This has nothing to do with Orlando Mini their service is great this has to do with the treatment from MINIUSA and BMW headquarters.

 

How old is your mini? What kind of car care have you done? Do you wash it often? Do you wax your Mini seasonally? Is it stored in a garage or out in the open with no protection from the elements? Do you have pictures?

 

It is a 2007 Mini Cooper S it gets fully detailed several times a year by a detailer. It is also hand washed at least once every 2 weeks. We always took it to car shows along with our Classic Mini until this happened. Our cars including our 2009 Challenger RT are very well maintained. The 07 Mini and Challenger alternate in the garage. I have had many cars over the years and have NEVER had this issues. My complaint is they wont explain what they mean by the environment. Pictures will come soon. I could understand if I had chips or dings but all of my cars are very well maintained. Im not looking for a free paint job I just want them to fix their defect.

 

Thanks for the additional info. That certainly helps with the perspective. I am sorry to hear about your 07. I can tell that my 06 was outside 95% of its life. It never had an issue with the paint. In fact, most people were shocked that it was 5 years old based on the condition it was kept externally.

Hopefully others on here can provide you some guidance on how to get heard on this one.

 

same thing has been going on with my buddys Subaru STi. its also an 07 if it matters.

he babies that thing too no snow, rain or anyting garage kept everday, and the paints going on it. took it to the dealer and they practically said he was S.O.L.

good luck man id be fuming!

 

I totally agree with you it is a defect.

I have always wondered my entire life if anybody ever wanted me as a repeat
customer (my guess is no). (although my mini has done great)

Thanks to you and your husband for your sacrifices keeping us safe.

 

Thats what people say about the 07 Mini. It was in great condition until this, lol. I guess we are just shocked about the treatment. The MINI rep gets the say so you dont as a customer. We just wanted a answer from the rep on why he came to this decision but MINIUSA will not let us talk to him or have him call us.

 

I would try contacting your states consumer protection department. Do you have anything in writing from the body shops saying that is was a defect?

 

I could get it with no issues from the shops. They just told me to call them first to see what MINIUSA wanted to do but it looks like I will have to go back to the shops. I even offered to go to anyone of there shops and have it looked at but they just did not care.

 

Have it fixed and then take MINI to small claims court for the amount

 

We might have to. I am hoping there is a faster way but if it comes down to it I will. I am getting to the point that I rather pay a lawyer the money that I could use to fix it then have him go after them. I am just upset that I used my money from my last deployment to pay off my wife's car and now this happened.

 

That's so weird...I swear. I get excellent service at Motor City MINI:-). I'm sorry for your problem and terrible service! Best of luck!

 

Try consumer protection. We had all sorts of problems with Dell computer and they were very helpful. If the state gets enough complaints about a company they will take legal action against them.

 

Thanks, it is not the dealership the issue is with it is the rep MINIUSA sends out to the dealerships to look at the cars. Orlando Mini would have taken care of it already if they had control but it is above them.

 

'Similar problem with MINI USA regarding the rear rubber trim around the back of my 06 cabriolet. As is typical, the rubber degrades rapidly and cracks and big pieces fall off. Not a single other piece of rubber on the car anywhere does this. It's obviously made with the wrong rubber compound. Mini says it's enviromental and I say BS. As do many other cabriolet owners. If it was environmental or something else, all of the other rubber trim items would show the same degradation. They refuse to do anything about it. They won't even cut me a break on the cost of the part so I can install them myself.

Typical corporate BS.

 

have you tried following the procedure for escalating an issue that is provided in the Service & Warranty Information book that came with your 07 {page 24}?

Despite the best intentions of all parties, a misunderstanding may occur between you and your MINI dealer. Should this occur and you require further assistance, you may wish to contact . . .

Often I've found being very attentive to the procedures in the fine print pays dividends ... also I've had great success with letters - nice factual letters (no name calling or threats) that outline the issue factually with documentation, and clearly stating a desired resolution and a date, addressed sometimes creatively to customer service manager, customer satisfaction director, president, CEO ... and sent certified mail. I've been wakened in the middle of the night by international phone calls asking how soon they could deliver my new TV - and then apologizing when they realized the time difference! And ADT has twice refunded over 12 months of fees when I documented their failure to provide the service as contracted....

Additionally, if this were me, I'd consider taking the car to another MINI dealer for an opinion

but - truthfully, IMO since "we are out of the warranty because it is over 50,000 miles" I'm gonna guess you are SOL cuz yes, this is not a corrosion issue.

What follows is not intended to be a wise guy slapping you - it is the other side of the page in the discussion: I've done a little auto painting in my time and clear coat delamination on factory paint is pretty darn rare anymore. Back when the conversion from one step to base/clear was just beginning, it was common (see 80's Chry' products!) but now a days I only see it routinely on cars that have been re-sprayed. IME, re-spray clear tends to last about 5 years and then begins to lift... {1012 -5 = ?} Did you buy new? Are you aware of the amount ($) of repair that can happen at the delivery center to repair damage en route that needs not be reported to you? The car could have been hail damaged and repainted and never reported to you and it would be 100% legal . . . sad but true

I'd be mad as heck if this were me ... but for the record my 07 (also in FL) has no signs of clear coat delamination . . . the Honda panel I repainted 6 years ago, I re-repainted 6 months ago . . . the clear lifted

I'm anxious to see some pictures

 

We bought our Mini with 7 miles on it so it hasnt been damaged at all. We told them we arent looking for a new paint job we just want the clear coat fixed. When we took it to a body shop they did say it was a defect. We are going to take it to another dealership to see if we can get a better Mini rep.

 

Get estimates and then go to small claims. Good luck.

I went as high as I could go to corporate Mini and they refused to awknowledge that it was a problem though the service and parts counter people at the dealer were completely familiar with the problem.

 

You can usually go to small claims court even before you have the repair done. It may be better to proceed with your claim before you do the work because once you repair the car you no longer have the "evidence" of the problem to show the court if needed.

You will need to hire a professional to evaluate your car and provide you a report with his findings. You should get sworn affidavits from several (at least 3) of your Body Shop people to support both the damage report and the expected costs of repair. These steps may cost you some money but you can include your costs in your claim. The limit in Florida is $5,000 so you should have no problem.

I would also recommend you ask for Subpoena power... This gives you the ability to subpoena "any and all reports, records, or statements" used by MINI when they evaluated your car and declined any responsibility (including the name of the mystery man). You could also file a subpoena against BMW/MINI for "any and all reports, records, or statements" that pertain to any failures of the paint or finish reported on all cars in the state of Florida etc.

Very often a major company will settle a small claim rather then comply with the subpoenas. Remember you're asking for a couple thousand dollars that's all, it's not millions!

Best part... you can do it all yourself. Good Luck!

 

Curious.... Are you sure that your detailer didn't damage it? There are products that can destroy the clear coat and may have caused the problem. MINI may not be at fault.

 

What Capt_bj is saying is that the car could have been damaged in any number of ways while being transported or awaiting transport from the UK and possibly completely repaired prior to delivery to the dealership with only 7 miles on it.

 

We are certain it isnt the detailer he uses the basic like Mothers wax. The body said it was a defect from where it is peeling from. Like I told MINIUSA I could understand if it was from rocks and chips. Where it is peeling like the center of a rear quarter panel just isnt normal.

 

The idea he made of sending letters and estimates to the CEO is a good one. I will be doing that.

 

Good luck with that.I'm sure the claim is already in their system.

Even Harley Davidson does stupid ***** like this.

 

It happens... However, I don't know what kind of a chance you have considering it is now a five year old MINI. Good luck with your fight.