I just bought an 07 MCS.... Laser Blue 6 speed. It has roughly 57k miles on itand I got an extended warranty with the car for 3 year/30k miles..... the warranty actually includes "preventative maint." any idea if this would include a Carbon build up inspection and possible walnut shell blasting? Or if the 3 month 3k mile warranty that came from the dealer would cover these things?

 

I would contact the warranty provider. Your 3mo/3K mile Dealer warranty most likely only covered drivetrain problems/break downs not maintenance such as walnut blasting.

 

You don't think it would even cover the cost for them to check it out if I claim a loss of noticeable power the past couple days I've owned it? lol

 

Personally, I would pay to actually have eyes-on for the intake valves so you know exactly where you stand.

If it turns out to be due for cleaning, then great, you can get it done with your warranty.
If it turns out to be relatively clean, then you know that the loss of power is not due to carboned intake valves. And you can start looking else where

 

Should i run some Seafoam through it and see if that makes any difference? I won't be able to get it to the Mini dealer for about 2-3 weeks...it doesn't seem like there is a loss of power but I would rather have a clean conscious... I just spoke with the service dept. manager and he said $200 to check the valves out... just under $900 for the check and cleaning with the walnut shell blaster. He did inform me he has never had anyone's warranty cover the cost's for it as well.. since they don't consider it a "defect" or mechanical malfunction....it's a "maintenance" issue....sound's like rubbish to me since a decline in performance due to the manufacturing process would tech. be a defect on their part would it not?

 

If your warranty covers preventative maintenance, you're already better off than the 99% of us.

For me, I run half a can of seafoam through the system at every oil change, then another half a can half way to the next oil change. Car runs well, even though I'm sure there's some carbon, but it won't be as bad as some of the others who NEVER had a cleaning.

For seafoam cleaning, take a look at the video here:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...815-post1.html

And if you want a more in-depth, step by step, written instructions, read here:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...8-post475.html

For full list of benefits, read here:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...1-post476.html

 

Thanks bud I really appreciate all the advice and links! I will likely change my own oil and filter as I always have instead of spending $60-80 at a dealer.. I normally make out under $45...i mean come on... that's an extra $15 of gas to put the hammer down!

 

No worries.
For $60 to $80, you have a pretty nice dealer
Oil changes here cost +$100 at a dealer
I'm sure they also check to see if I need a new cabin filter and headlight fluid topped off.

 

Hmm... dangit.. i forgot about the cabin air filter.... I'm %100 positive that sucker needs replaced.... I could see it and all of its ugliness behind my battery... I would venture to think it's never been replaced.. lol

 

Man that blinker fluid can run some big bucks, cranker!

On a serious note, Ryan, are you savvy in the garage? Taking off the intake manifold to inspect the valves is far from what I'd call a hard job. That $200 just to pop off the intake manifold and put it back on is steep. Especially since they know how easy the walnut blast is with their tools, and they won't let a potential customer go out the door without trying to get that sort of profit. The dealers seem to charge $600-800 for a job that takes about an hour or so. With that kind of profit potential and you already paying $200 for the removal and re-installation of the intake man. trust me, the outcome will be "oh you absolutely need a cleaning, we wouldn't want to even chance you driving home today without it".

 

Ya I kinda figured that would be their pull on having that done... as was with the Mazda dealership when I had my RX-8....everytime they wanted me to have that done.. lol. I'll likely venture to pull it off and check it myself after i run some seafoam through here in the next couple days. I'm sure there is a thread on here I can find on pulling the intake manifold correctly and checking it or on Youtube. Is the Cabin filter easily replaceable...from what I saw it looks like the plastic needs removed and the battery taken out to get in there.... am I wrong?

 

you access the cabin air filter through inside the car. There's a door to access it under the dash on the passenger side. It slids out on a trac and the new one slides back up in the same way.

 

Even better! Thanks!

EDIT: I'm watching a video on the cabin air filters.... they don't look anything like the filter i saw behind the battery area under the hood.. what the heck is that?

 

Post the video here and we can let you know if it is indeed a cabin air filter.

 

Lol.... I'll take a picture and post it on here if the filter I'm talking about... give me a few!

EDIT: Ok... never mind.... that's it... lol... it looked really weird the first time I saw it... but it is most certainly the Cabin filter I'm seeing. my bad!

 

So this is the list of good's my car came with... I'm having a hard time figuring out what all came in the "sport package"...also if i want satellite radio do I just let them know at the Mini dealer and pay there or what?

 

I don't know if the sport package included the sport suspension. I think that sport seats came with all MCS, but I'm not sure. Are your wheels 16" or 17"?

Looks like some nice options.

Have fun,
Mike