one couldn't figure out that the only (ONLY!!!) screw on the shifter was used to adjust the height, and thus declared it wouldn't fit. 5 days of talking on the phone with the tech, service advisor, alta, and service manager, I drove there myself. I pointed at the adjustable screw and they all said 'ooohhhhh'. It's a 1 foot long piece of metal, with 1 screw. Not rocket science.

Another incident. Take my car in to Tate for AC service. 4 days later I get it back. The next day AC is not working again. Take car back to Tate, they have it for 9 days. They then call me at work and claim that there is extensive damage to the front of the AC radiator and that it's my fault. My alta lightbar had been pushed into it. I asked how such blatant physical damage took 9 days to find, and the service manager said "Pay us $600 to fix it, or bring our loaner vehicle back today". I don't know how physical damage of that nature takes so long to find. Put in coolant, if it leaks, follow it to the hole. Not hard. Service manager refuses service, claims to have called MiniUSA to invalidate my warranty because of my mods... Seeing no alternative, I call the police which effectively gets me blacklisted by Tate. Police do nothing about the 'damage' because they don't get involved in 'disputes', not even taking a report.

On the flipside, Tate once had a decent service advisor who cared and strove to enhance the entire experience. But Tate seemingly only cares about the BMW owners.

 

It's too bad that out of all the MINIs Tate sells, more are not DCMM members, it would be interesting to see how many have the same issues. When you step back and look at the complaints about Tate here on NAM, it is only a few members, of course many may have had problems but just don't post. Maybe they don't like DCMM members ?

I would think a dealer can view clubs two ways:

1) Great for business because of the interest and promotion of the car and all the fun that we have with them.

2) Bad for business because we have a collective log of all the problems and defects, plus the ability to steer members one way or the other.

As for myself and Wensley, we're going to try MOT for the flywheel and a brake noise I get just as I ease off the brakes at a stop. I still hate the idea of them tearing the front end off but I guess I'll better my odds by going to MOT.

Mike

 

I just bought another MINI from TATE and once again the best experience ever.

TATE Sales and Service , with whom I had issues after my first MCS '03, not only made me extremely happy with the purchase (big thanks to Scott and Rick) but helped me with the sale of my old MINI.
Scott, Rick and Calvin with their assistance facilitate the sell of my old MINI - incidentally the new owner lives near TATE - for top $$.

This is my 5th MINI purchase (# 6 will be the Clubman) and as I said before I continue to support TATE.

 

I had a great experience at Tate purchasing my Mini. However, after reading kgdblu's experience several months back I decided to go to Towson for service. Very, very pleased with them.

 

I am still happy with Crown MINI of Richmond. Took it in the other day for a sunroof rattle, windshield wiper jets not spraying and what sounded like a blown speaker.

They greased the sunroof and squared away the known rattle, had to remove the fender liner because the windshield washer tube came loose from the tank, and replaced the AMP because it was sending feedback to the speakers. Very happy with the work and the speed in which they completed it. Almost forgot....one of my Xenon headlamps was blown so they fixed that as well.

Almost a grand in parts for all of the repairs - thank god for a nice warranty. She is due for her second yearly...her first was as smooth as silk so I expect the same this time around.

 

Last night I dropped Wensleydale off at MOT.......is this what it's like to take your daughter to the hospital ? The flywheel is major surgery and Leona and I are quite nervous of the outcome.

Anyway, so far so good, nice people, a very well lit drop off area, Dwayne made us feel real comfortable too. They definately have a different feel than Tate.

Leona got to drive a MINI for the first time since our '07 MC loaner is an automatic and she just had a hoot, (She even named it "Scooter") she was literally laughing, giggling, sunroof open, honking and waving at people, cars, christmas lights, you name it, zinging and zipping through the streets. Quite funny !

They said Wensley may be ready today - hope so !

Cheers,

Mike

 

Make sure you check the rubber seal on the steering column before you leave the dealer. Last 2 time, they forgot and didn't put it in place after worked with the clutch on Maxi.
Ask Dwaynn, he will remember.

 

Will do - Thanks !

 

Here's "Scooter" the loaner car !




Even though I miss Wensleydale very much, I do enjoy the chance to drive other MINIs and seeing which options were good and bad. We like naming them too, so far "Moneypenny" was an '06 Silver Cooper, "Black Bart" another '06 Cooper and now this one.

The 2007 model is sooooo different than Wensleydale. The drive is quite smooth, yet she handles well, even with the 15" inchers. The auto is....well....an auto....especially for a clutch guy Just love them all !

Wensley should be ready today according to DeWayne who has assured me that she's being treated right

Cheers,

Mike