I had a similar although not as invasive experience while in NYC earlier this year. I parked in a secured garage and assumed Sweet Caroline was safe ... wrong! Someone tried to get in my car through the windshield! They pried open the molding around the windshield and scratched up my roof. Fortunately they didn't get in and a nice glass guy fixed the molding for me.

Sorry to hear about your experience Paul!

 

Paul!, that just sucks. I am glad that the damage wasn't worse and that it can be fixed. Alarm or not, it would've been the same damage. Perhaps level 1 armoring will avoid the damage, but you loose some performance.

 

I had that very concern and researched the question on a federal level (I also researched the federal law concerning removal of the warning sticker on the sun visor). My research found that the after market leather meets federal requirments for side stitching to allow proper airbag deployment and displays the required airbag tag on the side of the seat as well. They didn't replace the seat they simply replaced the standard cloth with leather from a duplicate of the MINI leather seat pattern.

But the question remains: Will you feel "whole"? If not - then I know you deserve a replacement seat or a consideration for diminished value up to the replacement cost of a seat

 

Huh, interesting! Are you happy with the work they did? If so, I'd appreciate you PMing me the name of the shop! I faxed over the estimate of the seat replacement today, and I'm waiting to hear back from the insurance co.. My guess is that they're going to have a few questions... If I have a viable alternative though, that would certainly be good!

And I would feel fine with a reupholstered seat, just as long as I couldn't tell the difference between the driver and passenger seats! Considering though that they would have to use MINI supplied leather (I'd assume anyway), I wonder if it would end up being any cheaper... Hmm. I guess though I would have to ask the company that does the reupholstering. I don't want a different brand/type/etc. of leather as it couldn't possibly be an exact match. Even coming from the same manufacturer, it's going to be a bit difficult matching the leather, I'm sure...


-Paul!

 

Damn, that so completely sucks.

Unless I am mistaken, the seats can be re-covered, since I have seen posts regarding this. The upholstery essentially comes complete from the factory, and is pulled over the frame/cushion/airbag/heater assembly and hooked and clipped into place.

 

2 suggestions.

Tinted windows & OEM Alarm.

 

This is the very point I was trying to make. It is apparent to me that there is a lack of communication between SA and the Parts dept.

Paul you would never get a perfect match from any aftermarket supplier.

I chose to replace my interior because I saw the seats I had ordered on a certain persons JCW '05 in hyperblue with a black roof and every option but chrome - and decided I didn't like them. I changed to a leather interior in my choice of colors and perforated in the seating area for the same cost as the leather option.

 

Gee, I wonder whose HB JCW you could possibly be talking about - LOL. You mean a black headliner though, not roof, right?

 

Remember I saw it on the lot when I placed my order -couldn't open the doors but those nose prints on the windows were mine

 

paul that was sad to hear bout ur car. The main thing that helps the deterrant of those types of thieves is window tint. Those kind of people will usually break into a vehicle that looks like it has something inside. If they can't see inside it, more than likely they won't break in.

Alarms are great and all, but when whatever they are goin to grab is goin to take 30 seconds anyway they probably won't care. and the damage is already done. Also if your windows are tinted, the tint will hold all the glass together so it wont shatter all over the place.

 

If you missed it, my car was broken into a few months ago. Being the owner of the BATmini, I have tons of gadgets in my car. Nothing was taken. I attribute that to the alarm.

All of the lights on the car go off (including the 4 altas in front), as well as the high pitched siren. Combine that with their panic and inability to figure out how to open a door on a Mini (if the car is locked, the door handles don't work) saved all my gear.

And the OEM alarm isn't all that much. Has a motion sensor, tilt sensor, glass break sensor... Works for me and I say it's well worth it.

There was also a large NAM discussion prior to me deciding to get the alarm, and the consensus was... If you want to protect what you keep in your car, get the alarm. If you're not worried about it, then you're not. But the alarm won't deter theft of the Mini itself. The oem alarm doesnt add to it, and as far as I can tell, a Mini still has not been stolen without someone having access to the keys. Though I have seen that there is a bypass now... But it involves laptops, swapping out the ECU, and basically someone far more hooked up and obviously concerned with stealing higher dollar vehicles.

 

Hey WAGNBAT, off topic

You wouldn't be counting down for something would you . So what did you ever decide to do with the BatMini?

 

It's coming with me. The Navy will pay for the shipping, and I'll pay to ship the wife's truck out later on as she'll have it in California while she waits on me to set up the house in Guam.

 

Le sigh....

 

If you make me an offer I can't refuse, I may have to reconsider, Le eh?

 

It's started with Tate's faulty install of my JCW kit if you recall. And it's gone downhill since then.

Paul - don't panic it'll get sorted out - every new MINI needs to get it's battle scars soon and early.

 

Hows your MINI doing Paul? Put back together and running just like new again?

 

Yup! Just yesterday, actually. The seat upholstery was on intergalactic backorder, so it took forever and a day to actually show up. It finally did though, and they reupholstered the seat, realigned the window (now it seals properly), and did their best buffing out the nicks in the paint (it looks good, but if you know where to look you can see where the damage was (but I didn't want them to repaint anything, so I'll live)).

So all in all, it's almost as good as new!


-Paul!

 

Hooray! I was getting worried when there wasn't any updates about how the newborn was doing.