I do not want to bother with keeping a car past its warranty nor do I want to bother selling it. So I prefer to lease and I get a new car every few years.

Equity... its not an investment, not at all.

Do you own a house or rent one? Same kind of thing.

Your letter or email to MINI was way too emotional to warrant anything other than the response you got from their customer service dept.

And finally just sell your car, take a loss and move on. Buy a Toyota.

 

I am really sorry MINI is not a high quality product. BMW is making a killing on these cars. $20,000+ plus for s stripped Cooper...

 

Gotta comment on this one too. I leased a 2001 Jetta VR6 for 4 years. My only issue was the glove box handle falling off in my hand one day while opening it. It was a super reliable car.

 

Not reading up on the R56 before I bought it? Yeah, that's my bad. Having Mini continue to sell a car that falls apart? That's their problem. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice...

Whatever, I still love my car despite the headaches. I'm not going to get all mad and sell it right away. I have to keep it for a while before I do so. Granted, I'm EASILY going to turn a profit on this car, but I don't want to get rid of it until after I get my suspension and front lip. I need to stance this car out.

 

?????????

OK def a flamer. Would suggest all do as I plan on doing and ignore all from this fellow.

 

Some folks see an outlying data point here - statistically insignificant. But for those of us that have sad tales to tell, that is the totality of experience, and that is therefore all that matters.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shooting_the_messenger

If this thread makes you sad, try this other one: https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...o-do-that.html as a sorbet...

But my good experience does not leaven the frustration of those of us that have had their expectations shattered.

Kind regards,

Charlie

 

Flamer...I think not. I am a very active poster here. Take a look at the number of my posts to date and they are not "+1" posts either.

I will somewhat compare my 2009 JCW to the 2 past and the current BMW that I have in my garage. I will state this again. Its not a car made with high quality parts or materials.

Cars are designed and for the most part assembled by people or people programming robots. There will always be problems.

I am done with this thread and will not respond to future posts of this nature. I am happy with my car and its reliability to date.

Enjoy your little debate

 

I hope mine is an anomoly then. I have 7300 miles on my 2010 and have not had one single issue except a noisy a/c compressor which I understand there is a fix for. My car has not seen the dealer since I bought it....

Larry

 

Ah don't forget about Triumph and their electronics, Lucas, Lord of Darkness!

 

I Agee with you on this. I equate this to the weatherman syndrome.

The weatherman predicts a 50 percent chance of rain for today. You look out the window and it is not raining so the weatherman is lying. I am three blocks away and look out my window and it is raining and I am cursing him for being right.

Probability is just that: some people have a hard time with the concept because the are sitting only on one side or the other.

All said, Mini seems to have a HIGHER probability of problems than many other cars.

Fan boys, do not flame me. Just stating what I believe are reasonbly accurate facts.

 

I hope you lit a candle or knocked on wood after this entry. If I were you I would start praying now that you never have an issue with your car and that you never ever have to deal with Customer Relations. An experience like that would surely disabuse you of your MINI enthusiasm.


For me it's not the failure of the car itself to live up to expectations. (It's a goddamn machine built by people.) It's the failure of BMW's customer service that is so infuriating and deeply disappointing. For all their wickedly spot-on marketing messages and sophisticated understanding of their target customers, they are woefully negligent in maintaining positive relationships with those same customers once the car has left the lot.

It's stunning really that a company like BMW would be so behind the curve when it comes to customer service.

 

No - there isn't an alternate contact and that's exactly the problem with MINI/BMW. Customer complaints do not transcend the confines of Customer Relations.

I just learned that after 3 months of emails, calls, complaints, and pleas related to my 4 yr old MINI, my issue has not progressed beyond my "case manager" - who closed the case immediately. Without input from anyone (which she clearly stated to me today), she unilaterally decided that the failure of the engine was of no concern to BMW/MINI USA.

No executive, no manufacturing tech, no service tech, not even a manager in her department was clued into the details - or even the existence - of my case. ALL correspondence that came to BMW regarding my car was directed to her - and only her.

To make matters worse, the extent of her "research" into my case was checking with the dealership on whether or not my car was still under warranty and whether or not they had serviced my car.

This is exactly how even the little things that go wrong with a MINI can quickly escalate into huge ordeals for even the most devoted customers.

