Ok Guys i need a little help, My new to me 06 Cooper S Threw a SES Light 2 days ago. This is our third Mini and i should know better but i took the car to Cincinnati Mini thinking it was a 02 sensor that was the problem. I was informed that it was the aftermarket cat that was bad and they would be happy to install a new factory one for $ 2000.00 ( Are you Kidding me). Since they were the orginal selling dealer and they had in fact installed the ALTA Header and high flow cat when the car was new it should be covered for 80000 miles just like the orginal cat would have been. They have serviced this mini since new and the current milage is just over 19000. They should give these people a gun and a mask so the customers at least know what they are dealing with, Its a mini after all not a damned 7 Series BMW. If you can avoid these people by all means do so

I did call ALTA and after explaining what Cincinnati Mini said was wrong and the fact they told me call ALTA. I was told that the cat was not theirs it was made by Magnaflow for them and thats who i needed to call.

I then called magnaflow and was told if it did not say magnaflow on the case that it was made to ALTA Specs and they were not responsible.

Any suggestions?

 

Bend over.
Smile!

Typical BMW/MINI customer service.

 

Do you know what code it threw? I wouldnt expect your MINI dealer to warranty the part since the owner asked for an aftermarket part to be installed. Also unfortunately since you arent the original owner ALTA will not cover the warranty of the header. I would suggest to either find a wrecking yard with MINIs and get a used header or search craigslist for a header.

 

OR contact this guy
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co.../product/14831

 

+1 ^ Check the marketplace here. I've seen quite a few Header cat combos be offered for sale cheap.

I see nothing wrong with Cinci MINI not warrantying that part. Not theirs after all. I would have thought ALTA would have stepped up to the plate of you. Have to love the after market warranty support.

 

Totally agree...if you go with aftermarket parts, the installer only needs to ensure the install was done right..warrenty the labour...beyond that, it is up to the orgional buyer/owner to get support from the part maker...
Aftermarket cats are notoriously bad and finicky...usuall short lived too as you have seen...

 

Actually the car runs fine and i will replace the cat ( The header is fine) My issue is that it was sold and installed by Cincinnati Mini and i have the paper work. Federal law says the converter will last at 80000 miles, This one did not. What really chapped my a-- was being able to look me in the face and say 2000.00 for a new one. If you are going to sell after market parts (and they still do) you better back them up. At least these people treat all there customers the same, the lady sitting next to me got to pay over $800.00 for rear brakes.
I also have a Z06 Corvette so people overcharging for parts are nothing new.

I have tried to buy a car off of these a-- h--es in the past and now i know why i never could.

I love my Mini but the dealer Sucks!!!!

 

Sounds like it is time to find a good 3rd party mini centric shop...
Was the cat melted? Have head a few stories with headers of this happening...
The way they get around the 80,000 mile durability rule is that high performance/high flow/low back preassure cats are sold for racing/off road use....and since a cat can go bad from so many reasons...especially in a tuned/modded car, failures are common....race gas, too much fuel, no pre-cat to protect the main cat due to headders, bad tunes, too big injectors before a tune...the list goes on...
It sucks, and I feel bad for you, but I bet you can get a high performance cat installed at a custom exaust shop for tons less!!

 

Yea your right about the 3rd party shop, the car has some mild mods that were performed by the dealer when the car was new. The car was owned by a Cincinnati Police Officer and was driven by his wife. Car was driven very little only 10000 miles of use in 4 years of owner ship. Unless Alta uses a cheap cat and i doubt that they do it it should not have happened. I have run after market cats on the Corvettes with zero issues. Well the good thing is that i might as well get the car tuned and really enjoy it. Any one really good in the Cincinnati area?
I usually do all my own work on the cars so this should be fun project. I still think Cincinnati Mini are a bunch of overpriced A--H--es. I worked to hard for my money to give it to them!!!

 

No the cat is not melted, They said it wouldn't hurt to drive the car and it runs fine. They said it was low cat performance or something like that. The paper work is at my office. My next purchase is a good code reader.

