So, i've been browsing through threads a lot lately and seem to always come across people bashing Mini of Sterling and Tate MINI. Mini of Annapolis is also in the local trio of dealerships.

Which one is best for services? Do you have to take your MINI to the dealership that you purchased it from?

I just picked up my MCS from MoS last Wednesday. I definitely dont need any service work done, i was just curious which dealerships are better and in which departments so i can be prepared - just in case.

Thanks!

 

MINI of Annapolis **is** Tate MINI fwiw...and everyone has had different experiences. I've had not so great experiences at Tate, but that was also nearly a year ago.

I haven't been to MoS, but I am interested to check it out just for kicks.

My MINI is the first car I've ever had where I've taken it to a dealer for anything, and MINI of Towson just took the breath right out of me. The whole experience, soup to nuts, was so much better, nicer, and all around jaw dropping greater than I even expected it to be.

There are plenty of people who will gladly bash one dealer or another, so I don't need to jump on that bandwagon. I can wholeheartedly say that I'm ecstatic with the service I received from MINI of Towson. I don't know how much of that has to do with the fact that my MINI was originally sold at Towson (not to me) or not, and I just don't know enough about these things to be sure how much of a difference that really makes. My votes on Towson though, if you can get yourself easily there.

 

Mini of Towson is outstanding!

I got my car from Mini of Sterling but drive 1hr out of my way to service in Baltimore. That should tell you something without bashing anyone.

Best,
T.

 

Yeah, i meant Towson :-P I just know there are 3. I'm about 45 minutes from both: MoS and Tate. I dont know anything about any of the dealerships when it comes to service. But i do know that i wasn't all that impressed w/ MoS when it comes to MA's and such. Although, their finance lady seemed pretty cool.

When i went to pick up my MINI at MoS - i found out that when my MA faxed my purchase order to my loan officer - he didn't include the price of my driving lamps. So, i had two options. I could 1.) try to stop my bank's check (which is 3 hours away from me) and have them issue a new check - which would take even more time to do and that's just assuming they could stop the check or 2.) pay it out of pocket in addition to what i was already putting for a down payment. I ended up having to put $800 more down just to cover the lamps - totaling just under 5k. I'm a very detail-oriented person and had calculated what i wanted to put down very carefully in terms of my "cushion" money and payment amount and they totally put me on the spot. It sucked.

On top of that, when i placed my order i told them i wanted black driving lamps (the back of them) and carpet floormats (which i was able to have them throw in) and come delivery day -- i totally had chrome backing for my lamps and they had to come and ask me again what mats i wanted. Shouldn't they have already known all of this? Isn't that why each customer has a file?

With regard to the black vs chrome driving lamp backings - i'm glad they made a mistake and gave me the chrome b/c i actually like it better than the black -- but they still screwed it up.
Anyway, that's just my experience so far w/ MoS.

 

Hi LUCK219,

I will be picking up a Mini from MoS in a few months and I was wondering what hard sell items I can expect them to push when I complete my purchase ? Do they push paint / windshield protectorant/ warranties etc ? Thanks for any info.

 

I dont think they really pushed anything on me. Make sure you ask for floor mats b/c if you dont ask for them, i doubt you'll get them. Who is your advisor at MoS?
I'd try to get your extended warranty information ahead of time. They didn't give any of that info to me until i got there - so if i wanted it, i'd have to paid it outta pocket right then and there. There was no way (at that point) to have it included in my loan. Melina, the finance lady that will help you close everything is really nice. Oh, they didn't even mention paint/windshield protectorant to me at all. Maybe they didn't push as much because i went to pick mine up a little later (630pm) and they were ready to get outta there.

Supposedly one of my two MA's is mailing me a free tshirt in the mail, which i specifically asked for. That was as of last Wednesday (6 days ago) and i haven't received anything yet. I live in Rockville, MD so i'm about 45min from MoS. I thought it would have been handy to get a MINI keychain to put the key on b/c the part that you'd normally slide on a regular keychain is kinda fat - so, i think the MINI ones would work better. I dont think i'm gonna get one of those in my package, but i hope so!

In another forum somewhere, i read that MINI sends you a "package" after you pickup your mini, but i haven't received that yet either.
Hope this helps. Sorry for being slightly long-winded. Lemme know if you have anymore questions.

 

[quote=MrFalcon;2118653]
My MINI is the first car I've ever had where I've taken it to a dealer for anything, and MINI of Towson just took the breath right out of me. The whole experience, soup to nuts, was so much better, nicer, and all around jaw dropping greater than I even expected it to be. quote]

I LOVE MoT. Dwayne is always there to help me. he goes out of his way to make sure I have everything i need and all my questions have been answered. I always have a loaner when I need one (the last loaner he got me was an '08 and had **1** mile on it. it was great!

I'm sticking with MoT

 

Just had a very good service again at MoS. I had Yolanda as my SA this time. She called me pro actively to let me know progress along the way. She was super. Had a MINI loaner (I bought my MINI there) and had it several days no problem.

I'll be happy to give her and MoS their 5 stars. *****

 

My MA is Ahmed. Thanks for all the info. I'll be sure to requests the mats.

 

When I bought mine, 3 years ago, the push for undercoating / warrenties / clear guard / flood insurance / snake oil came from the finance person when closing. They try to add it on when doing financing, or even when you bring in your own financing / check.

 

+1
Having to sit through that felt like an eternity.