 

Look, I understand you're not happy with your Mini, and if I'd had the problems you've had I guess I'd feel the same way. But I spent a year shopping for my dream car, researched all the owners forums, talked to owners and yes I read horror stories about Minis just as I did about all the other cars I looked at. But what I found was that MOST Mini owners are very happy with their cars and MOST Mini owners have been happy with Mini Customer service. Lady next to me at work just turned 40,000 on her 2009 MCS with ZERO Problems. As I said, mines been perfect except for two defective tyres causiing a bit of vibration and my Mini dealer provided most excellent service getting that issue fixed, and it was the TYRES, not Mini that was causing the problem. Once agaiin, sorry you've had the problems that you've had but to categorically state that ALL Minis are crap and ALL Mini CS sucks just is not true.

 

LOL this. My friends have/ all have had VW's and Audis. They are always having problems whether its big or small. Everytime I would turn around one of them would tell me the next thing they're replacing on their car. Half the time I don't even pay attention because there's so many problems.

My mini is nowhere near as bad some of the VW's or Audis my friends have had in the past. Not to mention I always drive it spiritedly. Sure it aint no Honda, but why the hell would you want it to be?

I'm no mechanic at all but I just had springs installed on my car by my friend and he said the mini was insanely easy to install compared to VW or Audi.

 

Well just for the record here - I happen to LOVE my MINI and don't consider them crap at all. I had no problems at all until this catastrophe.
My issue is customer service. I would even purchase another one if I knew that they were capable of responding to their customers with at least as much consideration and care as Starbucks.

 

[QUOTE=tccox;3315901] My 2011 MCS has been bulletproof, by far the best new car I've ever owned... [QUOTE]

Give yourself time. You're still in the "honeymoon phase". Wait and see, unless you unload it on someone else before the warranty goes.

 

Excellent point

 

Please enlighten us as to how you will make a profit from a car that is continually depreciating?

 

I want to comment on the early versus late in the life of a model issue. The single worse car I've ever owned mechanically was my 1976 Honda Accord, the first year of the first generation Accord. There was a head gasket design flaw. The result was two complete engine rebuilds in 40,000 miles, the second outside warranty. But Honda was building a business and when it happened the second time, they stepped up and took care of it free. The dealer went to bat for me on that one.

My 1982 Accord went 125,000 miles with not a wrench on the drive train other than for periodic maintenance. As someone pointed out in this thread, if you willingly step up to correct your mistakes, you work very hard to make sure it doesn't happen again. We all know Honda's reputation for reliability today. They set the tone for what they wanted to accomplish beginning with the 1976. Why did I buy a second Accord? Because Honda stood behind their product.

I own two MINIs. My 2011 I bought new in November. Of course it was well into the second generation design. So far the only problem has been a check engine light at 10,000 miles brought on by a loose gas cap. But I'm nervous over the fact they expected this car to go 18,000 miles on break-in oil. I had them change it at 10,000 miles - at my expense.

I bought my 2005 used in April with 53,000 miles. Once again, it is late in the 1st generation run. I have complete maintenance records from the original owner. Other than a burnt out brake light, all maintenance has been routine maintenance. The check engine light went on the same week as on the 2011, at 56,000 miles. In this case it was the O2 sensor for which MINI extended the warranty to 100,000 miles because of the issues with that sensor. So I'll give MINI a +1 on that one.

The dealer discovered a leaky engine mount in his multi-point inspection. This site is loaded with threads on that issue. Some folks have replaced the OEM mount 3 or more times. The dealer wanted $240 for parts and labor. After reading through the threads I knew what to look for. No fluid on the garage floor. Residue from the leak baked onto the frame from being there a while. The mount is completely dry (and empty of fluid). There is a very high probability it happened while under warranty.

MINI should have stepped up on this one too because (1) the part design was flawed, and (2) because there is a high probability it happened under warranty. But they haven't. The dealer indicated that with my car out of warranty, there was noting he could do. The 2011 is the 7th car I have bought from that family of dealerships, the first being my 1976 Accord. For a 35 year customer, he could have done something even if MINI wouldn't (parts at cost, discount on labor). I'll score -1 for MINI and -1 for the dealership on this one.

So for me the jury is still out. Maybe I've been very lucky so far. Or maybe MINIs improve as they work their way further into the product generation cycles. The Consumer Reports data supports this theory. I'd be less nervous about the future if MINI took the same attitude toward keeping their customers happy that Honda did with the '76 Accord. But I don't have that feeling about MINI/BMW. And I don't feel that way about the dealer anymore either.

In case you think this 'old fart' babies his cars, I want you to know I attended MINIs on the Dragon this year. I ran the dragon 8 times in my 2011 MCSC. On the way back we decided to become a 2 MINI family. I deliberately chose the 2005 MCS as I wanted to experience a 1st generation supercharged MINI, and I wanted one late in the run. If I was going to mod a MINI's engine and suspension, it made sense to get one out of warranty. The KONI FSDs, the H-Sport Sway bar, an aftermarket engine mount, and front end bushings go on this weekend. Dumping the run flats will be next. But I'll be keeping my fingers crossed, hoping some of the horror stories I've been hearing don't come my way.

