Has anyone ever asked MINIUSA.COM a question and gotten a
meaningful answer? I vote that MINIUSA.COM let MINICOOPERONLINE
take over answering customer inquiries. I want something more than
"Check with your authorized Mini dealer" for an answer. Don't you?
I have gotten more info from this site in five minutes than you can
get on MINIUSA.COM in a year, dog year that is..... :evil:

_________________
2Minis


Size matters!!!!!!

 

... we're measuring things in Egyptian Cat years now ...

 

I hope they are longer....

 

I've received speedy, complete answers to all questions that I've sent via email to MINI USA from the Owner's Lounge. Maybe someone at MINI USA is paying closer attention to the Lounge than to the regular MINI USA site.

 

what I would like to see is a posting of Recall notices in the Owner's Lounge ...

 

>>I've received speedy, complete answers to all questions that I've sent via email to MINI USA from the Owner's Lounge. Maybe someone at MINI USA is paying closer attention to the Lounge than to the regular MINI USA site.

I've emailed two or three questions and all have gotten the same response..
"Check with your authorized Mini service center." What were the questions you asked and can you post responses? Were they, like car questions, or like
where do I mail my payment type questions? :???:

 

I wrote an e-mail asking where could I buy a Glove box for my MCS, because mine came without it, they told me that the glove box was only for Minis in the USA and because I was living in México that they couldn’t help me.

 

>>I wrote an e-mail asking where could I buy a Glove box for my MCS, because mine came without it, they told me that the glove box was only for Minis in the USA and because I was living in México that they couldn’t help me.

 

Treasure of the Sierra Madre....Bogart...never mind.

 

I must say that in the first few weeks after placing my order (and maybe even before), I emailed them several times and received "meaningful" answers within a day or even several hours. That was earlier in the summer however and I know longer remember what I asked or what their answers were. Sorry!

Maybe the help is getting a bit weak!

 

2minis,
My questions were about Vehicle Memory, the missing interior hatch release ring and about the CD31 software update. Admittedly, these aren't the most technical of subjects but I was pleased with the answers. Again, this was through the Lounge and not just MINI USA's site so my experience might be different from yours.

 

Ken,
no through the lounge as well...takes forever..and then
"Talk to you auth...

 

I've found Mini to be less than responsive. I've also owned BMW's and Mini's lack of response is typical of the BMW "family".There's a bit of arrogance with them. My experience with Mini involved the shift linkage problem. At first they denied there was a problem, then told me I'd get a letter (which I've NEVER received), then I was told there was a POTENTIAL problem and to wait and see if it occurred. That's when things got a little ugly. Faced with the possibilities of driving along and having no ability to shift, I advised them in no uncertain terms that getting killed in my car was not the "motoring" experience I had been looking for in buying this car and after drawing their attention to California's Lemon Law, suddenly I got an immediate acknowledgement and arrangements to fix the car. Typical of this, my family also has an X5. I brought it in for minor service and found they had replaced the brake pedal assembly. Apparently for over a year, they've known that the brake pedal could just fall off. I never got any notice, no letter, NOTHING. Had I not gone in for service, it would have never been fixed. Bottom line, I find BMW/Mini to have a "superior" attitude. They think their cars are the best and you should be lucky to drive one. Typical is their weird pricing. In many large cities Minis go for well over MSRP. Any M series BMW goes for 5 to 10 thousand over sticker and their high end Z8 goes for about $50,000 over sticker. They seem to have this thing about controlling distribution and creating a "frenzy" for their cars. It's their constant approach to marketing. Anywho, I do like their cars but not many of their business practices.

 

I contacted MINIUSA through their site twice with comments/questions regarding the car I will be purchasing next year. I received I response within 24 hours both times. The first message I sent them was friendly grumbling about body color/interior options for the 'S'. They responded with a "thank-you-very-much-for-your-comments-which-we-value-so-highly" that read like a form letter but made reference to several specific points I had made so I guess that it wasn't. The second time I asked them about the possibility of visiting the MINI plant and taking European delivery of my car, which they responded to in very specific terms (apparently they've recieved a number of requests for this, which is a service that IS available to customers who order real BMWs, as I understand it - and they're developing a European Delivery program for U.S. customers in the future). I wrote them in the August/September timeframe. As is the case with customer service everywhere, the attention one receives from a representative probably depends on how lucky one is with the good/bad/indifferent representative that picks up one's request.

 

ccm5 is wise. This has also been my experience with all things MINI.

 

If they are like my dealer, if you ask questions about a car you want to buy, you will get a lot off attention and almost immediate answers.
If you ask questions or want information about the car you just bought, forget about it, you are not important anymore, your are just another annoying person.

 

>>what I would like to see is a posting of Recall notices in the Owner's Lounge ...
>>
>>

:smile:

 

Hi Michael! Thanks for writing in.

I'm not aware of any complaints/problems. But if you're concerned, please contact your MINI dealer for advice.

Thanks, and LET'S MOTOR.