 

Yeah, MoS was very apathetic about trying to get me into a mini. I had originally wanted to give them my business since we took the car out one night for almost a 45 minute test drive but after the fact they just really were not helpful and unresponsive. I had also planned on doing ALL my service work there but after hearing about the no loaner policy if you didn't buy it there, forget it.

MoT is where I purchased Ambrosia and where all my service work (that I can't do myself) will be done...even though it is the most inconvenient of all 3. I've had positive experiences there so far, for a dealership service department anyway. I'm now annoyed that my MA didn't offer me a choice of chrome or black driving lamps...oh well.

There was also a big snafu with my financing and getting me my tags. They didn't realize that VA had increased the sales tax, so I had to pay the difference out of pocket after the fact. Getting my registration and tags was also a major hassle....jesus christ, I can't be the ONLY VA customer they have had buy a mini. It's not like I'm from a foreign country, so what gives? Hmm...there was also a big discrepancy between the mileage stated on this form I signed at delivery and what my actual mileage was when I took the car....that seemed fishy to me. They said it was just an oversight/mistake....

The finance guy knew right off the bat not to try and push stuff like the paint and windshield protection and insurance on my boyfriend and I. I guess it was the vibe he got from the bf (and partially me, although I went in with an open mind!) as he is a 'car guy'. The only item that we thought might be worthwhile was the extended warranty, although at the price they were asking it was a no go because I also had previously crunched all the numbers and knew EXACTLY how much I was going to finance (via my credit union, never through a dealership) and how much was out of pocket by then.

The extended maintenance was a joke since all it boils down to is your yearly oil change and not so great oem wipers for the most part. The dent/scratch/knick insurance looked intriguing at first...but I knew it was B.S. when I asked the finance guy if it even covers accidentally, say, taking off a mirror in the garage. He said yes, but when I looked at the pamphlet on his desk for it, that would not have been the case. The tire and rim insurance didn't seem to cover aftermarket tires and rims, so I found it pointless.

YMMV of course, but hopefully that helps someone.

 

We bought Cricket from MoS. Our MA was Ahmed - I knew him from my days at Zipcar (no, we didn't get a break on the price - neither does Zipcar ). It was pretty low-stress. He didn't push anything on us at all - and we were prepared.

I've taken Cricket there for service once. I had a nail in the tire and it couldn't be repaired. I needed a new tire asap and couldn't wait for Mr. Tire to order one. MoS wouldn't answer their phone, so I just drove out there. The SA was really great (I believe her name was Yolanda). She had me in and out in an hour and half - I was happy since I didn't have an appointment and it was clear they were insanely busy.

I've heard great things about Towson, but at over an hour, they are just too far, unless MoS really messes up.

 

I am sure everyone can say that they have had great experiences at one or the other of our local dealers, as well as telling a horrid tale about the same.

It comes down to your personal preference and experiences.....just don't go to Tate

 

Anyone have any news on the mentioned sale of Tate? If its true, the new owners may want to extend an "olive branch" of some sort....

 

At MoS my MA was also Ahmed. However, when i first went to MoS to test drive and ask TONS of questions - i dealt with Jeff. I really dealt with Jeff all the way up to the day of order. I didn't know he was out that day that i finally got everything straightened out and ready to order - Ahmed was there so i ordered with him.

Neither Jeff nor Ahmed seem very good about responding to emails though. I found it very frustrating that they weren't as easy to contact (through email) as I would have liked. I'm very much an email person, especially since i work all day in a lab and dont really have any desk and/or down time to do things like that.

When the time comes, i'll definitely give MoS a shot before going elsewhere. But, i'll also note (MINInurse) not to go to Tate! :-P

 

annnddd... i just hit 3rd gear after that post! W00t!

 

I go to MOS, and my MA is Catharine. Haven't needed any service stuff yet, but been there for some other stuff. Always very friendly and helpful and actually returns my phone calls.

Used to work there as well, so i guess i have it a little easier knowing the people there and who is going to work on the car. Wouldn't think about going anywhere else. In fact, i need to swing by again for a follow-up.

 

Oh, well that doesn't count - it's cheating! You probably have special privileges! (<--all of a sudden i cant remember how to spell that word. everything i try looks funny.)

 

In my experience, all SA's at some point get bogged down and take a bit to get back to you. In my personal experience, MoS never got back to me, so we go to MoT. Rose is AWESOME and she really knows how to take care of ya. I have had only one time she didn't get back to me right away, but she called me the next morning and had my car for me! (which I wasn't expecting!) So I wasn't upset at all.

I will continue to go to MoT for service. I really like the fact that when I go in for service, it isn't 'oh your car is here' it is Hi, I see Cecilia has come for a visit! I like that..Rose has our car names listed as part of the owners! That is service...as well, they NEVER put our babies through the car wash, but hand wash them. I am always very iffy about letting our babies be washed at the dealers, but I have never had any dings, scratches, problems with our vinyls, etc. I can't say enough about that place! (AND I always get a MINI loaner!)

But there are some who prefer MoS for service. And since you bought your car there, you would have better service then if I took my baby there.... Plus I don't have to pay the tolls!

 

Yeah, tolls suck! I always forget to make sure i have change. Gotta give Zoe a new change spot =)

 

Get an EasyPass... They are WORTH it!

 

You mean like actually being able to walk back in the shop and watch stuff happen; then yeah, i'd say i have special privileges.

 

Eh, i dont think i go through tolls enough to get anything like that...i'm rarely down in that area...except now for MoS.

 

The more runs you attend, the more you will need one.