R56 Got my cooper - Production defect?
2nd Gear
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 72
Likes: 0
I agree. You are picky. Did someone say replace the car? There must be a lot of people with nothing to do.
4th Gear
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 353
Likes: 0
From: DC Metro Area
lol....
4th Gear
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 353
Likes: 0
From: DC Metro Area
I wouldn't say you're being picky either...it's *your* new car and of course you have a right to expect it to come out of the factory a certain way. I'd personally just point your concerns out with the dealer. I'm sure they see stuff like this quite often and will hopefully remedy it need be.
6th Gear
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 38,578
Likes: 2
I've been back to the dealer a good bit (especially on my '03 Cooper) for things like this for the very reason you mentioned. Everything was dealt with cheerfully, generally with a "oh, that just pops into place like this"....*snap*....and it was fixed. It's worth investigating if the dealer isn't too far away, and especially since the car is brand new. I think MINI knows all too well that there are little things that miss inspection and need sorting even on a new car.
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3rd Gear
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 232
Likes: 1
From: Israel
Bring me any MINI and I'll bet you I can find places where body panels aren't nearly as well-aligned as your average Toyota Corolla. My own MCS has minor issues like the one pictured, and any of the ones I have seen sitting at the dealer have had even more noticable mis-alignments. Just look through these forums for the number of complaints people have with leaking doors and hatches due to much more severe misalignment issues, front windshields not sealed correctly, side scuttles falling off because they areb't properly attached, etc. A MINI is more like a hand made product in which small imperfections are to be expected. I'll bet you a Ferrari isn't as 'well-aligned' as a Toyota, but you don't always buy a MINI or a Ferrari for the same reasons you buy a Toyota.
The dealer should be able to adjust the hatch, but it may never be 100% perfect.
The dealer should be able to adjust the hatch, but it may never be 100% perfect.
It is very disappointing as I was looking for a BMW finish!
Last edited by BXR; May 27, 2008 at 12:11 PM.
2nd Gear
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 72
Likes: 0
Do you really think Mini would offer to replace your car due to this trim piece? You are dreaming.
OVERDRIVE
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 5,602
Likes: 107
From: Arizona
It won't lower the price that you get for the car when you sell it, don't worry about that at all. There are a million other things that will affect the value, and that isn't one of them.
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3rd Gear
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 232
Likes: 1
From: Israel
TheBig,
Thanks. It's quiet reassuring.
Moss,
You didn't read my description. It's not the trim, the whole bagage door is lowered on the right side. I pictured the trim as it shows the difference.
It's not about dreaming but rather Mini's quality policy.
I don't think they will want to replace the car, and even so, as I understood already, their quality & QC allows even worse production defects.
It's not something I'm demanding rather that I wanted to know what is the finish quality of the cooper and if it's something common or demands a car replacement.
Thanks. It's quiet reassuring.
Moss,
You didn't read my description. It's not the trim, the whole bagage door is lowered on the right side. I pictured the trim as it shows the difference.
It's not about dreaming but rather Mini's quality policy.
I don't think they will want to replace the car, and even so, as I understood already, their quality & QC allows even worse production defects.
It's not something I'm demanding rather that I wanted to know what is the finish quality of the cooper and if it's something common or demands a car replacement.
4th Gear
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 499
Likes: 0
From: Catawba, VA
TheBig,
Thanks. It's quiet reassuring.
Moss,
You didn't read my description. It's not the trim, the whole bagage door is lowered on the right side. I pictured the trim as it shows the difference.
It's not about dreaming but rather Mini's quality policy.
I don't think they will want to replace the car, and even so, as I understood already, their quality & QC allows even worse production defects.
It's not something I'm demanding rather that I wanted to know what is the finish quality of the cooper and if it's something common or demands a car replacement.
Thanks. It's quiet reassuring.
Moss,
You didn't read my description. It's not the trim, the whole bagage door is lowered on the right side. I pictured the trim as it shows the difference.
It's not about dreaming but rather Mini's quality policy.
I don't think they will want to replace the car, and even so, as I understood already, their quality & QC allows even worse production defects.
It's not something I'm demanding rather that I wanted to know what is the finish quality of the cooper and if it's something common or demands a car replacement.
I hope you get your problem resolved.
4th Gear
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 529
Likes: 0
From: Sarasota, FL
In fairness, the fact that the hatch is on at all is a sign of remarkable improvement over previous British quality control.
I disagree about this not being an issue. If I wanted a poorly constructed car, I would be a Caterham and do it myself.
Last edited by OpusMini; May 27, 2008 at 04:40 PM.
4th Gear
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 529
Likes: 0
From: Sarasota, FL
If you haven't seen the other parts, follow the links to youtube and watch the other parts. It gets better.
Part of owning a British car is having a sense of humor about it when it breaks down. When my driver's side window stopped working I began laughing and smiled. I was amused that my first breakdown was electrical. Turned out to be mechanical but it was funny at the time.
Part of owning a British car is having a sense of humor about it when it breaks down. When my driver's side window stopped working I began laughing and smiled. I was amused that my first breakdown was electrical. Turned out to be mechanical but it was funny at the time.
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3rd Gear
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 232
Likes: 1
From: Israel
Sorry to hear of your problem. Unfortunately, QC issues like this are going to slip by from time to time. I know that does not reduce the disappointment when it happens to you. I know how you fel. I am a real knit picker when it comes to such things. I am very fortunate that my new MINI (now 1 month old) came to me in a state of virtual perfectness. Every seam, every door, every everything was perfectly fit and aligned. So I can say that at least some of the MINIs are obviously well checked.
I hope you get your problem resolved.
I hope you get your problem resolved.
I don't know if it's the QC that slipped rather than Mini's stand for quality.
Let's not forget that the demand is larger than what the factory produces.
Lots of little fit issues on my 2006 R52... it is what it is... British... 
I put a British Leyland badge on the back just to torment my club-mates who think their MINI is some super awesome "premium" car...
I put a British Leyland badge on the back just to torment my club-mates who think their MINI is some super awesome "premium" car...
2nd Gear
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 77
Likes: 0
If you haven't seen the other parts, follow the links to youtube and watch the other parts. It gets better.
Part of owning a British car is having a sense of humor about it when it breaks down. When my driver's side window stopped working I began laughing and smiled. I was amused that my first breakdown was electrical. Turned out to be mechanical but it was funny at the time.
Part of owning a British car is having a sense of humor about it when it breaks down. When my driver's side window stopped working I began laughing and smiled. I was amused that my first breakdown was electrical. Turned out to be mechanical but it was funny at the time.
I'd like to see a similar test with some old US built autos, I bet they wouldn't fare any better.
I hope the MINI is better than a 70's era US built car! Tell me it's more reliable than that!!!!
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