Hubby and I took the long way home from MITM, and somewhere near the border of Colorado and Utah--really out in the middle of Nowhere, with a capital N--we got an orange "overheating" idiot light. It's not the most joyous panel glow one wants to see, but there it was, with an empty radiator overflow tank to match. Over the next couple of days we refilled the tank while working our way toward New Mexico. When we had to fill the tank a third time, it was obvious we had a serious problem somewhere in the system. I called my regular SA in Houston, and he told me he'd seen some R56 thermostats leak, and to call the nearest dealer (Albuquerque). He also suggested we call MINI Roadside Assistance and activate the "Trip Interruption" provision.

So, we blew off Taos and Santa Fe, which we really wanted to see. I called Sandia MINI in Albuquerque and told them we'd be there as soon as possible, early afternoon, on a...Friday. Sure doom, right? Nope--when we drove up they welcomed us as if they'd been twiddling their thumbs waiting for us! A quick look while the car was on the lift and a leaking water pump was diagnosed.

So, with keys to a loaner car in hand, we headed off for a look at the nearby Balloon Museum (highly recommended!), and a couple of hours later we and Zippeee! were both done.

I can't say enough about how friendly everyone was, how quickly the repair was made, and how nicely we were treated. Stetsons off to 'em all!

 

Happy to hear good news about dealership service. This site, like all bulletin boards, tends to distill experience into a potent concentrate, especially bad news. Not a fault of NAM; just the nature of the web and boards in general.

Did you return to Taos and Santa Fe? Great places.

 

No, I'm afraid we just couldn't work it back in. Another trip, I guess.

We did like the Nuclear Museum on the southeast outskirts of Albuquerque, as well...

 

I also had a boo boo on my way home from MitM (see my tale of woe here), and in the same general vicinity - Grand Junction, CO. The body shop guy I talked to yesterday said that if my radiator had been hit 1/4 inch deeper I'd have probably had issues with my car...as it was I was thankful we could finish our vacation plans. I'm sorry yours got cut short.

 

Many accalades to Sandia MINI for making a Fellow's Motoring Vacation a Not So Bad Experience!! Uhhh...I think my Stetson is at the Cleaners!!

Glad things worked out for the better Deb!!

 

Ouch, Ladidah! Glad our problem was not of the sheet metal variety--hope all is well now.

 

Ah, good old Ablueturkey. Went to school at UNM. Glad they treated you well. Taos and Santa Fe are nice places to visit. There is also a nice drive from Albuquerque to Madrid (on the other side of the Sandia Mts. and up to the peak. Good roads for a MINI, IIRC. Madrid is an old mining town that is fun to visit.

 

Oooh--that DOES look like a good road. Because we were hoofin' it to Albuquerque to give them a chance to work on it, we took the interstate. We're allergic to straight roads, though, so that was unusual on this trip.

Like I say, next time... And now that Hubby's retired, that time might not be too far off.

 

Glad to hear of such good service, and that your vacation wasn't ruined.

 

Man water pumps are PITA. But its good to hear that you got treated good and everything was taken care of.