Been reading about the Road&Track long term update on their Mini S. In the latest update, they had the problem where the power steering fan seized, and overheating the engine, and they had their boot latch updated. Sounds about right.

What was more frustrating, was they had a four wheel alignment done at the dealer while in for service, and the cost was $310 for a mini alignment. Are you kidding me? What's that, a 3-4 hour job for an alignment. Maybe there is a $100 environmental recycling charge on there.....

It's frustrating to have a car that I enjoy so much, but it's owners get treated to things like $310 alignments. Now, before I go any further, do you have to drop a major item out of the car, like a transmission, before you can perform the alignment on these?

 

You're probably better off taking the car to a local tuner that does European
cars. Like $100 tops for an alignment to your preference.

 

Yep, sounds about right to me. I'm surprised that the PS fan failure thing hasn't gotten more attention here on NAM (I recall one thread in the past couple of months)...since I've actually heard off-line about quite a number of these going.

And as for the $300 alignment...well, I guess you haven't had your first (non-covered) $150 dealer oil change yet. I'm definitely not looking forward to the expiration of my warranty. I can deal with changing my own oil (and thereby saving about $120), but it's the $1200 clutch that has me worried.

 

Had the car been wrecked? If so, it takes bending things with a porta-power to accomplish proper alignment.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not sticking up for the dealer, but that is a possibility. I live about 130 miles from my dealer and will not take it there for the oil change even if it is free, unless I happen to take a flying business trip. The dealer is very near the airport, and I can leave the car there and they will drive me to the airport.

I don't expect to use them unless something breaks. Sounds like I might be seeing them about a P/S fan.

Is there REALLY a dealer that charges $150 for an oil change? Is it REALLY only an oil change or are they slipping some fluff charges in there like an air filter and tire rotation or something?

 

Any dealer (Mini or otherwise) that thinks he can get away with a $150 oil change has more than 1 screw loose. Even at around $100 per hour labor rates here in Massachusetts, Mini of Peabody at least is realistic about their oil changes and charges competitive rates.

Even still, I'll likely be doing my own, or taking the car to a friends garage.

BB

 

At my Dealer, Prestige Mini of Mahwah, NJ, they were charging $189 dollars for a wheel alignment. That was just very rediculous . I found an auto shop in Queens, NY with up-to-date wheel alignment equipment and got it done for 70 bucks.

 

I've been getting unscheduled oil changes at my dealer (Schomp in Denver) for under $60.

 

Wheres that shop in Queens ?