Thanks Group B.

 

According to the manual the Inspection II really consists of an oil change, air filter, cabin filter, serpentine belt replacement and pulling codes (if there are any) from the computer. The rest is checkoff/top up items.

Question, if I'm at 11k miles and the svc. interval is still saying I have time left before changing the oil is that o.k.??????? I've changed it once at 3k just for good measure, but didn't reset the indicator at that time. Doesn't 11.5k miles sound like quite a long time between oil changes?

Later

 

Just want to report what I believe to be a pretty good service experience at Mini of Mountain View. First off, they had appointments available within 24 hours of my call. They offered me a free rental car for use while being serviced. (I ended up getting a big American plastic truck called a Jeep Liberty - it's nice to get the ole Mini back). I got a call the day before reminding me about the service. At drop off, they asked me what my Mini's name was (!!) and noted it on the service order. They called me to confirm the service and indicate when the car would be ready. When I picked up the car they had washed it and completed the service and put a big sign with my Mini's name on the inside. Oh and not even once did they remind me to give them "fives" nor did they leave a note in my car reminding me that they expect a "five" nor did they look me in the eye, explain that their job was on the line and beg me to assure them that I would award them a five.

All in all it was a rather pleasant and satisfactory experience.

 

Here's a post I made from the NorCal Minis Board on this site:

<SNIP>

I would recommend just to be safe, that you check your oil a couple of times every month, regardless of how you drive.

All you have to do is pull up to our service drive, no appointment necessary, and we'll check your oil level for you. If your oil needs to be topped-off, just pick up a quart of oil in the parts department, and we'll be happy to top it off for you.

As far as making appointments for scheduled maintenance, MINI of USA requires that when the vehicle comes in for service, that the service indicator needs to be at zero miles before they will pay for the service under the maintenance plan.

The reason is that they want to know what the odometer reading is, when the service countdown is at zero, because the service countdown mileage is "condition-based", meaning that it will count down depending on how the vehicle is driven (short vs. long trips, etc.).

If it's been exactly one year or more since you purchased your MINI new, or it's been exactly one year or more since your last scheduled maintenance, and you're still not due for service, we can perform a "low-mileage oil & filter change".

We will replace the oil & filter but we won't reset the service counter, so that when it comes do for it's next service, we'll change the oil & filter again at that time, performing the full scheduled service (oil service, or inspection I or II).

David

<SNIP>

BTW, we also replace your spark plugs at the time of the Inspection II, and provide a free rental car for Inspection I or II services.

David

 

David, thanks for the reply, it's not that I don't check the level (and to be honest I did change the oil/filter at 2500 miles just for my peace of mind) I was just wondering about the 11k interval.

P.S. I'll be stopping by at some point to see you since I'm now about 100 miles from being due according to the interval light.

Later

 

MINI of Concord Service Department has free Wi-Fi access!

David

 

Thank you!

The Inspection I comes due around 25-32k miles, that is the typical odometer mileage range when the service countdown resets to zero after the first Oil Service.

David

 

CVT-equipped Mini Coopers also get their automatic transmission fluid changed at every Inspection I (and I think Inspection II, will double check).

David

 

David,

Hopefully I'll see you next Tuesday. Scheduled an early a.m. drop off for the first oil change.

Later

 

I have a question about the warranty if the car never sees the dealer again. I have always done my own maintenance and service on my vehicles, but I have never had a massive failure under warranty either. If I had such a failure and you didn't have a record of maintenance, would the warranty be void? My current vehicle has ~390,000 miles on it and I have a new MINI on the way so it would be good to know the policy. Thanks.

Steve

 

Since there is so much good and bad to say about dealer service and we are all subject to the quality of a limited number of dealers, I don't mean to hijack this thread, but wouldn't it be nice to have a dealer feedback section. Dealer's could actually use the feedback that way also. Steve

 

No service yet other than from initial purchase but I have spoken to them a few times via phone. They are very informative and are willing to help. At purchase time they did a fairly good wash but they did leave some wax residue in the crevices of the Mini. I also had them do the glass etching for security and they did that in a matter of minutes.

 

While better than SF and Mountain View, I've talked to several people who have been jerked around by East Bay. My neighbor was royally worked over by them regarding what should have been a simple throttle body warranty repair.

