Hello to all:

Is there any Bay Area MINI owners with experience with SF MINI service? I am bring my ride in soon, and would like to check with other owners' feedback. Upon a search on BBB site, this dealer got unsatisfactory rating. To their defence, there could also be lots of unreasonable customers. Thanks for any feedback.

 

They did a little warranty work on my '03 MCS and it worked out well. They seem very eager to please, actually, although YMMV.

 

Not good experiences there for Minis or bimmers (even damage to cars). They often seem bent on not covering things under warranty, overcharge (they wanted twice as much for alarm activation), among other things and from the sound of it when I was waiting there I was not alone in my dissatisfaction. If you search here or online in general you might find posts about experiences with SF BMW/MINI. I drive to East Bay for service and they have been excellent.

 

Oh, and an upside to using East Bay Mini is that I like the idea of supporting a dealer that doesn't try to rob their customers blind with markups on new cars.

 

Before I got my 2006 MCC, I had seen mostly negative comments in the forums about service at MINI of SF. I was anxious about taking the car there for service but they are, by far, the most convenient location for me. My experience so far has been positive (3 trips for warranty work). The staff I've dealt with (Stewart Toy in particular) seem genuinely interested in providing good service.

FWIW, the most positive comments I've seen for a Bay Area MINI service department have been for MINI of Concord.

 

Honestly I have not gone to MINI of SF. I have been to MINI of Mt. View, East Bay MINI, and Niellos in Sacramento.

Niellos of Sacramento has been great and are very supportive of the MINI community. Both Mini of Mt. View and East Bay MINI are supportive as well.

Just wanted you to know there are other dealers around.

 

Another + vote for MINI of Mountain View. The only probllem is the distance you would have to drive, but personally, I would avoid MINI of SF.

 

Which ones offer loaner cars? San Francisco does not.

 

Thanks guys for your advises. I will think about it. But the distance from where I live to other dealers and the traffic during commute hours just completely offset the risk of going with a less desirable dealer. This is such a pain, especially I need some warranty work done.

 

I bought a used 2004 MCS in California this past October.

Before having my Mini brought up to Alaska, I wanted some things done to it. Initially, I called Mini of Mt. View - they claimed the rear fog lights couldn't be added to my car and that they wouldn't do the free maintenance because the service indicator still read as having just over 3k miles left before next service.

So I had the car taken to Mini of SF instead (that's where the original owner bought it) after a phone call telling me that the rear fogs could indeed be added easily to my Mini. And yes, I was still sweating it because of the all the negative posts online, but decided to give them a shot. The dealership was a lot more convenient for my uncle, who took the car in for service for me.

After explaining to the SA (Jeff Adams) that I just bought the car and there's no Mini dealers in Alaska (and that it woudln't leave AK for at least 2 years), they GLADLY did the Service 1 for me. No questions asked. That was above and beyond, considering that they weren't "supposed" to under normal rules.

The previous owner of my car spilled an air freshener on the silver dash piece below the speedometer, which caused the paint to peel off. I asked them if they could get me a quote to replace the panel, and lo and behold - replaced under warranty as a "paint defect".

They programmed the rear fog lights for me, no problem. With that, I was happy enough to pay them to install the switch panel I ordered from them.

Jeff mentioned that some of the '04 Minis had a rear latch design that could rattle, esp. in cold weather, and had that taken care of while the car was in for the other work. Fixed under warranty.

There was something else about the door handles having problems in cold weather, and that was taken care of too. I think it was a TSB of some sort. Warrantied.

I can't think of the other stuff they found and took care of at the moment (dont have the paperwork on me), but needless to say - Mini of SF made sure my precious little car was ready for life in Alaska. Not bad considering that we did nothing more than talk and do business over the phone, since I coudln't fly down to California and bring the vehicle in myself. Additionally, being that I live in Alaska - it's not like I'm that likely to be a "return customer", and they still provided excellent service to me. That definitely says something.

I'm not sure exactly why there's so many negative posts about Mini of SF. Maybe they had problems at one time, or maybe the people complaining were unreasonable. All I know is that they provided excellent service, and that even made a good impression on my uncle who is planning on buying a Mini sometime in the near future.

Hopefully you'll have a good experience with Mini of SF as well. Best of luck to ya!

 

I bought my car from SF and have done all of my service there and have never had anything but positive experiences. If it's a warranty issue, they provide a car. They also give cab vouchers for one trip out and one back. I usually drop the car off and go to the museum or some other interesting place in SF. SF MOMO is my favorite.

I think if you go in with a friendly attitude to any shop, they will treat you well.

 

That's so true, and it really depends on your luck. I usually don't trust anyone working on my cars (I know, it's sad but can't help it with previous experiences over the years). One time, I decided to trust a mechanic to swap out OE brake rotors to slotted units (not on the MINI) without taking off my OZ alloy rims before going to the shop (It's a simple job). The tech managed to place my perfect condition rim right under the work area, dropped a small piece of tool or part on it once; without moving it aside, dropped another big piece of part (I think it's either the pads or the bracket) on my rim again.

Only then, he moved my rim aside. It's with dents and chips at several area. The worst part is, he just started with my first rotor. I could only wait until he's done before mentioning that to the shop owner. The owner only gave me a small discount and offer free wheel balance to remount the tire onto my spare OZ rim. I was thinking, no thank you.

That's the reason why, I don't trust those monkeys out there.

