So I bought my black R53 from Carmax a couple months ago and I've been sending my car to them so they can try to figure why my headlight only comes on after flicking the headlight switch a couple times. After replacing the ballast, ignitor, and headlights they were stumped so they sent it to the MINI dealership in Charlotte, NC. MINI couldn't get it to act up so they kept it for about a week trying to get it to redo what its been doing to me. They never even try to fix anything and just send it back to me. I'm already pretty irritated at this point and about a week goes by and I get a letter in the mail from the Charlotte Police Department stating that my car was littering out the passenger window and driving in a wreckless manner. The location that this happened was also about 30 minutes away from the dealership... To top it all off they curbed the hell out of my wheel and took a chunk out of the sidewall on the tire, when I picked the car up the tire was completely flat. Carmax fixed the wheel and gave me a new tire so that's all good now. Basically what I would love to know is if there is anything I can do about them taking the car out and abusing it. Has anybody else been through this?

 

Go to the Management at Hendricks NOW and let them know whats going on. I'm betting it was some jerk employee who did it without managements knowledge. Hopefully someone gets fired big time over this. I bought my car there and have been very happy with their service. Please let us know how this turns out.

 

I would go in and hold the service manager and the dealership responsible. They should pay the ticket and give you something for you time and outrage. Ask them, "what are they going to do to make it right!"

 

I'd suggest having a polite conversation with the Service Manager, and show him/her the letter.

At a minimum he/she should be aware of these circumstances.

Although it may be a bother, I'd make an appointment or otherwise ensure that he/she will be in the shop when you stop by, and then have your conversation in person.

This may not lead to rim replacement, or other consequential remedies, but if done in a friendly manner it certainly won't hurt.

It sounds like someone at that shop has poor judgement.

Kind regards,

Charlie

 

I agree with the above and if the service manager is unsympathetic then you need to move that up the food chain. That is totally unprofessional.

 

WOW can not wait to hear the followup on this one!

 

wow...I wouldn't be able to contain myself in this situation. I'd be at that dealer in no time demanding to see who took my car for a ride, and make sure every penny is paid for. I'd be unbelievably pissed off. good luck...

 

Hmmmm, whats the possibility that it was a Carmax employee who did the joyriding ???? You left the car with Carmax and they took it to Hendricks ????? Right ???????

 

I'd write a factual letter no name calling and no threats

1. Explain the facts as you see them, include copies of supporting documentation

2. Describe the damage and include pictures

3. Clearely state what you expect to make this right

4. Provide a reasonable 'reply by' date

send certified proof of delivery to the service manager, copy to: the general manager of the dealership and MINI USA - see your service and warranty manual for address for complaints. (note this will not be an official complaint to MINI - you need to follow the procedure in the book for that else they can legally ignore you)

This has worked for me in similar circumstances - often with surprisingly swift results such as
- ADT returned every penny I ever paid them after being notified of breach of contract
- JC Penney delivered a new TV to my house after being notified of failure to honor warranty as written

And look into the rules of small claims court . . . no lawyers just two parties b4 a judge - kinda like judge judy. cheap to file ... if the other party fails to show up you win by default.

 

This is great advice, the route I would take! I would be FURIOUS in this situation but calm diplomacy will get you better results. Can't wait to hear how this plays out and if any excuses are given.

 

You can fight the ticket by claiming that the car was at the dealer for service. Your drop off paperwork should have a time on it with the date. Cars do not litter, people do. They should have to prove it was you driving. In fact, they should have collected the trash as evidence. Video?

As for the dealer, claim you recorded the mileage before you dropped it off and that the ticket is proof they were doing more than a test drive. Make the dealer pay the ticket.

Keep us posted on this one. Sounds like fun.

 

I've had great experience with hendricks, they even got an alternator to minis ON The Dragon in the middle of the night for mw. I saw firsthand how well they treat their customers, and care for their employees - you should not have a problem with them following up.

CarMax I cannot vouch for.

Please keep us informed, and remember: More flies with honey.

 

I'd get an alignment done to make sure they didn't bend the suspension bits along with the tire and wheel damage.

 

You also need to check carfax to see if the damaged wheel and replaced tire was reported and you should be reimbursed for diminished value if your carfax report is now impaired.

 

Hang on...

What police department writes a LETTER to someone when they're observed throwing trash out of a window and driving recklessly?

