My car is not even 3 months old and has rubbing spots on the soft top, a vribrating rear view mirror, a cracking noise when the top down, the protective rubber around the door well falling off, a ever twisting seat belt that then doesn't roll up and now just discovered a steering wheel that peels off !!! Help !! I paid 35 K Eur or 50 K USD for this kind of ... ?

 

Have you taken your car back to the dealer to give them an opportunity to fix it for you?

Seems to me they're the ones you should be asking for "Help!" from, not us. I mean, that's why new cars have a warranty period, right?

Or did you just want to vent? Cause you know how guys are, they always want to try and fix the problem rather than just bellyache about it........

If it's 3 months old then it was probably one of the first of the new series off the line, give them a chance to make it right for you.

 

take it back to dealer...

 

(1) Rubbing Spots - Didn't the dealer replace your top or are they still investigating it?

(2) Vibrating Mirror - I think the other active post on here indicates that it's normal for our mirror to vibrate. I see some vibration while driving, especially over bumpy roads. I have both Sports Package, and Sports Suspension along with the Run Flat Tires on it.
URL= https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ew-mirror.html

(3) Did you happen to see the post where I published two technical service bulletin? You should take both those and visit your Mini dealer. While those bulletins are from MiniUSA, they may still be valid for Mini's in general. Maybe your problem is related to one of those two issues. Do you get the crackling with the rear seats in the up and down positions or just one? Are you rear pop-up roll bars all black or with the plastic chrome covers. The reason I ask if maybe one of those is sliding back and fourth causing the crackling noise. Just a suggestion
URL= https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...p-or-down.html

(4) Rubber on the Door - This is a known part failure in the Minis during the first 3 to 4 months of production. Your dealer can order the replacement part which doesn't have this problem. The problem is on both the passenger and driver side.
URL= https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...nger-side.html

(5) Twisting Seat Bealt - What did you dealer say about this one? There are other people who are experiencing this. I haven't as of yet and I've checked all four seat belts twice for this condition.
URL= https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...seatbelts.html

(6) Pealing plastic - Yes, I have this but only on my driver side airbag and at the top of the plastic pieces. I haven't shown this to my dealer yet as it doesn't bother me right now, but maybe next spring I'll bring this to their attnetion.

Since we all own the first model year of the 2nd Generation convertible, I had accepted the fact that there may be some small problems that would only be discovered after owners begin taking their Minis home with them. So far, none of this make the 2nd Generation Convertible a bad car. It's all part of wanting to be the first to own a completely re-engineered Mini. It may be an inconvience, but what isn't in life. Enjoy the Mini, have fun with it, and while it's may not be absolutely prestine, it's still under warranty and the dealer can take care of all issues.

Just my two cents!

 

Well said, which reminds me to look for those service bulletins. I have the saggy seat belt problem.

 

I've updated my original post with the URLs that point back to proper threads we've discussed in the 2nd Gen Convertible user forum.

 

My remark about the bad quality was indeed just to indicate that I bought a mini simply to enjoy it and not to be every two weeks at the dealer since i bought the car 3 months ago. If BMW asks a premium price for a so called premium product, I want premium quality. The problem of the top is getting so far that they know the problem but have a hard time to get it fixed first on the assembly line. The other issues seem all known problems but strange enough mini does not seem to know how to fix it. A vibrating mirror in a 2009 car seems to be normal by mini. An ever twisting seatbelt seems also to be normal. (since when do we have seatbelts ??) I can go on and on but my final comment on all this, is that I had hoped that the time spent at the dealer, collecting a replacement car, emailing and phoning the dealer, could have been spent driving the car or doing just other funny things !

 

My BMW Z4 has the same rub spots on the top as my mini. I use a clothing lint brush on my top and they disappear. My rear view mirror on my mini vibrates a little but with the low profile tires and stiff suspension this is to be expected. My Ferrari F430 rearview mirror vibrates too to but it does not bother me as see it as the nature of the beast.

 

Hate to be adding to this post.

I was a little upset to pick up my new car last month with a broken armrest cover. No big deal and it is being replaced under warranty.

I was further disappointed that my early April R57 was delivered to me in August without the new door gaskets. I had to discover on my own what BMW already knew. The original were defective and replaced by new part numbers. They were in stock at the dealer and are now being installed. Ditto the reprogram of the power windows.

Today however we crossed the line from disappointed to really annoyed (more exactly PO'd). It seems that a plastic clip of some kind that attaches the side of the top to the rear quarter panel has broken (it's on the passenger side but think right above gas cap on driver's side and you get the idea). You can easily stick your fingers down into the body.

To fix a problem with one small clip they have ordered a complete new top. Minimum 7 days from Germany. Having had convertibles all my life I firmly believe that no top ever fits as good as the original factory installed one so I am pretty unhappy right now.

Because the problem would allow rain in the body they are holding the car (in theory inside) until repairs are finished which are in an estimated 7 - 10 days. At least the loner is a pretty nice MCS.