We just got our 2010 mini and it has about 35k miles on it. Currently, it's still under the factory service and warranty. But we are approaching 36k miles for the end of free service.

Now, I'm not afraid to work on cars myself. Brakes I can handle just fine. I prefer not to replace FWD clutches, but not sure if Mini is easier than Volvos in that regard. I do all my own maintenance on cars that are out of warranty. I am fairly particular about keep cars well maintained. My volvo's routinely got 250k miles without problems.

I have a garage and most automotive tools, though the garage is mostly full of my mustang that is mostly disassembled right now.

Now I will admit, the allure of not doing work on the car for the near future (3 years) is kind of nice, but the dealer won't budge off the $1800 price tag which the frugal part of me balks at considering I can get OEM brake parts for much much less.

Unless I"m missing something, is there something strangly difficult about servicing a mini vice other Euro imports?

Any thoughts?

I did search but I like the attention.

 

My wife and I are in this exact dilemma for her '11 All4.

 

yeah...just sucks. I like the insurance...but when I do the math, I can't justify it. Granted, I have 2 extra cars (well one for now until the mustang is back up and running) so having a car down for a week while I wait for parts and do the work isn't the end of the world.

But I also know how dealerships will generally try to find anyway to weasel out of warranty or service work if they can shift the cost to the consumer, if for no other reason than the shop rates they charge a customer is higher than those they charge mini for warranty related work (or the fixed hour system they most use on warranty work vice the hourly rate they can charge the customer).

 

I personally don't feel the maintenance plan is worth it. You'll pay around $1595-$1795 for it (or should be anyways).

The big ticket item it covers is one clutch replacement IF it is deemed it was due to normal wear and tear and nothing you did (to big of an IF to me). Brakes every 30k miles or more, oil changes every 10-15k (when MINI does them anyways), other fluids and filters... it's all pretty easy to do yourself. Of course the hardest would be the brakes and that's merely because of the wear sensor, which still isn't hard.... just different than other cars. There are only 2 wear sensors though, not all 4.

Anyways, I'd say you're better off picking up the EMP than you are the maintenance... it'll cover engine and drivetrain stuff if that was to go bad. It runs close to $3k though for 6 year / 100k miles... again warranting the question are you better off sticking the $3k into a savings and using it as needed.

Of course, buying the parts yourself and using an indie shop is WAY cheaper than MINI pricing for fixing stuff... so it depends on that as well.

I mean a clutch job with you buying OEM parts and using an indie shop will probably run you $1500-$2000... so you'll be right at that extended maintenance... IF they cover it.

 

I went through that last October and didn't get it. We don't put that many miles on our vehicles to justify the expense. I will take care of things as they come.

 

My wife's All4:

Purchased May 2011, currently has 34,800 miles
Two thermostat replacements
Two HPFPs and one low pressure fuel pump replaced
Front brakes serviced twice, rear brakes serviced once
Clutch continues to lightly (but consistently) slip

We're a bit more pressed to do something in the event of continued or cataclysmic failure...

 

If you can wrench yourself, I think you'd probably be better not taking the extended maintenance. It had been a couple decades since I had done any of my own work on my vehicles when I got my MINI. Since the included maintenance period ended, I've done everything on my own even if that meant learning along the way. It has been way cheaper and I have found most items to be pretty easy. Nothing that I would consider especially difficult or different about the MINI.

 

couple of points:

the extended maintenance extends roadside assistance out to 6 years

my dealer changes oil/filter every 8,000 miles or 1 year and the onboard computer oil/filter change countdown is set to 8,000 miles
(i figure i will get 10 or 12 changes @ $99 each, my dealers cost for oil/filter change, parts and labor = about 1/2 of the contract cost)

it is transferable

it covers all maintenance that comes up on the OBC including:
brake/clutch fluid change, coolant change, inspections

in addition it covers

brakes and rotors (my sister has had 8 rotors, 8 sets of pads and 4 pad wear sensors in 50k miles on her 09 mcs, her dealer, mini of las vegas, says she saved $4400 on these alone, yes they charge $2200 for a full brakepad/rotor change!) (i will probably get at least 2 myself if not more)

external drive belt

clutch disc

wiper blade insert (mine have all been changed with out me asking, apparently if the squeak, my dealer replaces them) and washer fluid

i am planning on keeping my cms all4 at least 15 years, my last car was 17

scott

 

Are these things really that rough on brakes or is the brake material just junk? My last volvo kept the factory original rotors and pads to 120k, and no I didn't wear them down to the metal backing or extremely thin on the rotors.