Why wasn't the car pulled over and a citation issued to the driver?

Something's not adding up

 

I don't know anything of the particulars of this situation

however in my town the "evidence" collected by red light cameras IS being used to press other charges, notice of which is rec'd thru the mail. For example there have been several folks who've been surprised to recv violation of failure to come to a full stop when making a right on red.

I don't know HOW the system does this, but it is happening as reported by several recipients locally. So I'd say it is POSSIBLE that an RLC could also capture such data . . . the fact that many places are arguing the validity of tickets issed by these systems is another discussion.

 

Ok so I left it up to carmax last week to take care of this issue with the MINI dealership, I just got off the phone with him and he told me that they are not doing anything about it and just shrugging it all off... They reimbursed carmax for the wheel damage and tire and thats about it. To clear everything up about the letter, apparently someone anonymous driving behind my car got the license plate number and reported it to the cops and the letter was just warning me that if a cop saw what was happening I would have a ticket right now. It was certain that the MINI dealership had it on the day that this all happened. I am dropping the car off again at carmax this Monday and they are going to send it to the BMW dealer in hickory since the one in Charlotte cannot be trusted. Before they send it to hickory they are going to check the alignment and make sure its fine. I am extremely pissed at Hendrick MINI right now and I will never take anything there again. I might just stop by there Monday since I'm down there and make a scene

 

I'd stick with the letter. There is nothing to be gained from "making a scene."

even if your letter becomes just information and all you want is an I'm sorry I'd still send it with copy to GM and MINI USA. Let's see if the dealer really cares about customer satisfaction. It sounds like they don't see you as the customer in this case. If CARMAX is satisfied with the $$ for the damage, you are just an annoyance unless you manage to turn the tide.

Reminds me of a time I'd dropped a car off with a local mechanic I'd used many times and sent other friends to over the years. Later in the day I was out in my other car, and noticed mine in line at the bank drive-up tellers . . . test drive huh? I wonder what other errands were run? Last time I used that mechanic.

 

What a bummer to have this happen to you. That said, I have to agree with TCCOX. Hendrick MINI has been my dealership and servfice department of choice for my last four MINI's. Nothing but professional and great reasonably priced work. They don't receive all the awards they do for being jerks. IMO, all fault lies with the dealer that took the car in originally. As with any type of contract, you hire the general contractor to do the work, and all subs are his responsibility. It does not matter who littered or destroyed the tire and wheel.
I do wish you luck and hope Carmax gets it right for you. Hendrick in Hky is also a good dealer and they will treat your car right.

 

Just kidding about making a scene, I would like to see what MINI has to say about this though

 

yea I would like to see what Hendrick Mini had to say also

 

I'd be very irritated if that happened to me too, but I think making a scene at Hendrick would be a very dumb thing to do. The person you'd be making a scene with is very unlikely to be the source of your grief, and there's no need to burn your bridges. Several posts above have given good advice on how to influence people to actually want to help you. Remaining calm and rational works better than making a scene.

 

First of all, the BMW dealer in Hickory is also a Hendrick dealer. Second, how can you be sure, beyond any doubt that damage was in fact done by Hendricks ???. Since its a R53 I assume its not a Mini Warranty but a Carmax warranty ???? And if it works the same way as my bud who bought a M3 from Carmax and bought their extended warranty you have to carry the car to Carmax for repairs and if they can't fix it Carmax takes it to the dealer. So Carmax had your car and they most certainly could have been the ones that damaged your car. And in fact I'd bet they were the ones who did it. I cannot praise the folks at Hendricks enough and am convinced they would not have behaved in such a unprofessional manor.

I'm a 59 year Charlotte resident folks and I can promise you, Hendricks has a lot better reputation in this City than Carmax.

 

Its not the damage that I'm worried about being that its already fixed, I'm more focused on what the MINI dealer did. The letter says this happened on the 16th, I dropped the car off the 14th and carmax called me on the 15th letting me know that it made it to the MINI dealer.

 

Then my questions are
1. Is Carmax lying to you?
2. When was the damage to the wheel and tyre first noticed ??? When you picked up the car at Carmax which if true means Carmax picked up the car at Hendricks did not notice a flat tyre and drove it back to Carmax with a flat tyre and damaged rim ???????

Sorry, I think too highly of Hendricks to believe they did the damage. I trust them 100%