DC Metro MINIs (Archive) The old DC Metro MINIs club forum, now closed. Visit their new forums at www.dcmetrominis.org/forums

NYC refugee in Rockville: Sterling or Tate for maintenance?

 
Old Jul 15, 2006 | 06:59 PM
  #1  
speakman's Avatar
speakman
Thread Starter
|
1st Gear
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
NYC refugee in Rockville: Sterling or Tate for maintenance?

Hello all

We are moving from Manhattan, land of the yellow cab (been carless for 15yrs!) so we will be driving our new MCSa (still at "scheduled for production") down to Rockville MD in late August. Bearing in mind that they won't get the big bucks as we are buying it here in New York, who do you recommend for service, dealer installed accessories and general being nice? Sterling and Tate are the closest, Towson next.

Thanks!
John
 
Old Jul 16, 2006 | 05:16 AM
  #2  
Wagnbat's Avatar
Wagnbat
6th Gear
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 3,348
Likes: 0
From: Everett, WA
Sterling cuz it's closer, then Towson cuz it's better, and Tate last, in my opinion.
 
Old Jul 16, 2006 | 05:20 AM
  #3  
protoculture's Avatar
protoculture
3rd Gear
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 220
Likes: 0
Towson is very good. There's at least one DCMMer who lives very close to Sterling, and still makes the trek up to Towson for service.
 
Old Jul 16, 2006 | 05:43 AM
  #4  
lcubed's Avatar
lcubed
4th Gear
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 358
Likes: 1
From: metro dc
i'll put in a vote for towson.

i just got a service there on friday and the tech found the mystery
chirp that's been plauging my car on the very first engagement of the clutch.
(faulty left front axle assembly). the SA was on the ball and even knew
about the service advisories for the fast clocks on the 05's and the
fluid change to deal w/ my groaning LSD.

cheerful service, wireless internet, and dcmm discount for parts and labor.
and their SA's actually called me back within 1/2 hour of my call to schedule my appointment.
 
Old Jul 16, 2006 | 07:44 AM
  #5  
minibobinva's Avatar
minibobinva
1st Gear
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
From: Northern Virginia
I live near sterling but bought my car from towson and am reminded of how much i hate sterling everytime I am forced to take it back for service but my office is less than a mile away and the convenience factor outweighs everything else for now. My advice is towson if it isn't too far for you.
 
Old Jul 16, 2006 | 08:22 AM
  #6  
chows4us's Avatar
chows4us
6th Gear
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 15,478
Likes: 2
Originally Posted by speakman

who do you recommend for service, dealer installed accessories and general being nice?
For installing accessories or performance parts, including non-OEM, MOS by far. They have an extremely mod friendly Parts Manager that will go out of your way for you

For Service, Towson. Much nicer waiting area.
 
Old Jul 16, 2006 | 08:51 AM
  #7  
HEMI-MINI's Avatar
HEMI-MINI
4th Gear
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 532
Likes: 0
From: Fredericksburg, Va
My two...

Originally Posted by Wagnbat
Sterling cuz it's closer, then Towson cuz it's better, and Tate last, in my opinion.
I am with Wag on this one . Don't forget about LDG for all your performance needs.
 
Old Jul 16, 2006 | 10:27 AM
  #8  
Edge's Avatar
Edge
AdMINIstrator
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 5,975
Likes: 0
From: Annandale, VA (near Wash. DC)
Right now MINI of Sterling is utterly backlogged on jobs... you can't get an appointment sooner than 1 month, possibly even 6 weeks, in advance.

HOWEVER,

That is going to get a whole lot better in a few months. They are setting up a new "satellite" service facility, which will greatly increase their capacity for MINI maintainence. They're building it right now! Also, they had 5 MINI techs, they just hired a 6th, and they will be jumping all the way to 10 after the new facility opens.

No word yet on whether we will be dropping off and picking up our MINIs directly at the new facility, or whether we will still do that at the main dealership (and that they would "shuttle" the cars back and forth).

Either way, it's going to go a long way towards fixing the main complaint about MoS service - the delay in appointments.
 
Old Jul 16, 2006 | 10:40 AM
  #9  
speakman's Avatar
speakman
Thread Starter
|
1st Gear
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
Or maybe i should ask: which one is my best chance of getting a loaner?
 
Old Jul 17, 2006 | 05:00 AM
  #10  
Krut's Avatar
Krut
6th Gear
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 2,859
Likes: 30
From: Raleigh, NC
Originally Posted by speakman
Or maybe i should ask: which one is my best chance of getting a loaner?
Tate.
 
Old Jul 17, 2006 | 05:27 AM
  #11  
JustDandy's Avatar
JustDandy
4th Gear
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 400
Likes: 0
From: Arlington, VA
Originally Posted by speakman
Or maybe i should ask: which one is my best chance of getting a loaner?
If I recall Sterling's policy, it's a loaner for the day of your appointment - if you need something for more than a day, then you get an Enterprise rent-a-car which you'd pay for from day 2 on...

Any idea where this satellite facility will be? Any chance it's inside the beltway or is it merely more space/bays for them, near their current location?

john
 
Old Jul 17, 2006 | 06:33 AM
  #12  
Wagnbat's Avatar
Wagnbat
6th Gear
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 3,348
Likes: 0
From: Everett, WA
Originally Posted by HEMI-MINI
I am with Wag on this one . Don't forget about LDG for all your performance needs.
Non-warrantee'd needs even.

Originally Posted by krut
Tate.
Yeah right. I've been without AC for almost a month already, and have to commute this week through 100 degree heat, all while waiting on an appointment with Tate to fix what they should have properly fixed 2 weeks ago.
 
 
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Mini Mania
Drivetrain Products
2
Sep 10, 2019 09:22 PM
vulkandino
MINIs & Minis for Sale
8
Oct 31, 2015 08:29 PM
pkillur
Tires, Wheels, & Brakes
2
Oct 1, 2015 03:59 AM
Mini Mania
Drivetrain Products
0
Sep 10, 2015 11:55 AM
ronn
General MINI Talk
1
Sep 9, 2015 07:12 PM


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

All times are GMT -7. The time now is 07:28 AM.