Think its time to give up on the wife's R56. bought new in 2008, nothing but problems since the day we bought it. I don't have the maintenance records in front of me, but they are mostly the same problems reported by everyone else, including multiple times for several of them. It's sitting in the shop now, needs a new vacuum pump, thermostat, and gear shift parts - another $2000. We've probably spent $2000 - $3000 USD a year in maintenance since we bought it.

I think its time the dealership offer some good will to us, would you concur? Of course I'd like all these repairs for free, but that won't happen - so a compromise may be fix for cost of parts? I don't really want to do the repairs myself (my days of crawling under cars is over), but I also don't want to light another $2000 on fire because of this lemon. I'm also concerned that the vacuum pump failure could also spell doom for this motor.

Any advice is appreciated.

 

I'm pretty sure there are lemon laws that you could make a case for. You said the service records aren't in front of you, so I take it you do have all the service records somewhere...I know my MINI dealership has a 2 year and 100,000mile warranty on parts they replace. I would say if you've spent that much money every year you def have a case. I would speak to the manager of the dealership you bought it from, state your case, but I would also call MINI USA yourself and talk to the highest person you can and also state your case. That's what I did when I needed my engine replaced (it only had 30,000ish miles and the engine had a defect that caused the rods to break). Best of luck.

 

I would NEVER ask for a discount on labor or parts. Think of it this way, a GOOD person would do the job the SAME regardless if they are being paid their normal fee or less than half their normal fee. But let's face it, most jerks out there think, "Half the money? Half-a**ed job!"

So... I would ask about buy-back perhaps?

On that topic... if I KNOW the person is good and going to do the same job no matter what they are being paid, I'm STILL going to want to pay the normal fee because I know they are hurting (as I am as a small fish in a big pond in my line of work) when a bunch of OTHER people are asking for discounts left and right.

But seriously, your car shouldn't be taking a dump every year. =(

 

I don't mind asking for a discount on parts especially from the dealer, but I do believe that a man ought to be paid what he's worth for the excellent skill he possesses. If the skill isn't so excellent then, well, shame on us both and there won't be another chance unless it is moderating in some form.

 

I'm certainly not suggesting short-changing a good mechanic. The car is at the dealership, the service folks there get paid a straight wage by the dealership; the dealership (i.e. owners) are the ones I'm asking to show good will. A buy-back is a good suggestion. Another option is to just buy the parts myself (thermostat and vacuum pump aren't that hard to replace, and parts are a few hundred bucks), and then sell it.. hate to spend a weekend doing this, but its probably the cheapest way to unload this pile in good running condition. As for lemon laws, I'll look into it, but I'm assuming it does not meet the legal criteria given age and mileage (120k miles on it now).

 

Congrats on the mileage! Just turned over 90 and have been though all the "consumables" once now.

 

An update. I checked parts prices online in case I ended up doing the work myself, and found a thermostat and vacuum pump for around $400... went to talk to the service folks and was able to get them to drop their service cost for labor and parts to $900, given the problems we've had... which IMHO was a fair deal, about $500 off their initial estimate. I opted to have them do it, saves me from wasting my weekend crawling under the car. once fixed, it will get a good detailing and a for sale sign hung on it.

 

Glad you found a happy medium. It sounds like you are more mechanically inclined than most and should examine the work once it's done. If there are any deficiencies, ask them to stand behind their work.

At least with the dealer there is a limited warranty, right? Good choice if you are planning on selling it.

Sorry to hear about your troubles mate.

 

Another chapter in the saga has begun. Wife picked up the car yesterday after the $900 fixes for the thermostat and vacuum pump, and 8 hours later, check engine light comes on, car goes back to service dept, and the next $1300 repair awaits, this time some kind of oil leak related to the wiring harness into the tranny (well, as best as my wife could describe to me over the phone).

I have no choice but to go nuclear with Mini USA; this car is simply non-functional and I've had it. Once the emotion dies down I'll try and think clearly through all my options, but for now, I'm thinking the dealership/Mini-USA simply buy me out at full KBB value, or, they fix car's current issues pro-bono so I can sell it on the open market or trade it in, or I hire a lawyer and let them start working the negotiations.

This whole experience has really taught me the value of proven reliability.

 

Your case is absurd and almost unbelieveable, my God I can't believe how much you have spent on your 2008 MCS! If you are replacing the same parts 2-3 times over then Mini USA has defects in a LOT of the parts for the Mini's!!

It's only a matter of time before everyone finds out that buying our used MCS down the road is a very bad decision given all the problems! The resale value will be low in the coming years and the world will know what we know now.

 

Make it stop. I clicked on the "radio" choice on this site, and I can't turn it off. How?

 

Found it!

 

Already pretty well known, Mini ends up on the least 10 reliable car list just about every year. When I sell my R56 lemon, I'm relying on one thing: a young girl who has daddy with her and when she see's it and test drives it, she just has to have it. That's basically how we ended up with a mini, my wife just had to have it. sigh.

 

I bought a 1 owner 2008 Mini Cooper S from a private party and I've had to do a lot of of repairs right off the bat... It was serviced and maintained by the selling dealership Scottsdale Mini!!!

It only has 52,000 miles on it...

This weekends project was to replace the turbo oil line... I bought the Detroit Tuned Oil Line Kit (includes oil return line), down pipe gasket and clamp along with the oil filter mount gasket set...

Having big hands isn't helpful when working on them...

 

We bought one very similar to yours. One owner 2008 MCS 49k. Other than the recall on timing chain and turbo heat shield the only thing I have done is regular fluid changes. Also added a couple things... NM shield and Craven dip stick. So far, the car has been trouble free and even the dealer could not come up with something to fix other than the recall items.

 

Are the recalls done under warranty???

 

Why do they sold it, because they were in the same position as the OP. It's a bad roll of the dice to buy a used MCS, at least buying it from a car dealer you have an option for an extended warranty. That's exactly what I did and look at the problems I had, one thing after another!

Timing chain components, valve cover, thermostat housing, engine mount soon and what sounds like a rusty shaft spinning. It's gotta be either the gas pump in the tank or main water pump/pulley.

The dealers must love all of the service, there making a ton of money! People are still lining up to buy a Mini, the general public is stupid (sheep) and they need to smarten up and research before buying any brand!

 

The reason mine was for sale is because the owner died of breast cancer... I don't know about others but she bought it new in 2008 and it's in mint condition...

I've never seen a vehicle that doesn't need maintenance...

 

I agree entirely. I've seen nothing but problems on the forums but forums are a breeding ground for discussion of things wrong with cars. I myself bought my 10 MCS used, with 15k on it over the summer. So far turbo heat shield recall and replacing the sway bar bushing at the dealer under warranty. The dealer couldn't find anything else wrong with my car but went ahead and did an injector cleaning anyways.

Car runs like a top, so far very happy with my experience and I wish you all the best with your minis!

 

Yes, those things were done free of charge. The PO had a number of receipts that addressed many of the issued listed on this board ( thermostat housing, aux water pump) and some good maintenance records.

Maybe he was scared that it was out of warranty. Not sure. For 12k which is less than half the sticker price on this car (28K) and only 49k miles I figured it was worth the buy.

As a DIY car guy and already owning an '86 Jag (which has it's own demons), this car doesn't scare me too much. Time will tell if it pans out.