Well, it has been a week since I put my MCS on the boat to ship it to the nearest MINI dealer - Northwest MINI in Washington. I've been driving my '94 Jeep Cherokee (my daily driver before the MCS) and I just realized that I really *miss* my MCS! Am I crazy, or can some of you understand how I feel?

Why it got shipped:

We had rain followed by a cold snap a couple weeks ago (well..I live in Alaska...lol), and found myself trapped inside after driving to work. Inside and outside door handles did not work, and yes - the doors were unlocked. It almost felt like the linkage or cable from the door handle wasn't connected - it didn't feel normal when I used the handles. Fortunately the windows still opened, so I hopped out that way and used the convenience feature to close the window. The doors started working again at lunch time - it was warmer...maybe something to do with it?

I decided to call MINI USA and I was advised that my warranty would be up at the end of December. They were really concerned about this problem being a safety hazard and promptly transferred me to roadside assistance.

To make a long story short, MINI roadside assistance acted quickly and arranged shipment of my MCS from Kodiak, AK to Tacoma, WA. They told me to come up with any other warranty issues I could come up with, since the car will be going to the dealership anyway. (I came up with about 10 different things on the list...) Next thing I know, I'm bringing my car to the shipping company a few days later for the next ship heading out to Tacoma.

I'm going to have some service done while it's there too: oil service, brake fluid flush, coolant flush, and wheel alignment. Figured that's less stuff for me to do on my own when it comes back.

My MCS is supposed to be ready for the dealer to pick up on Friday. The SA at NW MINI (Rachael) told me that she'd call the minute they went to pick up my car. Ugh. I can't remember the last time I worried about something this much...I really hope everthing goes well.

And those of you in the Seattle area - if you see an IB/W MCS w/ white stripes and "MINIAC" plates from Alaska... that's my car!

Sorry for typing up a long post, but just thought I'd get this off my chest. Thanks for listening (reading?) and please feel free to add your thoughts or comments.

 

I missed mine from the moment I dropped it off at the dealer this morning and got stuck in a Mazda 5 rental. (not a bad car.. just doesn't have any personality)

 

I've been missing my car for about 50 days now...

 

Wow - that's good service. Hope the time goes fast for you and you are reunited quickly.

 

I have had the passenger door freeze twice. On one occasion, my wife had already used the door. We traveled on some snow covered roads, and by the time we got home I could not get the door open. It took about 15 minutes with a heat gun to get it open again.

I suspect this is what happened to you. I'm surprised it doesn't happen more often given the amount of moisture that gets into the door jamb.

I guess this falls into the "quirky" category of our lovable MINIs.

 

What happened to it and where is it?

 

Wow - I am impressed - Yayy for MINI taking control and having your car shipped to get fixed - that is awesome!!!! I know you miss it but it'll be all fixed when you get it back..

Donna

PS - I think a while back when you posted something I mentioned my sister used to live in Kodiak. We had a fantastic vacation visiting them up there one year. They are now in Anchorage - hope to get up there next year.
It sure is beautiful

 

It is in Lincoln, Nebraska and I am in Tokyo, Japan.

The car is fine, Im just an exchange student this semester at a Japanese Univeristy. I have someone take it for a short drive every week...they know that if my car is abused or damaged in anyway, they...well, let's just say that they know what will happen.

 

Well I've got to join in on a whinny 'miss my baby' thread! I only had her for a little less than 4 weeks when she had to go to the hospital - wouldn't start. Nows it's been 11 days, 5 hours since she ran . (and yes, I am counting) My first 3 weeks of ownership were frightfully busy at work so I feel like I just got her. It's worse than the wait to get her because now I know what I'm missing and I have to make my 1st payment! My silver 'invisible' loaner is sucking gas. I know I should just stay busy and stay away from this forum - but you're the people who understand my suffering...

The rest of you waiting for your cars - I feel your pain
[whine off]

nabeshin - 50 days !! I hope that means you're like on a vacation in Europe or something... Oh you snook your reply in!!

 

He's in Tokyo!

 

Thanks - I'm a little slow on the post sometimes...

 

So does Mini pay to have it shipped back to AK? Talk about roadside!!!

 

Deleted double post. Sorry guys...

 

The people at MINI Roadside said they would pay for its return back home. They said it would be under a different program called "MINI Reunite". I guess that's separate from MINI Roadside Assistance. I really hope they keep their word - it's about $1500 to ship the car back to Kodiak.

I can't remember the last time I experienced such awesome customer service. I certainly did not get that type of service with the last few American cars I bought *new*. Pretty sad considering we have local dealers for most everything except MINI.

I can't believe MINI USA is taking such good care of me, considering I bought the car used! I couldn't help but ask, "So you are *sure* everything will be taken care of?" just because I was in such disbelief. The people I talked to at roadside and 1-800-ask-mini were very friendly and reassuring. Definitely a nice change from what I'm used to!

Assuming everything continues to go well on their end, they can definitely expect me to be in line for a new R56 in the future.

The MCS is supposed to be delivered to Northwest MINI sometime on Friday - I got confirmation this afternoon that it made it to Tacoma safely. So hopefully the dealer can fix its (minor) issues soon and get the car on its way back home to the frozen north. lol

 

Wow! I'm sorry you are without MINI, but what a great story of MINI USA service. I'm impressed! Thanks for sharing

 

So glad to hear!!

When mine went in they asked about other things to fix as well. I'm thinking maybe it also helps them to have more warranty stuff to claim. Definitely a win/win if so!!
I agree the service has been great so far. My main whine is for being without my baby. Mine is only about 3 hours away - hadn't heard about the 'MINI reunite' ...

I hope yours is back from it's Puget Sound cruise and you're back motoring soon!!

 

and I thought it was rough living in Alabama with the closest dealer 2 hours away!

 

So I am glad to hear that someone has a Mini in Kodiak. I've been there several times but honestly, you almost don't even need a car in Kodiak. You can almost walk from end to end faster than driving. I'm sure that you use the fog lights a lotand I hope that you don't have any encounters with those Kodiak bears! I know that NW Mini will take care of you, they are really good folks there!!!

 

Well, if you include mine - there are 6 of them in Kodiak: a CR/W MC, a BRG/W MC cvt, a PS MC, a LY/B MCS, PW MCS, and my IB/W MCS. Yes, we all pretty much know each other and give each other the 'wave' too.

There actually used to be two more on the island: PS/B MC, and another CR/W MC with a union jack flag on the roof. The PS.B got traded in for a 2006 Tundra, and the CR/W belonged to a Coast Guard family and they got transferred out...

6 is still quite a lot for such a little Alaskan town. There's actually less Subaru WRXs here than MINIs. lol

 

Well it's official - my MCS made it to Northwest MINI in one piece. My SA Terry (Jerry?) was nice enough to give me a call to let me know that my car has been delivered to them. He didn't seem to question anything on my laundry list of issues, apparently I was fairly thorough on the printout I made for them.

It sounded like they have been quite busy, but will be squeezing my car in at the next opportunity and will be communicating with me if they have any questions.

So far, so good. Has anyone else on here gotten service from NW MINI? Even though they haven't actually started working on my car, I've already had a much nicer experience with them than I have with other (non-MINI) dealerships I've dealt with in the past for other vehicles.