Simply put, they refused to make warranty repairs/replacement (at 8,500 miles) on an MCS with a faulty throttle body. They stated that his Alta CAI (only mod) led to the premature failure. When I gave him a copy of the Magnusson-Moss act to show to them, they basically told him to come back with his lawyer and chewed him out in front of a bunch of other waiting customers. They also told him that replacement of the throttle body would be $1,200 including labor!

I forget which board it was on, but the incident has been posted on a BMW Forum by an M3 owner who was in the waiting room at the time.

 

Last Thursday AM, the ABS, DSC and Tire Monitor lamps lit at the same time. Did a search and found it might be a wheel speed sensor. After reading about David at MINI of Concord, I decided to give them a try. I told him the symptoms and he said "Sounds like a wheel speed sensor, when can you come in?". He was able to get me in on Satrurday, and sure enough it was the sensor. The car was returned after a thorough wash AND vacum.
So, a big to MINI of Concord and David. (Even if he drives an STI! )
Thanks!!!
Jim

 

Another for MINI of Concord.... I took my car in on Friday for an A/C issue... David was very helpful and provided gr8t service.. It turned out my brakes need servicing, so my stay was prolonged..

Unfortunately they didn't have the parts in stock, so I was offered a loaner...

Finally got my car today and I can't help express my satisfaction w/ the service (specially David) they provided at the MINI in Concord... so I rate them

///Gilbert

P.S., only thing I found kinda hilarious in a way was all the BMW owners talking to their SA's actually got to sit down on a chair, while us MINI owners have to stand up... hmmmm....

 

David:

I hope your boss is reading these!

We actually have our own podium!

 

Just wanted to throw my backing to Niello Mini in Sacramento,i have had great service. Mike and the other service reps. always treat me with respect. i have many aftermarket ad-ons, they explained what they are responsible for and what will or will not be covered with total respect to me. My Mini is washed everytime and returned to me in the time promised. If anything comes up i am informed about it and if a delay occurs they tell me that to. glenn in tahoe

 

It may or may not be relevant here, but I thought that I would offer this as a suggestion. We've opened up a new section on our forum to discuss the dealerships in the area. We would love to hear your feedback and experiences from the dealers in Northern California.

http://www.goldcountrymini.com/forum/index.php?c=5

 

Just got my Mini back from SF mini. They seem to have done a good job on the oil change. And I got new wipers too!

But once I get a pulley they might not be so nice.

 

I've written my experience up. If you're inclined, take a look

http://www.goldcountrymini.com/forum...opic.php?t=244

ITs a long story about horrible customer service at Niello MINI in Sacramento

 

It was horrible when I took a BMW there so I'm not surprised the Mini is also poor. Sorry to hear it

 

No worries. Other folks in my club have had problems with the service dept. The sad thing is, one of the MA's there told me that the techs hate to work on MINIs and even the MA's have trouble getting them to do stuff. It sounds like a lack of management. If we can just find a decent place for service eh? I am thinking about going to 7 ENT, which is close to me... probably too far for the folks in the Bay Area.

 

Hi All, I have had couple of services (activated the mini alarm and reservice that they have reset my setting) at Mini of Mountain View, they were nice.
Now, my engine oil service is at -150, the engine light is not on yet, and my 05 MCS has Miltek cat-back, pulley and Alta CAI, will MMV have any problem doing the service due to those mod? Are the other three dealerships friendly to mod when bring in for scheduled maintainence?

Thanks.

 

as far as I know Mini of Concord is pretty passive about mods. As far as an oil change goes, you shouldn't have anything to worry about.

 

I'm reviving this thread just to report how happy I have been with East Bay Mini's service. The car has been there a few times and they have treated us very well. This past visit was the first "real" visit (the first one was for alarm programming and the next for a recall) and they did really did an exceptional job of addressing things and getting the car done quickly. I am very happy to report that the SA handled everything very well and earned a true 5 star rating without once asking for it, and the car itself was apparently treated well - no dealer damage or anything like that.

East Bay Mini may be a heck of a haul for us (an especially hot haul today, yikes) but it was worth it. Good show old chaps