With 48,000 miles:
Thermostat housing, motor mount, clutch, window motor, window switch, oil pan gasket, and lower front control arm bushings.

 

with 8012 miles, nothing, nada

 

Good stuff! I'll add the items to my list as well...just to be safe!

 

My 2006 MCS (non GP) already had the thermostat housing, motor mount, and oil pan gasket issues. What should I look for to see if these others are going bad (clutch, window motor, window switch, and lower front control arm bushings)? From what I read the clutch starts making noise when it is going bad (no noise here) but I don't know how to check for the other problems.

 

The clutch will start making noise. I would not have the clutch replaced unless it is really bad. The dealer replaced mine because I said it infrequently made a noise but I am very dissatisifed with the soft feel of the replacement clutch. I would not have allowed it to be replaced if I would have know how it was going to feel. Also, I still have the same noise so I do not even think the clutch needed to be replaced.

The window just stopped working one day. Dealer replaced the motor but that did not resolve the problem (they actually replaced the wrong motor). I discovered that it was the toggle switch and could make the window work by pushing in on the switch. The dealer replaced the switch panel/module.

The lower control arm bushing are mainly an inspection. I asked the dealer to check them because I knew they are a problem area. The dealer said they needed to be replaced but were not covered under warranty because they are considered a wear-out item. I had to call Mini USA customer service to get them replaced.

 

They had to replace the engine wiring harness last year, a month after I purchased it. I have 27k on it now.

 

21,800 Smiles on mine:
Thermostat replaced.

Just bought the 100,000 mi extended for the car.
Something makes a noise when I first start out after a long sit - a little squeel I guess... Clutch? Have not noticed any softness in the pedal.

 

If it's the type of squeal I'm thinking of, then it could be some type of belt slippage.

I thought the 100,000 mile warranty had to purchased at the same time the car was purchased. Sounds like you bought yours when the manufacturers warranty expired. If so, how did you go about purchasing the warranty?

 

"Something makes a noise when I first start out after a long sit - a little squeel I guess..."

This is probly the famous "Chewbacca" sound (do a search) which apparently is a flywheel caused sound. Mine does and I hate it. But it is a temperature related deal that goes away for me now that it's warmer...or after the car warms up any time of year. I took mine in a few months back and it was a warm week so of course the problem was not detectable by the Mech. He did suggest that I leave it overnight so they could test it cold in the AM. Havn't gotten back to them yet, and now QUIK has me concerned that it may not be worth it i the long run, which others have said.

Still on the fence, and still too busy

 

I bought my GP used, the W expired by years, or was very close and I bought an extended period from the dealer, whom I did not buy the car from.

 

Going in next week I will let ya'll know. Thanks bmwseven (OP) for the thread, very helpful.

 

just called USAA INS
as of july31 (I was told) thy will start carring extended warrantys

 

Did ya buy one (a GP) yet?!?

 

just got my GP serviced at 45,500 miles

i barely bought the GP on sept 11, but wanted to use the warranty while it was still active.....

i went to east bay mini in pleasanton CA., nice dealership and customer service but i didnt really get everything i wanted done...

i listed everything wrong with the car and even things that wasnt just for them to check but nothing got replaced, just repaired..

they found a power steering fluid leak and something wrong with the front suspension that was makin a noise, that was replaced...

i jotted these down but the said it wasnt covered...

-intercooler cover discolored
-rusted spoiler bolts
-frayed driver side upholstry, they said it wasnt damaged enough to replace
-clutch makin chewbacca noise, they said nothing was wrong and it was reaplced at 47,000 miles by previous owner, clutch and flywheel

in the end i wasnt satisfied knowin that other GP owners got these items replaced, they couldnt even give me new spoiler bolts, WTF....

all i got was a free car wash, lol

well thats my first and last experience with mini dealership, im gonna do all the maintenance myself, they wanted a grip for the warranty, not worth it since its just my weekend/play car....

they wanted like $2600 for 2 years for extended warranty and thats with $500 off if u get it before your warranty expires and they wanted like $1500 for the maintance warrany 2years/70,000 miles, not worth it if its just a weekend car!!!

 

It's time! My GP is going in for his last checkup. Sadness.

 

Good Luck with the checkup.
My dealer warranty service experiences have been horrible and I hope yours goes much better.

 

I know... I'm torn, do I take it to this Penske dealer or to that Penske dealer!

We have a monopoly here in AZ....

Doesn't matter which one I take it to, they'll find nothing wrong - everything is perfect. On November 5th, when it is out of warranty, all hell will start to break loose - this will break, that will break...

 

It was (not) funny when my GP passed 50,100 (right after the final warranty visit) and the "Service Engine Soon" light comes on. I call the dealer, the service advisor says, "yeah, that's a shame it happened right after 50K, because it won't be covered under warranty, but bring it in, we'll read the code for you."

 

I would have a polite talk and/ or the general manager if that happened. Are they obligated to cover it, No. Do they want to keep you as a customer, Yes!

I work for a very large computer company that values customer service above all else. I know it's different than a car but we have covered some very expensive repairs just out of warranty because we feel it is the right thing to do and will contribute to have the customer want to continue to buy from us.

Remember they key here is to be polite ad ask if they can help you out. Explain that you know it is out of warranty and they do not jave to cover it but you are asking since the odometer is showing a little more than a hundred miles past the warranty.

 

Final inspection resulted in a new clutch and leaking crankshaft sensor O-ring. Otherwise, everything else checked out ok.

 

Raises the questions: with MINI warranty expired, any recommendations on a reputable company that offers extended warranties?