I have called MINI of Annapolis and left 2 messages with Service since last Friday to try and get a couple of warranty issues taken care of but did not receive a call back just like last time. So today I called MINI USA Customer Service, who were great, to learn that the GM at MINI of Annapolis basically fired the entire Service Staff and is in the process of hiring new people.

Hopefully they will get it together......

On another note, we have the silver V stripe which has not held up and looks like crap except under the clear bra...Has anyone else had problems with their stripes?

 

Sounds like they're taking care of the problem to me.

 

Sounds decisive to me!

 

YES ! I have quite a bit of "spotting" on mine but have no clue what has caused it. I once thought it was bird poop but it has not been pooped on in a long time, yet more spots keep appearing. I have an appointment with MOA in September for the 30,000 mile check, I intend to inquire if there is anything they can do about it. If not I plan to look into getting it painted on, that will fix the problem. I think Scavenger has had the same issues as well.

I hate vinyl decals

 

I am not quite clear what is going on at MOA .
The GM fired bunch of people service and sales (BMW side) and it's a mess right now, actually it's a mess for a few months. I had big issues with the INfamous voice activated device that in addtion to the factory extra cost it ended up in costing me time, arguvation and a dent (this thanks to MoT).
MoA screwed up the service pretty badly - did not squat after having the car for 3 days - but after a serious chat w. GM and the Service MGR things got finally taken care of.. A long chat with a couple people at MINI USA may helped; I am not sure.. Having 4 MINIs under two names made things too difficult for MoA, but I am still waiting for a call back (2 wks ago) The problem is that I never know who works there..

Now that the purchase of the 135i is being planned out we are watching carefully at MoA service and attitude... with the MINIs we are kind of stuck with them but with BMW with have several dealerships to chose from....

 

I thought MoA just changed out nearly the entire service staff.

And now they're still having problems and the staff if going through yet another overhaul ?

Oh boy, glad I live close to MoT.

 

It always gets worse before it gets better (I hope the worst is over)

 

Hopefully, this recent cleaning will remove the last of the "Tater Tots". When I was having such a hard time with the parts dept at MoA over the MINI phone cradle, I learned that the guy involved was one of the Tate people the new owners inherited. No surprise there. Someone should tell him he's personally responsible for an increase in mail-order sales at Classic MINI in Ohio.

I had a bit of problem with MoA today, but I think its being cured. For some reason, when you call there now, you get a greeting thanking you for your call but it then sends you directly to Voice Mail.

I haven't received my MVA title yet, so I needed a copy of the Application for Title to send to PenFed to show them they are being included as a secured party. I left a message in the morning, but no call back.

Later I called again and just kept pressing zero to get to a live voice. I took a world class tour of the dealership: Parts, Service, MINI Service, BMW Sales, but just couldn't get connected to MINI Sales. So I left another message.

Fortunately, my MA promptly returned the call and immediately faxed over what I needed for the bank. I told him their phone system sucks. He said they know and are working on it. I guess it's just part of buying a dysfunctional dealership.

 

The only problem I currently have with MOA is the fact that one must wait so long to have service done. In my opinion, it should not take a 3 week lead time to have a vehicle serviced. I wouldn't be opposed if they decided to give me a loaner for the entire period between something going wrong and them actually being able to take my car...

Other than that though, I have no Qualms. I am also in parts constantly, and they are fantastic. I work with Harlow and another guy whose name slips my mind, If anybody else if familiar with the parts people, he is the shorter guy with a shaved head.

-Chase

 

I posted in another thread an account of my problems with MoA.

I've now dealt with just about every level of that organization from my former MA (a complete tool) to the Business Manager (lied directly to me) to the Sales Manager (can't post what I think of him in a family-oriented forum) to the General Manager (not a bad guy but doesn't seem to be getting the best out of the Tate holdovers) to Group One's head of Eastern US dealerships. The Group One guy's name is David Hult and -- believe it or not -- he returns calls promptly and is willing to get involved on behalf of a customer. As he explained it, BMW/Mini of Annapolis is Group One's first Maryland dealership and they're suffering because they have no nearby dealerships to borrow staff from in order to improve service right away. Not that it necessarily changes a bad experience into a good one, but it's nice to know that on some level they're trying.

That said, they have major problems, particularly in their title/registration department and apparently in service too. The GM knows it, as do the senior staff at Group One. I suspect that you'll see some more staffing changes to come -- a good thing in my opinion.

 

That explains a lot and makes sense. I'm willing to give them time to get it straight. A number of the people I have dealt with there seem to know the problems and are optimistic that improvements are coming.

