My 2005 MCS is ready for inspection (26K miles). Are there some alternatives to Niello that do good work?

 

Focker, I am sorry I did not see this post sooner. You should visit the REME MegaBBS... Redwood Empire Mini Enthusiasts has about 200 members in the Sacramento Valley Area (we have a Sacramento Valley Satelite Chapter of REME) and they can give you some great local advice.

For now, I would personally recommend
Valley Motorwerks - Rancho Cordova, CA

Niello also gives REME members a 10-15% discount on parts and service (depending on the item).

They are REME club sponsors and believe they will give you a 10% discount on parts and labor if you are a member of REME. Membership as always costs nothing. Participation in events costs nothing. We are a non-profit corporation serving the good of all Mini-MINI enthusiasts.

 

I did end up going to Valley Motorwerks last week and got great service from them. I will check out the Redwood Empire website today. Thanks!

 

I moved out to the Bay Area from Boston in September and shipped my 2006 MCS out here. It's due for a check up and I want to make it thorough as I'm about to go past the 3-year service warranty. So, which dealer in the bay area provides the best service? I am used to MINI of Peabody back in Massachusetts, so it might be a high bar to surpass, but I've read only poor reviews of MINI of MV and SF, so am not sure where to go. Any suggestions?

 

Where about in the Bay Area do you live? East Bay has one of the best reputations for service and sales.

I would stay clear of SF MINI based upon my experiences, but those were literally years ago and they do have a new staff. After having my car screwed up at the dealership and black balled for "electrical modifications" (I changed the battery with an Interstate one because it was cheaper than driving 70 miles and wasting a day from work to get a new one from SF MINI under warranty) and having the dash fall into my lap twice enroute home after they worked on the car... I have been taking my car only to local independant BMW-MINI mechanics.

We have dealership reviews on our REME MegaBBS as well as independants. Niello in Sacramento also has a good reputation with our membership (and gives us a generous discount) and from many parts of the North Bay area it takes less time to drive to Sacramento then fight comute traffic in and out of the city.

 

I live over on the Peninsula, in San Mateo. I'll check out the reviews you suggested and East Bay MINI. Thanks!!!