MINI Division
The latest response to a question. I deleted the reps name...but it is the same response I've gotten from the Owners Lounge on the other 2 questions I asked... :-

Florida Mini Owners

 

I've had a couple of questions for them....
The first was back in March of 02' asking for details of wheel specs etc.... they wrote back with very little info. (Most of the info I later found here or on my own)

The second... Maybe April 02'.... Wrote in asking for more info on their warranty coverage and warranty termination policy. I specificly mentioned the Moss Magnuson act and asked what their opinions were. Funny.... I guess I hit a nerve. After "No" response in a week I sent another email..... another week goes by and still no response. I call MINIUSA and ask for a response..... the woman tells me that I will need to talk with my local warranty MINI Rep. and that I will be getting a response to my email soon....... 4 months later.... "NO" response.

Oh well....
Happy Motoring,
SW

 

Hi Michael,

Thanks for writing in!
It sounds like your going to change the tires yourself.
I am not sure what will need to be done to adjust your
flat tire sensors or if any adjustments will need to be
done at all. I suggest that you call the service department
at your preferred MINI dealer and see if you can speak
with their wheel and tire specialist to discuss this in more detail.

Sincerely,


MINI Division

Thanks for no info!!!! :evil:


Florida Mini Owners

 

They definitely seem to keep Recall info quiet...

I had that same experience with the shift linkage problem. 1st - denial,
2nd - oh it only affects some MINIs, 3rd - oh well your VIN is in the range, but we aren't replacing them unless they break. 4th - You will get a letter (NEVER received). 5th - I insisted on the linkage replacement, which they finally did.


FYI, I finally got an appointment scheduled to get the CD31 fix/upgrade. I called to confirm they would be ready for my MINI today, and their response was...

Service advisor: "oh, can you bring it in Monday instead? We just got a replacement engine in for this other person's MINI, and our only MINI technician will be spending all day today & tomorrow installing it"

Needless to say, when I go in Monday I will ask lots of questions about this engine replacement!!!

 

I just like when I sent in an e-mail to the MINI merchandise section (via an address that they sent me in a 'how did you like your order' type of follow-up e-mail) and I suggested that they sell XXL-Large, as I like to wear most of my clothes big... about a week later they sent me a reply that they were fowarding it to the BMW Parts department (or something along those lines) as it was a 'technicial' question...

Rocketboy_X

 

Same here.. asking questions of any substance through the Owner's Lounge on MINI USA does no good. They wouldn't even tell me the socket size to change the oil filter (see below). Same with the linkage recall- went around in circles for months. In the end, I wrote letters of complaint to BMW of North America, MINI USA, and the CA Better Business Bureau. As a result, BMW is covering the rental car of a BMW 325i for 2 days while they service everything I need done to my MINI once and for all. I tell ya, the squeaky wheel gets the grease! If you're not happy, let them know in writing:

MINI Division
PO Box 1227
Westwood, NJ 07675
________________
FROM ME:
Asked about rear hatch latch rattling and replacement policy.
_________________
FROM MINI:
"Actually, we have heard and seen a couple of other MINI motorists who are experiencing the rattle in the rear hatch area as you described you and others are experiencing. Regrettably, at this time there is no fix available for this problem. We are currently gathering as much information from motorists who are experiencing this rattle so that we can diagnoses and ultimately release a fix to this problem. The information is being gathered by the service departments in our authorized MINI Dealer network. From there, the findings are being accumulated by our engineering department to work on and find a solution. "
_________________
Yet, when I took my car in, the dealer was able to fix the problem that MINI claims "there is no fix available" for.
_________________
FROM ME:
Hello, I need to know the EXACT metric socket size required to change the oil on
my MINI Cooper (to replace oil filter cartridge). It seems to be between
32-36mm, but I need to know EXACTLY which size it is in mm. I must
purchase this metric socket so I can change my car's oil (purchased the
oil and filter from MINI dealer). Thank you.
___________________
FROM OWNER'S LOUNGE:(Didn't answer my question at all)
We highly recommend that you do not perform scheduled maintenance and/or warranty work on your MINI passenger car. This could possibly effect the warranty and/or maintenance agreements associated to your MINI.

All scheduled maintenance for the first 3 years or 36,000 miles, which ever should occur first, would be covered, including oil changes. This is based off of the service interval indicator located on the instrument cluster on the inside of the cabin.

Yes, you can have the oil changed by an independent service station/shop or by yourself prior to the service indicator indicating your MINI is ready for it. Regrettably, this will not be covered under the terms of your Maintenance contract and will be an out of pocket expense.

 

Gee, do you think that there's just a bot answering e-mails? Someone should try sending a gibberish message w/a few keywords to see what happens... those replies were some of the worst i've seen...

(Of course, no worse than considering a size of clothing question to be of a 'technical' nature that they'd have to send to the boys upstairs for their opinion...)

Rocketboy_X

 

Overdependence on dealers seems to be their weakness. I am aware that there are only 7 people on the "hotline" with other duties they must fulfill at MINI USA. I think when they staff up and redefine what service really is, they will improve. Response has been speedy. I have had to call when I get too pat an answer or dealer referral answer when I already have asked the dealer and they did not have any info.......Patience with a new car company, even though branch of BMW, thinking further, who was not so great on service or home office support anyway in my 13 years experience......with 4 cars from BMW.........