So I got my 2007 MCS last Saturday and am so excited to be back in the MINI family. I bought it at a local Volvo dealership and the process of trading was very pleasant and everyone was professional. During the test drive I questioned about the low tire sensor being on the salesman said it may the the weather, but they would check it out and take care of it before I bought it. This was on Thursday night. During a discussion with him on Saturday about picking up the car that day and paying for it, he assured that they had checked the pressure in the tires and it was OK. He told me to just take it to the MINI dealership and they would take care of the bill if not covered by the existing warranty. I spent half a day yesterday and 6 hours today sitting at the MINI shop only to find out the original owner took the stock wheels off and replaced them with some older model 17" R90 Anthracite Cross Spokes that look awesome! Problem is that they cannot put the sensors in the older wheels and I would never know if the run flats are losing pressure. So if left alone I would have to look at the low tire light all the time. Personally I do not want to see the light on.

Should I make the Volvo dealership buy me up-to-date R90's or haggle for reimbursement for time and problems to cover different wheels? The price for the new wheels would be about $2,100 installed.

 

I would not have given them one red cent without the sensor being fixed. I would have said "You can take it to the Mini Dealership yourself and I will buy it next weekend".

Thats not what happened and hindsight being 20/20....

Now, they said they would take care of the bill if it is not covered under warranty, so, it sounds like you have admission by them to pay the $2100 to make the situation correct. Be prepared to give them the old wheels and tires that you cannot use, however.

Have you told them about the 2100 charge for new rims and tires? Have you looked to see how much non-OEM rims, sensors and tires will cost to see if the volvo dealership would be willing to spring for that instead?

I don't mind haggling for $$, but you need to make sure you yourself are left whole, or, contact your states attorney general's office.

Good luck!

 

MINI service adviser informed them the wheels would be at least $2500. Have not looked into the non-OEM stuff, I literally just got back to the office.

 

Before the stupid gets to high in here. There are no sensors in the 07 wheels it is all on the car. Now the sensors might be messed up on the car which they should be able to fix. Keep the wheels that are on there on there, if not I will trade you 17in Crown Spokes off a 07 Mini S.

 

Hmm? How can the car detect low tire pressure without any sensors in the tires or on the wheels??

 

Its on the hub or something like that. Look in wheels and tires section more about it there.

 

Depends on manufacture date as to which sensors. Whichever system the OP has, I'm not sure why they wouldn't be able to install new sensors. People have sensors installed on aftermarket wheels all the time and that is essentially what this situation is. Any possibility of getting a second opinion somewhere else?

 

I am betting that the Volvo dealership is looking into a second opinion.

 

Apparently I don't drive an 07.

So....

 

The tire diameter changes with low pressure. So its rotation rate is not the same as the other wheels. This is measured at the hub.

 

you could always remove the light from the dash

 

This is the system on most gen1 cars...some ragtops got the sensor system that measurese psi (due to laws/regulaion).
the ssystem that measures the number of rotaion is not on the rims, but on the hub...same sensors that the car uses for dsc/abs, etc.
All gen2 cars got a sysyem that measures psi...
a few gen1 cars, depening on production date got a similar to gen2 cars...but were all very late production cabrios...
Most psi montoring sensors mount at the valve....placemnt of the valve stem hole determines if a sensor can/cannot be mounted....rims must be compatible.

 

You are indeed correct Sir.

 

Interesting! Thanks for the info--I never thought about using the ABS sensors to count tire rotations.

 

One thing to consider...
the PSI montering system on gen2 cars have 4 RF sensors...one for each rim...there area couple different versions depending on production date...they are pretty $$$, so if you ever want to get the light out the correct way..or an inspection REQUIRES you to get it working, it may be very $$$ to buy 4 sensors, even if you get an even trade fro rims and tires.....

 

The Volvo dealership had already agreed to buy the new sensors after the initial (wrong) diagnosis-$700 installed.

 

I just got off the phone with the Volvo dealership and they are going to pay for the new wheels and sensors!!

If by chance you are looking for a nice set of used R90's, PM me and I will give you the name of guy at the dealership.

 

I got an email this week from my MA letting me know my wheels were in. I set an appointment for today at 8:30 am. I had to leave about 7:45 as it is a long drive. Get there and check in, grab a cup of coffee at the starbucks next door and come back to wait. About 9:45 she comes out and shows me the wheels-they look great! Ten minutes later she comes out and tells me to follow her that we have a problem. We go to the car in the shop and she shows me that BMW had sent two black wheels and two anthracite wheels!!

So I wasted about 2.5 hours for nothing. She could tell I was pissed, but can't do anything about the problem. She says "they will reimburse you for your gas." Gee thanks....

 

Did you say, "And what about my time?"