I'm quite frustrated! Bought a 2007 MCS w/59k miles and a solid Carfax on it less than a week ago. Got in it today, 80 miles from home, and it won't start, won't do anything. Key fob into slot, no lights, no chime, no nothing. Couldn't put it in Neutral, nothing. Tow truck operator had to drag it onto the flat bed.

Even worse, got it to the Mini dealer another 20 miles away, and he says, "I don't normally see anything like this, the chip in the key doesn't seem to be communicating with the rest of the car." Great news, huh?

So now I wait.

 

Do you have a warranty on the car?

 

Yes I do. They have paid for themselves on the last 2 vehicles I purchased. It's just a huge disappointment. Not only do I not have the time to go back and forth to the dealership and wait for a solution, but this car is so fun and the thought of it being in the shop constantly is more than I can take!

 

That's good news!
It's disappointing for a new car to have to go into the shop.
I hope that you will find out what the problem is tomorrow so you aren't kept waiting.
This might be a real quick fix!
Best of luck and let us know how it turns out, OK?

 

Roger that!

 

if your car is under warranty would it cover the entire repair/replacement?

 

The warranty covers, basically, everything except wear items.

 

It might be the battery in the car or the battery in the FOB.

 

And so, Travis calls me today and informs me that they can't fully determine what's happening. They will start, however, with the "CAS Module" which costs $860 to replace and, of course, EVERYONE SAY IT WITH ME, "it's not covered by the warranty!" Of course then they will go from there...

There is no smiley face that will adequately convey the depth of my anger.

And still waiting to hear the rest.

 

And here's the story so far.

I call the dealer I bought it from, Travis at Sewell MINI, and the warranty company repeatedly and explain very clearly how much this sucks. This occurs along about Thursday last week. I figure the car is going to be fixed on Friday. I will take time out of my work day to have my Wife or Son take me over there, fork over way too much money, drive it home and worry incessantly about when it's going to break again.

The warranty company says, "Tough luck Charlie! Read the agreement!"

The dealer consults his better self, grasps that he does business in my neighborhood and that I can impact that process, and decides he will pay half the repair cost. This makes me happy. I deposit the check in the bank.

More waiting.

Travis calls me when he gets around to it, it seems. He does, however, agree to charge me the internet price for the CAS Module and the tech agrees to cut the labor fee (by how much, I don't know). He then tells me late Friday that everything is done, now they download software, test drive it, and good to go.

So now I pick it up on Saturday. Ah well, what're ya gonna do?

He doesn't call on Saturday.

I call him late morning. The software download gets to a certain point and then stops. He tells me this is happening, repeatedly, on 3 or 4 cars in addition to mine. He also goes on to tell me that this "download" is coming from Germany and that Sewell Techs are attempting to communicate with the German engineers to solve this issue.

They will continue to work on it.

Travis calls me on Saturday afternoon and says they are no closer, but offers me a loaner. He says it is the least he can do. I agree and accept.

Now driving a 2012 MCS almost exactly the same as mine, different color combo. This also makes me happy.

Didn't hear from Travis yesterday. This makes me not at all happy.

Call today and he calls me back. Still attempting to get car to recognize the CAS Module, everything communicating, reprogrammed, etc., etc., etc. Not working, however.

Travis calls me after 5:00 today to tell me he now has another '07 MCS with the same equipment as mine and the tech will compare the 2 side by side in an attempt to determine where the electrical/data log jam might be.

WOW!!

So does this mirror y'all's experience? I just bought this thing! I'm not really down for this, ya know what I'm sayin'?

We'll see what happens.

 

I never heard of anything like it.
I'm shocked that the warranty doesn't cover this.
Is this a MINI warranty?
What specifically is excluded in your warranty?
Has MINI USA gotten involved?

I am so sorry that you are going through this.
I hope you get satisfactory resolution soon.
Like you, I would be very worried about this happening again if the techs don't know why it happened in the first place.

Wow.

 

First chick draper, I hope they get this all resolved for you very soon. I think this would be almost more than I could take.

Second, once you get this all behind you, I'd like you to post, as much as you feel comfortable, everthing you can regarding the warranty situation.

My 2008 Mini will be going out of warranty in about 150 miles and I'm just not comfortable spending the money for an extended warranty. All I see happening is 1) paying too much for an extended warranty, 2) having things that are understandably not covered need replacement because they are "wear" items such as the clutch and brakes, 3) having things break that I think should be covered by the extended warranty but the warranty company refusing coverage or only partial coverage, and 4) fighting for warranty coverage and getting nothing but frustration.

