I brought a New 2009 Mini Cooper S in December. from Ferman Mini of Tampa Bay, in Florida.
When I took delivery it was late in the day and my car was not detailed.
Sales stickers was still on the front windshield and the trunk had sand in it.
The car was very dirty, even the sales guy was embarrass about it.

When I did the detailing on it the following day, i found the 2 very small cracks on the windshield where the sales stickers was located.
I also found 3 small dots showing bare metal on the left side of the hood.
The racing stripes also had water spots that could not be removed.

I called the dealership right away and they told me to bring it in.
They promise me to fix the 3 paints chips and replace the racing stripes.
But refuse to replace the windshield, they want me to claim it against my insurance.

My sales guy took my mini to service and when he came back, told me it was going to take awhile to fix it. As soon as he said that, i saw my car drive up to the drop off point, where the cars are drop off when they are finish.

They put some crappy touch up paint on the 3 dots and also created a new 3/4 inch scratch (bare metal) next to the touch up paint. The racing stripes was not replace
I got upset and called for the manager. When he look at what they did, he told me to bring it back next week and they will do the job right.

I dropped my car off and they gave me a loaner car for my trouble.
They had my car for 2 weeks before they called me in.

When I went to get my car, it had no racing stripes, they told me they needed to wet sand the hood in 3 weeks and then they would install the racing stripes.

When I took, my car to work, some of my friends at work that painted cars in the past told me, that the dealership did a very poorly job on the hood.

They pointed out to me all the defects the dealership did.
Now my whole hood is mess up, it has human hairs inside the paint, the paint job is full of dust stuck inside the paint, i got several big paint drips by both headlights now, most of my hood has fish eye texture on the paint, on one edge of the hood i see bare metal with no paint on it and looks it its damage, my bumper and plastic parts at the wheel well has clear coat over-spray.

When i was driving later that day, and turn the windshield wiper fluids on, smoke came out of my car, they forgot to plug in the wiper fluids hoses back on.

I contacted a top Mini Manager at the Ferman Dealership, and told him my problems I have been having. He called me back the same day and was told from him, that someone will contact me that day and if I didn't get that called, I was suppose to called him back.

I never got that call, and like he instructed me, I called him back. He promise me again that someone will definitely call me on that day.
This has happen 3 times so far, and I have yet to get that call.

I need help, I am regretting buying my Mini, is this the kind of service that I am going to be getting in the future?
Does anyone know a regional manager of mini in Florida?

 

Sorry to hear about your troubles at Ferman. I also purchased my Mini at Ferman and I have had pretty good luck with there service. However what you have been through does not sound right. You might want to try posting on the Sunshine Mini site, it is a Florida wide site, someone might know there. I am going to Ocala for the SSM annual picnic I will ask around if someone knows of a contact for you. I know it might be a pain but I hear good things about Orlando, Jacksonville dealerships. If you have had enough with Ferman, however I would give them a chance they have always taken care of me when anything weird has happened. I will let you know what I find out this weekend.

 

I also got my Mini from Ferman, but just took mine to get serviced at the new Mini Orlando. There the best dealership I have ever been to! Nice people, nice service and they detailed my car when they just did a 10k mile service.

 

Since Ferman made the mess of your car, you'll have to continue with them to clear it up.(another dealership will not get involved since Ferman "reworked" your paint and stripes) Be persistant with them until you are satisfied.
Get with MNI directley if your satisfaction is not met with this dealership.
BTW, service did not change out my air filter on my last free service #2 at Ferman.
I found that out 1000 miles after the service when I dropped in my alta foam and the OEM was just clogged with dirt.(black).

 

We have a lemon law here in Florida, If the repairs are not made in three atempts you can apply to return the car and get your money refunded. It is called "The Lemon Law"
Do a google search on it to find the procedure on how to use it. So far 68 Mini Coopers have been returned due to the "Lemon Law" Not bad considering 250 Hondas were returned. If you Google -Florida lemon law- and read some of the results. Find the one with the link to the attorny generals office and you can find a list of every car ever returned.Chyrslar is the leader, but only 68 Mini's.

Good Luck, I'm sure they will just want to replace your car and not refund your money. Just do not take position until you check out the replacement to be sure it is not needing any repairs before you take delivery. I think it is set up that if they replace your car and not refund the money the bad mark will not be added to the attorny generals list.
Ronnie948

 

I seriously doubt the lemon law applies in this case, these are not defects caused by the MFR, but by the dealership - the law applies to the MFR, unless somehow Florida is different than the rest of the states.

Your best bet is to meet with the GM of the dealership in person, not over the phone. Just go in there during daytime, weekday business hours and ask to see him. Calmly explain what happened and what you expect them to do about it then let him handle it. Do not pick up the car again until you are 100% happy with it and take one of your more knowledgable friends with you if you don't feel comfortable checking out their work. If you're old enough to buy the car, you're old enough to stand up for yourself, don't let them push you around and don't think they can make you take bad workmanship. Hold their feet to the fire till they make it right, but do it like an adult, calmly and respectfully.

 

Thank you guys.

The problem I had was trusting them on what I thought was a professional business. You would think they know the hell what they are doing.

My job hours puts me pass 5:30 pm and it being a 40 min drive, makes it real late to drive down there to talk to anyone that has a clue.

Anyone knows the name the GM of Ferman Mini of Tampa?
Even the regional manager of Florida.