so the nightmare continues....

dealer replaced 2nd tranny on good will...note "good will"...car has 70k and is babied

after about 200miles i hear rattling sound when going from stop to go...just heard back and the air housing unit clips are broken and they cant just replace the clips...cost over 500 bucks!!!

folks this is rape...anyone have any clue what this is? where this is located? and could i mount it some other way with a screw or something instead of the stupid wonderful clips...also anyone know what the cost of the part is? would love to get this done elsewhere

 

If you find the proper name and provide info on you car someone might be able to help. Sounds like if it is just the air filter bax you could just buy a used one from a wrecking yard or from someone putting in a CAI.
Also non-dealers typicaly do things much cheaper, faster, and conviently. Check with your local MINI club for a recomended garage that does mini's. We do call them stealerships for a reason....remember knowledge is power!!!

 

thank you for the reply...went to pick up my mini after the mechanics went home last night and my service advisor said the most she could tell me was that it was the "air coolant housing"..no part number nada...she assured me the car is fine to drive, just under hard acceleration there is a rattle

anyhow on my way home my power steering died...can you say piece of ****?! over it completely...going to sell it and move on

i use a local garage..but i thought that since they just replaced the tranny perhaps it was there fault for this rattle..who was i kidding even if it was their fault they would never admit it...

anyone replace a power steering pump? apparently the labor is over 500..is that correct?

goodbye bmw....goodbye mini...will never buy a product from you again.

 

Just sounds like you have a bad stealership!! They are telling you a load of BS or you mistook what was said. "air coolant housing" rattle.

Wish I was there to have them pull some of that crap...it would have been fun to watch!! If it only rattles under hard acceleration...why worry? Besides you baby it right? You will never hear it, its out of warranty, why worry!! You will never hear a thump under hard acceleration!! NO CAR IS EVER PERFECT...ESPECIALLY ONE WITH 70,000+ MILES!! GET OVER IT!!!

Now the PS pump...sounds like you are just F'n around. LOL.....you can swap one out in 2 hrs, 300 for a rebuild or so, about 500$ total. You have owned other cars right? Things do break...it happens. Not to Flame ya, but it sounds like you mightbe tuff to work with?? You do get more flies with HONEY than Vinegar..........for them to replace a tyranny at 70,000 or so....way out of warranty...sounds like no other company would have done it!! Sounds like you got your moneys worth!! +1 for MINI/BMW!!!
Besides...you still have to fix it to sell it!! That means the next person will get an A-1 auto with a new or rebuilt pump!! Sounds like a Deal!!! Add some duct-tape, silicone or a few screws, and the thump would be gone!! As your local guy... and it sounds like a good car!!
not trying to belittle ya.....just stop and think....sounds like you are worked up!!
Take a breath, talk to you local guy...he should be a MINI specialist of sorts, fix it and enjoy the ride!!

 

it was my second tranny had i had a lot more problems while the car was under warranty...trust me the dealership was more than happy to "good will" me since they made so much money off of me....i was nice and polite and mentioned how this baby get all its service done there wa-la. within one hour i got "we like to keep our loyal customers happy"

hard acceleration...well i think they were smoking crack on that...normal acceleration and i hear it..so im like a granny now when hitting the gas from start to go...i looked at the invoice and thats exactly the description. something about the clips breaking and they cant replace the clips, they have to replace the whole unit

okay so i called my local guy..he said he doesnt recommend the refab ones and wont warranty his work if he puts one in...when he was talking about replacing the pump he said it was a lot of work..had to take the front end out etc...and then had to do an alignment...is this correct? does this sound right to you?...so thats well over 400 in labor...am i being taken?

clearly im not an auto person at all...yes i know cars break down..i drove a beater for many years but when things broke down it wasnt in the wonderful thousands like minis...not to mention a tranny? my fathers good old dodge with 250k still has the same tranny on it...so yes im frustrated...im not crazy just frustrated....

thanks for the help..any advice about whether im being taken regarding the pump work would be great appreciated

also can u tell me where the power steering unit is...i really would like to visualize it because if its as easy as you claim to taken then my local guy is trying to take advantage of me...

 

Your "guy" is totally blowing smoke up your A**!!! No alignment needed first, and the front does not have to come off. if you look under your MINI you will see a little fan behind the engine oil pan, right above and kinda behind that is your power steering pump. You might need to find a new "guy"

 

The front only comes off if the are replaceing the steering rack....the pump can be done on jacks in a driveway.... Sounds like you have an ongoing communication problem. Or was said before....you need a new guy who is not going to give it to you up the $&@!

 

And be sure to use the right terms.... You have said power steering unit and also pump..... Unit is subjective to what componets you mean.... Pump is very specific. That will go a long way to make sure you get the correct items fixed....always tell the grage what the symptom to you problems are, let them determine the fix and get a second opinion if you are not 100 sure....if you say replace the steering unit.... They may do 2000$ worth of work to make you happy, but never fix the problem. You must say... The power steering cuts in and out, or is heavy, etc. Have you even checked the level of the powersteering fluid? Might be low due to the tranny job.. Some mini ps fluidmight fix it if it is low.

 

hi zippy...looks to be fine the fluid....i was refeering to the pump...found a local place in southern california who will do it for a fraction of the price that my local mini guy quoted me over the phone just for the pump :( oh man so sad when people take advantage of others...
thank you!