Just moved to MD, and my car needs service. I'm looking for your opinions on the best dealer for service. I need a mod-friendly service dept. who can cater to my car's special needs :smile: I have to have my regular maintenance done, as well as a possible clutch replacement. Any advice? Thanks in advance!

 

From what I have heard Towson is very mod friendly. Tate which I go to mostly can be a pain..

 

Depends upon what the "mods" are. I was just talking to the head service manager there and they will frown upon a pulley. Suspension, exhaust, etc., they will install for you. However, start messing with the engine may be another thing. On the other hand, I think Sterling will sell you complete kits.

 

It all depends on what you want and want needs to be done compared with what you've already done to the car... Towson might be your safest option but no guarantees that they're going to be too happy if you've gone over the top with your mods...

 

In addition to MD's two T&T (Tate & Towson) "official" MINI dealers, let me point out that we also have a great MINI-friendly tuner & general purpose shop in Glenelg/Glenwood (on Rt 97=Georgia Ave north of Olney, about a mile south of I70).

The place is Glenelg Servicecenter and it is run by John Behe. John is a DCMM member and has hosted a couple of DCMM Saturday tech days (topics have included how to's on brake pad changes, oil changes, tires, wheels & suspensions). He has installed a number of supercharger pulleys, brakes, exhaust systems, ported heads, suspension mods etc for a number of the MD Mini folks.

Give John a call at 410-489-0230 and drop in on him. Email for John is mailto:Jbehe@glenelgservicenter.com and his web site is http://www.glenelgservicenter.com

 

It's true, TATE can be a pain but if you are a bigger pain than them (too me comes naturally ) then you can have good service.
My latest experience with Chris was a good one - of course I had a MINI tantrum the day before dropping off my Little One- It appears that they finally fixed the boot issue which was causing battery/electrical problems...

I asked about BlueTooth installation .. I was quoted $650.00 before DCMM discount (yes they will apply discount on the total bill) and I must wait until Oct. Nov. as they are booked until then.. What you guys think? Fair price? I had ordered the MINI with Blue Tooth and somehow it got forgotten !!

MD STREGA2

 

Marina,

Just a word of advice... I too am waiting for the OEM Bluetooth to be installed in my MINI. I could get it today... but it would be the old version, with external keypad. A little ugly. Apparently, the new Bluetooth kit, that makes use of the new MFSW buttons (see photo here), is not yet available in the USA.

I'm not sure if your MINI has the newer steering wheel or not, but if it does, I highly recommend making sure that the dealer will install the new kit, not the older one!

 

Personally, I don't think the OEM kit is worth it. It's way too expensive.

Since you guys have older convertibles without the phone buttons on you wheels, you need to look at one with the external controler. Look at the kits from Nokia, Sony, Motorolla, or Parrot with a harness purchased from newministuff.com that routes the sound through the stereo. Just don't buy the kit from newministuff.com only get the harness from them, the exchange rate makes the actual kits quite expensive from him. Instead look to get the kits either from expansys or off of e-bay.

Other options is the kit that the guys from VCommand are shouting about over in the Navigation and Audio forum, although I don't know anything about it.

Or somebody mentioned that if you have Cingular, you can purchase a Motorola kit from them, and have them come to you and install it in your car...

 

i've got the basics-- intake, exhaust, pulley... i want a dealer that will take care not to hurt my bodykit, as it can sometimes be a pain to work around and get up on a lift.

 

*waves*

Welcome, misifoota!

 

I understand how you feel, Michael... similar argument of JCW vs. aftermarket engine mods.

I am trying to maintain as close to a 100% OEM car as I can. Why? I don't know... it might have something to do with the fact I also have a VERY aftermarket Mustang, and I just want to keep things OEM original on this one. The one glaring exception I have made, before my car even arrived, is the Ian Cull auto-up circuit. :smile:

 

Honestly, I can understand wanting the JCW even with the added price... There's a certain cache to having a JCW kit that you just don't get when you go a similar route with aftermarket stuff...

On the other hand, the OEM Bluetooth kit doesn't have a similar aura to it... At least to me that is...

From what I've seen the only thing the OEM kit offers over any other kit on the market is that it has the number for MINI Roadside program into it....

