Yes, I'm curious as well as to what you ordered, and what you got instead. I had a not entirely different problem with an MC order I picked up recently. Most everything was right, thankfully...I guess, but the cloth seat color was wrong. Apparently sport seats were no longer available in all black cloth, so now I have Space Gray/Panther Black instead. The Space Gray is OK, but not what I ordered (the options change happened after I ordered, apparently). No one at MINI informed me that my chosen option was no longer available, so they jusy naturally assumed (I'm assuming), that since I wanted cloth sport seats, they'd give me the only remaining available option, not thinking I might want to modify my order (to black leatherette, or standard seats, or...?), which is what I WOULD'VE done...given the opportunity.

But, I wasn't given that chance, so now I'm essentially stuck. I also had a lease vehicle that had to be turned in a few weeks before delivery, and I didn't want to keep paying for a rental for...months? I could've started looking for an entirely different car, right away, but...would that've made me any happier? I don't know. What I do know is they dropped the "communicate with the customer" ball somewhere, and I'm apparently just supposed to swallow it like a big boy, as if driving a MINI is some kind of special privelage, regardless of how badly they get your options wrong. If that's the point, why the hell did I bother ordering at all? Why have the option of optioning out your car (that you are paying very real money for)?

I've had no luck at all with my dealer, Niello MINI of Sacramento, and so now I'm going to try e-mailing MINI USA. I can't say I expect much, because I've so far not even recieved an apology, let alone any other "offers" to ease the obvious irritation and disappointment on my part. And yet, despite all that, they STILL want me to give them flying colors in their stupid (and apparently useless) customer survey! What jerks!

On the other hand, I'm generally enjoying my MINI, for the most part. The fact that they got the other options right helps. If they didn't...I'd just of had to buy another car (there were one or two of SOME interest to me).

I must admit to a new irritation with my MINI, which is otherwise (seats not withstanding) a pretty cool little car. At first, the car seemed fairly tight, tighter than any other car I've had. But now, at just 700 miles on the odometer, I'm starting to get little rattles here and there, in the passenger door, somewhere around the glove box, in my speedo, in the joint between my driver door airbag and my dash, and now (when it's closed) in my...arrgh!...sunroof. *sigh*

Will my dealerships service department be of any help with those things? I don't know. I'll see. Hopefully, they can at least get my MFSW fixed (volume control doesn't work). At least I've got a warranty for that problem, or so they tell me.

Ok, is that enough ranting on my part? I just wanted you to know you are not entirely alone in this sort of problem. I'm sorry to hear they really goofed things up, and hopefully they will be of more assistance to you than my hopeless dealership (that's Niello MINI of Sacramento, folks, remember the name!). Be willing to work with them, and be reasonable, but don't let them brush you off. And, most of all, good luck! :smile:

P. S. My MINI MA's were really nice people during my ordering/buying process, but once I had a problem for them to help me with...they just turned into regular, useless, irritating, car sales people, just like with any other car dealership in the world. These people like to make you think they are special, and I'm sure a few are, but they are mosty NOT. Take it from me, the only special thing they have to offer is the car, and that's it. And if they can't even get THAT right, then they have NOTHING to offer at all, PERIOD.

 

I’m with MINI USA. I’m sorry your sales experience was not what you expected. We are here to work with you and your dealer. If you need our assistance, please phone us at (866) ASK.MINI and mention Reference # 200428800031 so that we can help you more efficiently.

 

Is it only me, or do there seem to be a lot of people complainng that their tiny overpowered stiff riding sports car has some rattles? I remember when a good rattle or two was a sign that the engine was running well. My 2005 seems tight as a drum at 1300 miles, but to tell you the truth, running up and down unpaved driveways and bumpy roads, a little rattle would not be perceived as a "manufacturer's defect" of any significance. If it rattles your teeth, what do you think it is doing to the dashboard? I wonder if people on the EVO board or the Viper board compain about "rattles." Consider what kind of car you bought.

 

My steering wheel is starting to rattle when I make left turns...somehow that's not a good thing.:smile:

 

Agreed. I have 55k hard miles on mine...lots of different rattles. But what I find interesting is they come and go. Today it's the sunroof and dash. Tomorrow it's the seat. Seriously, my sunroof rattled considerably one day two weeks ago. It hasn't rattled since. I find the "rotating rattles" quite pleasant. And it's a stiff sports car. It's supposed to rattle!

 

Ahem... As I beleive I've posted in other threads; the Cooper S I test drove on August 21, the day I ordered my car, was Hyper Blue with Hyper Blue interior panels...

I pick my Hyper Blue Cooper S with Hyper Blue dash, white roof/mirrors/stripes, and Lapis Blue leather up in two days. I haven't had any indication that there is anything amiss, but I'd hate to get there and find something's missing from the order.

 

Currently, there is someone selling a 05 MCS with a hyper blue interior.

 

What's up with the rattle thing in this thread? Now, about the topic where the car is shipped with the wrong spec., the driver sold their main ride and we want know what the discrepancy was.

It would be of interest if the car was slightly out or serious eye pain. Now I can see why the disappointing delivery would be a opportunity for some dealer adjustments and it must be paint related. So.... repaint options, dealer to dealer inventory exchanges or take delivery and learn to like it for a deep dealer discount. I mean a no car situation makes for desperate measures not always in ones best interest.

I hope you can negotiate a good solution.

 

I think something is wrong with the BBS Software - things are turning up in the wrong threads. The rattle posts are from a different thread. I had an earlier post turn up in this thread and could not delete it, so I just edited it down. Hey, these things happen. I'm on Satellite internet - I'm used to weird glitches.

 

Hmmm...I tried calling MINI USA, and made reference to the above listed number. However, they said they could do nothing, and recommended I go back to the dealership, and try talking to the General Manager. So far, I've had no luck with that, and don't expect any. So...why would MINI USA even bother to recommend that I contact MINI USA, if all they are going to say is, "Sorry, we can't help you." Makes no sense to me, and just adds fire to my frustration.

I'm pretty much at the end of my rope with these people, and I've essentially given up on trying to resolve the issue. Which, I think, is exactly what MINI wanted me to do in the first place. Though all that leaves me is the option of complaining about it here, and elsewhere, and otherwise not recommending MINI's, or my dealership, to any prospective buyers that ask me about the car. (Which many do.)

Heck, I'd be ok with just a damn apology at this point in the game, but they can't even seem to do THAT. *sigh*