Hey Gang,

What's the chances of my 07 MCS needing plugs at 40K miles? And, if I elect to do this on my own will I need a special socket to pull the plugs like some imports do? The reason I ask, is the dealer wants nearly 400 bucks to do the plugs. I'm still laughing............

 

My CBS system said I needed plugs at ~32k on my MC. The SA disagreed and deleted the item.

Honestly, plugs are cheap and EASY. Pull them out and check the condition.

 

Are the plugs not covered under warrenty? Or is it something that you want done that they say they don't need to do yet?

I just got an oil change at a little before 3k from the dealer. Needless to say, it wasn't covered under the scheduled maintence. But, I called one dealer in in area to which I was traveling and they wanted around $130.00 to change the oil. Then I called Mini of the Mainline, and they changed the oil for $65. The moral of the story is, the amount a dealer charges for service vary from dealer to dealer, so it might help you to call around if you can.

 

The standard change inteval is 100K. Not sure why you feel you need them if the engine is stock. I doubt you can talk Mini into covering it unless you can point them to a specific problem that might be spark plug related.

- Mark

 

Actually, we took it in for an oil change. Simple enough. Then it got interesting. The back up SA called and said our little MINI also needed a cabin filter, and air filter and plugs. For all this enjoyment I'd be looking at a mere 600 bucks. Ah ha! The plot thickens! Lets start out at the beginning. Their oil change is actually an oil service. Not sure of the difference, but another semi local dealer's oil change is only $90. I'm not sure if it's just an oil change or an actual service. When I asked the SA what the difference was I was then informed the oil "service" actually included the cabin filter. Hmmm, wasn't that extra a moment ago? Okay, I'm busy so $176 for an oil "service", I can buy that, go for it, I said.

The more I got to thinking, I called back and asked about the plugs. They said the computer showed a need for the plugs, so I asked "how much"? I'm told $180. A little pricey I thought, but if they can do it and save me some time, what the heck, Go for it.

Then my feeble mind kicks in again. Follow if you will. Previous, all encompassing price was $600. Back out the oil "service", which BTW included the cabin filter, was $176, round that up to $180, balance-$420. Okay, I added plugs. Add another $180-(180 +180=360) new balance $240. Now remember, all that's left from the original suggestion is the air filter. $240 seem a little strong for an air filter? Funnier yet, we have an CAI on the car and they couldn't replace the filter if they wanted too! And to top it off, they were out of the plugs! Isn't that like Pizza Hut being out of pepperoni? I guess they actually did me a favor for not having the plugs in stock.

I have a funny feeling our 07 MCS won't be seeing much of them anymore and I have a sneaky feeling our new Clubbie will only see them for warranty stuff, until that runs out.

One thing I need to add, I've been in the automotive business all my life and have owned a bodyshop for almost 20 years. Trust me, I can tell when I'm being BS'ed. Between insurance adjusters trying to cut everything short and SA's trying to wring every spare cent out of me, I'm about tired tonight! Thanks for letting me vent!

 

So which dealer was this, Dale? And why weren't the plugs and filters covered under the 3-year free maintenance? Sounds like a dealer a lot of us would like to avoid.

 

I second that. Is it the one in Richmond or are you closer to the NOVA area?

 

I'll bet a dollar it is the same dealer that was praised here recently for their outstanding service.

Engine air filter element $11 to $50 depending on brand and source, install time about 10 minutes

Cabin filter - $10 to $30 depending on source, install time about 2 minutes

Spark plug - yes, typically good for 100,000 miles today - $10 each and up, install time about 2 min per ....

we don't make money selling cars; we make money in the service bays

 

Correct! Even I had touted this dealer, since up to yesterday I had great service. I'm not in Richmond nor NoVA. Having said that, I was dealing with someone other than my normal point of contact, that may have been the difference. I'm willing to chalk it up to that. But if I weren't mechanically adept, I've have spent money I shouldn't have. I have to remember that a service department is a profit center too, just didn't realize how much of one!

 

Uh, isn't the cabin filter part of the first service that is covered in the free maintainance? I would think the plugs are covered as well. I think I'd talk to the manager about this.

 

I'm confused (not unusual):

You have written two posts about the terrible service you've gotten at a specific dealership and you've agreed with someone else who said, "I'll bet a dollar it is the same dealer that was praised here recently for their outstanding service." Your signature indicates that you are in Poquoson, VA. Yet now you say, "I'm not in Richmond nor NoVA."

So, where are you? And why the mystery? If the dealer is terrible, why not identify them so that others can avoid them or disagree with you?

