So I ordered my mini and have been excited for its delivery. I have been talking to the dealer daily since it arived at the port. It has been over a week since then. Finally today I got a call saying that it had not been lost but that its bumper had been damaged at the port and it was awaiting repairs. He/sales man can not tell me what the damage was or any other info. He also said mini would not comp me for time or the fact that I am now buying a previously damaged mini - part of the benefit of a new one I thought was knowing it had never been damaged.?? So. . . I am pretty mad at mini and am wondering if there is a corporate number or something that I can call. It seems the dealer can not do anything for me.
What would you do? I really don't want to order another one and wait another 6weeks, and the reason I ordered in the first place was to get close to base price (the ones at the dealer seem to have extras I don't need and I have a budget!)

 

I think all you can do is put up a stink and hope the dealer throws you a bone. I would mention that you are considering reordering ...that might push them to do something. But, I wouldn't expect much. They'll just throw it on the lot where they won't have to disclose to anyone what has happened.

Good luck ...I feel your pain.

Dean.

 

Sorry to hear that.

Do you know the extent of the repairs needed? Did they need to replace the bumper or just repaint it? Did they give you an option of accepting delivery or reordering? Laws about damage disclosure vary by state. Here in MN any repair costing more than 4% of total cost of the vehicle must be disclosed. If you put a deposit down and are concerned about losing it should you decide to refuse delivery I'd suggest calling your state's Attorney General's office for information.

 

One of my bodyshops does all the Acura work in town. We repair and refinish probably 20-25 brand new cars a month that still have stickers on the windows.

I personally am very **** about paint (thus why I'm on my 3rd mini in two months...don't ask)

Point is, as long as they disclose to you that it was damaged, I don't think you have any legal recourse.

Having said all that and me being **** about paintwork, BUMPERS are the ONLY thing I would accept to be painted on the car before I bought it.

I would explain to the dealer that a repainted bumper (because now you have an extra 2 coats of base and 2 coats of clear) on it that it will not stand up to stonechips as well.

Therefore you want a clear bra protection put on it.

If you can get the free bra, great, if not, I wouldn't refuse the car because the bumper has been repainted.

I would however, check out the quality of the work and make sure they took the bumper off to paint it and not masked off the rest of the car. (overspray issues, etc)

Good luck, let us know what happens.

Mark

 

update

After many hours of trying to get someone to tell me something (mini corporate office never called me back - called them over 5 times today spoke to someone twice both of whom said they would call me right back and still have not called back). Called owner/GM of the dealer (3 times)they were always 'unavailable'.
Anyways supposidly (though not in writing yet) it was a hairline stress fracture crack and they are replacing the whole bumper. I am still thinking about what to do. Not happy at all with mini (I understand things get damaged, but at this point its the lack of communication etc.) BUT I want a car and I don't want to wait any longer. I've checked local inventory and nothing is close to what I want. . . so at this point I'm thinking I will just look at it real hard when it arrives?? It is pepper white too so not metallic paint.

Thanks for all of your helpful input!

 

Well, that's better. Then you'll have a factory bumper with the correct amount of paint on it. (4-6 mils)

....and since they are replacing it, they are going to have to paint it off the car so there shouldn't be any overspray on the car or inside the grille area, etc, etc.

Make sure there's no trash in the paint, no excessive orange peel and the color matches and you'll be set to go.

Good luck, enjoy the new car.


Mark

 

I've been to some of the ports, and they have full body shops there. Fact is, whether MINI or any other brand, there is a lot of damage to cars during the shipping process and they are generally straightened out before they get to the customer.

One port had a complete paint booth that had all the factory colors for several cars. They would send parts through for a new paint job then put it on the car.

So, bottom line, it does happen, and most of us have had some touch up on our cars, whether we want to believe it or not, and the vehicle's supply chain is designed to handle it. I'd check it over VERY well, of course, especially the paint to make sure the got it right.

Remember: A customer walking out the door without signing on a car is a very motivating thing to a dealership. If it isnt up to your standards, don't settle. But if it is, then don't worry about it not being the original bumper. It's just one part of thousands.

D

 

In the 25 years I've been in the bodyshop business, it still never ceases to amaze me how many people buy cars that they have had paintwork. They just assume that because it's a new car, it's perfect and never had paint work. (even I forgot to check my '08 when I bought it)

I can't tell you how many times I've mentioned to a customer about a previous panel being painted and they say "no way, I bought it brand new off the showroom floor"

Guess they must think if a dealership or manufacturer scratches a car, they crush it...lol.

Mark