Before I start calling mini usa can anyone fill me in on how to do warranty work when the dealer is 2500 miles away? I have the timing tensioner problem. Also a maybe fuel pump cause it cuts out during acceleration. Im in Alaska.
BMW keeps pushing me away and wanted 75 bucks to clear the 20,000 mile service display. I have been doing my own oil changes getting the filter there at BMW of Anchorage. I wont ever buy a BMW because of their attitude.

 

You will have to make your case with MINIUSA about this. MINI will not reimburse BMW only franchises for warranty work. I have also read where they are contractually bound not to service MINIs. Good luck and keep us posted.

 

I Love the car but may have made a mistake bringing it up here.
Thanks

 

Find a good independent shop to do your work - MINI will reimburse you if there is no dealer around, but you will need good documentation - and I'd expect them to be pretty slow about paying you back. Contact MINI USA and tell them what you're up against (2500 miles to nearest dealer), and the name of the shop that you're going to use....

 

I know it's a long shot but . . . . is the distance a problem for a warranty issue, I'm 200 miles away and Mini roadside has always picked it up and taken it to the closest dealership.

 

I love this car and I want to run solo II with it but it realy is hesitating to much. I have read on this forum of fuel pump failures. Also there extreme cost. I had found a web site that had a recommendation for up here but I cant seem to locate it again. It was a large list of web site that an enthusiast made.

 

why dont U ask other Alaskans that have MINIs? Last I heard BMW picks up the boat tab to and from the dealer(s) in Washington state for any warranty work.

BTW all warranty work HAS to be done by a MINI dealership. I have friends with MINIs in Montana and they have three choices: by flatbed to Seattle, SLC, or Denver.

 

An independent shop? In Alaska?? It's not quite KC up there....

 

You don't think there are independant repair shops in Alaska?

Every manufacturer I've ever worked for (over 30 years in the car bidness that would include Porsche, Audi, MBZ, Range Rover, Lexus, Jaguar and a couple of no-longer-arounds) would pay for emergency repairs if someone was broken down a long ways from a dealer - and I'd say 2500 miles is a long ways.......

It does not make sense that MINI would pay for a 5,000 mile tow when a local shop can fix the car with the correct parts and procedures. But then, they may not make sense either......

 

when someone asks me about the car and do I recommend buying one, this is one of the points I always mention: how far to a dealer for the pre-paid maintenance and/or warranty work.

A good warranty ain't worth squat when you can't get to a dealer to address the issue. While you may get MINI to pay an indep' for warranty work if far away, what's involved in proving to MINI that the work WAS warranty in the first place?

I live only an hour from my dealer but for many in my neighborhood that's enuf to keep them from buying a MINI.

 

Myspdjcw09,

I'm happy my car is no longer under factory warranty actually... now I can take it to whom ever I choose. The warranty issue has kept me from going to a 2nd gen car so far. Maybe if we get enough folks griping, BMW might listen???

I'm not sure if you are a AK mini club member, but we have been working on composing that issue to BMW. The letter(s) are not completed yet, but they will be soon enough.

 

we do have qualified shops that are very good with mini's, some even with qualified mini mechanics, but MINI USA will not reimburse them for warranty work because they are not an AUTHORIZED Mini shop.

We might be in the woods, but you would be surprised at what we DO have up here in the largest state in the union.

 

not that surprised at all.

 

I bet if you posted on Sarah's Facebook page, she would help. She's all about helping Alaskans...

Seriously, call Mini USA and ask them....

 

Call MINI roadside and tell them you have a warranty issue and that you want it towed to the nearest dealer. It is very hard for them to deny you that if they'll do it for someone 200 miles away. If you insist hard enough then they'll either do it or they'll suddenly discover an authorized repair shop close by.

You may have to be an *** about it - the squeaky wheel gets the grease. I believe there is something in the roadside assistance that talks about a tow to the local dealer.

Second point - call the dealer it would be towed to and get them on your side. They'll fight on your behalf because they get paid by MINI for the warranty work and they want you to bring the car to them. How many bridges they'll burn for 1 extra piece of warranty work is debateable but they should help some.

 

good point. Im almost 100% sure that the (now 2) dealers in the Seattle area are used to Alaska MINI owners and their special needs based on distance.