Got to take my Mini for service and was checking what dealer everybody used.

Michael

 

Most in B'ham go to Global or Hank Aaron in Atlanta or Mini of Nashville.

I have been to Global & Hank Aaron & can tell you that both of them suck equally
(if you need a loaner car while you wait go to Global because Hank Aaron only gives out loaners to BMW owners not Mini owners)

 

From speaking with one of the sales guys at Hank AAron they will start having MINI loaners this month. Time will tell.

 

I wouldn't trust Global Imports to do an oil change on my lawnmower, but my repeated terrible service there doesn't mean that plenty of people have been treated a lot better than I have.

If I was taking it to Atlanta, I'd go to Hank Aaron, but with the quality of I-20's road surface and the Atlanta traffic, we'll be taking my wife's Cooper to Nashville instead. the drive is more pleasant and there is a mall right there to spend a few hours in while you wait.

For minor stuff that is not warranty, always remember Stephen's Garage right here in Birmingham.

 

I was wondering how long it would take you to come in here & sing Global's praises Yucca

The drive to Atlanta isn't that bad if you go the back way (of course it's convenient for me ) I take 280, cut through backroads/hwys near Talladega & don't hit I-20 til Oxford. That means only 1 hour on I-20 & actually the speed limit most of the back hwys is 65 which is ironically faster than I-20 where it is 55 most of the way . It took me the same amount of time to go the backway as it did to go all I-20 plus I felt like I was on an enjoyable motoring adventure instead of trekking down the dreadful I-20 .

If anybody ever wants my backway route just let me know.

 

I made a solemn vow that I would warn others about this dealership whenever the subject came up.

 

I'm scheduled with Global for next Saturday. I'm 150 miles from service right now... So any MINI dealership will do it at no cost, is that right? Is Nashville's service that much better?

T, what's the backroad?

 

Your servicing will be free Louis. Don't worry about the GA dealers for that they will be fine. Changing the oil & windshield wipers they can handle it's more complicated things like brakes & remembering to get you a loaner because you are there to drop your Mini off for overnight work that they have trouble with

 

well I'm a Mini of Nashville guy myself but since my warrenty is up I haven't been there since I hit 50,000.
The cool thing about Mini of Nashville is that they try really hard to be the best Mini Dealer around. They were the only Dealer at the Dragon. Plus I have met one of their techs and he really helped me out with a Alta exhaust while I was at the Dragon.

But if you are out of warrenty then go to Stephen's garage. Stephen owns a Mini. He has did pulley mods for a few of us. I have had him do Brake work on my MINI. He has even did Tire work for me.

 

Towson in Maryland is the Best!!!

 

That's a long drive for a oil change from Alabama.
But I have hear of Towson in Maryland too.

 

We have really pleasant experiences with Nashville.

 

Does Nashville Mini do loaners? I don't recall seeing that addressed anywhere. I have about one more warranty trip left before sept 21 2006. Maybe I'll try Nashville, especially if I have to take her in for her engine cooling fan issue. If it gets stuck on one more time...

 

Nashville doesn't provide loaners to MINI customers. They do provide shuttle service if you are in for a day and don't feel like hanging around.

 

I heard that Global may not even DO an oil change at 10K? Something about BMW and a 15K policy? Can anyone confirm or deny a trip over to Global for a non-oil change visit? I'm scheduled for Saturday.

10K took only 5 months. Maybe I should ease up a little. Nothing like a 2 year warranty.

 

Your 1st oil change is at 10,000 (ish) miles but for your second oil change they make you wait 15K

When you start the ignition your odometer will light up & show the number of miles you have left til your oil change before it switches over to show the # of miles on your Mini.

The # of miles til your oil change is affected by the way you drive. Drive the hell out of the Mini & your first oil change will be sooner than 10K but most I have heard usually go to 11K (ish). The dealership will only do the oil change if you are w/in a certain range & that range is the one your mini shows you not your actual miles. Like it may say 200 miles when you crank up & the dealer would prob do the oil change but if it said 500 miles they probably won't. Call Global & ask them how close you have to be.

 

Thanks. I'm at -75 right now, so I suppose it will be warranted.

I have called, just to make sure, and I'm waiting to hear back.

I'm a Cooper enthusiast, even if I haven't technically driven the hell out of it.

 

Then you are 75 miles overdue for your oil change so they will do it. They don't like you to go over by too much but 75 miles is no biggie (or 235ish by the time you get to Altanta ).

 

Yeah, I imagine. Not allowed to go over too soon, Can't drop everything midweek or when I think Car84 is magically 160 "miles" away from the magic number either.

What are the chances service will swap me a driver's floor mat for one that won't unravel?

I'll pass along everyone's greetings to the fine folks at Global for you if you'd like.

 

Going over next week to my good friends at Hank Arron to get a few problem fixed on Penfold. I hope they get most of them fixed but I'll see.

Michael

 

Mini of Nashville provided us with a loaner, it was a '06mcs convertible, that's what made us trade our '05 MC and get a '06 MCS. They weren't to thrilled with giving it to us since we didn't live in the area, but the service manager told them to give us a mini.

 

Any where but Hassel Mini of Freeport.

 

Back from Global. They did NOT want to replace my worn driver's mat, and by the time I went to the top, the manager gave me a new pair of MINI rubber mats to match my interior. No less: In front of four of the five reps (the other being my MA) who said, "Sorry, no."

So I guess I'll give them a five. Even though the loaner car I'd had confirmed wasn't there. Chirsty did run Car84 through processing so the wait was only two hours (the last 30+ minutes, haggling about replacing my worn driver's mat). That worked out great; no loaner to return, and I could leave and be done with it.

Until a 15K+ miles check-up. What's with that?

 

That means they don't recommend another oil change or any other maintenance work until you drive another 15K. Another words they won't do it for free for another 15K.

I plan on paying to have someone change my oil at the midway point of the 15K cause I just think that's too long.

Just think how fun it would have been if you were arriving at closing time to leave your Mini for a few days & your loaner wasn't there That's what they did to me.

 

Yeah, I saw that on another thread. Grrrrr indeed. I'm sorry. Did I imply I had FUN while I was there? (Well, I did when this service manager personally installed the new floor mats, outside on a hot summer day.)

There were Lots of MINIs on the lot. A wine colored one and a metallic fatigue green model stood out. Took a walk around the dealership and within their parking garages; anoymously spoke with the technician who wheeled Car84 past.

Had a GREAT 2-hour detour coming back through Cheaha. Driving through the clouds; INCREDIBLE fresh air at the view stops; that "S-curves, next 12 miles" sign on the way down.

It could have been a worse day, easily. Guess I'll count my blessings.