Thinking of getting a MINI. I live very close to a Mini dealer now but we are considering moving to Maine where there are no dealers and the closest (Boston) will be several hours away. How often does the car need service. I don't mind a road trip 1 or 2 times a year but are the needs more often? I will probably drive about 10K miles a year.
Do foreign car specialists do a good job or other type dealers?

 

Unless you have warranty issues, there's no need to visit the dealer more than once per year. The on-board computer indicates what services you'll need. Many MINI owners also opt for additional oil changes, you can have them done at any competant local repair shop or do it yourself, following the excellent DIY oil change thread on NAM.

 

If you can find an independent BMW shop with a good reputation, they will do good work once you're out of warranty - most of the diagnostic tools and parts sources are shared. For a new MINI, though, to get warranty repairs done you'll need to visit the dealership.

 

Carjon
If you do move after puchasing your MINI, try to find a great MINI club to join. You can get alot of answers to your questions from local club members.
This forum is good also but a local club will rate local shops and maybe even set up discounts.
boxcars

 

Don't move to Maine.

 

Let me expand a bit but I agree with everything said here - well I do not know if you should move to Maine...but everything else is OK....

My current driving habits are like yours and I put less than 10,000 on my 07 annually. The MINI dealership pre-paid maintenance (no it is NOT free) will kick in when the on board computers says it is time AND/OR for an oil change at 12 months regardless.

IN SOME CASES you can find yourself with a 12 month change and as little as 6 to 10 weeks later a computer driven service call.....two drives huh? This is cuz the dealer can not do a full service before the computer says so....{they won't get paid for it by MINI} I'd also note that some (MANY HERE) do not like the fact that the computer (which supposedly adjusts to your driving style) can push first service out beyond 12,000 miles. I think mine is actually out about 16k right now.....

So I'll just say that following the factory plan COULD have you visiting the dealer twice closely. My 02 needed a 12 month oil change and less than 2 months later came up for the computer driven first check. As 12 months we were too far away by miles for the dealer to do it. So the oil got changed 2 times in 3000 miles. Don't ask me to explain it...it works for BMW/MINI

 

To clarify on my original post, my experience nearly perfectly mirrors your plans. I lived in Boston and took my car to MINI of Peabody for the first 3 years & 40,000 miles. They did excellent warranty service. The car was there maybe 1-2 times per year.
I then moved to Wichita, KS where I'm about 3 hours from the dealership. I took a couple of trips to the dealer while still under warranty (Kansas City has plenty to do while the car got fixed, and Baron MINI gave me a loaner).
Now the car is well beyond warranty and I'm having it serviced locally by an independent BMW shop that most of the other MINI owners in town seem to use. I'll continue to go there for anything fairly ordinary, but if something really serious ever comes up that I think might require MINI factory tools or something I'll take it back up to the dealership. I hope never to need to do that, though. Car has been reliable so far.

 

where in maine it depends ur closest mini is probAbly boston

 

How much did you pay for your pre-paid maintenance?

 

Where in Maine are you thinking of going?

I'm totally serious about not moving there... DON'T do it!

Ok, well maybe it depends on where... but you're saying it will be several hours from Boston (like more than 4?). I'm trying to figure it out... you know... "enquiring minds".

I've lived in FL for almost 10 years now but I was born and raised in Maine... I lived about 4 hours from Boston.

 

There are a fair number of Mainers on the forum here. Hopefully one of them will chime in and give you a good assement of the situation. I know there is at least one NAMer that has two Mini's.

And BTW i am about 1.5 hours from any dealer be it Peabody, Boston, RI, Harford , and I just find it a fun drive and a nice walk around Boston when i go there.

And to those saying Do Not Move, Maine is a nice place and i would not mind living there, but my job does not let me.

And where are you moving to in Maine? as others have said inquiring minds want to know.

 

It's only me saying don't move to Maine. Again, born and raised there... didn't leave 'til I was 26... first hand experience talking. It's a tough life.

 

The only caveat is that IF you have an issue that requires warranty work - you will need to take your car to a MINI dealership.

 

If you lived 4 hours from Boston, you weren't in southern Maine. It turns quite rural quickly beyond the Portland area and away from the coast. I've been here for 4 years and I love where I live. There are restaurants, entertainment, the ocean, shopping, the ocean, accessibility to many different outside sports (skiing, hiking, cycling, paddling), oh, and the ocean.
So I believe it's really a matter of opinion.