 

I have problem with my white stripes too. I washed my car for the first time since I got it and I can't get them clean. They are grey with white spots. sort like water spots.

In addition I called two weeks ago to get my car in to have them look at the transmission. I have an 08 automatic and it seems to have problems deciding what gear it wants to be in between 10mph and 20 mph. It jerks back and forth. Very annoying when in stop and go traffic on BWparkway.

I'll try calling them again monday to see if I get a response.

 

Hello,

I live in Crofton MD and I have an 03 Mini Cooper S, which is way past it's initial warranty. My question for you guys is (since most of you here are from MD) have any of you found or heard of an auto shop In the MD area where thay will actually work on the Mini Copper's. All performance and repair shops i've contacted are scared S**less to touch them. I only ask this because I now change the oil myself, and the $100.00 dollars the dealership charges is BS. Anyway hope you guys get the stuff sorted out with MOA, and if anyone knows of a good shop besides dealerships, please let me know. Thanks

 

Hi Chumperdink

Although my MINI is new, I also have been thinking about locating a good garage in the area who could do my oil changes between the MINI paid ones.

I just can't think about leaving the same oil (synthetic or not) in my engine for 12,000 to 14,000 miles.

Rich

 

Try this place. http://www.luckydoggarage.com/about.html The owner, John Behe, is a great guy and he knows MINIs inside and out.

 

Mike thanks for the heads up on Luckydog, I will be giving them a call tomorrow. I'm trying to have a high performance cam installed because thats a little out of my league. I've done the bolt on stuff, but internal mechanisms I want to leave to the pros. Also Mike have you had any work done there? If so were you satisfied...... Rich I see you have a brand new one so I would definately get your car into the dealership for the slightest hiccup. (make those bastads do somthing at the dealership!) Also, if you are going to do the oil yourself, I know I only had to buy a couple of tools like a 36mm socket, and the manufacturer oil filter, and I was in business. You could probably find the tool and filter on minimania.com, or possibly bavarianautosport.com as well. I was really surprised at how long they make you wait between oilchanges. They were like may we see your key, and they plugged it into this thing at the service desk and said no sir I'm sorry you havent reached the 10,000 mile service mark for an oil change!!! you have 90 more miles to go lol. Whatever!!! Anyway thanks for the replies and Mike if you dealt with luckydogg before let me know. Thanks again

 

Went to MoA on Thursday because GyPsy's muffler came off making a "racing car" noise. This time the SA - a new one again !! called back - I was so pissed off as I had left 4 messages in two week time. Since I couldn't have a MINI loaner until the end of Sept. I decided to have the work done on GyPsy while waiting which will be on Sept. 15th , the earliest I could get in, ... which means that MoA is very busy .. strange
Rick the MINI sales mgr. is gone too, another BMW sales guy Bill B. gone as well along with the Service Mgr. people are leaving MoA at a much faster rate than TATE ...

 

No way, Rick is gone?! That's quite suprising! Is Scott at least still there?


I'll plug my shop here. Admiral Tire and Auto center (Independent Goodyear/Gemini repair facility), 2325 Unit D N.W. Crain Hwy, Bowie, MD. I'm the assistant manager and we can/will work on anything, from honda's to Ferrari's. We also can change tires from small garden equipment to front end loaders and everything inbetween (including custom wheels, we can do 30's on our machine). Give me a call @ 301-897-2349 if you have any questions.

Jeff

 

Lastrega,
BMW sales guy Bill B. Is this my MINI MA, William Barfield??

 

No Bill B. was from BMW - I don't think MINI MAs have changed .. Scott is still there and so the other MAs I saw in the past few months.

 

Geeze, I hope they get things settled down there. I'm at 3000 miles and want to change my oil at about 7500.

Do you have any idea what they charge for an oil change, btw?

 

probably a lot, given they're a dealership...I went to JiffyLube and have not had any problems since.

 

I personally used Jeff's place Admiral Tires for GyPsy.. great service.. I also felt more confortable knowing that Jeff was looking over GyPsy's work...
Very busy place...

 

I did more than look over it, I actually performed it...

 

Went to MoA as scheduled .. they have wireless, cappucino machine, and nice small lounge area where I set up "my office" while waiting to get "GyPsy" fixed (muffler came off) ...
OOOPS!! they got messed up in ordering the parts... but in no time I was put on a PW MCS loaner - with a lot of apologies... (Zein is so nice !!) .

So for the next couple of days I am practing with the paddle shifter
...