Hi - My '09 JCW has arrived at the dealership, so I went down there to have a look. I finally found it after a few minutes wandering the lot, and it's a real beauty! But unfortunately, my MA somehow left off some of the options I had selected... the Hi-Fi 10 speaker system and the Sirius radio, to name a couple. Anyway, looks like they can install everything EXCEPT the 10 speaker setup. They're telling me that's factory only.

Has anyone else ever run into such a problem and were you able to get it resolved? Seems to me that if the VDC can bring a car up to factory spec, they could send it back to the VDC to have the options I ordered the car with installed to "factory spec." Anyone ever hear of that being done?

BTW, my MA was so busy with deliveries, that I couldn't actually work with him... so another guy tried. He said they could get another car, but this time it would take 6 months because they didn't have the allocation.

For a company that touts building cars to customer order as being a big deal, then screwing it up... four different options are missing!!

On the other hand... if I don't have the 10 speaker setup... does anyone who has "audio ears" think it's really a problem if I don't have the full hi-fi rig? Is it really better? I read from some people who say they don't think it's really worth it... but I did order it, and now I won't get it if I actually take delivery of this car.

Thanks for the infinite wisdom of all you NAM'ers....!

 

That certainly is a BUMMER!! If it were me I would Re-Order (at ANOTHER Dealership) and let your stinking MA have a good LASHING!! That bit of ignorance is inexcusable!!

 

The dealer forgot my stripes.It was on all the paper work,except the order sheet.

 

dont' you get and order confirmation once your order? i did to ensure what I ordered was actually input into system... I would order a new one...peroid

 

The dealer should be happy to re-order your car with the correct options, especially if it was their mistake. That said, whenever I've ordered a new MINI, I always double check with ASKMINI and the OL what options are listed in MINI's system as a check & balance against the dealership paperwork to ensure they car is being built how I ordered.

 

As long as the missing options were listed on the order sheet you signed, they should re-order it for you provided you want to wait.

 

That was a serious screw up on your MA's part!!

It is nothing that you did wrong I would complain to the General Sales Manager about that and see how it can get rectified in a very timely manner.I would then go higher up if necessary.

 

Yes:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=148849

Didn't get my Comfort Bluetooth. Dealership researched installing it, then said they couldn't. I even bought the special BMW plug-in for my car. Dealership gave me a refund for the Comfort kit & plug-in! tho in retrospect, I'd rather they have installed it; bluetooth drains the battery so could use the charger, and my phone doesn't have the best reception so could use the hook-in to the antenna.

I'm sure the dealership could have installed it... it just doesn't pay for them given the effort/time it'll take, and that BMW/MINI is likely to not reimburse them for at all. ...I think that's key in all these situations.

 

Exactly. When I ordered mine I was given a sheet with all the car specs on it and the estimated price. When I put my down payment I also had to sign that sheet verifying these were the options I wanted. I even changed my order via email 2 or 3 times and each time I got a new spec sheet with the changes verified.

The OL was never 100% correct....but my car had everything but the $25 bag holder that goes on the back of the back seats. That was out of stock and my MA said when it comes in they will just install it for me for free. Reminds me I need to shoot my MA an email to check on it.

If it's a dealer mistake, then make them fix it. That is absurd. Good luck and let us know what happens.

 

Hmmm, unless the 10-speaker set up means that much to you, which it might, I would take this opportunity to take a discount on the car, because it was their mistake.

Otherwise, yikes, I don't know.... waiting another 6 months just doesn't seem worth it.

 

My friend just received his clubman and he's very upset with the quality of the hi-fi system. He's having to go to a local stereo shop and spend an add'l 2K to make it sound the way it should.

I personally would take a discount. I don't have the hi-fi in my '08 and not sure I can tell the difference between mine and a hi-fi setup.

Sorry to hear of your frustrations.

Mark

 

How much do you get for a refund.
Hit a quality speaker install shop and replace the crappy factory speakers with the $ you get back. Should be $500. Complain for more.

 

get the cash for the hi-fi and get aftermarket speakers.

I have the hifi. The only reason I got it is because it came in a package.

it sucks and is NOT worth the money, it should come stock.

 

I guess I'm the only one who's ok with her hi fi set up.

 

I like the hi-fi. Many do. So don't let that sway your decision. If you are a true audiophile yes you may be disappointed, but for me mine sounds great.

BTW I also had a car delivered without an option. In the early 07 builds many Minis were delivered without MFSW as ordered because the order form the dealers had used changed. My MA had my reorder ready to input before he even called to tell me about it. I told him that I could have lived with any option being left off, but that one, so I reordered. He was also working to get me to the top of their priority list.

In the end its your decision on what to do. You have to decide if the 10 speaker hi-fi is worth it to you to reorder. Simple speaker replacement won't do it with the stock system as the hi-fi also has an amp. I'd recommend talking to your MA and see if you can't get bumped up the list. It was a little easier for me as in the early 07 model year sales were ramping up and dealers were not totally sold out like now.

 

I'm glad you mentioned that because I was going to edit my post to clarify my response.

I'm sure many people like their hi-fi system. I also think for the non-audiophiles, though they may enjoy the hi-fi, I don't think it makes that much of a difference.

The people that don't like it are true audiophiles and can differentiate between the systems in their car.