To the OP, Peabody is about 1/2 hour closer than Boston.
As Schatzy points out, though, HC is right in the city so wandering around is entertaining. HC also will loan you a Mini if yours has to stay.
MoP will set up a rental for you (at your expense).

My Mini is still on order so I have no service experience yet.

 

Not in Southern Maine... hmmm... yuh think? Did I miss the post that said this person was going to southern Maine? If I'm not mistaken CarJon said (I'm assuming CarJon is a "he") that he would be "several hours" away. How many is "several"? More than 4? That's why I asked.

Southern Maine is very different from "rural Maine" and depending on his lifestyle there could be some culture shock. If you haven't lived there then you do not know what it is like... it is not "LL BEAN" or "LAND'S END". I'm glad that you are happy where you are and you have so much fun stuff to do. Good for you.

Just for clarification, as I recall, he said he already lives close to a MINI dealership so he is well aware of where they are located. He said he was thinking of moving to Maine and he was thinking of getting a MINI. I voted for getting the MINI and living closer to a dealership. Getting a MINI would be lots more fun than moving to Maine. Of course it is my "opinion"... AND it was meant as a joke. I would think that CarJon is certainly smart enough to make his own life decisions... I mean c'mon... do you really think he would not move somewhere because one person on a forum says "DON'T"? Give the guy some credit.

BTW, I have the ocean nearby too... and I can still feel my legs when I go in.

Happy Thanksgiving!

PS- And CarJon (if you're reading), I am so sorry if I've turned your Maine moving world upside down.

 

Quote:

"My Mini is still on order so I have no service experience yet."

Oh... since you (Wannab) have no experience with MINI yet... sometimes a MINI does need to go to the shop more than once or twice a year. Occasionally there are issues and warranty work (as stated) needs to be done at the dealership. I have owned a MINI since 2005 and I have my second one that I purchased in September.

 

Wow, such a long response to my post.
My point was just because you grew up in ME ("4 hours from Boston") and are glad to be away doesn't mean that others won't be quite content to live here. Seems we agree on "rural Maine" so not sure what you're trying to clarify.

And I don't need to have experience with service to offer what I did about the two closest Mini dealers.

Thanks for making your point on your opinion, however and for putting the emoticons to good use.

 

I'm sure that every state has it's share of happy people, and miserable people, and I doubt it has much to do with geography.

 

So true!

 

 

I live in NH and have been taking the car to MINI of Peabody (Mass.) for the past two years. (Very good experience with them, BTW.) I also take the car to a BMW mechanic located here in NH. So... there you go!
Any questions, let me know!

 

Here is my take on this issue. I have an 08 Clubman that has to go to the dealer for warranty work (which will be outlined in another post). I bought the car in Nashville, TN. The closest MINI dealer to me is in Memphis, TN. Roadside Assistance will tow the car free of charge to the nearest dealer for the warranty work, but since I didnt BUY the car there, they wont give me a loaner. This really doesnt matter to me anyway since the car was towed. It was going to be a problem when it came time to pick up the car since I was going to have to find a way to Memphis. It turns out that I live within a certian distance from the dealership and they will have the car towed back to me! How sweet is that? Roadside Assistance had a roll back at my house within 45 min. of calling them and they took real good care of my car.

 

Wow! That's awesome! Didn't know that could be done. Would seem more cost effective for the dealership to just give you a loaner... but how good for you! What do you tell Roadside Assistance when you call them? Do you do this for the oil change stuff too? Many times we've combined oil change visits and some warranty issues. Our closest dealership is about 1.5 hours from here.

Ok, so did you feel sad the first time you saw your Cooper on the flatbed? We did.

 

i love maine it like my second home so no making fun of it and by the way hope ur not going north of portland (saco in da house)

 

I told Roadside assistance that my car was not running correctly and that I was advised by the dealership not to drive the car. They asked for my address and put me on hold and in >5 min. they told me a roll back was on the way. The first question they asked both times I called was "are you in a safe loction?" They ended the conversation both times with "I hope you have a better day." Although my car is in the shop, I really don't feel too bad, & I think that in the future, I will be able to get a loaner even from Memphis. I'll let y'all know what they say when I hear from them today.