Has anyone else taken their MINI to MAG in Columbus for servicing and come back with a "free" MAG license plate frame on their car?

I know it is no big deal to pull it off, but they should really ask their customers if they want a license plate frame before doing something like that.

 

I experienced the same thing at MAG a few months back, when I took my 2008 S in to have the recalled muffler extensions replaced. This was my first experience at MAG, since I purchased the car in Omaha, NE in July of last year. Being a recent transplant from Omaha to Columbus, I was "proud" of my "MINI of Omaha" license plate holder. I was astonished when the service tech checking me in asked if they could take my license plate holders off and replace them with "MAG" holders. Of course, I said no, but did appreciate being asked (although I couldn't believe he had the nerve to ask). And I would not have been happy if they had gone ahead and replaced my license plate holders. Since I didn't buy my MINI at MAG, I'm not going to drive around giving them free advertising.

 

I have always hated when dealers put their name on a car, and especially when they have a monopoly like MAG has with Mini's in Columbus. A friend og mine told a dealer it would cost them $500 a year for the advertising on his new car, they removed their sticker and kept his sale

 

WOW....valium must be on backorder....the economy is in the shirter, unemployment is at a record level, and the big 3 automakers need government assistance to survive...but a plastic license plate frame has got you all worked up May I suggest a spirited drive on our wonderful county roads to relieve the stress ...or maybe an episode of Top Gear

 

I bought my '07 MCS used from a guy in Philly and take it to MAG for convenience sake.

Since they did not sell me my car, I feel no reason to put their name on it. My old '04 MCS was purchased new from MINI of Pittsburgh and when I asked them not to put their frames on my car, they honored my request. The fact that MAG didn't ask me before putting them ON my car really ticks me off.

 

I was wondering if the soap they use at MAG had washed off the paint from my blacked-out MAG plate holders! Yeah, they had gone ahead and put on new ones.... Well, today, I finally got around to washing the beastie, and, in so doing, replaced the MAG holders with new BMW CCA holders. If they even so much as replace or even touch these without asking, they WILL hear about it.

 

It's not the plastic license plate that's the issue, its the act of a company changing a piece of your mini baby without authorization that would benefit them

 

The rule is:
Do not change anything on my MINI without my prior approval.
Period.

 

Looks like I need to start marketing my anti theft license plate bolts.
Maybe sell an high voltage add on for more deterrence?

 

Back in the day..............I used the be the service manager at a local Porsche+Audi dealer and whenever any car came in for service they got one of our nice cheap plastic LP surrounds. Most people paid no attention to them, and if someone objected we sent someone out to their car with a screwdriver and took it off immediately. However, there was an independent Porsche service shop in the city that if you even parked on their lot they'd put one of their nice metal frames on your car - whenever a car came to our shop with one of their plates, we removed it of course!

It got to the point where I was sending about 10 or 15 of their plates back to them each month with their parts order. (I wasn't going to throw them away, they were far more expensive than our black plastic ones - plus they were a good parts customer!) and they would send me me my plastic ones back periodically!

 

My guess is that they saw your old scruffy plate frame & thought they were doing you a favor. As they say no good deed goes unpunished.

MAG has been great to me & many local MINI owners. I think just maybe you are blowing this way out of proportion. Not a big deal really.

If you'd like I can share some of my meds with ya...



Did anyone see the test where the Stig drove a MAG plate frame around their track? It was loads faster than the MINI of Omaha one he drove.

 

Agreed. You would think someone at MAG would understand that.

 

Did you explain your issue with them? If you did they probably now understand.

 

WOW!!! Like I stated earlier....must be a shortage of valium

 

At least it wasn't one of those horrid "South of the Border" bumper stickers they would automatically put on each visitor's car.\


Should add that when first moved to Ohio,had the NJ dealer's license plate frame. It covered the Ohio County sticker and I got a ticket at a roadside check. Two minutes with a Dremel and I fixed the frame.

Rob

 

Gotta love the Dremel tool...

 

All I need is duct tape and a dremel!

 

Oh yes duct tape the handyman's secret weapon.

 

My wife cringes when I pull out the dremel. More often than not something bad happens. I over cut, grind too much or just generally make a mess. Still my favorite tool -- currently on my third one.

 

I had a MAG service this week all went well, Sam is great etc. etc. Today I noticed that the MAG plate I turned backwards the day I purchased my car was helpfully turned around for me.: I guess next time when I ask them not to wash the car I'll ask them to keep the plate the way it is!

 

Maybe this is why an hour of their time for service is so expensive they are "fixing" plate rings all day.

 

I think one of you guys who have had your plate frame violated should call Sam & tell him about this. I'm sure he will put a stop to this high jinx.

 

Spoke to Sam today and yes, it's official company policy that all cars get the MAG plate.

 

Time to call a higher up & tell him what you think. I find that absolutely amazing.

 

Wow. I mean wow. If it is company policy maybe they should not use cheap plastic ones and use some nice metal ones.

As an aside, I have caps on my license place holder screws. It will be interesting to see what they do next time I go in for maintenance.