Sounds all to familiar. My 5 day repair ended up taking 3 weeks. Parts not coming in, wrong parts ordered or shipped......yadda yadda yadda! To top that off they broke my rear side glass while they had it out to replace the rear panel. There was a big storm that blew down the rack holding the glass they had removed during repairs. Broke them all. My rental was being paid for by the insurance co of the kid that hit me. They balked at paying for 3 weeks initially they only wanted to pay for the 5 quoted on the repair. Finally I got the body shop guy and the insurance adjuster on the phone together and let them hash it out. I don't care who's paying, but someone is paying for 3 weeks of car rental. I was legally parked in front of my house when the kid hit me. In the end the insurance co ended up paying for the rental and my Mini looks good once again.

I bet if the insurance company was paying for the rental they'd have a few choice words for the body shop.

 

When my father MC was in an accident he got MINI of Manhattan to do all the repairs and they gave him a loaner for two weeks, granted it would probably be more expensive for just the body work he didnt have to spend any other money on another car

 

Sounds like the dealer is jerking your chain. I'd be throwing a totally useless fit by now. Good luck on eventually reclaiming your Mini!!

 

I feel your pain, was in 2 bad accidents last year with my Honda Prelude. Was within a couple dollars of being totaled each time. I learned a couple things from this experience. I had rental insurance but not enough to cover the cost of the rental so had a large out pocket expense for the difference. For $3.00 more a month I would have been fully covered. I have since updated my rental insurance. I shopped around for my body shop, doing interviews. The guy I found had been in business for 20 years, was extremely knowledgeable with Hondas and seemed very geniune and honest. He turned out to be great. The original timeline was off but only by a couple days. If I was you I would start kicking some butt!! Maybe if you make enough noise you can get the body shop to pay for your deductable. Or maybe you could get them to pay for a rental. What you're going through is unacceptable!!! Personally I wouldn't take it lying down. Write a nice but forceful letter and let them know you will be reporting them to the BBB. Call a local TV station and tell them your sad story and how you're being taken advantage of. Do something!!! Good luck.

 

I received a letter from the owner of Rapid Body Works noting I am among the one percent of his clients that experience a series of unfortunate events. Enclosed was a check that will help with the expenses I have incurred. I want to publicly acknowledge his actions and

MINI USA…any help would be appreciated…after all, a body shop can not complete a repair if a part ordered takes 83 days to arrive.


LGK

 

Aright atleast somebodys steppin up

 

Kudos to Rapid Body Works It is rare now a days to see businesses actually take responsibility for their work.

 

Wait, I'm trying to understand the whole situation - the repair of the entire car was held up by a seat cover? Couldn't they have used another one in the interim so that you could make use of the car? I think it is great that they are stepping up to help you, but it does seem like they used some bad judgement along the way...

 

The seat cover took 83 days. I believe they were expecting it earlier. Now the repair is being held up by two mis-ordered parts. Both issues worked together to keep the car out of commission from April 29 till now....it may be ready the first week of September.

 

If it were me I would call the repair shop & ask them for a firm completion date.

If they do not meet that date have your Mini immediately removed from the shop & taken to another repair shop.

If they say they can't give you a date because the parts aren't there yet, tell them to get on the phone w/Mini or whoever the hec the parts are coming from & get a ship date or tracking number from the manufacturer. Tell them you want the tracking numbers so you can monitor the parts progress your own dang self. If they still can't give you a firm completion date call your insurance company & tell them to move your car to another repair shop for completion of the work. I find it hard to believe parts would take 83 days. Not saying they didn't but who knows if the repair shop actually ordered the parts when they say they did.

I work with the manufacturing sector & it's just not that hard to get parts &/or estimated lead times on parts. In my job if I can't get answers, I normally call & tell a manufacturers rep that this will be my last phone call using my "nice" voice & the next phone call won't be pretty. They usually manage to get me answers . Also if they are shipping your parts via sea, somebody (& not you) needs to shell out money for airfreight & get the parts here now .

Don't be afraid to take charge & get your Mini the hell out of there. 6 weeks would be a really long repair but 4 months is unacceptable.

Good luck to you

 

Here is a brief overview of the story in case you don’t want to read through the entire post.

April 29 – MINI in a wreck

May 19 – Order parts one of which is a seat cover due to air bag deployment

Various dates – other parts ordered and work done on car

Aug – 10 delivery of seat cover (83 day turn around) and realizing that two parts were miss-ordered, a wiring harness and the seat airbag.

Aug – 17 e-mail sent by me to get all parties attention on the long delay in repair noting that the car had been in repair 4 months and was driven only 4 months from date of purchase and that I made 4 payments in that time.

Aug 25 – received a letter and check from the body shop to help with the payments while the car is undergoing repair.

Aug 25 – release date for re-re-ordered parts(s)

This is when I decided to get the “I Hate MINI” tee shirt.

