Somewhere today..I picked up a 3 inch scratch on my side skirt (aero kit) that is about 1/8" wide.

Ordered my touch up kit to fix it up, so it'll only be there until some time next week when it comes in and I can do the quick touch up on it.

I suspect it may have happened at the dealer, but not having done a full inspection of the car after picking it up I'm not sure, I might have hit something on the way home that could've done it as well, no way of knowing now.

On another note.. the reason I was picking it up was that on my way to work this morning as I was about to get on the freeway, the EML, SES and tire light lit up and the car went into limp mode. Shut off the car, restarted it, SES stayed on and drove it over to East Bay MINI to drop it off for them to look at (I've had the car two weeks, and this was its second service visit).

Diagnosis: DME Fault P1688 - Electronic Throttle Monitoring - Air Mass Fault. The checked the wiring and connectors for the MAP and throttle sensors, check for air leaks. Reprogrammed the DME and cleared the fault memory out.

I love East Bay MINI so much I find them all so easy to work with and have so far bent over backwards to help me out when I've needed it (first visit was because the belt started squealing at ~200 miles, they replaced the belt and checked all the alignments and such). Having had not so exciting relationships with dealerships in the past, this is such an incredible change, that I really don't mind the visits that much because I know it will all get sorted out in the end.

 

I hope you have great results with your touch-up. You might check in the "Detailing 101" forum for good products and techniques. Those guys are hard core and I learned a LOT there.

Also FYI. If your dealer is like mine, when they "check in" a MINI for service, they look over the car and mark a form to indicate "pre-existing" dings, scratches etc. It's a CYA for the service guys, and I'm fine with it. Heck once I figured out what the guy was doing, I took him on a "tour" of my known "imperfections". Showed him some that he had missed, LOL.

Anyways, I have misplaced that form, but that is another story... Just thought you might still have it (or, the dealership may have it) and could use it to show that your marring wasn't their prior to the service visit.

Go White Sox,
Tatt

edit: oops I just saw you're in California! Sorry man, but your guys are goin' down!

 

Get over it! Last night I hit a racoon (it felt like an armadillo!) Huge dents in the lower plastic and lower aero. Dripping coolant.

My comprehensive insurance is $500 deductable.

Stuff happens.

 

...I look forward to it now, bought about half dozen or so new motorcycles and 3 or 4 new cars now in the last few years. I just calm down immediately, stop obsessing about how the ride looks and then just start DRIVING them.

I am NOT KIDDING...

It's a great relief to me actually, but that's just me.

Had a BLACK 2004 Passat, never again, I was out there every day until I finally accidently scuffed up the right side door with the wrong product. looked like hell in a small spot, but after that I was FREE, same thing goes for all the bikes...

But the obsession there is probably worse!

 

Awww man! At least in your case it's clear that it wasn't caused by the dealer (except in the sense that they sold you the car)...

Stuff sure does happen you're right about that!
Tatt

 

Ive hit too many rabbits to even count. The front of mine is a mess.
, good thing it still looks ok from a distance .. Ive broken the fog and running lights both sides and cracked the bumper cover and upper grill All the lights are now fixed, and most of the damage is hard to detect, I figure one more winter then I can get the aero kit Just looking for the positive.

Nik

 

I just got back from the body shop...needs a new radiator and air conditioner...already up to $1200, and they're not finished estimating until they start taking it apart...2 weeks at least until I get it back. ARGH !!!

 

That was one angry racoon Must've been paid off by a jealous SUV owner

 

Just got mine.... didnt see a curb while pulling out of a spot at work, jumped it, ripped my front right jackspot off (it popped right back in) and scratched my front right WebSpoke wheel.... I was suprised at myself for how little anger i felt at that moment... i'm still kinda pissed about it..



Ryan