Picked up our new MINI S yesterday and love it! Sight disappointment with noticing:

1. the steering wheel was not centered
2. the exhuast tailpipe (or heat shield) rattles occasionally

Relatively minor stuff, which I will have addressed, but still...

Anyone else have these minor issues?

Greg

 

Someone else just posted about thier new MINI having the tilted steering wheel.

Looks like they are cutting corners to get ready for the 07' switch. Not good considering I should be picking mine up in a few weeks.

 

I'd go back to the dealer right away and make them fix it ASAP new cars shouldn;t have any issues!!!

 

Howdy,

For what it is worth... My MINI dealer did mention a free alignment service within 2000k miles... Of course I found out about this at my first service checkup (10k miles).

The free alignment is typical for many of the other cars I have had in the past as well.. They explained that the alignment can get konocked off due to the shipping..

So if it is brand new take it back and get is checked out.. Otherwise the MINI dealer charges around $160 for the alignment.. But I know of shops around town that will do the same job for about $45..

Good luck,

 

My experiance has been with a BMW dealership that sold me a new car; after taking delivery I noticed the steering wheel also wasn't centered and the wheels were not perfectly balanced. I'm a real pain when it comes to these things. My dealer did remedy the above problems but I waited a couple of weeks to bring the car back in which they frown upon. My SA explained that their policy is the car must be brought in ASAP for either alignment or balancing issues and calling him right away to inform him of the problem might not be a bad idea. I think they have a 500 mile limit on doing these services at no cost.

 

not a MINI related thing but, my dad bought a new mitsubishi (sp?) last year, the alignment was off with it, when he called them they told him to wait a month, if it was still off, bring it in for a free alignment. they said that he needed to wait for the springs to settle before an alignment would do any good.

 

I have no idea what is true but this some how makes sense. I would be if you asked 6 MINI dealers a question that you would get at least 3 different answers.

 

My only issue with my MCS is that some bastard hit my MINI and left without leaving any insurance information.
And that im not driving it........IM CAR SICK

 

I feel your pain, not only does it stink that someone could be so irresponsible; of course I have this thing about the first ding/scratch. Hopefully it you can get your baby repaired without to much trouble.

 

My steering wheel has been slightly off-center since I picked it up a month ago... I called and left a message but got no reply... Then I just kind of forgot about it, and figured maybe I should wait to see if it corrects itself. Well, it's still that way, so I'm guessing it's not normal and I'm going to call tomm and see what they say...

I bet they are going to try and charge me since I didn't follow up again...

 

yeah it sucks.........but good news, i got Captain back yesterday and its back to be like new!!!
but someones irresponsability cost me a $250 deductible

 

I had the exhaust rattle as well - they fixed it while I waited at the dealership. It's likely just the heat sheild. If it makes you feel any better, though, I've NEVR had a new car that didn't need 1 or 2 trips back to the dealer for minor rattles/squeks or other small stuff... it IS a mass-produced product of amazing complexity after all...

 

On the other subject, the rattling exhaust, mine does the same.

There is an intentional "burble" to the exhaust when you transition from acceleration to coasting, probably caused by some back pressure. The problem I have is that it also causes a metallic rattling sound, as if the muffler was bumping up against something. Haven't bothered to have it checked yet. Very noticeable if you have the windows down, or are up against a wall (like driving under an overpass or near a highway divider).

 

Quick update on my three requested fixes. Just got a call from MINI to pick up the car:

1. They said the steering wheel centering is off a little, but if they try to center it any better, they'll likely do no better - when I hold the wheel straight, the car will drift left.
2. The exhaust "rattle" is supposedly just the burble that we've been hearing.
3. The parking brake seems to "travel" way high before engaging - they say they adjusted it slightly (as much as they can), but it "just sits high".

#2 I have no problem with, but 1 and 3 suck.

Greg

 

My February 2005 build '05 MCS also came from the factory with the steering wheel slightly off center. I was also told by two different sources to leave it alone. Its been almost 2 years and it doesn't bother me at all. The alignment has been perfect since day one and the car doesn't drift either left or right when I let go of the wheel. The tires have been wearing uniformly as well.

Anyway, never got a satisfactory answer as to why my steering wheel came like that. My '04 MCS had its steering wheel perfectly centered from the get go, though.

 

Greg, if your car doesn't drift either left or right when letting go of the steering wheel and the tires wear uniformly, I say leave it alone. You may introduce further problems if the dealer attempts to "center" the steering wheel. Yours is not the only MINI that came that way from the factory and it seems a common occurrence since the '05 model year.

 

so you chhangeg cars every year? Must be nice. I have an 02 MCS with few upgrades. I have your usual squeeks from the dash and this smal clicking noisse from the hatch back since day one. They tried changing the lock on the hatch but after a whilethe noise comes right back.