Since I can't tell that much difference between the hi-fi system and the normal system, I was suggesting staying with the normal and just do speaker upgrades or an amp if you must.

I use to be into stereo stuff much more but I find myself either driving with the windows down and sunroof wide open (my last 7 cars have been convertibles) and therefore you can't tell quality....

Or I want to listen to the engine and the exhaust and I turn the radio down.

Not having the hi-fi wouldn't make me reject a car... (and especially wait another 6 months)

Mark

 

One thing I noticed is the OP has one post. That should tell you allot right there.

This problem is not his mistake but I read some of these replies and laugh. Complain up the line of command, demand a discount etc. etc. Are living in a dream world? MINIs are selling well, he is not going to get a discount on this car. If the OP doesn't buy it they will sell it within a week if not sooner. What good does complaining up the chain do? The SA made a mistake, something all of us have done. Too bad the OP didn't catch it but it is done.

He has 3 options the way I see it.

1. Take the car as is with the missing options deducted.
2. Order another car and wait.
3. Walk away and buy a car elsewhere.

 

I hate to disagree with you but it can't hurt to negotiate with the dealer. You say that they won't but that is incorrect.

I bought my '08 off the showroom floor. MSRP was 31XXX. I traded in my '06 cabrio. They gave me 24.5 for it. That was 2K more than was I paid for it.

They simply added the difference on to the sale price so I was basically buying my car for 33XXX.

A little negotiation later and not only did I get them to give me 24.5 and still sell me the car for 31XXX, I got them to throw in an 800 set of Crown wheels I wanted.

My point is, it doesn't hurt to ask. Minis are pulling a premium and the dealers do have the upper hand....

However, he may be able to get something for his efforts. I say at least try.

Mark

 

I don't understand how paying 2k over sticker is a deal.

 

I didn't....

The dealer saw my payoff was 22K. They were giving me 24.5K for the car. So they tacked the extra 2.5K onto the top of the loan and tried to sell me the car for 33K.

I negotiated with them and managed to get them to still give me 24.5K for the car but STILL sell me the car for 31K.

I end up getting 2K extra for my car.... not to mention 800 in wheels .

Mark

 

ok, got it. In this case it worked for you. Dealer must of had a buyer for the cab. This proves my point further. MINIs are selling otherwise you would not of gotten that much for the cabrio. MINI is no longer making gen. 1 cabrios. I don't think the dealer is going to have a hard time selling the JCW either.

 

great responses from all! they're calling the regional guys on monday to see if they can get another car in sept. if they can, then i'll go that route. it'll be an extra couple of months, but better than 6 and i'll get what i wanted. however, odds are they won't get another allotment, for a host of reasons i'm sure most of you know well better than i. and i think the real world statement is true... they'll sell this car regardless, so it's not a real problem for them.

so i expect it's take it or leave it at this point. i expect things to go down like this: monday they'll say they can't get another car so i have to decide. i'll tell them i won't decide until i see what they expect to deliver, which is supposed to be about wed. if i can live with it, we'll start the bargaining. i'm not over zealous about a discount, but i think they need to clear the labor for dealer installed options off the invoice at the very least... and maybe a little extra by way of an apology. well, i guess we'll see how they react anyway.

most, but not all of the options were ever listed on OL... and none of the audio options were ever listed, despite the fact that the HD radio was installed and listed on the sticker sheet. so i'm not so sure that OL is worth much for use in verifying options. however, i did not leave the dealership with any paperwork concerning options other than my initialed printout of the configurator. when i saw the manifest yesterday, it was obvious that audio options were left off before the car was built. would OL have listed them? i don't know.

i did call the MA when i didn't see everything, and he said they "never get to see that site" so he didn't know what it would show. ASKMINI just regurgitated what OL showed. from my perspective, i gave them an initialed list of options, and it's their responsibility to ensure it's fulfilled. yes, i'd like to verify it, but i thought i had at the time... it seemed straight-forward and squared away.

another footnote to this story, when i called the MA back on the 15th, i was told that i could probably take delivery about the 22nd. he said they had to install the rally lights first, of course. and i said off hand, "and the strut brace..." he said, "well, i don't see that, but the box in the form is so small, it just doesn't show... i'm sure it's there" grrr... a week later, and i'm not so sure. anyway, we verified the strut brace yesterday, at least. but i swear the guy looked at my initialed list for that, and not the build manifest.

for folks newly ordering, the lesson learned here is: as suggested in this thread, don't leave without an actual manifest detailing your order! i actually thought that's what i had initialed down the list, but it wasn't what was sent to the factory... make sure you get the factory order manifest! (even if you have to go back in a few days to get it...)

and thanks to all of you for the comments!! sorry for the novella here, but i'll let you know how it goes...

 

Great, glad to see you've got it under control. I'm sure you'll make the right decision for your and you'll be happy.

Enjoy motoring once you get it.

Mark

 

+1

 

Wow that sounds like a dealer that doesn't know what's going on. If there is another dealer in your area I would go talk to them and see if they can work you in faster. I wouldn't want to deal with that dealership if I were you.
It was super easy when I put my order in. They went over every option I wanted, double c hecked it was on the order in the computer and then printed out and I had to sign it to verify this is what I wanted. I walked out with it easy, no problems.

Yeah the OL is sorta iffy but if you call they should be able to tell you what you exact order is. Should I say