So my 06 MCS is coming up for its first official MINI scheduled oil change mileage (I've changed it twice myself), so with the price of oil I thought I had a great win/win idea. I called MINI of Towson, which I have a pretty good relationship with, (or at least I thought) and said hey, how about you give me the oil and filter and I will change it myself, saving you the labor. Well, you would have thought I had threatened the service writers first born (not Rose). He got indignant, said I was out of my mind for suggesting such a thing and on and on.

So I got to wondering, exactly how much do they charge BMW back for the scheduled oil changes? That would be the only reason I would think there would be such a reaction, or am I just completely wrong and it was a dumb suggestion.

Boy I thought I had a plan where we would both win and I wouldn't have to have them work on my MINI. What do you think?

Gene

 

you're not refering to Dwayne are you?

 

Maybe I caught him on a bad day, but I was floored at the tone of his response. I thought I would talk to Brad or Steve and see if I was that out of line, but boy I sure didn't think I was asking for them to do anything illegal, (which was implied).

Gene

 

yikes......thats just so unlike him?

i have had nothing but wonderful experiences with him

sorry

 

Aren't your oil changes part of your warranty? My oil changes are at no cost to me until I reach 36K miles or 36 months. Humm?

 

The oil change is certainly under warranty, I just didn't want them to do the actual change. It has been my told to me over the years that the person who does the oil changes are on the low rung of experience. That's why I just wanted the oil and filter and I would do the actual change. Do a search on all of the over tightened and stripped drain plugs. I didn't want to take a chance.
I'm pretty **** about the care of my cars, especially the MINI.

Gene

 

It sounds like a great idea to me, Gene! Seriously.

The problem with the 'included maintenance' plan from MINI and others is that it puts in place a maintenance regime that, in my opinion, is really ONLY designed to get the car through warranty. It's not actually a good regime for the car if you want to drive it for 150K miles. But since the maintenance is FREE, new car owners certainly want to take advantage of it. The dilemma is that doing so can risk your car (either because you follow the long oil drain intervals, or because someone makes a mistake when working on your car).

So your solution is great because it lets you get some of the value of the free maintenance (oil and filter) while still letting you control the car.

One of the paradoxes of buying a MINI is that if you buy a used one that's had a 'full service history' from MINI, you may be getting a car that's been relatively neglected compared to, for example, the way an enthusiast would maintain their VW or Porsche (or name your favourite non-MINI). In other words, I'd MUCH rather buy Gene's car then buy a car that's only had the regular MINI maintenance.

I was looking at used MINIs and used VWs and it was striking how much easier it was to find a VW that had had regular 5K oil changes and other routine maintenance by an enthusiast. It's not that MINI owners don't take great care of their cars, but since maintenance is 'included' you really have to go out of your way to do more than just take it to the dealer once a year (sometimes less!).

All of that said, I am NOT suprised by their reaction. If they gave you the oil and filter they would be admitting that their maintenance regime is inferior, and they cannot do that. All dealers that provide this service have to commit themselves to the claim that their maintenance regime is perfectly good for the car. So I don't think it's about money (charges to BMW etc.); I think it's just about maintaining the appearance that a new car these days can only be properly maintained by a dealer. A lot of folks know that that's not true, but dealers sell a lot of cars based on that idea.

 

I could be that they get paid for all of the 'inspections' done with the first change. If I remember correctly they 'inspect' a lot of things which we all know means they just look at the car. MINI pays the dealer to 'inspect' all of those elements which is almost no work and all profit for the dealer.

 

I agree with the dealer for many reasons, none of which have been posted so far. My vote is dumb idea.

 

Would you ask your lawyer to just let you have his books and you'll write the brief? Do you call a house painter and tell him to just give you the paint? Regardless of your intentions, you are calling an alleged "expert" (whether you believe that or not is irrelevant) and essentially telling them they are only competent enough to let you use their supplies and tools. Perhaps the SA could have handled it more subtly, but I understand where his anger came from.

 

"I agree with the dealer for many reasons, none of which have been posted so far. My vote is dumb idea."

Care to elaborate?

Would you ask your lawyer to just let you have his books and you'll write the brief? Do you call a house painter and tell him to just give you the paint?

Maybe if the lawyer knew I was another lawyer. Seriously, they have called me when they had MINI's apart so I could do measuring on the new 08's when I was still making the Bug-Guards. They have helped me when I was installing a new dash, (which by the way they gave me some bad info on), making the splitters etc. They know I can turn a wrench.
I really get along well with Brad, Benn, Steve, and Rose so this is why I was surprised.

Gene

 

I do call my attorney and ask for specific work when I know what I am doing.

The same thing for the garage I work with. They understand I like to do my own work and they do what I don't want to do. They even bail me out if I get in over my head.

I think it is reasonable to have an expectation for people to work with you at the level you want for service. You just have to be ready to handle the results of your own work.

I also think it is reasonable for a service organization to decline this sort of arrangement. So if the dealer wants to decline that is fine but they should be nice about it.

 

i would have to agree with this....its kind of a slap in the face?

but maybe D couldve handled it better?

 

Even if they aren't insulted, consider the position that you put them in. You're asking them to sign off on them having done your warranty change and then having you do the work. If you were to screw it up, they'd be on the hook.

 

"I also think it is reasonable for a service organization to decline this sort of arrangement. So if the dealer wants to decline that is fine but they should be nice about it."

I agree totally with this. I do a lot of "bartering", some agree, some don't with my ideas, which is fine. I just wasn't ready for the response, but maybe as I said I just caught them on a bad day. When I bought the MINI from them and even since, Brad and I have worked out win\win situations, so I just thought I would give it a try and save myself about $50.00. Oh well, off to Pep Boys for oil.

Gene

 

+1

But, it could've been handled better. I would equate it to be like going to the Doctor's office and telling him/her that you don't need to be seen but you are sure that you have this health problem. Just give me the stuff to fix my problem. "I can do it myself." (i.e: eds, medical equip. etc.)

I'm not doubting your wrenching abilities, but for the included free maintenance service, BMW/MINI wants one of their mechanics to do it for their records. So, if they screw it up... you can blame them. It's all about liability...