So I brought Inara in for service today, and my service advisor (who is great, BTW), mentioned that I should put my key in the ignition every now and then to keep the battery charged. Problem is, I have comfort access and my battery is a non-rechargeable LiON. But I just nodded my head and said I'd do it.

Would you correct the SA in that scenario? I thought about doing it, but didn't feel the need to get into any kind of discussion about it and didn't want to **** him off.

 

Why not just reply -- Oh I read that it had a non-rechargeable battery in it -- can we double check this to make sure? I would appreciate it very much.

 

I do with some regularity. I've had some hair-raising SA experiences (for example, did you know STRPs could be the cause of steering joint failure? and that a $1300 engine harness really requires a $7500 CVT replacement?), so I am regularly a complete b*tch to ensure things get done properly.

 

I probably would have said something but that's just me. Sometimes I think I do that sort of thing too often :|

Slightly off topic: anyone else think it's kinda weird the confort access can't recharge? Seems a bit backwards to me, maybe the rechargeable has shorter life?

 

Probably cost saving since MINI figures most people with comfort access won't charge them very often, if at all.

 

I have correct my SA. I do it fairly gently. I believe it is helpful to him/her (I've had both) to have the correct info. I also want them to be aware that BS isn't going to work on me.

However, I've found the SA's make far fewer mistakes than the MA's I've dealt with.

 

I only correct him if he tells me some bum scoop. Most of the time now that he has dealt with me he knows not to sling crap my way cause I will throw it right back. I consider myself pretty knowledgeable when it comes to the MINI so I don't like being fead a line of BS from them. I have been doing this since I got my Nissan cause Nissan was natourious for having subpar service, parts, and sales people. But when I do correct them I am pretty polite about it I am no where near and Ahole about it.

 

All reply's correct

but - Chesapeake VA .... Checkered Flag?

Don't bother ... in one ear and out the other ... little to stop it in between.

While in there, keep one hand on your wallet at ALL times.

Bought from them and dealt with them for a few years ... but glad to have moved on.

 

Are they the ones that refused ANY warranty work, if you did not buy the car from them or was it Sterling MINI.

 

I believe your SA is correct. I will have to read the manual to be sure but my SA advised that there are two batteries in the fob when you have comfort access. The standard remote lock battery is a non rechargable battery and the comfort access battery is rechargable. I did go a long time without placing the fob in the holder and eventually got the no key indication. Running with the fob in the mount for an hour or so cured (charged the battery) it.

 

Always correct SA's they don't know anything.

 

Really? That sounds even weirder

 

It's not true. And there aren't any contacts anywhere on the FOB to recharge it even if it had a rechargeable battery.

 

Ha! My SA told me that my car wasn't pre-wired for rear fogs. I had to get him under the car to show him that it was. Later, after I installed the rear fog lights myself & wanted to get them programmed, he insisted that it wasn't possible. I took it to a different dealership & they had them working and programmed within an hour. The service order is on my desk to show him next time I come in.

 

I suspect that both and the SA are wrong. I have not put my 2007 Comfort Access fobs in the slot for years and they function just fine. I have replaced the non-rechargeable batter once.

 

The comfort access battery should last a long time, because the RFID chip used in the fob draws little or no current. And since you're not using the buttons (most of the time, theoretically) on the fob to open remotely, I suspect the battery will likely last several years.

I haven't been to my Mini dealer for service yet, but I have to correct my SA at my BMW dealer all the time, to the point that I will be switching SA's next time I'm there. They put 40 psi in my tires last visit, when specified pressure is 32. When I questioned him about how this could be, he replied "what does it say on the sidewalls?", which I then politely pointed out to him is totally irrelevant, as that's max pressure the tire can handle, not the correct pressure for any particular individual application. He looked perplexed. The previous visit, I was due for a 2-year (comp) brake fluid change. The maintenance schedule clearly calls for this to be from the date of manufacture, not the in-service date. He claimed the latter, so I produced the BMW document backing up my assertion. He then agreed to do it as specified. Sheesh, I HATE it when I know more than an SA does about the car.

