I really want a Clubman S but the dealer is 90 miles away (About 2.5 hours drive time). Over the years I have purchased at least 20 new cars. Every car has had to go back to the dealer for some reason or another. I think the furthest I had to go was maybe 20 miles. I even had a few times that I took the day off from work so I could spend the day giving the dealer hell over something THEY did that has caused me to bring it back.

Now with a new job I simply do not have time to take care of those issues that WILL happen.

So how many times has everyone returned to a dealer for a repair that should not have happened? How far and how much time did it take? Hours? Days? Weeks?

I read here where someone took it in for a reapir and then had to wait weeks for a part to come in and could not drive it during that time. That would **** me off beyond belief.

 

I live 120 miles from my dealer. I bought my 07 MCSCa LB/B in June last year and the only thing that was wrong with it since, has been that the cigar lighter doesn't work properly - the socket is good and has elec. but the lighter won't stay in. Since I don't use it anyway, no big deal. And my dealer has a policy of loaners if it has to stay more than a couple hours.

 

My MINI Dealer is 400 miles away and I still ordered one. I don't plan on revisiting him more than once a year.

 

I'm 70 miles from my dealer. We usually schedule service for a Saturday.

 

Our dealership in Cincinnati(Cincinnati Mini) has pick-up and drop-off service when your car is in service. They even will go to Louisville or Lexington to pick your car up for service. There are no dealers in Kentucky. We do not live far from the dealer(15 min), so we most likely will drop off our car when service is needed. The nice thing is that we will have a car when it is in for service.

 

I highly recommend you make the 90 mile drive to the dealership for all scheduled maintenance pit stops and for any warranty related repairs. Why? because if your car ever develops serious problems (especially post warranty), the first thing MINI is going to look at is at the service/repair history of the vehicle to ensure that all the "basics" were taken care at their authorized dealer. This is not only true of MINI, but any other car manufacturer in the market today. It is a known fact that people that choose not to take their new vehicles back to the dealer for basic service/maintenance are given a hard time and often denied any good will repair gestures post-warranty simply because their vehicles never saw the dealer's service dept.

If you chose to do "in between" oil changes, etc you can certainly do them yourself or find a competent independent shop known to have quality work and expertise with MINIs. Whatever you do, make sure to save ALL RECEIPTS because they are legal proof that you indeed performed the required services on the vehicle.

Also make sure that your selling dealer provides loaner/rental vehicles for overnight repairs.

 

Some dealers do not have saturday service hours. This is a big problem for MINI owners in central and north Florida. All 5 MINI dealers here in South Florida do offer saturday service/parts hours. Mine opens from 8AM-2PM on Saturdays and that includes parts.

My dealer also provides free MINI loaners or free Enterprise rentals when MINI loaners are not available. A big convenience and #1 reason why I make the 30 drive mile to Ft. Lauderdale. The 2 MINI dealers in Miami do not give out loaners!! Buyer beware!

 

By my calculations, sounds more like an hour away.

For most people it's not an issue, but there is a small chance that you get a 'problem' car that requires more than the regular maintenance. Just have to cross your fingers.
As others have said, loaners and Saturday appointments help, if your dealer offers them.

 

My MCS, purchased in feb 2007, has been to the dealer, North Scottsdale Mini, precisely once for annual service. They keep Saturday hours. I am sure that your dealer does as well. So far, no issues to write home about and my vehicle is an early build!

 

I picked up my clubman a week ago today and the car was perfect except that one of the keys they gave me is not for my car! From reading this website I don't think you'll have too many problems - the cars are pretty well sorted out.

 

I was gonna say: The good news is, with a MINI the drive will take half the time!

 

Two for one special?!