Where? I don't see anything on http://www.smartusa.com/index.aspx

 

This totally sucks Windpower, I hope it all gets worked out. I don't understand why a dealership would do this to a new customer.

 

I had a mis shift before. Not past the redline but still enough to get my attention. It may be a possibility that the Mini owner is responsible for the damage. Luckily in America the lawsuit will get everything straight.

 

Good move the lawyer wants to see the actual ECU data. It's just a shame this dealership seems to be making it necessary for a lawyer to be involved. Good luck.

 

rev limiters make such a nice sound

 

Man, what a nightmare Windpower. Reminds me of the dude whose Mini blew a headgasket recently after he'd been to the dealer with the temp light coming on intermittently (they said go home, faulty sensor, and the car wouldn't run the next day). Because he'd installed some unrelated airflow part they said he wasn't under warranty anymore and refused to tear into his car until he paid them a bunch. They advised him to take it to another dealer. He did and they fixed everything asap no questions asked (laughed at the suggestion that his mod had anything to do with it). Reading his nightmare reminds me of yours. My feeling was that the original dealer should have been penalized somehow for being dishonest. Sounds like your dealer is leaning in that direction. And if all they have to produce is some goofy ECU readout saying you overrevved it I'd sue the living heck out of them. There is no way that an ECU has that kind of information in it (time, date, data, etc). I'd laugh in their faces if they tried that weak act on me. I think that because there are probably no punative damages awarded in situations like this the car dealer has nothing to lose by being dishonest. He already has your money and he knows he won't sell you another car. He knows nobody will get the word out about his shaky business practices and even if he finally has to fix the car so what? It's pretty sad IMO. Good that you have a lawyer man.

 

Robin, I notice that the OP has removed the links to the specific thread. Here is the wording I found objectionable:

"If anyone is considering a mini you might want to read some of the reviews and complaints, we are now finding out this are very problimatic vehicles, some of them are even burning up in parking lots and in owners driveways when parked."

FWIW, there is also this reference by another poster 2 paragraphs down: "A German car that is made in France."

The link is:

http://www.smartcarofamerica.com/for...ead.php?t=4450

 

Why is it problematic when these are well documented situations? Just look around this forum, some people have experienced serious issues with their cars and to their detriment Mini has been less than forthcoming to help these people.
The interesting point I find is that BMW/Mini promote "serious driving cars" yet the minute someone drives aggresively they throw their hands up in horror.
FYI the France/German thing is referring to the SMART.

I feel badly for the OP as this could have been any one of us being treated like cr@p by the dealer and Mini USA.

 

I'm not entirely surprised, considering the guy mentions the San Antonio dealership. I love MINI's, but I haven't always had great experiences in San Antonio, either.

When I bought my first MINI, I tried going through San Antonio, but I couldn't even get the dealership to work with me. They wouldn't return my calls. They wouldn't run my credit or financing. Basically, because it was going to be my first car without a co-signer, they didn't even want to deal with me. I had to go 3+ hours to Momentum MINI in Houston, instead, and they had me completely processed in a few hours, with an interest rate that meant they were making hardly anything off of me.

I took my car down for routine maintenance once, and when I got back home to Austin, I had a funny smell coming out of my boot. When I opened it up, I discovered that the dealership had completely left my tail-light bulbs out of their compartments on directly on the floor of the boot. They'd melted clear through. After that, I learned never to drive off the lot without checking obvious things like that myself (I say "obvious," because I don't know anything about the detailed minor workings of a car.)

The next time I had it towed down (after someone rear-ended me), I told them what they'd done to my boot mat, and they said they'd get it replaced. My car came in from Laredo Paint & Body (the repair shop that dealership uses), and they called me to tell me I could pick it up. I got all the way down there only to discover they hadn't replaced the mat at all. When I told them, I was told (because it was Saturday), that they were too busy that day, but if I wanted to leave it with them, they would do it on Monday. After I'd already gotten someone to give me a ride down there. I was not happy.

The second maintenance I took it down for went better, but once I got back to Austin, I had to replace a tire at a Firestone here that carries the MINI stock tires and found out that my alignment was significantly off. You'd think that would be something that's checked for during the routine inspections.

After that, I stopped answering the service surveys you get called for after each visit by MINI. I never got any response to the feedback I did leave regarding these incidents.

Suffice to say, I can't really say I'm shocked to hear the San Antonio's M.O. is to blame it on the driver.

(Apologies in advance to anyone who works with or for MINI of San Antonio and might be offended. My experiences aren't indicative of any person in particular, only of the service I've received in general. In fact, in buying my new MINI from San Antonio, I've had nothing but fantastic customer service from Robert Silva, who walked me through the ordering process and showed me the in's and out's of the R56 on my test drive.)

 

That's a forum. I thought you meant the company was trashing the MINI with lies in their advertising. Can't really about forum trash talk. There is an anti-Smart Car thread on NAM.

 

I dunno. Did you read the thread? There were some "like it" and some "don't like it," but the majority seem to like it. I didn't see any references to mechanical problems and that sort of thing--certainly nothing like the anti-MINI thread I referred.

It's a shame the OP has had this experience with his MINI. Judging from the other posts in this thread, the dealer in San Antonio has a less than stellar reputation. Is this the entire problem? Will MINI USA make good on the engine? Time will tell--in the meantime, I don't think the poster's attack in the paragraph I quoted was warranted. Frankly, I'm really surprised no one else called attention to it.