 

Checkered Flag Mini is the worst. I guess they have only one SA and the guy is a tool. They could not "duplicate" my hard start issue over the two days they had it. Sometimes after sitting for a couple of hours it takes 3 tries to start. My theory is that it happened, but never threw a code(still never throws one)... No code, no problem.

He told me it might be gas and to burn it off. Last week i refilled and the issue was the same. It took me 3 attempts over 2 days for him to call me back. In fact, I had to say to the chick on the other line "I guess this will come up in my survey" for him to actually speak with me... Those were the right words b/c he called back in like 10 minutes.

He was like a robot on the phone... No loaners for a week (hello, I work and go to school, and why is this happening anyway to a car with 8k miles?)

Anyway, I e-mailed the sales rep that sold me my Mini at Crown Mini of Richmond, and explained what happed. The service manager e-mailed me to tell me he thinks it is my high pressure fule pump and bring it in. I dropped her off today and got a loaner car for a week... A 2010 clubman S loaded with 56 miles on it..... Talk about taking car of your customers.

Luckily Richmond is not to far away...

 

Page 18 on my '09 Owner's Manual:

"Each remote control contains a rechargeable battery that is recharged when it is in the ignition lock whille the car is being driven. You should therefore use each remote control at least twice a year to maintain charge status. In vehicles equipped with convenient access the remote control contains a replaceable battery."

It is not clear if the replaceable battery is in addition to or in place of the rechargeable battery. Electric tooth brushes don't have contacts to recharge their battery and use an inductive setup.

 

I Fired my SA!! I originally had an Awesome SA, but she had to leave the Service Area due to medical issues. So I was handed over the another SA who did not understand that even though I am a Female I am a Car Nut and Fanatical about how my car is taken care of, we just weren't on the Same Page.

I let my Dealership know that in the last Survey I filled out that I wanted to deal with someone else. I got a reply from my Fired SA, that's all it was...a reply. So I now have 2 SA's that I deal with.

My MINI is at the Dealership every 6 Mos. for Maintenance and/or Warranty Work. I do my Mods on that schedule as well, it helps me balance costs and find just the right Mods for my Baby...and Babied she is!!

 

Probably have to smash one with a hammer to find out. Someone else can volunteer to do that.

I subscribe to the belief that there is no rechargeable battery in the Comfort Access fob.

 

What's more likely:
1) MINI added a second, hidden battery to the fob, and then redesigned the charging mechanism in both the car and the fob

Or

2) MINI swapped a rechargeable battery for a longer lasting non-rechargeable battery?

But feel free to take apart a comfort access fob to prove me and everyone else wrong.

 

Due to Hurricanes, I've been fortunate enough to experience 3 different MINI dealers. Each time I made sure the SA and I had an indepth conversation about my MINI issues and MINI experience. The SA knew before he took my keys that BS was not going to fly with me, I know my MINIs.

Brian Harris in Baton Rouge, LA and South Atlanta in Atlanta, GA were great. Mini of Pensacola in Pensacola, FL was the worst.

I went in for an oil service and a problem with my iPod adapter and came out with a verbal estimate for over $2000 in repairs that were neither documented on the receipt he gave me, diagnosed properly or needed.

He could not provide the code(s) for the computer diagnosis that he said (I did not request) was performed and looked at the wrong end of the engine looking for the themostat. I had to stop him from removing the expansion tank cap on an obviously hot engine!

When I got home, mulled about it, and researched his accusations I realized that he was well aware and attempting to sell, the "typical" and "most likely" issues with my 06 MCS and was exploiting them.

I also submitted a very thorough rant on my survey.

Final Note: A friend of mine took his wife's MINI there and was outraged. He got the same treatment. He took his issue to MINI USA. That SA no longer works there. I haven't had a reason to visit as I am now out of warranties.