Tom

 

Agreed some of the MINIs engineering is flawed. And some MINI dealers really suck. And all MINIs Customer Service BITES!!! Thats why MINI was ranked the very bottom of the barrel. I had a Sterling and it sucked too, the most reliable car I ever had was a 95 Toyota Corolla. But the MINI has been much funner car. I have seen only the common issues with my 2 MINIs, not like the OP. (knock on wood) I hope MINI improves this.

 

Not to turn this into a flame on honda forum but things changed there. When toshiro (not sure exactly) honda died, things changed. The old honda they supported their products and customers and went for 100 percent satisfaction. Now, they don't. It's about the stock price profit whatever. They also only make parts for a 10 year cycle (mr. honda guarenteed you could get any part for any honda, in perpetuity). They guarenteed seatbelts for life, any problems, they replace them. They canceled this directive about 5 years ago. My sister dropped almost 30k on an accord that was "just as good as a 7 series) (I dont think so actually), and it broke down on the third day.

I am very disappointed in mini for not calling me on my latest service - that would be over the broken alternator belt that left me and my new baby stranded, when I paid $1800 for the maintanence plan - to have stuff changed out not just extra dealer profit at 80k miles. Other than this which leaves me with a huge negative against them, it has been a fantastic car. Only time will tell though.

One thing for sure I have never bought a new car twice. meaning the brand.
that lack of maintanence thing.....there is a good chance I will switch to suzuki.
(we have had great luck with my wife's sx4)

 

Wow, that was pretty entertaining to read. To those who had similar fates as my own, I'm glad you guys are doing good. Sometimes, it takes a stern effort on your part to help fix your car. Sorry to hear about your issues with the broken alternator belt, Condor. But alas, I must move on. First things first...

You let me worry about that. What I do is my business and is nothing you should be worried about. Considering I've been buying and selling cars for the past 4 years, I'm pretty sure I can take care of myself. I'm a registered dealer, I'm not some guy who buys his car at sticker.

Regardless, Mini sent me an email and they're going to call me next week to try and settle this nonsense out. Looks like my complaining potentially may pay off. You guys who are white knighting the **** out of Mini are sounding like a bunch of nut swingers. Nobody likes someone who thinks their brand is perfect, it's starting to sound like a Ford vs Chevy owners forum in here. Why are you getting mad at me for pointing out something that OBVIOUSLY is wrong with the brand? This isn't my first rodeo, I've owned two Mini's that I bought and had to repair out of pocket; the cars aren't known to be reliable for a reason, especially after having read all the posts on here and have lived throughout my own experiences. You're just attacking me, not the brand, when you yourself as an owner KNOW the quality of your car is garbage. Why are you arguing with me, I'm attempting to do this for all of us. If you don't like it, get off my back. It's not like I care about your car's maintenance as much as I would mine, I'm just expecting that a company that makes a product backs it up instead of alienating their customers. And I'm trying to help you guys out. If you don't want that help, good luck to you. Hopefully you have a warranty, you can take care of yourselves.

My current plan is that I may just hold onto this for a few years and sell it when the Mini hatch redesign is released. They're alleging a car with less maintenance, and although I understand that the driving quality may be less sport, I'm rolling the dice on hoping that the car won't erupt into flames every time I slide the key into the ignition. Now I'm crossing my fingers that being delicate with my car will help her keep together until those 3 years are up. Wish me luck.

 

zero, do you even know if you have a problem with your car? In your original post you complain about a rattling. But I didn't see any information as to whether you had actually taken it in for service and what the response of the dealer was.

As far as your claims of trying to do something for me, please don't. Your form of "help" will clearly do more harm to my ownership efforts than what I can do myself.

And if you don't want people to ask how you are going to make a profit on a depreciating asset, you shouldn't post such a claim in the first place.

 

Hopefully everything works out. Unfortunately most companies don't really give a damn about their customers... MINI, FORD, HP, Apple, etc.... If they could make a profit with no customers, and no employees, believe me, they would do it. It's all about image and short term gain... If they screw over a minority of customers, most people will never know.

I can tell you it makes a big difference on how your dealer handles things. My last car was a Ford and the ownership was hell until I switched to an SVT dealership far from home but close to work, and everything was OK again.

 

Its really not that difficult to make a profit when you are a dealer so why brag about it?