So I dropped my car off at the local dealership this past Friday for the carbon cleaning, I get a call late Friday saying the car wouldn't be ready until today (Monday) because one of their technicians had trouble getting a hose to stick on so they had to order one. I was told the hose wouldn't be in until Monday and the price would be included in the estimate. Today (Monday) I get a call stating on Saturday while they were attempting to update my software (more on this in a sec), a module froze and they had to replace it. I was told it was a $700 part but with my warranty I'd have to pay the deductible ($300). According to the dealership, the module caused my dash to freeze and my turn signals not to work.

My first issue/question: If the module was working fine before the dealership trip and their "reprogramming" made it freeze, am I wrong for thinking they shouldn't charge me for the new module?

Second issue: The reprogramming I was told was due to the fact that when Mini realized there was an issue with carbon build up, Mini brought someone over from Germany to redo the software so that the car wouldn't build up carbon anymore. Has anyone else been told this?

If this is the case, my recent purchase of an OCC is wasted money (even though I know it's not and will install anyway). Now I'm by no means a car expert, but if Mini realized the issue, and brought someone over to do a reprogram, shouldn't the carbon buildup removal and reprogramming, as well as the module their reprogramming broke all be covered by Mini??

Anyone have any thoughts on any of this??

 

If you didn't approve the work then yes, they should pay.

 

This sounds painfully similar to my ecu issues. My car is _still_ at the dealer being reprogrammed. This is day #3 of trying to reprogram the _SAME_ unit. The original work order included a timing chain tensioner replacement [due to the death rattle] and the electric turbo fan replacement [recall]. They've spoken to the factory engineers twice now [that I know of] and have yet to find a solution.

 

Agreed, I could understand if I had tuned the car myself which caused the module to freeze, however this is something they did. Now that I think about it, they also told me they reprogrammed the car back in January when they had it for a week when I initially took it to them for the check engine light and was told that it was due to a loose oil supply line to the turbo...the check engine light came back on 5 miles down the road after leaving the dealership. This must either be a new reprogram or it wasn't done back in January. Either way, I can't help but feel like I'm being scammed lol.

 

I certainly wouldn't roll over and pay for it. They are the ones that have messed it up and should cover it.

 

I wonder if we were to compare vin numbers whether we would see any reasonable similarities...?

Maybe the factory received a bogus lot of silicon for their ecu units during a certain time period. Just a theory, but I've seen similar things happen in other industries.

 

The dealership made it right without me having to even bring the topic up...but I still hope I don't have to see them for a long time

 

Glad to hear...

 

Glad to hear it. Also I found that MINI dealers will update the software on the car just because. I had to tell my local dealer, when I had mine, to let me know when they updated the software and what the update was for. I kept reading stories of ppl getting their software updated and it hosed all kinds of things up.

 

Pay the bill in full with a credit card and then file a claim with the credit card company and sit back and watch your money return, this of course if the dealer won't remove the charges.

-Kevin

 

small claims court?

 

100% valid point IMHO, and if you were to wind up in arbitration or small claims court, I'd bet heavily that you'd win that argument.

 

Start squeaking that wheel loudly, not sure if there is a resolutions department with Mini USA but its the dealers poor service more so than Mini is my bet, crappy service and I'd be upset if your car was updated without prior approval.

 

First, this does not always work in your favor and is not good advice.

Secondly I am amazed at the number of people that failed to read the thread and see that the OP was taken care of by the dealer.

 

Thanks for all of the support. I have to say unfortunately they have gotten to know me quite well at the dealership...I did not buy the car from them but they have treated me very well in the past in correcting all of the problems the car has had in the short time I've owned it. That being said this was the first time I've ever been a little shocked but as I said they took care of it (meaning they did not charge me for the module and also replaced a break sensor for free). I've gotten way better service from them compared to the 2nd hand dealership that I originally bought the Mini from (hint it rhymes with CarMax)....live and learn.

As far as the reprogramming, the car feels extremely better in performance, no rough idle, no hesitations, but that is more than likely due to the large amount of carbon that had been removed.

Now maybe I can once again start saving to upgrade ...it's time to start having some fun instead of paying for repairs!

 

I am having the same 'carbon build up' problem and now the engine is running half power. The service engine light has been on and off for a long time. Each time it was at the dealer (under warranty) they would just reset it and say it was just an electronic glitch. The car would also pop when I would turn it off.

Now the car has 60K miles and they do not want to do anything. I got a smug little service guy and he said anyone can read anything on the internet...what a little punk. They want me to pay for a diagnosis and repair and I am saying NO WAY! It is a known design flaw and I am not about to pay for a clear defect especially when they waited until it was off warranty so they could charge me.

Does anyone know the contact information for MINI North America? Just as there are recalls for the circuit board there should be one for this. I have a 2008 Mini Cooper S that hasn't had full power since under 20K miles...pathetic...especially given we are loyal BMW owners.

 

you should have received a 'Service & Warranty Information' booklet

it has information concerning the 'right way' to raise an issue with MINI that the dealer has not handled to your satisfaction. IME doing things the was they tell you to, at least in the beginning, has certain advantages.... and depending on what state you are in there may be an alternate process - also explained in this booklet