I have a 02 MC and it still drives like a dream. Any car you buy is a potiential gamble. Good car companies can still turn out a few lemons. In my experience, the MINI is a good car. Love it or leave it, it's your call. But to leave because of a dealer....??

 

I think this forum should have a dealer review section... I want to get a MINI but im getting nervous hearing about the complaints and cold shoulders given by dealers and even MINI usa. And to add to that, BMW's track record is not the best either but the MINI is just so cool!



maybe it does and i just cant find it...

 

For over a year and a half I suffered with numerous and recurring problems with my '02 and even secured a settlement from BMW on a Magnuson claim (car too old to file a Lemon claim). Miraculously, when I changed dealers, the number of issues declined and none are recurring. I also now get a free loaner on that rare occassion when I do need service. By now I am certain every DC area NAM member knows who the before and after dealers are.

 

Okay, I'll jump in on this one, too! I have noticed that some have trouble with certain dealers and others do not, with the same dealer. Here's the rub. As long as we have people interacting with other people, misunderstandings and rough spots will happen. That's just life. Some people expect more than others and have a lower tolerance for waiting and getting things fixed. Just watch people in traffic! I do believe we are entitled to have a good product for the money spent, but that, too, is subjective! Does anyone understand what I'm getting at? I love the personality of Sgt Pepper, and how fun he is to drive, but it is a piece of machinery, after all, and not something to be overly sentimental about. Every factory built piece of machinery can have problems, and I think its up to us how we respond to the bumps (pun intended). Just my two cents.

 

I've had a few problems with the car but the dealer has been great. Most of my problems have to do with the convertible top and perhaps a bit of inexperience on the part of the dealer trying to fix it. Still, they keep doing the right things to get it right. I'm actually getting attached to the loaner car . . . almost detailed it today.

 

Loose bleeder valves and oil plugs, scratched interior panels, and missing screws and bolts after a service call do not constitute misunderstandings.

 

I know it sounds silly to get rid of a car because of a dealership, but when the next closest one is 100+ miles away, it seems logical to me. It would be ridiculous to pay to have the work done to a car under warranty and when the dealer is the only place you can have things repaired for free, it's your only choice. Unfortunately "just go to another dealer" is not an option for the vast majority of MINI owners.

 

Agreed Jen. Plus, it doesn't help that MINI is not always as forthcoming as it should be. It is truly sad that you have to do this.

 

minismitty, I know this has been asked before but I didn't see an answer so let me ask it another way. You said you've been taking your car in every two weeks for service. Would you please share with us a little about what kind of problems you've been bringing your Mini in for. For instance, in the last two months you've brought your car in 4 times, what was the problem on each of those times. I'm not doubting your integrety, I'd just like to know what I can expect as my new car ages.

 

Yep, I don't disagree with you one bit. There really is no excuse for genuinely sloppy service on a car that costs what this one does. I think you will admit, however, that some people may take issue with less clear areas than those you mention.(?)

 

Is there a thread here on NAM that rates dealerships? If not why don't we start one, then we can show up with a printout to the dealers and show them that we are fed up with shoddy service and arrogent salesmen and we will go to the dealers that are rated "good". Once it hits them in the pocket book they might change.

 

I would agree with the dealer rating scheme, except, as someone posted, most dealerships are nearly too far away from owners as it is. Trying to get to another dealer, even further away would be more expensive! It might show them how lots of people rate their dealers, though.

 

Very true. I wish I had experienced the "problems" some others have had, instead.

 

Yea you may be right. My closest dealer is 180 miles away, but there are about 8 of them that close.

 

Good idea, but will the forum police allow it?

 

I agree that there should be something. I'm going to be buying a mini in the next month or two (I was ready now, but then my television died, so I decided to put some of the down payment money towards a new LCD & put off the car for a short while), and I'm looking for information, both on options (and I'm finding plenty of information on that) and on dealerships (which I'm not finding nearly as much).

Living in South Jersey, there are 3 that are close (Main Line, West Chester & Princeton), but I'd love to read about the experiences that people have had at those places, both in regards to buying a car & taking it in for service (as someone who bought the car there and as someone who did not). These are things that could really help people making decisions on where to go, but this could also help dealerships identify when they have problems.