Hi I just took my 06 MINI in to have a few things looking at,

They told me several things were wrong now, now living in the Bay Area (San Jose) I do deal with some terrible roads so it doesn't seem like they're pulling my leg but they said my front suspension bushings $1000, fuel sensor $700, power steering hose return hose $360, have anybody replaced these and paid these costs? I've yet to pay for anything beyond tires so these prices seem really high. For the last 12 years of driving I never had any maintenance done on my cars either I've done the work myself or I sold the cars off before I ever had to deal with such things. So if someone could give me some insight, I'd appreciate it. Also anybody who knows a mechanic who can possibly do this cheaper in the Bay Area, I'd appreciate it!

 

you can always say no . . .

and then do more research

control arm bushings on a GEN1 is not out of line, but the dealer has one price ++++ and an outside mechanic might be ----

 

Yea I said no for now. However I hate when stuff is wrong with my car, I want to get it fixed immediately and done right but the prices seems pretty out there, if I had a spare car and the time to do the work myself I would however I have neither so I'm getting desperate.

 

The rear bushings of the Lower Control Arm (LCA) degrade rather quickly on these cars. Mine were replaced under warranty at 33k. $900-$1000 sounds right.

The rest I'm unfamiliar with. If you're a DIY'er, buy Bentley service manual to do some of the work yourself.

 

I don't want to steer you wrong ...

but I replaced front lower control arm bushings with PolyFlex for less than 1/2 of the dealer estimate. Cuz I found a MINI friendly outside mechanic.

That was in VA so I can't help you other than to say . . . look.

 

Yea, I am trying to find a MINI friendly outside dealer at the moment. Also my MINI is still under warranty (Maintenance) is this not covered under that? I've never had a warranty on a car before (first new car for me).

 

Mine was covered under the original 4yr/50k warranty. The Maintenance Service covers things like oil/filter, belt, spark plugs, etc.

 

Not sure about how labor rates work in San Francisco, but where I am, the MINI dealer can simply charge time and materials rather than the package MINI sanctioned price for each item. Especially if your car is out of warranty.

For wear and tear items that are coming up and fairly common, the dealers where I am have package deals for out of warranty cars. This kind of bending to the market keeps a generally happy customer like me keep my business with the MINI dealer instead of looking for a MINI friendly outside garage.

You might ask the dealer service if there is any pricing consideration if you have it all done together. If you join your local MINI Club, you may also get a discount on the parts.

Most of the items you mentioned appear to be things that would have been checked during Inspection 2. If they were caught then, you would have only been paying for the parts as the labor to install them may be buried with the cost of the Inspection. (Inspection 2 is expensive, though).

Of course, you do have the alternative of saying no and taking your car to a MINI Friendly aftermarket garage....or doing it yourself.

 

Just out of curiosity, how many miles on your 06?

 

I would look in the Marketplace for parts.
Somebody on Motoringunderground has PS hoses for $40.00, New
There are deals out there.
Get a Bentley manual and follow the directions.
You can fix it yourself.

 

If your car is under warranty they should definetly cover the fuel sensor and p/s line. But I doubt your car is under warranty unless you have an extended warranty. The factory warranty is only 4yrs/50k so an 06 car would go out in 2010.

For the bushings they can consider those wear items and not cover them. If you do replace them go with the powerflex control arm bushings, they will last forever.

The prices you got don't sound too far off for CA prices, East coast prices are much cheaper.

 

Yup MINI of Mt. View has $165 per hour rates I think. I took a long drive to LA, from Watsonville to replace my lower control arm bushings for like $475 Powerflex bushings included at MINICorsa. BRR had reasonable rates if I recall, but did not have the Powerflex bushings in stock or something when I needed them?

Get quotes from these Bay Area shops:

BRR Performance in Campbell
http://www.brrperformance.com/servic...hp?page_id=741

Bay Bridge Motors in Oakland
http://www.baybridgemotors.com/services.html

Edge Motorworks in Dublin
http://edgemotorworks.com/index.php?...id=7&Itemid=37

 

Haha, I tried that one several times, has worked for me at VW and Porsche dealers the last 10 years, MINI near me, when I asked "I can pay you $1000 instead of $1200" responded with, it doesn't work that way here, the price is the price. So I went out of my way to an independent and spent even more money in the long run (fixed other things), guess they don't want the business! I like to negotiate when I spend big bux.

Even Porsche works with me.

I like BMWs, but have always dislike the dealerships around me.

 

You can get all factory parts from Rm European. I got a factory ps hose for $30. The bushings I paid $100 for. If you are handy with tools you can do this all at the same time. Should take you close to 6 hrs. I did it myself. Took me more time to get the old bushings out than anything. I find the mini while cramped everything seems to come apart and go together quite easily. For them to charge over 300 bucks for hose is robbery. Heck they are going to have the whole front end dropped to do the bushings so there is no labor there. Maybe 15 min to drain some fluid and replace the hose.

 

You could try to "yelp" those businesses too...

 

I'm north of you in San Mateo.

I had my struts. front bushings and upper strut mounts replaced at a place call The SHOP in San Bruno.

They aligned it too. Can't remember the price but it wasn't what I'd call outrageous.

http://www.theshopsanbruno.com/

I used the pre pressed ready to replace bushings from WayMotorWorks.

 

Thanks for the advise guys I'm going to German Motor Specialists due to a coworker/fellow mini owner recommendation. They offered about 600 for the Suspension issue and they'll show me what they're doing so that would be cool. I will probably never get any sort of real work done on my car from MINI of Mountain View.