Just curious if you've had to leave your MINI for prolonged service, has the dealer always provided you with a MINI (either MC or MCS) loaner?

I ask because I know with previous vehicles, I had a hard time getting a "loaner" and even had to resort to renting a vehicle from Enterprise. Ugh.

 

I always ask before I sign on the dotted line if they provide loaners. Mini of Peabody does not, but I've been told they'll give me a lift to the local Amtrak station and that's good enough by me. :-)

 

I've only been in that position once (MINI was gone for a week!), and did not receive a loaner. I was told that they were all "out", but I'm sure now that the reason why is that I did not buy the car from the dealer (I bought it used elsewhere). I've seen those who did purchased there get a loaner or an Enterprise car at the dealer's expense.

 

I get serviced at the dealership that I bought both MINIs from and always get a MINI for a loaner. You have to request a loaner and it does delay getting the car in for service as they have a limited amount of loaners. I have always gotten an MC with the CVT for a loaner which is a real adjustment from the MCS. Did the gearing change in the CVT either between 2004 and 2005 or 2005 and 2006? The last CVT I got as a loaner seemed peppier than the previous ones.

 

no. they only gave me a lift.

 

Never.

They give me a ride to and from work for short services and give me a free rental for long ones. It's never been a MINI though.

 

Yes, if I call early and schedual an appt a few days in advance, they will provide a loner if it will take more than a few hours. I've never gotten a MINI as a loner. We always get a BMW coupe or an x3.

 

I have had MINI loaners overnight three times and a BMW X5 for the day once. My service advisor really takes care of his customers!

 

My dealer always provides loaners to customers who purchased their MINI at their dealership. If it is for routine service (say, an oil change, or if you need something done that "can wait" a week or so, such as a bad window motor, etc) then you typically have to call and request a loaner about 5 to 10 days in advance of your appointment.

Whenever I've had an emergency (an unexpected tow to the dealer for a bad steering pump, for example) they have not been able to provide a loaner because they were all out. But I've never had my MINI there longer than 2 days (towed in on a Saturday, picked up Monday afternoon).

The loaners I've received from them the past 3 years: a 2003 CVT, a 2005 CVT, a 2006 MCSCa, a 2005 MCSa. They are always automatics.

Last time they gave me such a junked up loaner, it was pathetic! It was a 2005 blue MC CVT with white roof...the car was beat to hell...it hadn't been washed in what looked like months or years even, and the red "needs gasoline, like NOW!" light was on when I drove it off the lot. I was happy to have a loaner, but geesh....that's a bad reflection on the dealer... The MCSCa (pepper white) was the best loaner from them...practically brand new, only about 1,200 miles on it. Guess it's a crapshoot which loaner MINI they have available...this dealership must have at least 4 or 5...it's a very high volume dealership.

Rock on,

boognish

 

I've gotten a loaner (BMW coupe) as well - but not a Mini.

 

International Auto in MKE will usually provide loaners if the car is under warranty work. I've had to wait sometimes to get a later appointment due to lack of loaners.

I've seen at least two different loaners, both MC CVT. I own a 2006 MCSm; I've found it interesting to drive the auto. I actually enjoy driving the MC more than I thought I would.

 

yup, always. I was offered a MCc once, I refused and they gave me a brand new 325xi with 600 miles on it. Had that car for 10 days while they were fixing some paint issues under warranty.

 

Classic MINI has MINI loaners- Verts, too, except they're non-S automatics . You have to have purchased an extended warranty from Classic to get a loaner. I've also had one of the Toyota Prius's they have (yuck it's terrible)

 

Some years back I had a warning light come on... I took it to the dealer, 2 1/2 hours away, they fixed it, but three days later it came back on. I called them and they drove a new BMW to me, drove my MCS back to the dealership, fixed it and returned with my MINI two days later... Very nice, that was Dreyer Reinbolt in Indianapolis... turned out to be just the gas cap wasn't sealing correctly.

 

I've dealt with 3 dealers for service, gotten loaners from two of them...

One has an extremely limited supply of 3 Series that they used for loaners, but more often than not you ended up with an Enterprise car...

The other has MINIs, but I ended up with a 3 Series as the MINIs were all out..

Haven't needed a loaner from the other dealer yet...

Considering that there's no requirement at all for dealers to provide you with a loaner, I'm impressed that it appears so many dealers at least are doing something...

 

No loaners at MINI of Westchester (NY). They gave me a ride to the train and sent a taxi to pick me up in the evening.

I have not had any services where they kept the car overnight.

 

No loaners for Minis from the dealers in my area.

When I was bringing in BMWs I would get loaners anywhere as long as I arranged it in advance - it never mattered that I did not buy the car(s) from the places I went for service.

 

I wouldn't care if I didn't get a MINI as a loaner, as it would be a heck of a lot cheaper than renting a car for the week (which is what I ended up doing). First it was a Malibu...I can't imagine why anyone would buy such a thing, even for people who don't care what they are driving. It handled like a '67 Impala, and got about the same mileage. Then is was a Hyundai Elantra, which at least got decent mileage, but caused much damage to my ego.

You guys getting sweet MINIs and Beemers are lucky!

 

Rarely get a mini, usually when I go in for scheduled service will get a BMW of some configuration - last one was a 5 series with the $%& "I" control. When BuzzB had to go in for an unforseen emergency repair (wouldn't shift out of park) - dealer gave me an X5 SUV to use for a week.

 

I'm about to go pick up my MINI using my 07 Camry loaner from New Country MINI. It's no MINI, but a good car for its intended purpose...

 

I have to talk with the service advisor to make me a schedule to get a MINI. Otherwise they set me up with an enterprise car.

 

Absolutely. If you bought the car from the dealer AND you have to wait more than one hour, they give you a loaner for as long as they have your car. I ended up with BMW 3 series for some reason.

I asked specifically about their policy and they said they always keep 50 or so cars for loan ... when they run out of the MINIs they give out the BMWs. When out of the BMWs they will pay for Enterprise.

 

I've had mine in twice. First time I got a MC cabrio, second time I got a Ford Nightmare (which is what my daughter named it). But as long as it runs and is reliable, any loaner is fine with me.
Annette

 

That was very nice of them. I've only had lukewarm experiences with their service people though. One time they were able to accomodate me with a loaner (orange MCCa - fun and I love that color). The other times I was either told to arrange for a rental car or use their courtesy shuttle to get to work. Problem though, they said they wouldn't pick me up from downtown. I understand that they have only a limited number of loaner cars, but the attitude the service people usually convey to me when I ask for a loaner is "go pound sand".

I'm glad that other MINI owners have gotten A+ service from them. I see that their BMW customers are always treated with the highest levels of service and I was getting the impression that as a MINI owner, I am less of a person than the Bimmer owners...

 

I always get a MC with a CVT (emoticon throwing up) but every now and then I'll get a 3 series.