Mini has done a terrible thing.

Today I got kicked in the ***** by MINI! Less than 60 days ago I successfully posted detailed maintenance information about our JCW into the secure maintenance log feature at MY MINI GARAGE contained within the MINI OWNERS LOUNGE website. I've kept our Mini maintenance records there for many years!

After having completed our pre-spring maintenance on the JCW last week I tried to log into MY MINI GARAGE to post the work most recently performed. I was confused by the fact that I could not log in using my existing username and password. I called MINI only to be told that the owners maintenance log feature at MY MINI GARAGE, in the OWNERS LOUNGE, was disbanded!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Moreso, all the maintenance records that were on the website, most likely, have been wiped out. Mini did this without notification or warning to any of the Mini owners using the OWNERS LOUNGE for this purpose. This action by MINI was selfish, indiscriminate, unfair and totally irresponsible! What were they thinking?

Today I was told by MINI that the information which I entrusted to them, most likely is NOT recoverable. Not having these detailed maintenance records will most definitely impact the value of our Mini negatively. Personally, I would not purchase a preowned car if maintenance records were not present. This is sickening! I am sure other Mini owners who have used this feature have, or will, suffer disappointment as well.

If anyone has been able to recover their information through MINI, please let me know what you did as it would mean the world to me to get all those records back including the records of work done by myself and the work performed at specialty garages. Thank you!

Regards,
Rich

 

Couldn't you just get all your maintenance records printed out by the dealer??

 

It's unfortunate that you lost this information and that MINI would turn off the this feature without providing some notification. There's probably language buried in their TOS that they can delete any and all data without warning.

As a general rule, I don't trust any online provider, no matter how big or trust worthy, with data that I didn't have a personal copy of. Even NAM could go away someday...

For cars, I keep all service receipts, part receipts and for work I perform myself, a journal with dates and pictures. If you want to do this online, Github can be used to keep a log with a history of all changes to the log.

Regarding value, these are MINIs, not collectible cars. It'll be worth what the used market dictates regardless of records or not.

 

The Owners Lounge was one of those remnants from the early days. I imagine that general lack of use and aging technology lead to the decision.

But agree 100% that they should have notified active customers in advance. Poor decision from someone at MINI USA, and entirely avoidable.

 

First: I have been a member of the MINI OWNERS LOUNGE since 2006 and have been using the maintenance log feature in MY MINI GARAGE for the same amount of time. I was not a newbie there.

Our JCW is a 2013. We purchased it a couple of years back when it was only showing 12-13k miles. Up until that point not much was done by a MINI dealership other than 3 engine oil and filter changes and replacement of a weather seal along the top of the windshield. Unfortunately, most of the information logged into MY MINI GARAGE was work done by me when I would log each service or modification performed, along with date and mileage, parts used, who the part(s) were purchased from and how much was paid. When I say this information was detailed...it was detailed. We even logged information such as, what and when accessories were purchased and installed, when the car was waxed, what products were used.....and then, at a later date, comment on how the product performed. There was a lot of this type of narrative in the log and it is simply NOT on file anywhere else. It was ONLY in MY MINI GARAGE....which has now been arbitrarily wiped out by MINI without a single word of warning beforehand. This is truly sad....and inexcusable.

Talking to a MINI Customer Relations Supervisor on the phone was an exercise in how many times she could say "I'm sorry". I just got tired of hearing it over and over, and said so. It's little things like this that are souring my latest Mini ownership experience. I love the cars....just don't love the way Mini does business.

 

Of note, I just clicked on the link embedded in your signature block, only to get a 'page not found.'

 

Someone at MINI/BMW probably sat down and looked at how many people actively used the service and how many dollars/pounds/euros they expended to keep it running. Sadly for OP they didn't warn users to save data as the end was near. I get those notices all the time from sites such as Yahoo Groups or others shutting down.

 

I tried to keep using it the past few years, but almost had to give up. Kept having trouble getting any new logs to "stick". Oh well.

 

Yeah out of curiosity I logged in yesterday. Also a member since 2006, but hardly used it after 2013 (last new MINI purchase)

A lot of the features are gone, the links which remain are mostly broken links to nowhere. Sad.

 

Hum? Honestly don't know why that is. When I enter my control panel I can see everything and have access to all user features with no problem. However, that pic won't come up when you click on it. I don't have the answer as to why. Sorry.

 

Has anyone else contacted MINI about the sudden and mysterious disappearance of the maintenance logging feature in MY MINI GARAGE in the MINI OWNER'S LOUNGE? I am having trouble letting this go.

 

9 days ago I wrote that Mini/BMW had kicked me in the ***** after abruptly closing down, without notice, MY MINI GARAGE in their OWNERS LOUNGE, effectively making inaccessible to me all of the maintenance log entries for my 2013 JCW. Today, they called me and gave me a big surprise hug........ Why so, you ask? Well.....I've been crying on their shoulders for the past week to the extent that one of the Supervisors at Corporate cared enough about my saga to actually help me rather than say, "I'm sorry". Honestly, I don't know how this woman did it but, somehow, someway, somewhere, she was able to resurrect the old MY MINI GARAGE files and locate all of my maintenance log entries! They are in the process of organizing them, hopefully to be forwarded to my email box come Monday. Hooray....hooray! Excuse me but I am going outside now to dance in the street!

 

Great news! Sometimes the squeaky wheel DOES get the oil....😊

 

Kudos to MINI USA, and particularly the supervisor who is making the effort to help you.

 

Thats great news.