 

I've been dealing with Mini of Mt View since 02. Let's just say that I do still go there, but very, very rarely. I find most of the time the help when I'm talking in person, sounds good. But for several issues, I've had some problems with getting phone calls returned and the like. I'd give Mini of Mt View a B- on the overall grade. What's scary, this is after significant improvements over the years! When I first started going there, I couldn't belive the crap I'd here. I'd logged over 5000 miles of gas tanks, and what the OBC was saying for milage and range. Off by over 30%..... Peter Smee said this was normal, and handed me a photocopy of a Mini tech note on speedo errors! (this wasn't the issue, I'd checked against a handheld GPS).

The dealerships tend to have some turnover too. So if you find someone who you like working with, ALWAYS ask for them when you call.

But for everyone, I suggest that you start researching a non-dealer service center while you're still under warranty. Then when you do need work, you'll already have found where you'll go. Also, if you do anything that isn't a recall or warranty, get it done somewhere else, so you can start your relationship with your service center.

Matt

 

True, each person can have different experiences/luck at the same dealer - however, in my case the fact that when myself and my SO have had issues with service and damage done to multiple cars over several years, all dealing with different SAs, I'd say the problems are likely endemic to how they run things. Same goes for Sonnen BMW in Marin - I simply did not have the same problems when I started using Weatherford and East Bay (maybe they hire/train the car valets and mechanics with more care or pay them better or something...).

 

Trust me, we both tried the best of attitudes, didn't change the outcome, just made the SAs smile. I'm curious about the loaner car for warranty work on a Mini, they were clear that they did not do loaners for Minis, only bimmers (and we did not buy the BMWs there), so perhaps the exception is certain types of warranty work?

Oh, and the cab vouchers crack me up, the amount they write them up for doesn't nearly get me home or anywhere in SF that is beyond walking distance. Even Honda shuttled me all the way to wearever I needed to go

 

MINI of SF might not be doing taxi vouchers anymore. My car was in for 10K service a few weeks ago and there was a sign on their service desk describing a shuttle service. Their taxi vouchers were for $10. There was someone here on NAM who reported that when MINI of SF kept his car for longer than expected, they gave him an Enterprise rental, not a loaner.

 

A shuttle service, interesting, well I hope that is working out better. The times we got the voucher a year or so ago it was for 7 or maybe 8 dollars, and with what the cabs charge in SF that honestly was not enough to cover a decent distance.

 

I have had relatively positive experiences with the SF Mini service department (although I thought it was a little rediculous when they told me they wouldn't cover my battery under warranty because I didn't drive the car enough, they eventually did replace it after I explained that I live in the City and it is just used in town).

The parts department is a whole other story. I ordered some parts from them and when they came in I noticed that they were charging me more than the price listed in the catalog. When I asked about the price discrepancy, they said it was due to the high cost of living in SF . I laughed in thier faces and did not take the parts. I have not been back and since the car is now out of warranty I never will again.

 

Though this is an older post it came up for me in a search and so I thought hey why not add my .02 in case anyone else has questions on whether to go to mini SF. I bought my car used from a Toyota dealer of all places, but the price was right I had a few months left on the original warranty so I took it to mini SF. I could easily go to Mt View as I live in the middle of the penninsula, but I like going to the city as crazy as it makes me! Anyway the first time I was there was routine maint. I got those grill vents on the hood replaced free and didnt even ask! I thought it was just nice didnt think much of it. This also is my first "new" car (all my other cars for like my whole life were beaters so to me my 03 MCS is like new). So also wiht that I had never even been to a dealer and always heard they rip you off no matter what. But I wasn't about to take my mini to any auto place. Anyhow, long story short, I have taken my car two more times since then to Mini SF and always been pleased. Jeff Adams who was mentioned before is still there and he is the nicest guy. The second time I went in for the power steering pump. It was replaced as a one time goodwill warranty. My car was about 1 month out of the orig. warranty so that could have been why. But recently my 3rd trip there my stereo wasnt working and my door wasnt opening from inside. My warranty is already expired by 5 months, but he had both issues fixed for me at no cost. I also was told my clutch needs replacing, and they offered me about $400 off the massive $2700 cost. Well it appears I won't be going to them for that. But overall I recommend going there. They always courtesy wash my car and they never gave me a loaner but they did give a taxi voucher.

 

Outside the Bay Area, but a big for Niello Mini in Sacramento.

Chris (service manager) is great, and he's also an autocrosser with his own Mini. He understands.

If you're in for warranty work, they'll provide a loaner, usually an Enterprise rental (hey, as long as I can get to work). Loaner Mini's are very scarce.

They have a shuttle service, so you can kill time (and bank account) over at Arden Fair Mall.

Their work has always been supurb, and Chris is good at returning calls.

 

Wow, that is too much Fwiw, if you have to go there for parts they do have a discount (or used to) for BMWCCA members. I think it was 10%, not much but at least something if pressed for a filter or something in a pinch

Re: the shuttle - I checked it out and it covers a pretty narrow area of the city considering, I'd still have to schelp someone along for transport back and forth. Gromit801, I trust your take on the Mini service at Niello in spite of some really bad BMW service and treatment we were subject to awhile back, but Sacramento is just a tad tooo far

 

I was shopping around for a new 07 "S" and called SF mini as well as all dealers on the west coast to find the one i wanted. SF mini was the only dealer to tack on $2500. sur charge because " the car is in such high demand" . they did return my calls and figure out how much I would have to pay every month. Nice of them. HA HA.