[font=Verdana][size=2]So I was driving home from work on Monday going about 55mph when all of the sudden the engine quits and I am greeted by dashboard lights all over the place. As usual I was utilizing my H/K stereo so could not tell you if there were noises at the time but the first thing I did was hit the power button and then the hazards. I coasted to a stop and pulled as far as I could off the side of the road (this particular 4 lane road had no shoulder, only grass, this will become important as this story progresses). Checked all gauges, still had full battery power for windows and radio and such. Tried to start her up and she would not turn over, starter was engaging but she would cough out every time, almost like she was flooded. After a few tries I exited the vehicle, set up my triangle and hazards, and only living 9 miles away, called my wife to come pick me up so I could change and call BMW road side assistance. Changed clothes and was calling BMW as I was driving the 9 miles back to my car.[/size][/font]

[font=Verdana][size=2]I proceeded to drive back to my car. From the time I last seen her broken down on the road to the time I was looking for her was 40 minutes. I say looking for her because she was gone; I drove right past where she was last seen. Yes that’s right, she was not where I had left her crippled on the side of the road, nanda nothing, zilch. Well my first instinct was that maybe BMW had already dispatched a tow truck and they picked her up (knowing that they needed my key, but it was possible right). Not the case, BMW said the tow truck had not even left yet and they closed my case. Well now I am worried so the police get my next call and they send an officer to my house. [/size][/font]

[font=Verdana][size=2] We discuss where she broke down and then it hits the officer. He makes a few radio calls and locates her in an impound lot. To my dismay, I broke down on Baltimore-Washington International Airport property which falls under the Maryland Transit Authority. They had my car towed because it was a hazard and a possible terrorist threat. Okay fine, but I had to pay $150 bones to release my broken car back into my custody, what a scam that is. Now here comes the BMW story. I call BMW roadside assistance at 1245pm and request service. Everything goes fine and they tell me a tow truck will be to your site within 2 hours. 2 hours went by like molasses and I called back and BMW said that the tow truck driver will be at your site in 15 minutes. I gave them 30 minutes and called back again, the tow truck driver reports that he is onsite which was news to me since I am onsite and do not see him, we hang-up The tow truck driver calls me 15 minutes later (remember he just told BMW he was onsite) and says he is 5 minutes out. He shows up in 5 minutes. If you remember above my car is in an impound lot with dozens of cars but is the only mini, the tow truck driver ask me “which car is yours?” and I look at him like he is smoking something. I said “that one” kind of pointing in the general direction of my car; he says “the ford?” I said “no the mini!” “Did they not tell you the vehicle?” he said “no, they just dispatched me and said go here and pick up a car”. He loads her up gently and then says “where to?” I again look at him like he is smoking something. “Dispatch did not tell him where he would be taking my car?” I said “towson mini” and he said “am I following you?”[/size][/font]

[font=Verdana][size=2] Long story short BMW roadside assistance took 3 hours and 49 minutes before I received a tow and really dropped the ball. I am drafting a letter as I type this and plan on sending it somewhere for some resolution. To make matters worse it appears my UniChip which I have had installed for 5000miles has malfunctioned and was killing the engine for some reason. She runs fine with the chip unplugged. I purchased the chip at one of Randy’s party a year ago so I will contact him and see where I stand.[/size][/font]

[font=Verdana][size=2]Cheers.[/size][/font]

 

get used to it, BMW roadside it a joke. i wat AT LEAST 2 hours each time to have my car towed, which i have had to use twice now.....

 

And you both think that waiting for a tow truck you yourself have called will be any shorter? Try again. The wait has nothing to do with MINI. It has to do with the backlog the tow company has. MINI simply contracts with the tow companies to rescue MINI's. Just like AAA does. I am just glad that I can call them (MINI) if I do have a problem, instead of relying on the phone book or the cops to get me a tow.


Sorry about the long wait, but it happens to all of us.

