Ok...you've had your MINI for 1000 miles. Besides the cosmoline issue, are there any other issues/quirks that you've EXPERIENCED?

Buy a spiral notebook...make a list of things that have happened since you took delivery. Heck, if you have a digital camera or camera phone, take pics EACH TIME you have cosmoline drippage. Email the pics to your SA and ask for an appt. to bring in your MINI so that they can take care of the obviously excessive cosmoline. Ask for a loaner but keep in mind that not all dealerships offer loaners.

Melted hood scoops don't happen to everyone. Do you do a lot of motoring at one shot? If not, don't worry about. Do you have a garage? If yes, park inside and pop the bonnet for 30 minutes or so to let the engine bay cool off.

Good luck!

Erika

 

I really wouldnt care about that, all i would care about is, that i got a freakin ferrari! ( i didnt know bmw's get covered when they are shipped??)

 

It really sounds like your dealership didn't properly prep your MINI for delivery to you if you have so much cosmoline to clean up.

Contact your SA and mention the excessive amount of cosmoline...

Good luck!

Erika

 

LOL i was watching the news and thought about this thread as well...ROFL......

 

Has BMW changed their shipping routine? According to this thread on the PH VDC, all the vehicles are covered.

If all you have is the wax issue, then document it and have your dealer properly clean it for you.

But if you want to sell, go ahead, it's your vehicle. Good luck w/ the GMs we never had a that didn't drip lemonade from the oil drain plug.

 

clnconcpts,

I have had mostly Japanense and couple European cars and they have been very reliable and I have NEVER been stranded in my over 25 years of driving. I grew up in a family that had a few American cars (Plymouths, Ford Mustangs, Oldsmobiles, Mercurys, Cadillacs, AMCs!) and each one of those vehicles were excessively unreliable and always resulted breaking down and stranding us... the straw broke the camel's back when the family car broke down (an Olds 98) and the family didn't make it to my 5th grade open house that I worked so hard on with my class. I am not kidding and not trying to be funny, but I have held a grudge ever since.

A cosmoline drip does not make a car break down... just wash it off and it will disappear over time! I proudly washed off a few small oil smudges from my car and would never think that affects quality. The MINI is truly an impressive premium small car and I can attest to that after 1,200 miles.

I guess if you are not happy, it is probably best that you revert to an American small car like a Plymouth Neon, Chevy Chevette, or Ford Pinto! Keep on motoring in your own way!

Cheers,

JKC

 

There has been only one day so far that i havent had to wipe that stuff off and it was raining that day.Go figure.
I have contacted that person and he/she was telling me "we have never heard of that problem.I emailed he/she pics.Someone was suppose to call me a week ago.Everyday I call and I'm told the same thing.Someone will call me.

 

I'm not complaining about drive ability issues.Just cosmetics.I do wipe it off,but it has left permanent stains on the fender trim.I cant get it off.

Sorry you had issues with your other cars.I must be lucky with my old cars,cause i've never had a problem with any of them.Knock on wood.
I just dont feel its my responsibility to have to clean this stuff everyday.I have better things to do with my time.

 

do FORD people even talk to each other much less have a forum

 

wait... did I read this right?

clnconcpts did you say you would understand if it had engine or transmission problems because they are mechanical but can't accept a temporary cosmetic issue?

so just having to dealing with weeping cosmoline for a few months is reason to get rid of a car...

FOR REAL????

Clearly you just aren't happy with it and it goes beyond theoretical issues you may or may not encounter and having to clean up cosmoline drips for the first few months.

Only R56 S models manufactured the first few months had melting scoop issues. As soon as BMW realized it they made design changes to eliminate the problem.

There are several great threads right here on NAM on what to do to add an amp and sub to the MINI, upgrade speakers, etc. so no issue there.

There are plenty of safe mods that can be done... the safest of which are provided and warrantied by MINI...

NAM members would be happy to help and support you but if you just want to get rid of your car, you weren't going to find a whole lot of sympathy posting about it here.

 

I moved from Tucson 3 years ago after 10 years there to escape the heat,so the way to solve the problem with your cosmoline is to move.Q

 

If you were so lucky with your oher car purchases what makes you think your luck ran out on this one!
Seems to me that in the 8hrs you spent here you could have driven to your MINI dealer and gotton this issue resolved, but as you say you had better things to do with your time.
FYI all cars that are shipped overseas are covered in coslomine including the BMW, the car covers are only used from transport from VDC to the dealer. In fact I bet there is a guy in europe complaining of the same problem with his Caddy built with the same GM parts that are in the chey.

