What must I do???
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Joined: Jun 2012
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What must I do???
Hi people
I am new to to North American Motoring so please have patience with me.
I am living in South Africa and drive a 2007 R56 MINI Cooper S that I bought 2nd hand. The vehicle has 44 000km on the clock. I drive the vehicle now for about a year and 2 months. It is a very nice car until what happened about Two weeks back.
One morning the vehicle refused to start and when it eventually started it had something that sounded like a misfire. I phoned my nearest dealer(180km from me), who advised me to bring the vehicle for a diagnosis. I hired a mobile-jack and transported the vehicle to the dealership. They booked the vehicle in and told me they will phone me if they have the diagnosis. I also told them that sometimes when I start the vehicle it has a rattling noise and that I suspect the timing chain as the problem(research on the internet). They reassured me that they will look at the problem.
After about an hour they phoned me and told me that the vehicle is all fixed up and that was just a minor timing issue that was solved by setting the engine timing. Upon arriving at the dealership I asked them if what they have found out regarding the rattling noise. They reassured me that there was nothing wrong and that I must just let the vehicle idle for about 5 minutes before driving it. I then insisted that it must be replaced and was willing to pay for it. They the told me that if I replace it I will have the same problem after a year as the quality of the parts are not that good.
I then payed them for the setting of the timing and took the vehicle back home. Now 2 weeks later, one morning the vehicle refused to start again. I phoned the dealership again and told them that I am sitting with the same problem. I took the vehicle back to them again for another diagnosis. Now they told me the timing chain broke and that all valves bend and that my damage is about R31 000.00($3875). I told them what the problem was and now they don't give a sh#t.
any advise will be appreciated
I am new to to North American Motoring so please have patience with me.
I am living in South Africa and drive a 2007 R56 MINI Cooper S that I bought 2nd hand. The vehicle has 44 000km on the clock. I drive the vehicle now for about a year and 2 months. It is a very nice car until what happened about Two weeks back.
One morning the vehicle refused to start and when it eventually started it had something that sounded like a misfire. I phoned my nearest dealer(180km from me), who advised me to bring the vehicle for a diagnosis. I hired a mobile-jack and transported the vehicle to the dealership. They booked the vehicle in and told me they will phone me if they have the diagnosis. I also told them that sometimes when I start the vehicle it has a rattling noise and that I suspect the timing chain as the problem(research on the internet). They reassured me that they will look at the problem.
After about an hour they phoned me and told me that the vehicle is all fixed up and that was just a minor timing issue that was solved by setting the engine timing. Upon arriving at the dealership I asked them if what they have found out regarding the rattling noise. They reassured me that there was nothing wrong and that I must just let the vehicle idle for about 5 minutes before driving it. I then insisted that it must be replaced and was willing to pay for it. They the told me that if I replace it I will have the same problem after a year as the quality of the parts are not that good.
I then payed them for the setting of the timing and took the vehicle back home. Now 2 weeks later, one morning the vehicle refused to start again. I phoned the dealership again and told them that I am sitting with the same problem. I took the vehicle back to them again for another diagnosis. Now they told me the timing chain broke and that all valves bend and that my damage is about R31 000.00($3875). I told them what the problem was and now they don't give a sh#t.
any advise will be appreciated
If this was the U.S. I would tell you to lawyer up because that is a legal issue now. I would work with them to see what they can do. If they keep hard balling you like that let the protests begin. That is ridiculous. Though if you can offered to fix it get it fixed and then take them to court to recoup the cost.
Thread Starter
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Neutral
Joined: Jun 2012
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If this was the U.S. I would tell you to lawyer up because that is a legal issue now. I would work with them to see what they can do. If they keep hard balling you like that let the protests begin. That is ridiculous. Though if you can offered to fix it get it fixed and then take them to court to recoup the cost.
5th Gear
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,007
Likes: 1
From: San Diego County, California
Print out some of the posts on this forum about the timing chain issue, how it is a known problem and is being taken care of by MINI... show that to your lawyer, but also talk to MINI UK and keep going up the ladder until you find someone who has authority. You should NOT have to pay. If you need your car, as a post said above, pay to fix it and then sue them. What a terrible thing to happen, hope you get it resolved!!