Ladies and Gentlemen,

I just saw that today MINI announced a fix to the stop sale on the F56 Justa.

Well, we knew a fix was coming but today they announced that it's being fixed and what us dealers must do to sort this out.

I'm copying and pasting this... Basically customer sold vehicles will be top priority, then cars in dealer inventory as best I can tell, which makes sense.

Your dealer will have to order a sticker as these are technically coded parts (VIN sticker).

Once the parts are ordered this should be a quick and easy fix.

Text:

Recall Campaign 15V-034: Replace Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
Label and Tire Label on Left B-Pillar
MODEL
F56 (Cooper Hardtop 2-door)
SITUATION
The gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) displayed on the VIN label, which is affixed to the vehicle’s
left B-pillar, is too low.
The vehicle capacity weight value displayed on the tire label, which is affixed to the vehicle’s left Bpillar,
is too low.

AFFECTED VEHICLES
This Recall Campaign involves F56 Cooper 2-door Hardtop vehicles produced from December 1, 2013 to December 12, 2014.
Customers will be notified by a MINI Recall letter as soon as the replacement labels have arrived.
First check if a Recall Campaign label with a code number 77 is already attached to the B-pillar.
If a code number 77 has been punched out, the Recall Campaign has already been performed and no further action is necessary.
Vehicles which require this Recall Campaign to be completed will show it as “Open” when checked either in the "Service Menu" of DCSnet (Dealer Communication System) or with the Key Reader.

CORRECTION
The maximum vehicle load (on the tire label) and gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR, on the VIN label) have been increased.
Note: The photo shows the location of the changed specifications, and does not indicate the correct values.

PROCEDURE
Inform the customer during the initial visit that the information for the new labels must be taken directly from his or her vehicle, and that he or she will be notified when the new labels have arrived.
Place the parts order as specified in the parts information below. Order labels for specific customers’ vehicles after you have confirmed that they are coming into your center for this update.
When the vehicle returns for the correct label installation:
Compare the new label versus the old label to verify that the VINs match and the GVWR is different (has increased) before the old label is removed!
Remove the tire pressure label (upper arrow) and the VIN label (lower arrow) from the driver’s B-pillar.
 Carefully use a heat gun to soften the adhesive backing on each label.
 Remove the label with a plastic wedge.
Remove all adhesive residue from the B-pillar with an appropriate cleaner (brake cleaner, rubbing alcohol).
Apply the new labels at the same position and with the same orientation as the original label.
 Press firmly on the entire surface and all edges for maximum adhesion

 

Thanks for the information!

 

So we have to make two trips to the dealer to have labels changed? Brilliant! There better be some "free gifts" for us.

 

No one is going to force you to drive to the dealership. When you take it in for service they'll do it. If you never do, you'll never get the stickers and you and your car will probably be just fine!!!

 

There are some owners like myself who prefer to keep our cars up to date. I found that making two trips to a dealer to complete a simple sticker change to be absurd, a point you apparently missed. Mini could very easily arrange to contact owners individually and arrange to replace the stickers at the first service thus saving an additional trip.

 

I was confused about the 'two trips' thing initially, until I re-read the procedure. You'd think that MINI would allow you to send them a photo of the VIN sticker, and save a trip. For that matter, it sounds like simply looking for a 'recall label' on the B-pillar would be enough.

I could see this being handled as:
1. Customer gets a recall notice for a VIN sticker (or stickers).
2. Customer holds on recall until service is required.
3. MINI checks at time of service to see if a new sticker is needed. If not, customer informed and the recall is marked as complete.
4. If a sticker is needed, MINI dealer orders it and notifies customer when it comes in.
5. Customer again waits until his car needs service.
6. Dealer installs new sticker at time of service. Customer is informed that recall is complete.

Car gets new stickers. MINI is happy. Customer doesn't have to make any additional trips to the dealer.

If the customer handles their own maintenance, or lives outside of say, an hour's drive from a MINI dealer, then it's a different situation.

 

I can't see myself rushing in to have them correct the vehicle's weight and load capacity on the VIN number real quick. Does it mean the F56 is fatty? I had some 2011 recall on a water pump to the turbocharger on my 2007 R56. It was after my warranty expired, so I let 'em do it after I traded the car in last year lol.

 

I can see this being done over the phone. Speaking to your MA with info, labels ordered,
and then sent to you for installation. I believe if we are all intelligent to own and drive the cars, we are able to remove and apply new labels at the correct height!

 

I'm curious what the new GVWR numbers are. If someone finds out, let us know?

 

Here's the process:

We have to take the information off of the car. MINI is apparently quite adamant about this. Then we have to fill out forms in order to get a corrected label.

I can assure you that there is absolutely no way on earth that MINI or any other manufacturer is going to let a federal compliance sticker to be sent to a customer directly. Ever.

In the rare instances (IE after collision repair) where a replacement FMVSS sticker must be ordered it's quite the big deal to get one for, quite frankly, obvious reasons.

carman63 has the procedure down that most people will end up doing. Also, bear in mind that replacing the stickers should just take a few minutes and we'll be doing the usual car wash and vac while we're at it so that takes the pain away. Customer comes in, has a snack, gets a wash and vac, customer is generally happy.

 

It's like when they replaced the exhaust tips on my 2007 because some people got their leg burned. They didn't even tell me about it until I picked up the car.