 

Once again,By paying 30k Cosmoline issues shouldnt have to be an issue.Dont you understand that?Why do you people feel its ok to have to deal with it.Why should i be inconvenience by having to clean it everytime i drive it.
When I pay money for a car it shouldnt have any cosmetic problem.Mechanical issues are unforeseen problems that do happen and i can accept that.Accepting this shipping issue is unaceptable in my book.Obviously they have known about it since they started using it,but dont care to fix it before it hits the customers hands.They can avoid that problem.

 

Yea thats it.Take time off from work and spend 8 hrs at a stupid dealership,Arguing about there stupidity .Why?Is that fun for you?

Btw,All they will do is replace the panels.Its still going to drip on the new ones.Doesnt sound like a fix to me.

 

Thanks for the laugh.I love the heat,it doesnt faze me.

 

Geez...stop being such a whinybutt!

Clearly there's an issue with the cosmoline.

You've taken pics & sent them to the dealership...

You're still waiting for a return phone call...

Keep taking MORE pics...take pics EACH time you have a cosmoline drip & email it to the dealership...

Inform the dealership that the cosmoline has STAINED the plastic trim...

It should be covered under warranty...and as long as you maintain a DETAILED papertrail (dates, times, email vs. phone, pics sent, etc.) the dealership CANNOT say that you didn't try to contact them.

Bottom line is that you will most likely have to make a trip to the dealership. See if the dealership is open on Monday (Labor Day)...if it is, drive over and make a fuss.

If the dealership refuses to do anything...or refuses to schedule a service appointment for you, detail that info in the notebook.

Contact MINIUSA and file a complaint.

You DO have to be pro-active...phone calls & emails aren't going to cut it...

Erika

 

Who told you that they'd merely replace the panels???!!!

They'll detail the car and remove the excessive cosmoline AND replace whatever needs replacing.

Erika

 

The cosmoline issue, as Erika said, seems to be a dealer prep issue, not a systemic issue that can be addressed by MINI. Conflating this with poor build quality, which is a separate argument, seems to be what people are taking umbrage at.

 

You keep using the $30K figure...the basic fabric of a MINI is not that of a $30K car!! Yours cost that much, mine (same basic car beneath the accessories) was most definitely not. MINIs far exceed any "reasonably priced" car out there. The tiny issues that arose never came as a big shock to me, but then I always looked at a MINI as a $19K car...once a niggle or two got sorted there is no better car for the price, imo. Others have had trouble with cosmolene and have had trim pieces replaced under warranty. It definitely seems a bigger issue for cars delivered in summer...mine was an early summer delivery, too (last year). The dripping will stop...at that point have the dealer look at and replace anything permanently damaged.

 

\

You call what you did today working?
WOW you must have a real nice employer!

 

Hey,dude---regardless of your issues with your MINI, I don't see any reason to be rude to a long-time member of NAM. That's just plain mean-spirited.

I feel sorry for your MINI. I hope someone adopts it that appreciates it's beauty and spirit.

Have fun on the boards for all those "quality" American cars.

 

clnconcpts, I agree with you, the cosmolene is a stupid issue that we shouldn't have to put up with and BMW should have changed/fixed long ago. However, the car is still so much fun that I was willing to put up with the daily cleaning.

If it's any consolation, mine stopped dripping the stuff after it's first summer in the hot Atlanta sun, so it does eventually go away. Until it disappeared, Simple Green did a great job of getting rid of what I thought at first were permanent stains. If that doesn't work, peanut butter and a toothbrush will.

Do what you have to, but even with all the issues I've had with my car (and there's been a bunch), I love it more now than the day I picked it up, and it's by far more fun than any other car I've owned.

 

Cosmoline is a detailing issue that should be taken care of by the dealership.

I have had one or two drips on my Clubman, but they wipe right off and, using a little Hydro, I don't even see where they were.

I am more than comfortable with the Cosmoline being used on my MINI. I intend to keep this car for some time and I am glad that MINI has seen fit to take the necessary steps to protect my car from the salt air while they transport it to me from England. Cosmoline = No Rust. Good enough for me.

If you are having a serious problem with cosomoline drip, take it back to the dealer. They will fix it.
Or sell it. What the heck do I care?

Enjoy your new Dodge Caravan.
I gotta go read another thread now.

 

I didnt state the car was or is built poorly.

 

Cosmoline - I had the same problem. I forgot all about it until today. For something to be permanent I think you have to wait longer. Mine went away after a few months of the normal weekend car washing. Be patient and look at the glass as half full. The car should be a blast to drive. It might just be the only thing you dislike about the thing. You might just never have any problems. Don't fret - everything might just be fine.