I am a new Mini S Owner. Got the car in June 2010, has almost 1 K miles
Last week the engine did not start on the first try...I thought hmmm? but did not take action. Yesterday am the car was DEAD.

I took the car to my Dealer yesterday Tuesday around 1 PM/, after having a heck of time jump starting it (would not hold charge). We called and called several times this am (Wed) an could not get any feedback. At 3 PM (they'd had the car over 24 hours) we got a hold of someone that told us the car was "next" to be looked at. Finally about 5 PM they called and told us the battery was "bad" and that they needed to put in a new battery and do 5 + hours of software downloading tomorrow (Thursday). Then they wanted to keep it overnight for "observation" (really?) and thought we could pick it up on Friday.

I have only had Honda and Toyota's before and usually you take it in in the morning and they call you in the afternoon to give you the info. Taking a car in Tuesday mid day and getting it back Friday for a bad battery seems strange to me...

Does this seem normal for Mini service...and a bad battery after 1 month seems off to me as well? Would appreciate any feedback. I am hoping this is not a vision of the future?

 

A bad battery can happen whenever. It could be something as simple as a dud in the original manufacturing practice.

 

Bad battery can happen to any car.

The service however is very bad. Not at all acceptable from any dealer.
You should ask to speak to the service manager and see if they can help you. If not you should take your car to another dealer for any work. No reason to give work to a bad dealer.

 

Depends, maybe there's only one dealer in his area?

Where are you, btw?

I could see a dealer being busy and having to work his car into the que, but no I don't think it should take 3 days to change a battery either, even with a 5 hour software download - BTW, does anyone else think that's a bit silly with today's electronics that it takes that long to download the software?

Still, you have to give the dealer his props for wanting to be thorough and not send their customer out the door still having a problem and have him boomerang back again a few days from now.

I'd say give them the benefit of the doubt on this one, and know that your new car is a complex, complicated beasty.....

 

There are many things that can cause a virtually new battery to go dead. Anything from a bad switch, electrical issue, alternator issue to a manufacturing defect in the battery. So while they are taking too long on this, at least they are making sure it was just a bad battery. Otherwise you would probably be back with the same issue!

 

Here's the real question... what does downloading ECU software have to do with a dead battery? Nobody goes through that when they replace a dead one after several years of use.

 

Thanks for the input. I guess I am not used to having such a complicated car... last car I bought was a Honda CRV in 2001 and before that a Camry in 96. I drive my cars for a long time, and haven't had one with this much brain power I guess.

I will give them the benefit of the doubt and hope all is well when we pick it up Friday. The did offer me a loaner when I was there on Tuesday...didn't take it because I didn't see the need. Next time I'll take the loaner

 

Yeah, I was planning ask them that about the software thing, and if that was normal for getting a new battery. Or if just because the car completely died?

Also just one dealer in the general area...closest other one is 2.5 ish hours away. (3 hours if I'm not driving the Mini )

 

Maybe they reflashed in the event that the original flash didn't go on right, resulting in something electrical remaining on too long, and thus killing the battery.

 

Jeremy1026, good point.