Aug – 31 E-mail from body shop “…it (my car) is now going to need a complete wiring harness put in the car since Mini does not make the specific part your car is needing.” Additional costs? 6,000.00 AND “…it (my car) may have other problems when this is fixed since the diagnostic can not be completed yet.” Can you believe it?

Now I guess this part will have to be custom made at MINI UK (the seat cushion took 83 days to get in)the part will take a month or more to get in, and if it is the correct, they can install the harness - run diagnostics and find all the other problems the car has. I should be on my fifth or sixth payment by then. I hold on to the hope that the repairs will not exceed the price paid for the car and that it will be ready by Christmas. I hope they put a bow in it for me and I hope this NEVER happens to you or any other MINI owner.

Have a lovely day, I am. Oh, and Happy Motoring!

LGK

 

That sucks out loud. It took them an additional 3+ months to figure out the part they needed?
Condolences.

 

Thats horrible, i think you should sue somebody

 

Sorry, but it increasingly sounds like the repair shop is the crux of the probem. How is it that it takes until this stage to discover that it "is now going to need a complete wiring harness put in the car since Mini does not make the specific part your car is needing."?! Um, any part info could have been determined at the beginning, the parts database shows what specific parts are available, it is not a mystery. They should have been prepared to replace the entire harness from the outset from the sound of it.

 

I guess what I don't understand is why they don't just order a whole new seat. It probably would be faster, and possibly cheaper. Why haven't they considered replacing the seat?

 

Wow, reading this thread is jaw dropping! This scares me to death about getting into an accident with mine. Though I've had experience with accident repairs, it's never taken more then 2 maybe 3 weeks.

Dude my heart goes out to you...BIG TIME! I try and picture myself in your shoes, but I'm not sure I could deal with the ongoing crap! Either someone whould be feeling physical pain or there would be serious court papers being served!

Keeping my fingers crossed for you.

 

Alright, Now it looks like the insurance company will total the car. After all of this should I get another MINI? Would you if you were in my shoes?

LGK

 

MINI isn't the problem!
Stick with MINI, get a new body shop.

 

It definitely sounds like it was the body shop that has messed it up. Oh, and when you order the new MINI, be sure to add rental insurance to your policy.

 

The body shop wanted it totaled from the beginning. Allstate thought that it could be fixed. Everything that happened between the initial estimate and now was an exercise in futility circling back to the initial diagnosis of the body shop - "total loss".

I loved the car before the wreck and believe that it protected me from injury.

The portion of the wiring harness that needs to be replaced can not be purchased separately according to MINI North America and the entire harness must be ordered and installed in order for the car to be fixed to its pre-accident condition.

As far as going to another dealership my MA kept me in the loop during the process and represented me in my absence.

I ramble...

LGK

 

Incredible that it took them four months to figure out it was totalled. :impatient

I may be strung up for heresy, but if I were in your (financial) shoes, I'd probably get a cheaper car. You mentioned not having rental insurance to save money, and the gas/repairs of your other car having a significant impact on your position. Lots of good, cheap used cars out there (I like the Mazda Protege`5 as a sporty/cheap/efficient option) that will allow you to build up your savings cushion so you're prepared if (heaven forbid!) the same sort of thing were to happen again.

 

Yes I would get another Mini. If anything ever happens to it you know which body shop to NOT carry it to. I would also cancel my Allstate Insurance. Allstate is notorious for nit-picking repair shops to death. I had a wreck years ago when I had Allstate Insurance & I carried it to a local body shop known for doing great paint work. They refused to work on any car insured by Allstate because the owner said Allstate will argue with them for 2 weeks over paying for a 25¢ screw (thus making repairs take for ever). I was forced to carry my car elsewhere .

 

It does sound like you need to change your insurance company and never go to whatever body shop you went to again, i mean it really is ridicilous that it took four months and then they just declared it totaled anyway. The MINI was never to blame so get another one (if just in memory of your old one)

 

Partial formal complaint submitted to Texas Department of Insurance September 7, 2006.

Wednesday, August 30th, 2006 11:34 a.m. I received a call from Allstate stating that he approved and cut a supplement check for $767.55 to MINI of the Woodlands for a cable.

Thursday, August 31, 2006, I receive an e-mail from Rapid Body Works about an additional repair being needed, noting “We have called Allstate to see what they want to do at this point .It is about $6000.00 additional in repairs and it may have other problems when this is fixed since the diagnostic can not be completed yet.”

Thursday, August 31st, 2006, 9:40 a.m. and September 1st 7:01 a.m., 8:57 a.m., 10:26 a.m., 5:41 p.m. I had phone conversations with Allstate adjuster discussing the latest $6,000.00 supplement. He stated that an adjuster would be going to MINI of the Woodlands to inspect the car also stating he would call MINI of the Woodlands and stop work until the inspection.

