meh, you'll see these same exact problems with any company that makes a car. I'd say that your problems sound dealer specific. A machine is a machine no matter how much money you spend.

Even with the massive amounts of money, research and process refinements that go into developing a manufacturing system for a car, you still will have errors in the manufacturing process that result in part failures now and then. Sometimes sooner, sometimes later...

Like all things, the more you understand your leverage and the system which you are trying to benefit from the more consistent the results will be in your favor.

My bet is that had this been replaced with no hassle, your perception of value in the car would remain high. Mini does care about that, no matter the bottom line in dollars saved by denying warranty coverage.

Sometimes it's just knowing who you have to talk with. Did you speak with the manager of the entire dealership about your problem after meeting resistance from the service advisor? Lower level employees rarely have the same level concern or viewpoint of the owners or managers of a business and when having problems like this one (redeeming a benefit), it's best to know who has the power to help you and if you're not talking to that person, change that fact before you reach a conclusion on the problem.

At least Mini has an influential system in place to help check against that problem by making their employees salaries directly influenced by customer feedback. Mini is the first company that I've encountered that with. Assuming it's true anyway, I've never heard a reason not to believe it.

I will say that I won't be surprised if this becomes more often when money gets scarce and both sides are trying a lot harder to hold on to it.

 

Of course there will be errors we're humans, not gods. I know all about the leverage system. My value of the car never dropped. The thing was when my clutch went out on my 03 Mini Cooper at 27,000 miles it got replaced under warranty. My problem ended in May, end of discussion. I was at the dealership saturday to drive a jcw. One of the salesmen was telling me how someones clutch went out at 60miles lol.

 

I think it's interesting too, that they're having to replace engines and trannys at low mileage like this......

Remember tho, BMW/MINI does not make the trans, they buy them from a source - it's their QC that's suspect, and BMW/MINI will no doubt be putting pressure on them to get on top of the problem - in the form of making them pay for the warranty repairs.

That said, I also find it interesting that all mfrs' just replace parts these days, no one does any repairs it seems any more, just put in new parts. With labor at $195/hr (San Fran) it's not hard to understand why tho...........

 

Can you find the proof to back up this claim. Because my gut feeling is that you CAN NOT.

All car manufacturers have problems and the only time most people speak out is if there is a problem. From surveys done by JD Power and others there are about 50,000 people that do no say anything about how good their car for each one that complains about how bad their car is.

Now from my own experience.

1980 VW Rabbit, Dealer Demo, 4800 miles when i purchased it, at 14,000 miles new engine, at 22,000 miles new CV joints both sides, 87,000 mile when it was totaled in an accident.

1997 Nissan Pathfinder, BOuthg used from dealer with 24,000 miles, at 55,000 mile piston #3 blew itself to pieces total engine replacement. 433,000 miles when i sold it.

1999 Dodge 1500 Pickup, 1400 miles new Steering Rack, 1650 miles new power steering pump, 37,000 miles (just out of warranty) new rear end, 140,000 miles new trany, 141,200, new trany, 145,000 miles new trany, ecah of these tranies were fractroy replacements, sold truck with 185,000 miles on it.

1992 Volvo 240 wagon, bought used with 65,000 miles, engine had 58,000 miles becuase it had been replaced at 7,000 miles sold car with 168,000

2003 BMW purchased with 22,000 miles, No work done other than oil changes per all records for car, car now has 74,000 miles on it.

Neighbors 2004 Toyota Rav, New motor after about 3 months, new trany 6 month later, new heater core at 7 months, In and out of the shop about every three months for som ohter major part replacement, Unfortuanterly no lemon law posibility as they have fixed all problems on first or second try.

Sisters 2000 Dodge Durango, From day one turn singlas flashed on wrong side, Fixed but the wiring harness was pur together wrong, 4300 miles new transfer case it had craked, Passanger Seat new drive motors three times under waranty.

All car manufacturers will have problems, but most people only complain about the problems and never will say anything about the god cars they have had.

BTW the cars above are only the cars i have had problems with, I have only had on other car that i did not have problems with and that was a 1967 VW Microbus. Execpt that at 276,000 miles the engine fell out.

 

I had my clutch replaced in 3100 miles. They called it driver error before even checking. So I told them to not even touch the car, it was going to cost me around 4k to get it fixed, just called up miniusa and they had my warranty cover the hole thing. I never let the dealer make the final decision on what to do. I cant recall to any abuse done do the car by myself for it to fail on me that fast.

 

UPDATE:

Picked up the car last night. They replaced the trans and all is well. Now I am good for at least and ther 1000 miles before it brakes again. LOL

I was happy to give them back their dog of a 328i loaner and drive my car again. I didn't know how I would feel driving the Mini again but as soon as that engine roared back to life I had a big grin on my face. When I blasted down the FWY in the rain I knew all was forgiven.

All car makers have Monday Morning cars. I am happy with Mini again but I have to admit I can not wait for my S5 convertable to arrive!!! ;-)

Let the mods begin!

 

I had a transmission issue on my 07 MCS with just 40 miles on the odometer (the same day I took delivery). There was a loud whining noise when decelerating. Dealer replaced the tranny 2 weeks later.

 

It's not thier product, it's that of their suppliers, in this case Getrag, that's got enough $$ problems of their own right now after declaring bankruptcy because of the disastrous Chrysler partnership.

 

Smart move, man. Thumbs way up

 

Not that this could in all reality affect the clutch, but I bet they blamed it on you because of the aftermarket stuff.


On the actual topic of the thread...

You will have problems with any car you own. They may not be major, they may come sooner they may come later, but there will always be problems. Especially, when you dump all kinds of technology into them.

 

They didn't blame it on mods, I know that for sure. It happened 9 months ago I forget what the actual "cause" was.

 

double post

 

Yeah, then I got nothin'. There's just no way it could possibly have been due to negligence. I mean, maybe if you were just constantly popping it and double clutching. Even then I think you would still have to have put a starving animal or midget somewhere in the engine and put peanut butter all over the pressure plate for them to chew through.

I mean seriously. At 2400 miles??? If you didn't actively try to utterly destroy it, there's no way it could be driver negligence. Unless it one of their "technicalities."

Sorry to rant. I've had s*** like this pulled on me at BMW. I swear if they didn't make such damn good cars...

Edit - sorry for the cursing.

 

I think you are out to lunch with this comment. Most poeple do demand quality that is why they buy the MINI brand. I guess that is why domestic MINI sales are up 40%.

I think if you are going to make statements like you have above I think it is also incumbent on you to cite your sources.

Just my opinion.

 

Agreed. Other than regular maintenance and suckiness of the Midlands gearbox, I've had no problems with my 03 MC. It has about 120k on it at the moment. Not to mention that, for the most part, their service has been great. (There have been a few instances that BMW p***ed me off.) Overall, my MINI has been a great car. That's why I'm buying another one.

There, someone spoke up and said something good.

 

4 of my last 6 cars have had to have the transmission replaced (Three Chevrolets, One BMW). If it happens on my new MINI, calling me "bummed" will be a major understatement.