I do appreciate the update as well. Still, I'd love to see the pictures of the stock parts. I'm not familiar with Mini's at all, but $1600 seems REALLY low to me for a ne clutch, pressure plate, flywheel and labor at a dealership. If this does get done, I would think that replacing the clutch is a good idea since they are already in there. Granted mileage is low, but if it caused this much damage then I would think it is worn pretty badly. Pictures would be great if at all possible!

 

Correcting common misconception:

The clutch is the assembly made up of the pressure plate and disc. Not a part of itself.

 

99% positive when you are talking about OEM parts you can get them seperatly. Not sure for MINI, but GM I'm almost certain you can. Now if we're talking aftermarket they come together.

 

hmm, i see. the bob smith service advisor made it sound like they were separates. perhaps he was talking about the disc.

(to recap, i was told that if the pressure plate is busted, but the clutch itself is fine, it's all covered under warranty. however, if the clutch is busted, no dice.)

 

i too am curious. i'll try to make a trip down this weekend.

 

With all the price/problem variations, I recommend getting it in writing...via fax or email if necessary.

Good luck!

 

This is not making me feel very confident in Crevier and this is were I purchased my MINI.

 

small update:
i asked kyle to fax me a written estimate itemizing parts and labor.

he said that's not how they typically do it, and that one will be made after all the service work is done.
ridiculous, yes?

more updates tomorrow.

 

That is ridiculous!! Any place should be able to give you a written itemized estimate before any work is performed. After the work is done, it is no longer an estimate, it is a bill.

 

No. Free work.

CALIFORNIA STATE LAW! Any work done without a written estimate signed by you, is ILLEGAL!

Contact the BAR.

 

Doesn't matter if they're together in a box or seperate. The clutch is not "a" part. It's a collection pf parts!

 

This is very Illegal, in Ontario anyways...

I work for Midas, well my family owns 2. It is funny how people let dealers do that to them, yet, they do not let me. If I were to walk up to someone and say, I am not sure how much it is going to cost, I'll have a parts list for you when I am done... they would look at me and laugh.

IE. Cusotmer with ford focus came in, had 3 broken springs, front ones are a recall. So I called the dealer, made an appt for the customer to bring their car there for the fronts, and we would do the rear. Brought it to us, we did the rears in the morning and dealer was going to do the fronts in the afternoon.. When the customer called the dealer that night, they had not even brought the car in. It sat there for 5 hours, with an appt, and no one touched it. Not like it was a last minute thing either.. and dealers can get away with that.. My customers get annoyed when their car comes in 10 min after their appt. time...

I had some warranty work done up here, alternator replaced, and well, they tried to charge me for a belt that I just replaced myself, less then 10,000km ago. They couldn't show me the belt, they couldn't say if it was damaged, it was the wrong one, because it was not a BMW part. I didn't pay for it, and there is nothing that they could have done, because again, I did not authorize any further work other then the warranty replacement.

Now we have to (in ontario) put on the bill, whether the part was a NEW, USED, REMAN, or OEM part. We cannot put (misc supplies $20), we have to provide an itemized list, the price related to the repair can be no more then 10% of the est, unless customer is aware, it is allowed to go up if parts are found not related to the repair estimated, say you are doing brakes and find a broken sway bar, but again, you then have to call them and get authorization for that repair.

Customers can approve a dollar figure before the vehicle is inspected and a list is genereated...

We also have to warranty any part installed by us, for 90 days, or 5,000km. even if the customer bought it and brought it in themselves... so we do not installed customer supplied parts.

and now, the consumer protection act, has to be printed on our invoices as well.

sidenote, we just replaced our thermal pool cover, it didn't last 40 days, but there was no warranty on it at all... funny how just the automotive sector has to have all these rules, and other products don't eh.

Well a little off topic, and I read that it sounds like there are similar laws in CALI, so demand a list, and price est. BEFORE they do work, and ask what is under warranty, and what is not.

END RANT

 

Wow...I'd contact the BAR for sure...AND I might just let them do it without a signed estimate, cuz then you can get it done for no cost (sneaky, I know, but it's not like they're being honest or even DECENT with you)...

 

You have to sign off on something to authorize work when you drop off a car. It allows them to do work up to a ceiling amount, then they have to contact you for further authorization. It may be a complete itemized estimate, or a guesstimate of cost without itemized details, or zero if they don't know and need to examine the car further. Just make sure you understand what you are signing.

 

Ahh but Mini themselves told this poor guy that there is nothing that can be done, and he is stuck with the dealership's decision.

Sounds like it's Mini to me.

 

No, he's not stuck with the dealer's decision. That's why we keep urging the OP to file a complaint with the BAR. It doesn't matter a whit if MINI says no.

If the BAR says yes, the matter is done. They are like the automotive supreme court in CA. If they say do it, and Crevier says no, then Crevier's shop is closed. Period.

The BAR have done it for less at Sears Auto shops and many other places.

 

My guess is that Mini is now covering the repair, otherwise he would have to supply an estimate. If it's warranty work, he can just give a receipt. Any luck on those pictures?

 

Mental note...when in CA and need MINI service...DO NOT GO to Crevier MINI!

I sure hope this gets worked out soon!

 

I'm suprised they didnt want to warranty it right away.

When i blew a hole in my Cooper tranny from doing holeshots at the dragstip, I had the car back in 2 weeks with no cost to me.


But then again I never had anything ever fixed at the dealer again after that, ahaha.

 

lame update:
sorry no photos, the weekend has been unrelenting.
i hope to make a trip down tomorrow or wednesday.

i talked with Mini's corporate office without much progress. told them i'd be escalating this issue to the BAR.
called the BAR and they said the quickest way is to file a complaint online.
(turnaround time ~48 hrs)
https://www.dca.ca.gov/dca/secure/getcarcompl.htm
filed a complaint. and now i wait.

thanks all.

 

could i get your guys' opinion on something?

would it make much of a difference to just pay the $800 now, get my car back, then resume the fight after?
i get the feeling though that by signing the estimate after the work is done, i'd be relinquishing some of my rights.

boy do i miss my mini. thanks.

 

Once you pay that money, kiss it goodbye - you'll never get anything back.

It seems to me that they are dragging their feet on this in the hopes that you will have to pay up just to get your life back to normal.

 

BS...BS...BS! MINI knows that the 06 MCs have tranny/clutch issues! I should know. I'm on my fourth tranny and third clutch!

 

I wouldn't pay them either. Are they waiting for you to come down and pay before they start? That too is pretty screwed up.

 

Its amazing how bad mini Delaer service is here in S. Calif. They are all rip off artists. Some of the crap they have pulled on me..... And I have tried Brecht, Long beach, Irvine etc. etc. Believe it or not, Crevier is actually one of the better ones! Angelos, remember to take the advice from this board or any board with a grain of salt. How long has your car been at Crevier? Remember the saying about the squeaky wheel. Keep on calling Crevier and Mini USA over and over.