 

Poquoson is part of the greater Hampton Roads area, which would be serviced by Checkered Flag MINI. I just hate calling a business out. Now let me say this is the first issue I've had with them for the most part. I've worked at dealerships and ran a dealers body shop for a while, so I have more than a notion on how things are run at a dealership. I just think this is an isolated incident, at least I'm hoping it is. I've prevoiusly had good service from CF. I have, however, heard of other local MINI owners basically being sold a "bill of goods" there. But on the other hand, you couldn't buy a MINI from a better group of people. Susan and Nathan are two of the best people you'll ever meet. I just wish they ran service too!

 

I'll be the third person to ask. Did the 2007 MINIs not get the 3yr free maintenance deal? If they did, why was the cabin air filter not covered?

 

If the Mini is like the recent BMW's that I have had then each plug has a coil pack mounted on top. Changing spark plugs involves removing each coil pack first before reaching the plug. Yes $400 is a ridiculous price, but it will take a lot longer then just changing the plugs on my '91 Miata (10 minutes). As my BMW mechanic noted, plugs deteriorate well before 100,000 miles but the coils can compensate for a varying plug gap. His feeling was that this would eventually wear out the coils which were much more expensive to replace. He felt that 30,000 miles would be a reasonable interval for changing the plugs.

 

I have some similar experience of "mis-leading math" from my BMW dealer. They quoted me $800 for "inspection I". But when I ask what they do, I was told:



1) oil / filter change ($100, I know because I have done before.)
2) air filter
3) cabin filter
4) brake fluid bleed


They quoted me $200 for brake fluid work. Now, that left me with $500 for the two air filters? Needless to say I only went for the oil + filter. Got my local shop to do the brake fluid for about $100. The two air filters is like another $50. Ugh. I hate the greedy stealerships.

 

rickdm is right, I just looked at the TIS for the R56, and to replace the plugs simply involves removing the cover, removing the coils and unscrewing the plugs. The oem plugs are BERU # 12zr65sp03. the plugwrench is 14MM 12point socket. torque to factory specs.

 

They are covered by a 3yr/36k maint. plan. The OP has 40k on his car, hence he is out of that plan now.


Oh, I just looked it up, it only calls for 0.8 hours to replace the plugs on our cars.

 

OK, I'm taking the Mini in for the first service, under warrantee, in 2weeks. Miles = 5800, age 1 year. So WHAT is included under the original warrantee, my dealer gave a 4 year warrantee. Do I have to pay for anything? I've had a 7 year warrantee with my Jeep & all I pay (extended) is $100 for as many items as is needed at 1 visit.

UPDATE: I did not get new washer blades nor a cabin filter, only the oil change & filter.

 

I took mine in for its 1 year warrenty with similar milage. They replaced oil, filter, wiper blades.

 

I haven't had time to comb over the checklist, but I just had my Lewis in for his first Inspection / second oil change. When I got the JCW Stage I kit it said that I now had to change plugs every other oil change, which would have been now, since I had it changed when that was installed, but that was only a couple months ago which is why I'm sure it didn't come up. My next service interval seems to be about 8k from now according to OBC, wonder what's next.
Anyway.. SA told me they replaced the cabin air filter along with everything else. After reading here I was under the impression that it wasn't covered so I had purchased a couple on my own but hadn't gotten around to installing them. Oh well - guess I'll have spares for when my maintenance runs out at 100k?

 

Seems I read in the manual that the MC plugs were 100,000 interval, but the MCS was 60,000 interval.

In either case, more evidence for avoiding Mini service at all cost when the 3 year service interval is up.

 

Thankfully, we have a great independent shop specializing in BMW repairs locally. As soon as the kid gets back from Florida, his car will go over there for a check up. I love my MA and the dealer as a whole, but I'm not too sure about the service department anymore.

 

I thought everything was covered until 36,000 miles... am I wrong? Sorry to revive an old thread... maybe I'm misinterpreting some of these posts.

 

Here's a quick update on the MINI. The boy child took it to Downtown MINI in Orlando (he's doing an internship at Disney) for a cold start problem. It would start, then die a couple of times when cold. I'm sure a lot of y'all have heard of this. Anyway, they diagnosed it as a high pressure fuel pump problem and covered that under warranty. That seems to have fixed that problem. He had them pop the plugs just to see what they looked like. Tyler, who has grown up around cars all his life, even got to look at them and said they looked fine. So major kudos to Downtown MINI for honesty and a major BOO to the local hampton roads dealer. Sorry, truth hurts, but the MINI's fine!