I can understand wanting to go OEM if it offered full integration without any visible boxes and such, but since the kit isn't available in the US (and by now I'm starting to wonder if it ever will be) to me at least it seems to make more sense to go with the Parrot kit, especially for those of you with Nav. If you add the wiring harness from newministuff I believe it even will display caller ID information on the Nav display... Now that's useful stuff!

It's possible that the new OEM kit will also offer similar integration, but all we have on it's release is unconfirmed rumors...

BTW anybody who wants to see the Sony HCB-300 in action, track me down at any event, preferably when Patricia is there as well. The kit works differently with my phone (ETen M500) than it does with hers (Motorolla V600)... I've got a kit in both cars.

 

I need to check out that zeemax kit..

 

hi!! i'll find a event to come to soon, after i get settled!

 

Towson!!!! .They also sell and install parts from Mini Mania. They love doing mods...Very Friendly too

 

Towson is super. Went there last week for Inspection I, with a 15% reduction pulley, big rear swaybar, lowering springs, adjustable rear control arms, HAI, VGS, and aftermarket exhaust, and they never made a single comment. They know it's tracked occasionally, and they still replaced many brake components under warranty. Even fixed the rattles that were likely a result of the stiffer ride...

They have always been great to deal with. Bought the car there in Aug 03, and it's been a romance ever since.

Marty

 

I had V42 flashed on my car last week @ Tate and they made no mention of my Intake, 15% pulley, rear sway, f&r strut tower bars and plugs and wires...But then again I made no mention of any problem that might of made them look at them.

 

thanks everyone! i think i'll go with towson, they seem to be highly recommended and it's fairly close. can't wait to meet ya'll, there's NO mini's out where i am right now (edgewood)

 

Just to second everyone's comments re: MINI of Towson. I've had all of my mods done there, including the Moss pulley, so I am not sure where the comment re: their aversion to pulleys came from. Chuck is the service manager and is always more than willing to discuss mods. Dewayne and Wayne are also very knowledgeable, but if you really want to know what's up talk with one of the techs. I was there yesterday getting my SES light reset and happended to mention I was considering a flywheel/clutch upgrade.

Next thing I know I am going for a test drive in a MCS with the flywheel/clutch mods I want. I could not believe the difference those two mods made to that car. My biggest concern was the "chatter" associated with lightweight flywheels, but in all seriousness it is hardly noticeable. Those will most defintely be my next mods.

On another note, my SES light was apparently caused by air seepage post-TB and they will be replacing the boot that connects the TB to the SC on Tuesday. Apparently this is a known problem on '05 MINIs so don't be surprised if your SES light comes on at some point in the future.

Don't waste your time going anywhere else...and go see Brad Bornman at the dealership. He was just promoted to sales manager.

 

Towson's good, but last time I was there (recall work) I was complaining about "that noise" when pulling away, and was told it was probably my aftermarket rims (like wtf would cause new wheels to induce a squeal from the trans area).

I had already explained that it occurred both before and after installing the new wheels, but I did explain that fact again.

However, they did not address the issue, and under a schedule, I couldn't wait and fight it out... very disappointed with them (a) trying to worm out of even looking at it by shifting blame to an unrelated part, and then (b) not doing what I asked. They got low marks on my MiniUSA followup. YMMV.

 

That's strange because I recently e-mailed Chuck at Towson and they install pullies.

 

Yes, sold by minimania.

But when I asked Wayne Specifically, what would they be concerned about for warrenty stuff on mods his answer was pulleys.. I think its kind of like, if we install it, we warrant it, If someone else does ... say "randy" your on your own.

In fact, when I bought the car they told me they would warrant a kit from Minimania (not MINI) so dont take it to another dealer.

I thinks its just business.

 

Wayne is a bit more knowledgable than the others and recently won some kind of SA award from MINI.

I think the shop foreman at Sterling is pretty bright about MINIs as well as he treated me very well

As to the lightwheet flywheel ... Towson is ALWAYS pushing them. Everytime I walk in they want to sell one. Before you do, I would read ALL the threads here and at MINI2 about lightwheel flyweels and the associated chattering. Remember, it might be find at installation, but how is it going to sound 10K miles later?

This begs the question. If there is a lot of concern in the enthusiast forums about flywheels AND no other dealer is pushing them ... whats going on?

 

Whoa, the pain. see below, top of the line MT IHF1000. About $350 or so installed ... in my driveway. My wife wouldnt be without it. Why does anyone let MINI install anything? I just dont get it.

 

Anyone know how much Towson might charge for a pulley install?