Taking delivery tonight of my new MCCS - any last minute advice on finalizing the deal and taking delivery?

Things to watch out for - options to make sure are programmed correctly, etc.

Anything I might not think of.

Glad to be close to back to a MINI owner, owned 2 before a black/black 2003 MC and a 2004 PW/B MCS.

 

Copied and edited from an older post here on NAM. Congratulations

Walkaround

• Does the VIN number on the vehicle match that listed in your purchase paperwork?
• All options present? Go down your build sheet line-by-line.
• Dealer programmed accessories. Are the windows, turn signals, radio, and other programmable features working the way you want? Check now, it's free. The dealer may charge a service fee later for re-programming.
• Uneven panel gaps? Run your finger along the different panel seams. hood, doors, boot and bonnet. If you feel (or see) the gap "pinch" together, ask them to fix it.
• Windows trim and seals. No cracks or dings in the glass. All seals appear smooth and even? No budges or gaps that might suggest a future leak?
• All panels securely attached? Everything appear solid at the edges?
• Hood, trunk and doors. Do they all open and close in a uniform manner? Latches secure? Levers and handles feel solid? No notchiness, snags or strangeness? Everything appear to seal up tight? Listen for wind-noise during your test-drive, too.
• Even paint coverage and color? Make sure to look in a well lit area. Outside, if possible.
• Dents, dings, scratches or scrapes in the surface suffered during shipping (rare, but happens)?
• Fit and finish of interior. Look for stitching issues in the seats. Even/uniform carpeting coverage. Headliner, too. Scrapes or scratches on the side panels, dash or color line.
• Steering wheel & Column. Doest it tilt and telescope as designed? No strange noises going lock-to-lock?
• Windows go up & down? Smooth consistent motor speed?
• Full sunroof operation (if applicable)? Tips and fully retracts.
• Check the fit and function of all the control ***** and switches. Check 'em one-by-one. Stereo, too. Don't be afraid to play it LOUD at the dealer. Use the radio. Used the CD player. AUX-in port, too. Make sure it all works. As well as the fit of the speakers in the doors and dash. This includes your remote key, too.
• Interior lighting. All other door sill, footwell and reading lights working (wherever they may be)?
• Air conditioning blowing cold, heated seats hot and all climate controls working as intended? Check it if you've got it.
• All lighting equipment operational? Lights, blinkers, etc... Headlights aimed properly.
• All fluids present and topped off? Sounds silly, but... I never assume.
• Tires. Check tire pressure and double-check they are mounted in the proper direction. There are little arrows on the side that show which way they should be rotating. Improperly mounted and inflated tires can affect something as simple as gas mileage... or cause something as bad as a fiery crash (a mild exaggeration if you look at the big Firestone/Bridgestone fiasco a few years back).
• Paint & Finish - go over the entire exterior paint with your hand to identify the smoothness of the finish, there have apparently been damaged/repaired areas during transport that are not the same as manufactured quality.
• Rear headliner - is it firmly attached to the interior roof above the rear passenger windows.
• Car jack and wrench

Test Drive

• Rattles or squeaks? All cars have 'em... but any that concern you, bring up to the dealer.
• Transmission noise and function. Up shifts and downshifts well? Any noises out of the ordinary tranny whine (particularly downshifting from 3rd to 2nd)?
• Engine noise and function. Does it sound smooth? No misses, pops, surges or stumbles?
• All gauges appear to be working as intended? No bouncing speedo or burnt out LEDs in the display screens (very rare, but it happens)?
• Cruise control - Operate as normal, not inadvertently cut-off during operation.

 

I was looking at the list above and started to think that it was a bit of overkill.........but then I remembered:

1) In 1985 I bought a new Z28 and they put down the payment date as the first day that I came in to look at the car (I missed it on the contract and so did the salesman), but I didn't buy it until two weeks later. So in other words, my first payment was due 2 weeks after I bought the car. It took GM 6 months to straighten the mess out and in the meantime, they kept calling me, saying my payment was late.

2) I bought a Firebird back in the late 70's and it had a scratch on it that I didn't see. It took me 2 months of arguing (they said I did it) before the dealership finally agreed to paint it

3) I was a motorcycle saleman until I retired; I sold a Sportster to a guy, who went over everything on the bike with me and neither one of us saw anything wrong. The next day he brought the bike in because there was a "hair" painted under the clearcoat on the tank. We contacted the manufacturer (guess who?) and they refused to fix it. The customer went through weeks of hell, while we fought with the Black & Orange to see if they would come good for it. We finally fixed it for him at our expense.

So yes, that's a pretty impressive list above, that's worth taking with you.

 

Wasn't curly was it?

 

LMAO, I knew someone was going to say that.........nope, long and brown.