I bought a used '05 Mini Cooper S after a few months a crazy loud static came through the speakers and my CD player/radio/AUX all went out. Took it to the dealer and they said it was the antenna base that was causing the issue. After they took an hour to initially diagnose it ($110), I gave them the go ahead to fix the base (~$400 between parts and labor).

Then, they said it still needed a new amp, and that it was blown. Another $800.00. Noticed used one's on ebay for $400, roughly.

I questioned the Mini dealer (haven't picked up the car yet) about whether or not it was truly the antenna base or if it's been the amp all along, which would have saved me the initial 400 bucks. His response was that generally the antenna needs to be replaced with the amp, and that they go rather hand-in-hand.

I call BS. Whatcha guys think I should do? Refuse to pay??

Beyond frustrated!

 

Sounds like pure bs.....the antenna fix that is....simply playing a CD would have ruled it out....
But I would not have put a used amp in....they fail so regularly, it might have been a very short term fix.....

 

Bunch of crap, they knew it was the amp from the beginning, amazing they are a bunch of blood suckers, sad.