I've been motoring out to Schaumburg (if you can call traffic on the 90 motoring) for 4 years to get my Mini serviced, but now that my warranty has run out I have wanderlust... are there any reliable shops in the City (I live on the North side) that work on Minis?
Patrick is not only far away but can sometimes be pretty frustrating as you know .
Specifically, my car didn't pass the emissions test and my license will be suspended next Friday if I don't fix it! I was told by Patrick that my car is not in the group that had recall issues for that problem.
thanks!

 

I know a good place in Glenview that has worked on my volkswagon for years. The place is called Import Service in glenview on lehigh. Talk to Pete the owner and ask if he can work on Mini's. They do everything and he is very resonable on price. He has german's working there so BMW's and all Euro imports are their specialty. Tell him Dan Pierce sent you, not sure if it will help but he will know who I am.

 

Knauz is a trip up Sheridan Rd. (Not any less time but a whole heckofa lot more fun).

There is also a shop out in St. Charles many reccomend but I don't have the name in front of me.

Obviously nethier of these are the best of options, any BMW specialty shop should be able to help out with all the similairities to the 3 series.

What is the emissions issue?

 

I've had my '03 S for over four years now, 122,000 on the clock & haven't - yet - been called in for the emissions testing.

All service has been done at Bill Jacobs MINI on Ogden, where I bought mine - despite living in Algonquin and commuting daily to Chicago.

I scrupulously avoided Patrick as much because of past history (I bought a Mitsu Mirage from them back in the 80's & got screwed...) as because of the horror stories I'd heard from others about service woes.

I'd have to recommend Jacobs as they've always done right by me & the MINI, but they are pricey (though what factory service isn't?).

 

What was the emission issue? Also, why is Patrick frustrating?

 

I've only been to Knauz once, but they treated me very well. I'm going back friday to have my pirelli snow sport tires put on. I'm in Wicker Park, and I really wish there was a dealer downtown. I see so many MINI's about, and it would be a heck of a lot more convenient if someone would open a location down here.

 

i got my service done at patrick a few times this year and they seem to
be okay. the only thing they need to improve on (if they haven't
already) is answering phone calls and taking down appointments.

other then that, their waiting area is clean and i felt comfortable with
them. oh yah, and Aaron...i think that was his name, he's my favorite.

 

But remember you only have to travel cross town, you don't have the I-90 headache to deal with to get there (did it this morning 2 hours each way, saw lots of MINIs but the drive (if you can call that driving, I always thought you had to be moving to do so) is not fun.

 

oh, sick of the travel to patrick, not sick of patrick itself. okay, i get it.

i thought i had to step in and balance out the argument here.
yah, driving 2hrs would suck. i drive 2min from work to get to Patrick.

 

spclark really? coz i bought mine too at the worst mini dealer in the whole wide world - bill jacobs. my mini is only 17 days old and i already have horror after sales service about bill jacobs.. u can search my thread if u wanna be enlightened.
update for ejkd my thread is titled 'not happy motoring' or u can advance search my username.

 

Hi "coopermania", I can't find the thread about your horror story @ Bill Jacob.
Please tell us more...