Is Mini the only car manufacturer that “prepares” your car for satellite radio but does not activate it without charging more money at the dealer? So absurd that, according to the service department, they contact SiriusXM for a “code” for my radio. SiriusXM charges the dealer $375 for the code, and the dealer passes that cost on to me. Then, the dealer must program my radio using the code so that the car receives the satellite signal, and the cost for the programming is $185. So now I’ve spent $560 and I still don’t have satellite service until I pay SiriusXM an annual subscription fee. The service tech assured me that the hardware was in my car, what is needed is the software code and the programming of the software with the code provided by SiriusXM.

This is all seems absurd to me, so as a long-time loyal SiriusXM subscriber with multiple cars currently active with their service, I call to get the fee for the “code” waived. SiriusXM negotiates everything, so why not this? As I escalate to higher levels of SiriusXM tech support, none of whom know what I talking about, I’m finally given the number for “Dealer Support” and I’m told to have my dealer call the number and explain the situation and that my request to waive the $375 fee would be notated in my account. Instead, I called the dealer support number and spoke to “Jim” who has been working dealer support for 2 years and has never heard of such a fee for a code. They don’t charge dealers any fees, in fact the give away free trial subscriptions for a year at the dealers request. Jim tells me to have my dealer call. So I do. The tech my dealer talks to (not Jim) knows exactly what she’s referring to, but is unauthorized to waive the fee, and provides the number to the regional manager for SiriusXM. She’s waiting for him to call back...I’m waiting too, but now I have his number, just in case.

Has anyone else encountered this? I’ve heard from another Mini dealer a similar story about the fee for the code and the charge for programming, and two Mini service advisors told me the exact same thing, they call SiriusXM, who sells them a code for $375, and that cost is passed on to me. I’ve never heard of such a thing. Why not have the satellite radios active when you buy the car if the are “satellite radio prepared?”

Thanks in in advance for any insight you can provide!

Cheers