 

It is my understanding that MINI Roadside Assistance is contracted to AAA. I had to have my first MINI flatbedded to the dealership after someone forgot to reconnect a battery cable properly after fixing a seat rattle (they had disconnected the battery to prevent discharge of the airbag).

The next day, after hubby moved my MINI and left, when I hopped in to go somewhere, it was totally DEAD. His moving the MINI must have made the loosely-connected battery cable give way.

Anyway, the tow truck came within 30 minutes, towed her to the dealership of my choice (which was very lucky, since it was technically further away than the nearest dealership, but closer time-wise). That has been my only Roadside Assistance experience, and I was pleased.

dartanium, your situation is horrible! I am so sorry!


Clover

 

Exactly - it all depends on your area and time of day.

 

I did some quick research with the tow company last night that was eventually dispatched to me. THE TOWING COMPANY WAS LOCATED ONLY 12 MILES AWAY FROM WHERE I BROKE DOWN.

And yes it is contracted thru AAA so I can understand that between BMW dealing with AAA and then AAA dealing with tow truck companies that it could get confusing. But do not publish a product that you say will take 2 hours or less and then show up 3 1/5 hours later with an attitude like what's and extra hour and a half.

In my letter I am going to try to get a free oil change for my troubles and in return promise not to bash BMW service anymore. Could work :smile:

J

 

And your telling me I can't type.

I would get used to waiting that long ( sometimes ) It depends on where you are at the time and the location of the tow company who is on the tow list that MINI uses.......Depending on the situation with your vehicle will determine if the dealer comes ( flat tire,gas,, etc ) out or you need a tow which won't be from the dealership. We tell our customers the tow truck will be there within the hour but there is still no guarnatee that they will be on time nor is it the dealerships responsible for the tow company being late ( but we will hear it anyway from the customer ). I would take that up with customer relation at MINI and chew there heads off to see what they will do for you. Not much im guessing, but it feels good to yell at someone once in awhile. :smile:

 

can this be moved to mini talk please

 

And why do you care?

Are you a MOD to be in the near furture my lil friend?

 

Dartanium - since it was the Unichip that caused the issue, are you on the hook ($) for the tow to Towson?

 

Well, they are kind of sucky

 

This doesn't belong in the Performance Forum.
Seem's our Mod is in agreement

 

 

Yes, MINI RA contracts with AAA. Now, if AAA is busy, say in the Winter when its cold out, who do you think is going to wait and wait for assistance? AAA's primary customers? or MINI customers?

The few times I've used AAA, they have always arrived within a hour (except outside of Searchlight, NV when they took three hours!)

 

SORRY TO HEAR THAT BUT ITS NOT BMW FAULT SOORY PAL OR MINI

 

My pops got me a AAA membership. At first after hearing about all the delays I was gonna call AAA directly. But if you call through MINI RA, your car automatically gets towed to a MINI dealership correct? Not sure what would happen if you call AAA directly. Plus, MINI RA has about $700 that can go towards trip interuption.

 

I recently called AAA directly after mistakenly thinking that my roadside service was over at 36K.

It was one of their busiest days for the tow truck company---while he was picking me up, I kept hearing a beeping sound, so I asked him what that was, and he's like, it's another car to pick up. In the 20 mile trip we made from the tow spot to the dealer, he had 7 calls to handle! Think how much time that takes!

And no, AAA gives you 7miles for free on the flatbed. It's around $11 a mile after that--so I ended up paying around $115 for the tow.

Best to call MINI directly if you want to get the free tow. The only good thing that potentially came from calling AAA directly was they hooked me up directly with the towing dispatch company, and since they knew I had my 16month old son in the car, they expedited a truck there--so it only took 40 minutes instead of the original 2 to 3 hours that I could have waited.

Richard

 

Did not have to pay for the tow to the dealer some 20 miles away.

Did have to pay $100 for them to dump the codes and troubleshoot to find out the UniChip was the culpurt.

 

expect the worst its under BMW