I'm leaning towards not getting the extended service, but may look at extending the warranty, see how it fairs over the next year.

Really, the only thing I don't want to work on when it comes to the car is the clutch. Again, maybe Mini's aren't as bad, but my volvo's required that the engine be pretty removed from the car to replace them. But they also lasted 200k miles with a 250HP engine.

But like miller said, the 'normal wear and tear' clause frightens me. Think we'll probably not get it and see how it goes. I'll just hope that it follows the rest of my cars into long life into the 200k mile range.

However, I do know it needs new brakes soon as the rotors are almost to the minimum already.

 

BMW uses soft pads. Good stopping power but they are definitely soft. I get about 33k out of mine. Of course that was my 3-series. Guess we'll see with the MINI.

 

Cobrasix, I don't recall seeing anyone get past 100k miles on the OEM brakes. Below that though, there is quite a bit of variation based on driving style. But, replacing the pads and rotors is easy, so the cost is easy to control and driven more by what you decide to replace things with. I got out for only about $400 replacing all four corners at 63k miles.

 

Yeah, I was surprised as well they lasted that long but then again at the time I was doing 20-25k miles a year mostly highway. 2nd set (which were OEM) lasted only about 50k miles because I was living in Boston and the driving was a lot harder.

I did the math and just couldn't justify it and the dealer wouldn't/couldn't budge on price so we decided not to and for me it came down to the fact that servicing the clutch was the one thing I didn't want to tackle myself. It's easy enough on my RWD cars but just going to take the chance. Brakes are just too easy and the rate of $120 for an oil change the brochure lists is just laughable. I could run Royal Purple for half that price.

 

I haven't chimed in on this thread yet, but did want to add my experiences so far. I have a 2010 MCS which has the included maintenance. From the moment I got the car the clutch didn't quite feel right. Turns out I had a warped flywheel that was replaced at 1500 miles, along with the clutch. I was told at that point, as many others have been, that it would be covered as a one-time only replacement for good will. I didn't argue much at the logic but it was a new car with a defective part so it was replaced.

This got me wondering what the included maintenance would actually cover and debated about extending it out to the full 100k mike plan but I was told by two different dealerships that it did not cover the clutch. If anyone here has purchased the extended maintenance plan or is considering it based on the cost savings of replacing a clutch, I would look to get it in writing from your dealer that clutch replacement is covered. This was the reason I gave up on the extended maintenance plan but am considering the extended warranty.

 

it is in writing on the extended maintenance contract

scott

 

The maintenance plan does in fact cover a clutch. Only 1 though. Whether used within factory maintenance or during extended maintenance plan, it's just 1 clutch. Yours has been used. That's what I was told over the phone and in writing from my dealer.

The clutch is the only reason to get the extended maintenance really. I'm still going to pass and get the EMP instead next year.

 

Thanks for the research and clarification. Something I will have to consider in that case considering I had a defective part from the factory and really shouldn't have been counted against me but I guess that's the way it goes sometimes.

 

I totally agree. My dealer made it very clear I'd get 1 clutch though. If I went into the extended plan it would be there discretion if it was a defect or caused by me.

I'm passing. To big of an IF.

 

I did extend my service. And so worth it. I need my car for work and commuting...I've had brakes, oil changes, some funny electrical things checked and fixed, and just had the 'one time' clutch repaired. A loner car has never been an issue and the customer service is pleasant. I just needed the security of an easy drop-off but i think this is an individual choice. It is the carbon build-up that has me a bit peeved at the moment...800bucks. Not covered. So extended coverage is a bit of a false security at times. I just can't take a day or two off work for car trouble so for me it is worth it.

 

1/4 of my car is no longer MINI so...

 

I went with the extended maintenance and the extended warranty (to 100,000 miles) and don't regret either. Both have definitely paid for themselves and I like the added piece of mind.

 

Maybe for some - If you're going to put on a lot of miles in a short time, but others that aren't going to put too many miles on their cars in the time period the warranty covers are better off saving the money.

I guarantee you warranty brokers are not losing money on these warranties.

 

The thing about the clutch is, if the clutch wears out or fails before the extended
warranty runs out (which it shouldn't), MINI will try to say the failure is caused by
the user.