So I'm changing my Turbo and Cat on my 2009 S Clubman and I needed some various replacement parts to finish the job. You know, simple stuff like air filter, oil, nuts, bolts, trim panel clips, etc. I called and got a quote from the Seattle Mini dealership. The guy was nice and helpful, but the prices seemed excessive so I went online and looked for one of the parts. That brought me to Mini of South Atlanta's website where I could look up the parts I needed myself and get costs. What I found was staggering. I expected a small price fluctuation of 10% of so being that it's from one MINI dealership to another. What I found was closer to 200-300% markup on almost every single part. Here are some examples:

Seattle Mini:
Air Filter: $40.76
Wheel Arch Trim Clip: $3.35
Oil Supply Line Banjo Bolt: $8.36
M6X16 Hex Bolt with Washer: $3.00

Mini of South Atlanta:
Air Filter: $18.18
Wheel Arch Trim Clip: $0.97
Oil Supply Line Banjo Bolt: $3.23
M6X16 Hex Bolt with Washer: $0.87

The parts I needed from Seattle were over $400. Off the Atlanta MINI site I can get them for around $100. I called back and asked the parts guy what the deal was and he simply said that Atlanta Mini is apparently selling their parts barely above cost and Seattle Mini needs to make money. 300% markup on a part!?? Just for a sanity check I called the next closest dealership and their air filter price was $27.

There's a line somewhere between making money and flat out robbery and I just wanted everyone to know. I would highly suggest no one EVER buy parts from Seattle MINI if it can be avoided. You're going to get ripped off.

 

Pretty normal for a dealer. Many are starting to try and be competitive, but there are still those out there that will markup everything 300+% I have dealt with MINI of South Atlanta, they are pretty awesome.

 

According to MINI USA (I called to ask them what the deal was), the dealership is independently owned and can set whatever price they want. Apparently people in Seattle don't question the prices so they set them 300% higher than other dealerships and it works fine for them.

 

I just changed my Downpipe and intercooler on mine and I bought a bunch of clips/missing bolts. Everything was under $1 for each clip/bolt/nut from my local dealer, MINI of Valencia. Sounds like Seattle MINI was ripping you off. Good thing you were skeptical and called a different dealer.

 

Depending on the local market, many dealers have outrageous markups on parts and labor. The local Mini dealer marks up 50% over list. The local Acura dealer does the same and wants $180/hour for labor. Same with the Subaru dealer. At least the parts guys at the Acura dealer will discount a bit when I bring in a printout with the online pricing. But there's a lot of people who are too busy, mechanically incompetent, or have more $ than good sense, that they get away with it. And why shouldn't they? It's a capitalist economy last I checked.

So plan ahead and give your business to the vendors that support NAM, and everybody's happy. Just don't start a project on a weekend where you need the car on Monday if you're not sure you have all the parts.

 

Another classic case of profit margin. Buy where you get good service for a fair price.

 

Yep not unusual to get screwed by local dealers. I buy all the OEM parts for my cars online. Almost always there are a few dealers that sell OEM parts for super cheap and support the forums.

 

My Mini shop in Cincy wanted 141.00 to balance and rotate my tires. He did say though up front that it would be costly, that if I had my own shop to take it to them. Ha ha ha

 

Vote with your dollars. These type of dealers do not deserve your business. Forums like this are great for getting the word out too.