I have a potential line on a MINI Hardtop that is close to my requirements. Wrestling with the trade-off between 0.9% financing and regular financing with a free "100,000 mile/6 year maintenance plan". The regular financing is 4.59%,

The MA sent me this as the list of things that "could occur" in 100,000 miles.

1: Brakes per axle= $550
2: Spark Plugs= $115+ 109
3: O2 Sensor= $1,000
4: Belts= $140
5: Coolant= $140
6: Transmission Fluid= $280
7: Wipers (F)= $40 (R)= $20
8: Oil Change= $90
9: Air Filter= $50
10: Cabin Filter= $80
11: Brake Flush= $130

My question for those with long term ownership experience:
1) How many of these things are really likely to happen? (Like the O2 sensor for a grand??) I assume they only do what is required, so the real value is what happens between 36,000 and 100,000 miles that is needed.

2) How much cheaper have folks found these things by finding a reputable non-dealer service option? Dealership are never the cheapest place.

We only have one dealer, and it is not a terribly convenient trip from my home, so always having to use the dealership is slightly a pain for me.

Thanks for your thoughts!
Ken

 

Brakes per axle $550?!

Personally, a lot of these items can be done for a much cheaper price. Where are you located?

 

MN - Twin Cities area.

Have had Hondas/Acuras for the past 25 years and have a private mechanic that only works on those we have used and trusted. So, branching out, I will need to find someone who does MINIs that I can trust.

 

I would say look at the trade off. How much can you buy the maintenance upgrade for?

Ask them to show you all of your options. Ask them to show you the payment at .9% with you paying for the 6 year 100k maintenance and then ask them to show you the payment at 4.49% with the maintenance for free.

More importantly ask for the finance charges on each and then you can decide what makes more sense for you.

 

Calculating the cost of the money side is pretty easy, once I got the interest rates. In reality, my calculation would be complicated by an early payoff, or far shorter term I would take at 4.49%, while if I took the 0.9%, I would tend to let it ride for longer. But that is my math problem

The maintenance plan is $1695 if bought straight up. But I would never do that. To me the value of having this plan is the likely cost of the maintenance I would have done after the 36,000 mile standard plan expired. If I didn't have this plan, I would have that work done at a place cheaper (and much closer!) than the dealership.

What I was seeking from those who have owned their MINIs for this many miles was what really needs to get done, and how much does it typically cost at independent repair places. That tells me what this plan is actually worth, and can be compared against the finance costs.

(Then, for me, there is the location issue - driving from my home to dealership to work would be a 90 minute bumper-to-bumper commute instead of my normal 20 minute home to work trek. If this is a really good deal, I would do it. But...)

 

That's valuable advise from Amanda. Personally I would take the .09%. If it bothers you, get a local mechanic to quote the price to fix all those things then put the amount you would be paying each month to MINI in your own savings account. That way you will have the cash to cover it if something were to have it -4.49% interest paid.