I have an 02 MCS. I recently noticed what seems to be a defect in the rear bumper. Their is a horizontal outward crease about 6" long. The crease is prortruding outward from the bumper as if the plastic buckled outward. It is pretty subtle, but obvious once pointed out. I had my indsurance adjuster examine the bumper. In looking at the bumper together, my adjuster showed me that it couldn't be the result of another car or object striking the bumper becasue their are none of the tell tale signs (i.e. scrathces, rubbed off paint, scars, etc...). It seems to me that if it is in no way attributable to any sort of accident, then it must be a defect. Have you heard of this before? Should this be a warranty item?

 

Hummm.....Looks like its time to order an 05. She (assumption) has gotten her first wrinkle. She is showing her age.

 

Absolutely, it is a warranty covered item. Remember that you have a Bumper-to-bumper 4 year/50,000 mile factory warranty (Whichever comes first) that covers vehicle defects in material quality or workmanship. Take it back to the dealer and let them make that call, but if that bumper has not come in contact with anything, I foresee no problems getting it fix/replaced under factory warranty.

 

As I was tearing into PKT RKT to do some minor cleaning this past weekend I was reflecting on how far bumper technology has come. Gone are the heavy and cumbersome (as well as fecking expensive) hydraulic shocks that served to protect the bumpers from 5MPH crashes.....the mini has these cleverly formed, I imagine crushable solid tubes bolted to an all aluminum bumper core which in turn is covered by the nice painted PRG panels.....pretty slick if you ask me......


Back on topic, imagine someone parallel parking behind the ole MINI (obviously driving a big fecking SUV). Imagine this person shimmying back and forth in order to squeeeze the behemoth between your MINI and your girlfriend's.....now imagine said SUV just "easing" up to your rear bumper and leaning on it..........
instant crease.....nyet to scratches......a thought anyway....have fun arguing with the dealer......

 

That was my thought as well but the insurance people just wouldn't buy that idea without any visible marks to back it up.

 

Please let us know what happens when you go to the dealer. I have a pitted gas cap that I thought may not be waranteed, now I will ask them on the next service.


regards,
Red

 

Dollahs to donuts they will cover it. A few weeks ago I met up with a guy at Classic who was having his whole Xenon headlamp assembly replaced cuz of a defect in the chrome plating.......I said what???? the tech showed it to me...sure enough a defect in the plating....the whole assembly changed.....