 

If you do a remote tune, like with Jan/RMW, his tool that you use to upload/download the software to the car during a remote tune doubles as a code reader....
Many folks love the scanguage 2, I have borrowed one, it rocks!
It can be mounted, and used for many things in a mini, and adds trip computer functionality if you did not get that option from the factory,,

 

Just because a dealer charges a rate that you feel is too high does not make them A.. H..es. Did you ask what their shop rate was before you took your car in? They do not work for free. They are there to make money as any business does. I know I do not work for free or at a reduced rate because someone may think I should. I bet neither would you.

Good luck with you problem.

 

Now if you were from California and actually had the paperwork that you say you have, you would have so much leverage in getting a brand new OEM header, for free, which includes the cat, because a dealer installing a non-carb aftermarket part . They would be toast. Not sure of the smog laws in Cincy though? Might want to check that out?

 

ahah if you live in california and you have an aftermarket cat/header, you'll be putting the stock one back on once every two years, unless you don't wanna register your car! :p. No but seriously, that is pretty darn lame of them to do that. 2000 is really excessive. I'm not sure how much an oem cat costs, but as far as i know, its not super difficult to install one. might consider buying a new cat and some jack stands (unless you already have them, sounds like you probably do considering you've got a vette that i assume is modded), and spending a couple hours installing it. Maybe a couple cold ones to make the time pass by a little faster. anyways, best of luck, im sure it'll all work out!

 

There is no OEM cat available The only way to get a OEM cat is to buy the OEM header assembly, and that is $1300. Now add dealer labor prices....and yes it would be close to $2000.

 

Impala,

So sorry you are having any issues at all and I fully understand where you are coming from.

Couple things:

Magnaflow did make the catalyst on the header.
Magnaflow IS the proper person to warranty the catalyst.
The Installer should have filled out the warranty form for Magnaflow.

In the package for the header is a multi-part carbon copy type registration form. The copies get distributed: One to you, One to the Installer, One to Magnaflow. You can also register this online at MagnaFlow Warranty Page CLICK HERE

What I can't understand is why Magnaflow said to go back to us. The parts even have the Magnaflow part # on them. They aren't made to our spec, but chosen by Magnaflow for the application etc.

Regardless Cincinnati MINI should make this right with the help of Magnaflow.

PLEASE let ALTA know how we can help further. Thanks again!!!

 

Adam,
Thanks for answer on the cat problem on my 06 Mini. I don't have the code number that the car throws but it is listed as ( Reading from printout) as " Low catalytic Convertor efficency" and is listed as having a aftermarket Cat. Replacement cost $2023.00. They are the orginal installing dealer for this and other aftermarket parts that are on the car. They also have serviced the car since new. I have all the paper work and no warranty cards of any kind. After checking i have found that High flow cats on Mini's often throw this code and it really not a problem. At this time unless Magnaflow wants to replace the convertor, I don't think it will be resolved at Cincinnati Mini unless it envolves lots Of these $$$$$$ The car will be in a performance shop on monday for a full inspection and more than likely a 02 Simmulator to turn off the light. At this point i'am not sure if there is anythng that you can do, You at least stand behind your products. Again thanks for the reply.

 

My 2 cents. I bought a car used with an Alta exhaust...header to end. The previous owner said he got codes every day since he bought it. Just before I picked it up he replaced the front O2 sensor, replacing the rear never helped.

Since that day 10 months later, I have only gotten the code twice. I just clear it and it doesn't come back for months. So, don't take for granted that your cat is bad if you have not replaced both sensors with the factory ones. (Some have reported issues with O2 sensors.)

YMMV, but getting a scangauge and clearing codes once and a while is a lot cheaper and easier than what I originally thought I would need to do.

 

I have cleared the SES several times and after about 3 or 4 start cycles it always returns. The car runs really well and other the SES light there are no codes. Like i said it goes to a shop i trust on monday to check out both 02 sensors as well as everthing else. A scangauge and a tune are on tap for the first of the year.