Saturday, September 2nd 12:12 p.m. I phoned Allstate adjuster to find out if the other adjuster had inspected the car on Friday. He commented on the four month repair time noting that he was sorry for the delay and he would send messages to two supervisors to get this claim resolved quickly. He believed that the car would probably be a total loss. I was told that I would hear from a supervisor by noon on Tuesday.
* 12:49 p.m. I called MINI of the woodlands telling them that the Allstate believed the car would be a total loss and that I or they would hear something by noon on Tuesday.

Tuesday, September 05th, 2006 10:28 a.m. E-mail from MINI of The Woodlands. “It appears that this car should be totaled and repairs not continue. This would be the direction I would seek as a customer.”
* 10:35 a.m. E-mail in response to my question “If Allstate decides repair would a complete wiring harness solve the problems or just bring more to light?” he replied “Tell them NO! on the harness- To many possibilities for further issues.”

Tuesday, September 05, 2006 4:07 p.m. E-mail from MINI of the Woodlands “No one here told Allstate that the harness was a cure all. It is a start. This car may have other hidden issues. I would be more than happy to talk to any Allstate adjuster or supervisor about the numerous possible problems after the harness is installed.”


Tuesday, September 5th, 2006 11:58 a.m. I received a call from an adjuster for Allstate, indicating that he was on his way to MINI of the Woodlands to inspect the car.
* 1:30 p.m. called to my office but did not leave a message.
* 2:09 p.m. I called adjuster to check on the progress. He stated that he was going for a full total on the vehicle. He contacted a service he uses to determine the replacement value of the car. He asked if $29,899.88 minus the deductible of $250.00 leaving a settlement of $29,649.88 was agreeable, I stated “yes”.
* 2:23 p.m. Call from Allstate adjuster verifying the numbers telling me the people working the files would be in contact and that he would get a power of attorney faxed to me so they could get account information from BMW financial to settle the account and then reimburse me the amount left over.
* 2:27 p.m. Called Motoring Advisor for MINI of the Woodlands and ordered a replacement car due to information I received from adjuster for Allstate.
* 2:38 p.m., Received a call from Allstate Adjuster breaking the news that the car will not be totaled but work would continue until fixed or until the actual cash value was reached.
* 3:03 p.m. Call to Allstate to ask why the car was not totaled. He stated that because Allstate had already invested into the repair they would continue to fix the car until the actual cash value was reached.


Wednesday September 6th 8:56 a.m. I received a voice mail from Allstate, regarding the claim
* 9:05 a.m. returned call. He stated that he approved the $6,000.00 repair order and apologized for the situation. He mentioned that he made a mistake because he did not have all the facts about the case.
* 1:07 p.m. received and call from Allstate, letting me know that the car would continue to be repaired and that I needed to call Service Advisor - Mini of the Woodlands, to tell her to send the car to the alignment shop for alignment while the harness is on order. I did not call her as he had asked. During this whole process now in its 132nd day I was never asked to authorize a repair, until now. The latest stoppage of work was done on Allstate, not me.

I have been an Allstate customer for over 20 years and I believe I have been misled by Allstate representatives. Beginning on Thursday August 30 and continuing to September 5th I was led to believe that the car would be totaled from Allstate adjusters. The conversations with one being so specific that I or six or maybe twelve other people would agree “beyond a reasonable doubt” that the car was in fact being totaled. Details such as agreeing on a settlement amount, discussing the process of loan pay off, and “power of attorney” statements only reinforce the point. At this point I demand the car be totaled.

I received an apology on September 6th at 9:05 a.m. but it rings hollow because he should have never been given the case if he did not know all the facts or he should have learned the facts before misleading the customer.

I have learned from a MINI Motoring Advisor that this car with the current cost of repair would be VERY difficult to resell. Regulations regarding car history would indicate that the car was in an accident and repaired cars are too much of a hassle to resell. Would you buy any car that was wrecked and repaired for an amount totaling 74% of the purchase price?

During this whole ordeal I have made five payments of $389.33, my gas bill has increased $250.00 a month, and I have spent $3,800.00 on repairs on a 92 Explorer so I can continue to travel 100 miles a day to Austin for work, a total of $6,746.65. My wife is now working two extra hours a day and I currently have two jobs to help with the added debt this fiasco has heaped upon us. I have experienced mental and physical anguish during this ordeal. I have been unable to sleep, awake, and concentrate during the day.

Rapid Body Works relates a story of an Allstate insured car that was 99% repaired then totaled when a $3,000.00 additional repair was discovered by the dealership when the car was sent for a diagnostic and alignment. How odd, if my MINI does get a new wiring harness installed the “final” two steps of the repair would be a diagnostic and alignment.

I demand a speedy resolution to this problem. I expect a “total loss” to be the resolution.

 

Good luck, I would also seek reimbursement on the car payments you have made during this time as well. You have been mislead by the shop (who have not handled it competantly IMHO) and now Allstate, and it is crazy that you would have to be making payments on the car during this period. (You might be able to take them to small claims for that perhaps?)