Does anyone have concerns about all of these new F56's being driven ridiculously hard/aggressively during the numerous customer/MA test drives?

I fear we may see many issues being reported early on that are a result of MA's being more focused on selling cars rather than following Mini's own recommended break-in limitations. Likewise, many customers are likely to push the car very hard to see how they compare to their current ride.

I have been to my dealer for a few test drives now of various configurations and had an alarming experience the other day. The MA was driving the car off the lot (before handing off) and asked to demonstrate the car them self before doing so.

The car was a MCS/auto trans/paddle shifters with 14 miles on the odometer. They preceded to put the car in manual shifting mode and ran every gear to the max red-line down a straight away they have outside of the lot. They then wanted to demonstrate the "Launch Control" (which was impressive) but this also was clearly pushing the car for all it had. They also were purposefully running the engine up to 6,000+ RPM to demonstrate the engine note/sound.

According to the Owner's Manual Android App; it states that to properly break in the engine and axle; the driver should not exceed 4,500 RPM/ 100 MPH until the car has at least 1,200 miles on it. It specifies to avoid "full load or kickdown under all circumstances" as well during this time. It also clearly mentions that the Launch Control function should not be used at all until the break-in period has been completed. Lastly it also strongly suggests that the brakes and tires be given 300 miles and 200 miles of moderate driving to properly break them in as well.

I know people's opinion varies on proper break-in methodologies however I think most agree that a car with 14 miles on it should not be howling in the red constantly which this one was. As I mentioned above; I fear that we may start hearing about "issues" with this new platform that may be more related to this unfortunate treatment of these new cars than actual design issues.

Thoughts?

 

Make it clear to your MA if you order one that it is not to be used as a demo and have less than 5 miles on it.

 

Oh Indeed

I most certainly plan on doing so for the one I have on order. To my knowledge, my car will be the first one at the dealer with Dynamic Dampening Control installed so I will be sure to specify that there will be no "experimentation" with my F56.

 

I did a hand break turn with my MA in the car during one of my test drives.....that should tell you all you need to know about demo cars. Lol.

 

Hehe

yah, that's exactly what I'm getting at here. Don't get me wrong, I don't fault you one bit for driving her hard during a test drive. Just scary to me that these autos are going to be sold as "new" to unknowing customers. Guess I just wish for the fantasy world where dealer's would only use select cars for test drives and leave other ones on their lot untouched.

 

In my defense, I told him I was going to do it....not my fault he didn't know what a hand brake turn was. The look on his face was priceless after he found out. My dealer ordered 3 cars that are being driven by the managers at night and test drives during the day. They told me that they won't sell them until much later and then will be sold as cpo. No thanks....mine better have less than 5 miles on it when it gets off the truck on Saturday lol.

 

If you put a deposit down on a MINI at a dealership (which hasn't yet been test driven), the dealer should tag it Down Payment Made and not allow anyone to test drive it. That is what my dealership does. I can see, though, the concern about buying a MINI at a dealership that HAS been test driven. I wonder if most of these will be labeled as Demonstrators.

 

I agree that it stinks for the "new owner" but it is always like this...just more-so with the F56 as we all want to try it out. The modern machine methods and machines to make these motors really don't require a break-in like they used to. The motors are driven on a machine/dyno at the factory before leaving the building.

If I was buying a new car I wouldn't want those first 50 miles be from 5-7 hard test drives but I also drove the **** out of the new F56 S and non-S myself to see how it compares.

 

I've noted at least a couple of new owners say how they ran their cars at Wide Open Throttle on their way home after having their cars delivered. That's clearly NOT the way to break the engine in if you put any stock at all in the Mini Owner's Manual.

Hey, it's your money and your car, though...so do it any way you want.

Personally, I'd never beat on a brand-new car in that manner. Nor will I wait till the first oil change is indicated by the on board display. Those tiny bits of metal caused by break in will be flushed out at 1,500 miles and a new oil filter installed. Mini won't pay for that, but that's ok because the few bucks I'll spend will just add to my peace of mind.

 

I could be wrong but the mini you ordered shouldn't be driven by anyone but you. If mine is driven as a demo (assuming I even know it) I won't buy it. I don't even want anyone sitting it! I will put the first scratch on it the first fart in the seat etc.

If you go to a dealer and by a new car that was used as a demo they should tell you that and you should be getting a serious discount on that "new" car.

