I'm in the market for buying a MINI Cooper S... If I were to be too impatient to create my own and wait 2 months, and I found a dealer about 150 miles away that had what I wanted, would my local dealer service it under the maintenance plan?

Never owned a new car before, so I'm not sure how warranties and servicing work.

 

Absolutely - and that applies all over the world, not just in the USA. I got mine (an '04 and an '07) in Germany and had them serviced at the local BMW dealer. Once back in the US I had to transfer the warranty info from Europe to the US, but i can go to any MINI or BMW (as long as they can service MINI, gotta check first) I want...

WIse choice! Go Cooper S! (Get a BRG one...!)

 

Sweet. Yeah, I don't know how people hold out for 2 months on waiting for their perfect MINI to roll off the docks. If theres one within driving distance that is 95% of the things I want, then I'm sold. Instant gratification baby.

 

That's a LOT easier said than done!! I was at the Richmond MINI dealership last night, and the dealer came out...not to talk me into buying a Mini, but to buy MINE from ME! He had NO used ones to sell, and only had six '08s for sale on the lot (5x MCS, 1x Justacooper.) They're almost getting scarce! That's why it's so important to keep track of MINI-sightings and wave when you find them.

 

I was ready to buy one in Charlotte, but the MA wanted me to go the lease route, so I built one instead. And it's looking more like 1 - 1.5 months, not two, so there!

Just remember that during your break in period (1200 miles) you're not supposed to stay at a steady speed for extended periods of time. Try the back roads on your way home.

 

You can service it anywhere.

However, some dealers will limit loaners during repairs to cars purchased from that dealership. The BMW and MINI dealers here in Charlotte do not (Hendrick )-- but my BMW dealer in DC/Rockville did (VOB BMW ). . . so that's one minor matter that will be dealer-dependent.

 

Wow...I didn't realize that. Although I haven't needed loaners as a general rule, I've never gotten a loaner-Mini but one time, and that was because I was WELL over my wait-time to receive my Mini. (It was a cabrio MC, and it totally put me off of them after my MCS!) If I got a loaner, it was usually a BMW.

 

It can be serviced at any MINI dealership.But if you do buy from a dealership that isn't close make sure to check with the local MINI dealership about loaner cars for those that haven't purchased there but get service only.

All of the MINI dealerships within my area have the no loaner car policy for service only if not purchased there.

 

I agree the local dealer's loaner car policy is an important consideration, especially if you get that 4pm call about a "problem" with your service or repair. It's happened to me, and I'm glad I had the dealer's loaner!

 

A loaner is important, most dealers I have dealt with give preference to customers who purchased the car with them. So take this into consideration if you think you would need to borrow a car.

My MINI is being repaired from where a small gauge was put in by the dealer when installing the driving lamps. Last MINI was loaned out so we have a very basic Toyota Yaris without even ABS. We are now on day three with this death trap and I'm pretty pissed even though the dealer is even paying for the gas. Honestly, in this day and age ABS should be made mandatory like seatbelts are - It does have airbags but I'd rather try and avoid the accident first if you don't mind.

Rant over!

 

YA - when I went to swap out my MINI with the hubby's BMW (the dealer is about 35-45 minutes away, barring traffic) yesterday, and told me the BMW still had issues they want to keep checking, they couldn't offer me ANY loaner due to lack of availability -- either BMW OR MINI (since both our vehicles were being serviced.) Seems like they had no issue with offering it to me, even though I/we purchased elsewhere, it's just they had nothing to loan out. The MINI side only had 4x MINIs to loan out, and BMW was swamped.

Wow...I"m surprised about the ABS. It constantly confounds me when I hear of what is considered "standard issue" in new vehicles these days...I don't always see a pattern to it -- like safety being the first things they make standard...or performance...or whatever. Hm....I just want my MINI back.