 

some Minis HAVE burned up. Not just in driveways, but one in a garage as well! Do some searching. Fact is, if you want to, you can dig up lots of trash on any car if you want to post crapp. You can look at problems in the first six months of ownership, and it's a bit above average, but nothing stellar. There are also lots of threads here about problems (CVT, supercharger gears, start-up knock, hot hood, midlands 5 speeds whatever.) There are also lots of diggs on the Peugot engine or references (somewhat misplaced, I think) about french engines being a step backwards (Assuming they figure out, fix and extend the warranties of the motors with the start up issues....).

Don't like what was posted? Find the facts that can counter the posts you don't like. Sad truth is that you won't find them.

Each enthusiast site has a bias towards that car, and on average, looks down on the competition (just read about the GTI, the Volvo C30, the Fiat 500 and the new Alfa here on NAM, you'll see what I mean.)

As far as the OPs issues (to come back to the thread), this isn't the first time that what should be an instant warranty issue has to be dragged through the gutter, with the outcome being in question for a while. There is a non-zero chance that the poor owner would be stuck with the repair bill! It wouldn't be the first time this has happened.

Matt

 

Fig faun,

Was this the momentum BMW on 59 and Beltway 8?

 

I'm not real familiar with Houston, noraa. I live in Austin, so Houston is upwards of a 3 hours drive. Looking up their website, though, it says it's on 1000 Southwest Freeway. I know Austin renames every street 3 times depending on where you are, so if Houston does the same it could correspond to one of those numbered highways. Otherwise, I'm just not sure. Sorry.

 

wow so I am so glad I only put 93 or higher in it,

 

Actually, I AM aware about ALL of the issues you mention. After all, I did a lot of research before I bought my MINI. I also put them in context--I consider them "old news.". The cars involved are previous models, and the comments were made about cars currently being delivered...

I stand by my statement that, bad as it is, this problem involves ONE car, ONE dealer, and ONE owner (probably mostly the dealer). Let's see how it plays out when all the facts are known, and MINI USA has a chance to take over.

 

the convertable is still the old chassis, so that means that what was wrong with the old coupe is still a current concern with newly delivered cars. And the R56 is having it's share of problems as well.

All I'm saying is that I don't understand why you said that they were posting mis-information or that you found it objectionable. Minis are good cars, but not perfect. To maintain that they don't have thier warts just isn't backed by fact.


And there's been a R56 car-b-que as well. Root cause as yet unidentified.

Matt

 

Overreving is just ONE way a valve train can get screwed up. A failed timing chain can cause this also. Taking the valve cover off may only show some of the symptoms (broken springs / rockers etc). Is the r56 engine a noninterference engine type? This means that if the timing chain breaks it's possible for the valves and the pistons not to come in contact with each other. More disassembly will probably shed some light on the root cause.

 

Somebody made the observation a few weeks back about how forums read negative and that mostly post are problem oriented in some way. Lots of folks replied to it saying thier car was problem-free. Just a little yang for the yin kinda deal.
I agree with Pmello as well. If the timing chain slipped or broke (rare, but it happens) all you get is *cough*cough*sputter* D.O.A.. It happens on timing belted cars all the time. Usually on deacceleration (shifting) or when the ignition is turned off. Chains can break, so it could have happened here, too.
I will keep an eye on this thread because I am curious how it will turn out. Fingers crossed for the OP.

 

we'll see if they have the data to back it up. If I were their manager, I would have just warrantied the sucker, and had a happy customer. Life would have gone on, and evry one would have been happy. Now they have to **** a bunch of time down the toilette defending thier action (and that they didn't do it right the first time doesn't bode well for them) and that will cost. The customer is pissed, and that will cost in the long run. Maybe they'll make the mark up on the parts and the labor to install, but if I were the OP, I'd have the work done elsewhere just to keep the money out of thier hands. Many who read this will know that they should steer clear, and that will cost too.

Matt

 

guys did you read the op in that thread. are you both sure it isnt the same op here just trying to get other people's input? everyone has a different opinion about different cars so ...we cant say much to them. i can say that i have never had a problem with my mini dealer and i actually know both techs at my dealer and they know we drive one of our minis hard and have never said anything to us. at about 6k miles we had a sensor near the left front tire go out and they didnt say "you drive your mini to hard so too bad". seems to me like the issue here is that the dealer he is doing business with isnt willing to help him. i hope he is able to get everything fixed and that he is able to enjoy another mini.


actually i read it all the posts and it seems to be his brother.

 

i agree with daffodildeb though ..just because there have been isolated incidents does not mean all r56's have problems. of course you see alot of the problems they have on here because a good percentage of people only join/post on NAM because they are having problems and either want to vent or need help. i drove an 06 corolla before my mini (supossed to be reliable and dependable) and i had to replace the computer at 15K miles!!! they also had to replace the timing belt and my headlights because they werent sealed right and water was leaking into them. our other corolla (03) had the tranny die at 40k miles and needed a new ac at 35k. this left us with the "toyota stinks" mentality but in reality over all they are good cars. point here is ...... just because a few people have issues with a car doesnt mean that should discredit the reliabilty or durability of a car.

 

I have to feel for the OP. I have no doubt my dealer would pull this kind of thing, IF they could even figure out what the repair is.

 

Thanks, sailorliz23. I'm glad someone has given some thought to what I've been saying.

Whether it's true or not, the general impression is that the dealer sucks. That's great for word-of-mouth advertising, isn't it?

 

^see girls know stuff to!

I should know I have five sisters