The automatic has the duct, but the manuals do not... Why?? Who knows!!

 

Realoem.com doesn't have the 2006 parts list online at present, so can't check part numbers between the 2005/2006 MCSa and the non-a MCS. But from looking at the fans on both MCSa and non-a MCS, they seem identical with the exception of the cooling duct on the MCSa. One solution could be to purchase the cooling duct from the MCSa and install it yourself.

Regarding the design "flaw"(splitting the fan circuit), I don't know if it could qualify as a flaw as much as an improvement. If you were blowing cooling fan circuit fuses left, right and center before the plastic bag ingestion event, you could argue that you should have have the circuit splitting service performed. But that still doesn't get you to coverage for the cost of the repair for ingesting the plastic bag. Maybe you could get coverage under your auto insurance policy's comprehensive coverage? The plastic bag event is analogous to a rock chipping your windshield; so, if your deductible is not too high, you should be able to get some satisfaction from the auto insurance policy.

 

Then that would strengthen my argument because the flaw has been acknowledged through redesign and the “fix” was obviously inadequate since it didn’t fully remidiate the problem which it was redesigned to address.

 

It would seem that you are comparing apples to oranges. How do you get to the conclusion that splitting the electrical circuits to reduce electrical load should cover the replacement of the motor for ingesting the plastic bag?

 

I just called a guy at 1-800 ask-mini who said if you had a problem caused by debris, plastic bag, etc., or, if you wanted a cover installed per the later model MINIs, you pay. Quote. "MINI engineering has not determined this to be a safety problem and is not paying for any changes to earlier models."

I argued with him a bit because it was fun, but the end result was, as expected, customer pays.

 

I had a very similar issue with my car. A small stick wedged b/tw the fan blades, seized the fan, blew the fuse.....and the car almost overheated. I shut the car down quickly cause I noticed the temp was rising rapidly, plus I did not hear the engine fan running and it was summer.

Fixed under warranty, no issues at all. This is really a design flaw, and should be covered under the warranty.

Zach

 

While it may very well be a design flaw, the warranty typically covers defects in materials and workmanship.... Not design flaws. If you were able to get the repair covered as a warranty item, you were lucky. I wouldn't count on being able to replicate the experience.

 

I would keep calling MINI USA to complain - the more they hear, the more they'll listen. I'm stunned that this isn't covered by warranty.

 

"Found Plastic bag caught in Aux Fan for Powering Steering; Replaced Fan and Test"

32-41-6-768-827 Fan with Grill 155.17

1 hour of Labor at $94

Wandering Plastic on the highway - $300 and loss of your car for several days

Cobalt $29 Fan shroud - Priceless

-------

I've told them I want it escalated to Mini and someone needs to respond to me personally. The fact that when I browse the Moss Mini catalog there is a 3rd party accessory available that the description even says "stop plastic bag ingestion" says this is an obvious design flaw in the location of the fan intake and inadequate cover. The SA told me he had seen this happen to other BMW's and Minis so that doesn't mean its a design flaw. Oh Contraire , that illustrates that it is a design problem. Never happened on any of Nissan or Ford vehicles.

Will keep you updated...

 

I believe that the escalation will have to be done by you - not anyone at MINI. The 800 number folks are generally friendly but unhelpful in these situations and typically balk at escalation (they actually told me that there is no higher authority than (i.e., no one to escalate to) the fellow I was talking to!!!). You should escalate through the dealer to the region and then even the region's boss. The dealer will be happy to supply you with name and contact information of those folks. I would also simultaneously post a registered letter to the VP of MINI USA (same postal address as BMW USA) specifically detailing your issue and the resolution you would like to see. It worked for me - it could work for you.

 

I'm in, let's pile on until they retrofit a shield on all MINIs that didn't come with one.

The guy at ASK MINI was parroting what he had been told to say, much of it was illogical.

 

That part number lists for $125

At least you didn't have to pay SF Bay Area labor rates (about $50 more per hour)

Good luck escalating the problem. I got nowhere trying to have MINI USA cover the fitment of the Cobalt Power Steering Fan Shroud on my 2002 MCS. They did take care of placing the Power Steering Fan on a separate circuit.

 

Don't hold your breath (hoping that MINI USA will relent and decide to cover the repair). It just is not a failure in materials or workmanship.

 

Ha! Good luck on your quest to escalate. You likely will get a letter back that is very nice in tone and thanking you for your concerns, and blah, blah, blah; but - no movement on covering the cost of the replacement of the fan motor.

 

$300 is a lot for that little fan.
Is there more damage to the attachment points that needs to be repaired
to put another fan on, or are they bilking you for the part and the labor?

 

Seems like something that is a design deficiency that can affect the vehicles steering and leave you stranded would warrant at look by the DOT or whoever regulates this kind of thing. How much would it cost to retrofit a shield on all MINI's that don't have one? My guess is about $2.00 per MINI.

 

Actually, you might get more satisfaction by contacting NHTSA. If they feel that there is a safety issue, then they certainly have more leverage on MINI/BMW that even a group of MINI owners would have.

I still think that the automobile insurance policy would provide an avenue for covering the repair expense (unless the deductible on the Comprehensive coverage is too high).

 

i might have missed this point, but how could the dealer work on the repairs without authorization and or advising the repair may not be covered under warranty.

this omission has limited your options so while you might be responsible to pay from their point of view, i would certainly ask them to reduce the charges.

 

Now that I know what could happen, even though the chances are slight, I couldn't stand it. I just ordered the Cobalt fan cover from Moss-Mini.

Owning a MINI makes me this way.

I might could have gotten the dealer to place a grill for a later, (05 up) model on the fan, but the dealer is 4.5 hours away. I asked the parts guy at Roadshow and he said the plastic fan cover is $33. The Cobalt one for $29.95 looked a lot stronger.

It should arrive next week.

 

Because there were TWO changes due to bags getting in the fan and causing them to burn up. Their solution was to incorporate a fan cover and split the wiring. So by doing these two improvements, they have acknowledged the design flaw IMHO.

 

I can appreciate your opinion that there is a design flaw; but the MINI new car warranty only covers defects in materials or workmanship.

 

Bag = foreign object = collision. Have your comprehensive insurance cover it if it's more than your deductable. (Your rates may increase though).

Design flaw is a neat idea, but it won't work. Besides the amount involved doesn't make it feasable to involve an attorney to help develop your legal argument.

 

Agree on everything except the comment that insurance rates may increase. Why would the insurance rates increase? Ingesting the bag was not his fault, so where is the rationale for the rate increase? I previously owned a 2002 Volvo S60 that was black - beautiful color until birds s**ted on it or other drivers opened their door and dinged my car when it was parked. By the time the lease was up, every panel except the roof and the trunk had been repainted at least once. Both comprehensive (birds**t) and collision (other drivers dinging the body when they opened their door) were charged for the repainting. Apart from the deductible, I had no surcharges for the various repainting events. Maybe this is unique to State Farm (my insurance company), but I find it hard to believe that this is unique to State Farm.

 

not to point out the obvious, but that dealership made money by you paying MSRP... they are now obligated to take care of you as a customer.

Nag them until they bleed out of their nostrils :D

 

The design is inexcusable. I'm not saying that the car should be bullet-proof, but I can think of no other car that's so easily damaged by something as simple and common as a plastic bag on the roadway.

Also, I can believe that there's not enough margin in the cost of the car, that they couldn't fit the fan with something that absolutely prevents this from happening. The bit of screening that they added is the least they could do... seriously.

I love my MINI. There's no other car like it for the price. BUT, this is one of those little things that should be a no-brainer, and keeps MINI near the bottom of the JD Powers survey.