I guess I'm nothing but a pessimist but I find it difficult to believe that the extended warranty is a good deal.

Bottom line, I hope you get motoring in your new car very soon and finally have a chance to enjoy it!

 

sorry to hear of your electrical troubles, chick draper

and gregsmini:

you forgot ONE other reason to be cautious of aftermarket warranties:

the Warranty Company goes out of business!

It happened to my wife two years ago as she plunked down over 2000 dollars on an aftermarket warranty on a pre-owned MCS at a Sports Car Dealership

about one month later they went bust and her 2K just flushed down the toilet

and oddly enough she has had electrical problems by the bunches lately!

pac

 

Thanks for your input! No I didn't think about that

 

Well, chick draper, I do wish you well in this and I do hope you keep us updated.

Having had many Hondas...and having had less trouble with the last 10 than I have had in 3 years with my MINI...I have 2 thoughts.I tell my service advisor that the one thing I don't like about MINI is the key fob and all the electronic stuff. He tells me how great it is because the fob stores all the necessary data. And then I see your plight. I would far rather have less gee-whiz stuff and a real key.

And yet, I still love my MINI.

 

I hear you AustinS! I was telling my Son the very same thing last night.

The warranty is a third party offering. I've purchased 2 before on previous vehicles and both paid for themselves. I've never thought of the company folding before, though. This company has been in business since 1998 and BBB A+ rated since 2009.

They have an explicit list of what's covered and this component, or any generic "electronic" component, is not on that list. All of the other major components are listed, however.

And yes, in spite of it all, I am hopelessly, madly IN LOVE with this car!

 

Well Chick,
I hope you are having fun driving that MCS 2012 while the whiz kids figure out your car's software issues.

I am about to buy the extended warranty and this story has been an eye opener.
I'm probably going to go ahead and get it because I am worried about drive train, turbo, thermostat issues, etc., etc.

Your issue is one that I never heard of before.
I hope the dealership really comes through for you on this.

 

So Travis calls me today to keep me posted. The experiment failed.

Apparently, they put 2 cars side by side with, basically, the same equipment. They then attempted to trace the electrical system in each in the hope that they would find the "weak link" in mine.

No such luck!

So now, the Regional Service Manager is coming to town to see the anomalous freak with his own 2 eyes. And, I suppose, to see if he can maybe work a little magic on it his own self.

In the meantime, the '12 has Bluetooth and USB which I really wish mine had and I'm enjoying it. It also has 16's and mine has 17's, which really make a difference that I prefer. And I don't like the wheels. They look cheap and crappy. The color combo has grown on me, though. It's that Silver White or White Silver with a White roof. If it was mine, I would do the roof red or maybe Union Jack. That would look cool!

We'll see what happens.

 

Thanks for the update.
I hope the Regional Service Manager can work magic on both the car and your balance on account.
They better solve this soon or they aren't going to see that '12 again.
Maybe they'll just let you have an even trade?
Maybe ease the trauma some?

 

It wouldn't hurt!

 

Oh, and... WOW!

 

My mechanic suggested www.modulemaster.com for bad modules. I know your issue is quite weird but for the future.....

There are other module mechanics out there too.

 

So, mostly because I can't believe it myself, here's where we are now; The Regional Service Manager gave approval to order a new key fob to see if that would solve the programming and communication problems. They finally got it and contacted me to send proof of ownership before they could use the key fob. They've now programmed it and, sure enough, the car starts for the first time in some 2 weeks!

And then what would you guess happens?

If you said the "Timing Chain Death Rattle" you would win the big fat ceegar!



As I said, I barely can believe it myself! The timing chain is covered by the extended warranty, but I'm still in for over $1100.00 in repairs on a car that I haven't even had for a month yet!

Travis is out today and tomorrow of course. ETA should be some time Friday at the earliest.

I really, really, really hope that this is some sort of fluke and that, henceforth, this car will run like a proverbial top with nary a whimper or hiccup all the live long day, for many, many a day to come!

 

And so now, the warranty company only wants to pay for aftermarket, "discounted" parts and a fraction of the labor cost!

MINI charges WAY too much on both counts and the warranty company is just like every other form of insurance that exists today, you pay us, we don't pay you!

 

I am speechless.
What are your state's Lemon Laws?
In FL the Lemon Law doesn't apply to used cars, but in other states it does.
I hope you at least still have your loaner.

I am in shock over your warranty.
Who are these people?
I am about to buy the extended warranty, but want to avoid this one!
Did MINI recommend them?

I really hope that everything takes a good turn on Monday.
What a nightmare!