Just received the following notification in the mail:

"The MINI division of BMW of North America, LLC is pleased to inform you that all 2004 model year vehicles will receive upgraded coverage under the Rust Perforation Limited Warranty. The coverage has increased from 6 years to 12 years without mileage limitation commencing on the date of first retail saleor the date the vehicle is first placed in service as a demonstrator or company vehicle, whichever is earlier

Please note that this increased coverage supercedes all references throughout this booklet to the lesser 6 year coverage."

Very cool!!!

 

That sounds great, I wonder when I will get this notice for my 04 MC.:smile:

 

The letter I received from MINIUSA is dated May 2004 so it seems that this decision to extended the rust warranty on the 2004's was made over 3 months ago, but not until know we have learned about it.

 

I received my letter today for my 04 MC. What is the reason for this extension? Has there been a significant number of rust issues? Why just 2004 cars? Inquiring minds want to know!

 

Me too.

 

Got mine today, also. Thats great news for those of us planning to keep them! ,Tim

 

Me too.


Paul

 

That kinda sucks for those of us who have pre 04's who supoorted the company in its early stages and then they decide to leave us out? I plan on keeping my MINI for a very long time and would like the rust protection. Why just 04s and on?

 

aaahh, now this makes sense. My MY04 MCS has almost no paint on the underbody, underhood, and door jambs. I'm guessing they found an oopsie with their paint booth not dispensing enough and figured a warranty extension would be the easiest way out of it.

 

Do you mean you actually have bare spots on the car? Just primer? I don't see that on my MC, (Oct 04 build), but maybe I'm not looking closely enough. What should I look for as clues to poor paint job?

 

I would like to know why they are doing this

 

Hoo Hoo a letter from MINI informing me 2004 MINI's will receive upgraded rust perforation warranty increased from 6 to 12 years. Hmmm, something good, free.... eaaaaa !

How about a windshield warrantee that would be a bonus.

 

I just got mine today, too. I'm a little sceptical, though. Last time I received a "free" extension on a warranty it was for a batch of defective sensors. I hope that's not the case here. Hopefully it because they know theat the rust proofing it really that good.

 

I think if you're planning to keep your Mini "indefinitely", rust will be the least of your worries.

 

That's quite funny. A couple fo weeks ago, I noticed that by the door hinges (the body, not the hinges, inside the door), the paint is still white instead of LY. I am going to bring that up when I go to the dealer.

 

So what you are saying is that they are not extending the warranty because the body,paint,are better than they thought,but worse

 

On my 04 the driver's side "S" vent panel is missing paint between the body panels, and the paint in the engine compartment is extremely thin. I tried using a solvet to get rid of some of the gunk that was in the engine bay from the factory and it pulled some of the paint off. I've used that same stuff on probably a dozen other cars w/o any problems.

 

There could be a number of reasons for the extention:

A). A good faith solution to fix a known problem.

B). They feel they have a superior product that will outlast previous versions.
C). Every car manufacturer and their brother are now advertising 10 year limited warranties. MINI can beat them all with a "12 year limited warranty". It's all about marketing. After all, the MINI is getting stale in the new automobile arena.

 

For those of you who never lived in the "rust belt", this is what happens. Also explains why many car enthusiasts (Mini owners) drive beater cars during the winter months. Road crews dispense nasty road salt to clear streets and it literally EATS away metal. A good reason GM came out with plastic bodied Saturn automobiles.

 

May 2004 build

 

The paint coverage on my april 03 is very good.Now I'm going to look closer,but I 'm all over Poco every day,glass cleaning,wash and polish twice a week,under the bonnet.I hate dirty door openings,no missing paint that I can see.

 

I have good thickness of paint on the body and door jambs, under the hood- tho the paint is thin. It does fully cover the surface, but you can tell that it is thin (by the luster of the paint, isn't as deep)

 

Meanboy, I would definitely take that sucker in. I know mine looks nothing like that and I have LY as well.

 

Not all those areas have clear coat,so it will look different.

 

That almost looks like a quick local bodyshop job on repainting a
damaged door or something.

The rust warranty is a very iffy thing...meaning, it usually only
covers rusting if the rust starts inside out...like the doors
from moisture and condensation, inside fender area behind the
fender liner where no rock would have hit it, etc.

The usual rusting that happens from outside in probably would
not be covered. Might want to investigate that area. Dealer
can say rusting in the fender area was 'user neglect' or some
excuse, etc. etc.

Mine's a 03 and I really don't care. 6 years is good enough for me.
oh, and if I was the manufacturer and did a ooops on paint coverage,
I would decrease the warranty period.