^ I suppose the question is, what did they give you on the trade? I guess it's possible that "as is" might have been less than if the interior was really mint.

Is your dealer Peabody?


_________________

Bring Out the Scoops!

 

My dealer has refinished both door panel pulls and the dashboard downtubes that had scratches or paint peeling under warranty. An outside vendor repainted the White Silver paint bits that are non-lacquered with a stronger paint, much better than factory. This was done under warranty because those of you with Silver bits have a VERY POOR quality interior trim and BMW knows it but instead of fixing the problem at the production floor, they are dragging their dealers and customers on a more time consuming and expensive method to address the scratching problems and that is by sub contracting an exterior vendor that works on auto interiors.

I am not complaining because MINI foot the bill, but it took over a week to get done.

 

Jsun


>>^ I suppose the question is, what did they give you on the trade? I guess it's possible that "as is" might have been less than if the interior was really mint.

I got a pretty good trade in for a 12K cooper. The seats were ok. The dash was ok, it was the pastic door handles, the rear of the seat backs (both front seats) the bonet hatch was all sorts of scuffed from my bike and snowboard. Hrb chabers , $14K and I told them to stick it where the sun doesn't shine. I got much more than that from a dealer in NY and bought my MCS from there.



>>
>>Is your dealer Peabody?

The dealer who told me that the scuffs was not covered is infact Peabody. It was a moot point since I didn't have the car anymore, but they didn't not offer to replace/repair the plastic when I brought the car in for it's 10K just before I started this thread.


>>
>>
>>_________________
>>
>>Bring Out the Scoops!

 

Coopers4us,

--->It is good that they are redoing it. I wonder if Peabody know's that it is covered! How were you able to have it covered under warranty? Did you call MINIUSA? did the dealer offer to do it?



>>My dealer has refinished both door panel pulls and the dashboard downtubes that had scratches or paint peeling under warranty. An outside vendor repainted the White Silver paint bits that are non-lacquered with a stronger paint, much better than factory. This was done under warranty because those of you with Silver bits have a VERY POOR quality interior trim and BMW knows it but instead of fixing the problem at the production floor, they are dragging their dealers and customers on a more time consuming and expensive method to address the scratching problems and that is by sub contracting an exterior vendor that works on auto interiors.
>>
>>I am not complaining because MINI foot the bill, but it took over a week to get done.

 

>>
>>Coopers4us,
>>
>>--->It is good that they are redoing it. I wonder if Peabody know's that it is covered! How were you able to have it covered under warranty? Did you call MINIUSA? did the dealer offer to do it?
>>
>>
>>
>>>>My dealer has refinished both door panel pulls and the dashboard downtubes that had scratches or paint peeling under warranty. An outside vendor repainted the White Silver paint bits that are non-lacquered with a stronger paint, much better than factory. This was done under warranty because those of you with Silver bits have a VERY POOR quality interior trim and BMW knows it but instead of fixing the problem at the production floor, they are dragging their dealers and customers on a more time consuming and expensive method to address the scratching problems and that is by sub contracting an exterior vendor that works on auto interiors.
>>>>
>>>>I am not complaining because MINI foot the bill, but it took over a week to get done.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
Jurni:

I complained directly to my dealer's service manager. In turn, he spoke directly with the MINI field regional representative and he agreed to have both door panels and both dash legs refinished under warranty. The MINI rep refused to replace the parts with new ones because since the current bits been used at the factory floor are of the same crappy quality as the ones in my car, they would scratch again and in 6 months to 1 year they would have had to replace the silver bits once again.

While I appreciate MINI footing the bill for this expensive refinishing job, I am puzzled by MINI's decision to not to fix the peeling silver paint problem in the production line. They must have an inventory of gazillion of these pieces and perhaps they figured out that it was cheaper to pay an outside vendor to repaint the door pulls and dash legs rather than having MAGNA (The manufacturer of these trim pieces) eat back all that inventory and fix the poor quality paint being used. This is a very expensive an inefficient way of addressing the problem but I guess this represent some "Savings" to BMW by ignoring the problem at the factory.

Later this week, I will post pics of the refinished door panels and dash legs. They look fantastic and the paint finish is definetely a cut above the crappy factory stuff. the silver color match is perfect too.

I just took delivery of my new '04 MCS and I made sure to order it with the Anthracite interior trim which is of much superior quality to the Silver high gloss trim and even the Alloy Patina. The paint used in the Anthracite is of the same strength and consistency used in the refinished trim pieces on my other MINI Cooper.

My suggestion is to complain to the Service Manager and make them perform the refinshing under warranty. It takes about a week but it is so worth it. Finally, I have the interior quality I originally expected and paid for.


Good luck

 

The easily scratched seat backs are a disappointment and my car goes in for regular sevice next week. I'm gonna ask for replacement. We can all ask, and maybe they'll get the idea to do it under warranty. I'm not holding my breath, but I'm gonna ask.

God speed.

 

I made sure my 04 had anthracite as well... It stil does not help the other cheap pastic bits that were NOT replaced for 04 (at least in my early production 04)

I'm glad that you had success with the door panel pulls and the dashboard down tubes but the seat backs might be a little more tricky. I've already scratched my 04 but luckily it is not too bad and not too visible. (plastic bulb covering the bonet wiper blade)

>>>>>>My dealer has refinished both door panel pulls and the dashboard downtubes that had scratches or paint peeling under warranty. An outside vendor repainted the White Silver paint bits that are non-lacquered with a stronger paint, much better than factory.

Coops4us, Can you post pictures when you get a chance? I'm sure the new work looks very nice!


CooperBeagle,

I think that is a good idea! See what the dealers say when you seriously ask them to repair under warranty... If we do not get anywhere, there is always the good 'ole online petition :smile:

Let us know how it goes!

Thanks!

 

did anyone figureout how to remove the seatbacks on their own?
If so, would you please post how it's done?

Id like to take mine off and repaint it due to the scuff marks i got
on mine.

 

Kenchan-- Mine are scuffed up too. I understand that the newer MINIs have a better plastic back there that doesn't scuff. This has been talked about.

Do you really think painting is the way to go? How about replacing with new? I should check the cost on that. I asked my dealer about free replacement, but was told no.

God speed.

 

cooperbeagle- i rarely use the back seat for anything so i dont want to spend
alot of money on it because it will most-likely not scuff again.

i was planning to primer it and paint it anthrasite to match my other interior. :smile:

putting in labor is no prob for me...but i can't seem to figure out how to
remove those seatbacks..

 

kenchan,

here are some instructions on removing the seat back:
seatremove.pdf

 

forcer78- thanks very much! looks like i can take off the seatbacks without
removing the seats from the car.... (?) i don't want to reset my ECU by unplugging
the battery to remove the seats (side airbag).

_________________
03 Cooper-S IndiBlue/Blk: #1 #2 #3, Leather w/ antherasite int, Factory aero kit, R90 w/ SP9000, Alpine 6CD MP3 changer, Autoclearguard, Laminx amber fog cover. Winter: SpeedEdition TK5 16x7 with Pirelli P6FS 205/50 // Modded 02WRX //Modded 01 G20.