I got a call from Tate's service department at 13:45 (It wasn't Will) saying my car was ready to be picked up. Since I'm self-employed, a trip out to Annapolis isn't the most convenient thing during the week. I paid for the items that sevice did (the rear fog lamp wiring harness install).

On defense of Will, Tate's MINI service advisor, he wasn't there today and I picked up the car on his day off (Saturday).

The things done exceptionally well - Will bent over backwards to find me the wiring harness, and put me in a brand new MCSa service loaner. That was honestly more than I expected.

The things done not so great and most likely out of Will's control since he wasn't there today to QA.

Not one to state the obvious, but shouldn't a service advisor check the car out and make sure all items are completed satisfactorily? My impression is the service advisor (again NOT Will) knew very little about what was done with my car - other than the mechanic saying he had just finished it up.

1. Sunroof flap - haven't tested yet, I'll inform if not fixed.

2. Red dash trim (clip) - one was fixed but the tech left a new one exposed (how the hell could he miss that?) - Scott B. the MA at Tate and I said "screw it... " pulled the dash trim off, and properly resat the dash trim (shouldn't a tech be able to do this?).

3. The rear fog lamp is finally enabled and working on my very early build '05 (July 04) MCS. I'm happy about that (finally after owning the car for 14 months). The bad news, it looks like the wrong bulb is residing in the assembly - it's definitely not as bright when compared with a factory installed rear fog lamp (I compared to WagnBat's) The other thing that REALLY torques me - the tech(s) that installed the rear fog left five or six very dirty finger prints on the INSIDE of the rear fog lamp lens.

I need some advice - if you paid for all the parts, paid for the installation (now twice) and it's still NOT working to factory specs, what would you demand from TATE Service? I paid $232 today to get the wiring harness installed and I've got a dim rear fog light with fingerprints on the inside.

Granted Will bent over backwards, found a wiring harness for an early build 05, and probably ate a couple of labor hours as I'm sure these techs have never installed and spliced in the rear fog wiring harness.

Dim (literally).

 

to hear about your troubles but since you brought it up, was 232 to total price including installation to have the rear fog light installed on the pre-rear wiring harness 05 cars?

Howard

 

Yes.. but that didn't include the previous install of the switch bank or the light.

 

Wanted to clarify something you forgot, since I've seen the light. These fingerprints are not normal. They're like white-grease fingerprints. With the light off, because the are on the inside of a translucent lens, can't really see it from the outside without getting REALLY close... But up close inspection, or with the light on, those fingerprints are nasty obvious, because whatever grease/chemical that is, it's damn near opaque. Also, I still think you have the wrong lens. Yours doesn't look as clear as mine with the light on, but it could be some kind of dirt on the inside.

 

How do you propose that the tech got his dirty fingerprints INSIDE the lens assembly? It's an enclosed assembly ... I just did mine. Sounds like that's a result of the assembly, not the installation. Still, they should not have installed a less than perfect assembly, I think.

Sorry to hear about your troubles.

®

 

Will the service advisor at Tate called me this morning - he was a bit peeved that the car went out without QA. I'm working with him to get the car picked up, and spend more time with the Tech. He thinks it's one of a couple of things -

- improper ground
- wrong bulb
- bad install of wiring harness

I'm leaning to the wrong bulb ordered - but who knows.

 

This is really no different than MDSbrain's issue.

If someone provides service and you provide payment, they better provide satisfactory service. In this case its easier because you got an established corporate business.

If you don't get complete customer satisfaction after complaing, bring it to the local BBB. The Tate complaints are so abundant that someone else must have complained.

If you get no satisfaction, the final answer is small claims court but its probably not worth the aggravation for a couple of bills.

I would just wonder how long people like hitting their heads on concrete walls

 

Very satisfactorily actually - Will didn't want to inconvenience me with another trip to Annapolis so he picked up my MCS Monday night, left me with the EB MCSa - work done Tuesday morning by the tech and Will called me by 8:30 am saying my car was done.

The problem - definitely the wrong lens - I'm wondering if a backup lens from an 02-04 was substituted by accident - the proper lens and bulb - works like a champ - I looked at it briefly and my Lasik-treated eyes didn't like the brightness too much.


So kudos to Will for going the extra mile - he even put new wiper blades all around. Situations happen and I fully believe things will get better for the MINI Service at Tate.

 

BWAHAAHAHA!!!

Glad you got taken care of Krut. Will really is going the extra mile as far as I've seen. I'm sure he's right though, when he said in his prior post that he's getting beat up from all sides.

He must be doing something right though.

 

Yah big Kudos to Will!!!!! If you read one of my latest blog entries I can't say enough good things about the guy. He is the best person I have met in the car business yet

 

Not to be negative but the message I am taking away from this post is: if "Will" isn't there, TATE ain't the place.

 

Look at this way... if Will can get a couple of service advisors under his wing and train them on the "Will Way" then Tate will be well on it's way to repairing it's service reputation.

 

Well, there's only 1 service advisor at Tate, and it's Will. So you havn't got anything to worry about, except that he's only 1 man, servicing the needs of all.