 

This being said....for all you buyers who have received your mini cooper how many miles were on it when you got it from the dealer? (this may been to be a new thread)

 

The three or four "demos" at each dealer for test drivea are not for sale.....so what's all the hubbub ?

 

I did have this concern with the JCW I bought in February. It had been at the dealer since August and had 21 miles on it, so I know folks were driving it....I would have ordered it, but obviously, that was not possible.

We did order our R60 JCW. I made sure I knew when the car was dropped off at the dealer, and spotted it that evening with the Christmas wrap still on it.

I got there early the next morning, and was waiting on our MA. She opened the car and we both saw there were 2 miles on the odo. We both agreed it should not advance to 3 just pulling it in and out of the service bay for delivery prep, and it didn't.

Regarding break-in methodologies, I really have never understood why there is more than one. It explains in great detail in the owner's manual precisely how to properly break-in the car. I never have understood why anyone would argue with the folks that engineered and built the car on the best way to break it in...

 

most of the dealers I've dealt with haven't been shy about disclosing that a vehicle was a demo or loaner. They often come with CPO status and a hefty discount. Not the worst case since you're more or less protected for 100k

 

The "demo" that I drove was sold the next day.

 

different dealers do things different ways...by me demos are usually very nicely specd, probably to inspire people to pay up for certain options, but they are strictly demos until the next model year unless someone really wants the car...sometimes they sell a 'demo' because it's the car people REALLY want. I really don't think there are too many dealers out there selling all out 'demos' as completely new cars. Some dealers let people drive the exact car they're interested in, but even then maybe it's one or two drives, not hundreds or thousands of miles.

If you're buying a 'new' car with more than delivery miles and you don't work for a discount or for a warranty extension then it's on you.

 

This is an issue that concerns me. I asked my dealer about it and unless I am not recalling correctly, the demo cars are available for sale "as new". They said cars that are ordered won't be used as demo cars and typically have 2-4mi. on them when picked up by the purchaser.
Close tolerance turbos, small displacement motors with reasonably high output, paying for a brand new car, and hoping to have no issues for many years.. encourage me to follow break-in. I agree modern engines and oils are well designed and prepared, but high rpm and high output, seem risky to me. Having replaced bottom end bearings, head gaskets, and turbochargers, I personally have gotten good results by letting oil temperature come up (much longer than water temperature), and turbos cool down.. I like to think I'm kind to clutches, transmissions, and brakes too. I don't want to be wondering how abusive others were to my car, before any wearing-in that should have happened, happens. I'm even nice on test drives, probably at my own peril, not really exploring the performance envelope.
But I don't claim to know how critical any of this is, I just like to put best foot forward, where longevity and possible time/expense may be involved down the road.

 

My local dealer has been allowing almost all of F56's on their lot to be test driven and they are also all up for sale as new cars. To my knowledge they are not distinguishing any of them as "demo" vehicles nor are they offering any price/warranty considerations.

I would agree with your statement that if someone is buying a new car and the mileage is abnormally high (indicating it has been test driven or used by employees) it is on them to negotiate some form of incentive to off set this. I would bet a dollar though that if the customer was ignorant to all this; the sales person may let it slide and not offer anything up.

I like ojedam64's suggestion that maybe we should try to gauge this in a post focused on how many miles cars had at delivery/purchase time. Also maybe if they buyer was able to get an incentive (or not) as a result.

 

Here is a shot of the break-in recommendations from the Android Owner's Manual on the F56 for reference.

 

The only miles put on my MINI S prior to delivery to me was from my test drive when it came in and my MA driving to the gas station to fill it up with primo fuel. Nobody took it out for a test drive.

As far as break-in, my MA did ask me to keep the RPMs under 5,000 for the first 1,000 miles. I have been, and will continue to do so, following his advice. I've pretty much done that with all of my new vehicles, so it isn't hard for me to do.

 

Drive it like you stole it.

 

What are Full Load and Kickdown?

Kickdown Wiki says a gear change in automatic transmission when you put your foot to the floor. Like when your passing on a two-lane highway?

Don't go past 100mph, no problem guy.

The Honda salesman scoffed at the idea of a break-in period. He must not read the literature.

 

The description have there is correct, basically as you mentioned it would be if you were passing and floored the gas. The car will "kickdown" the gear setting to provide the boost of power you are trying to achieve.

 

For those with 10k or less...








those guys are paid by the car.

 

As far as I know pre-sold cars are never used for demo purposes. I've only used 2 MINI dealerships but it has been that way in both cases.