OK, so the dealer replaced the high pressure fuel pump, which I believe is the fix for others in the same boat suffering laggy acceleration. You get another CEL for the same thing, they check everything, swapped some spark plugs and now they're blaming the gas.

Just going from what I've read - once you throw another CEL they cannot blame the gas. Then you have a very serious matter that they must now take...well, very seriously. I have a feeling they will do more than replace the fuel pump and a couple of sparks/coils next time around. Not sure how all of this fits into the lemon laws.

No doubt you had a bad first experience at the dealer. It took a whole week to diagnose the problem and replace the fuel pump, and the tech messed with your bumper to boot. Apparently the fix did nothing, at which point they're now essentially blaming you for putting bad gas in the tank.

You and the dealer have to bridge the communication gap at this point, without emotion. Have you driven your car with a technician in the passenger seat (not the SA) and explained the problem in detail while physically showing him what you are experiencing? At the very least I hope they are more attuned to your concern the next time. You are obviously and rightfully frustrated at this point, time for the dealer to start stepping up to the plate from a service perspective (dropping off a loaner at your residence is a good starting point)

As for being turned off by the MINI brand, I can understand that , especially with MINIs. They can be quirky cars, so the most important aspect of happy MINI ownership is having a good relationship with your local BMW/MINI Service Department. If you don't have a service department willing to work with you, then you're screwed. Coopers have many more quirks and issues than your typical Japanese or American car, so overall you're not going to have your typical Honda/Toyota/Buick ownership experience, period. Another thing I've come to learn is not to expect perfection with my MCS. I will hear the occasional rattle that will mysteriously go away 2 days later, my shifter isn't perfect (it's especially notchy on cold mornings - ugh), I heard the death rattle once almost a year ago that I haven't heard since. A lot of minor things have already happened that would not have been an issue in my old Mazda Protege, but I've learned to accept it. I know you're issue is substantially more serious, but my main point is, overall, even if your current problem is fixed to your satisfaction, don't expect a completely no-worry experience with MINIs in general, it's unlikely to happen. If you're looking for that typical Japanese car ownership experience, definitely do not get another Cooper. Hopefully it doesn't come to that point, though, and your issue is resolved, and you come out that much smarter about your new MINI. Good luck

 

At this point they are done with me until a check engine light comes on. Now that the service manager says the car has learned that I drive some sort of way which he is saying is why it is revving the way it does. I mean its just nuts. Some time i put my foot on the pedal and get nothing but bottom out with no acceleration and other times when I am going to slow down it just stays around 4k rpm and feels like its about to keep driving with out me. I mean its a very scary experience to drive not knowing whats going to happen when I put my foot on the gas. I have explained that the loaner cars never do this and I have had loaners for almost two weeks. Thats why I was asking how long does this "learning time" take place. I am to the point now where I no longer allow my wife to drive it because I am scared for her safety. Terrence thought that was a joke when I told him that. I told him that I have had crazy dreams of getting killed by 18 wheelers trying to do something on the highway and getting no input. This car is just nerve wrecking. Then good ole Terrence tells me the same gas he uses is bad for my car. I just don't get that.

 

It's called passing the buck. Go higher up in the food chain--much higher if needed, until you get someone who gives your satisfaction. And document everything--all your service visits, all your discussions, AND the specific times it causes the problem. And I mean actually writing in a notebook when and where it does the RPM thing...

Stay cool about it, though, so they don't just pass you off as a crackpot.

 

Hey Iceman, I agree with going up higher on the food chain, as well as starting legal proceedings. Check out this post: https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...with-mini.html
I mean, if they are going to replace this MINI because part of it had been repainted without the owners knowledge (which effected its resale value) surely, they need to do something about yours. Be persistent, but as mentioned earlier, rational. They don't need to label you a
crack-pot", just an very unsatisfied customer.

 

I've read some of this thread. My comments..
1. They shouldn't play the "you used bad gas" card. Ever. Unless they get bad gas out of the tank, analyze it and determine that it's bad. Weak.
2. The line "the car learns how you drive" is BS. Weak, at least as weak as the "you used bad gas" card.
3. Your fearing your wife's safety and you won't let her drive the car should be documented and should by all means be placed in front of the dealership if that is true. Serious stuff IMO.
4. I wouldn't buy another Mini if I were you either. I've been very happy with my car and my dealer (only one warranty fuel pump) but they make or break the thing and the you buy bad gas/you drive it funny are signs of weakness at a dealership IMO.

 

Thanks for you kind words. Tomorrow I am going to go an have a meeting with my salesman and his manager and tell them what I am feeling and see if they can do something more. Right now my car just sits in front of my house. Right now I would much rather drive some of the used cars I get from the auction. I have more faith in those.

 

Thanks for you kind words. I will try going up the chain and seeing what happens. Also tomorrow I am going to submit my lemon law complaint.

 

If you have a mechanical problem with the car, meet with the service/repair side of the business. The only reason to meet with the sales rep and manager is if you are getting rid of the car (I can't tell from your post what you are planning to discuss).

Since taking delivery of my car, I've never again had a conversation with my sales rep. I deal with the service department on service issues.

 

My salesman seems to be the only one on my side and seems to be the only one that can get the service department to take me seriously. If I go to the service department that are just gonna send me back home like they did last week. Especially since I have not popped a check engine light.

 

You mean you don't stop in socially once in a while?? Boy, we do around here. They get invites to the club drives each month, too, and pass the word around to their customers.

I swear, some of those guys probably get milk and cookies on Christmas Eve. After all, they're like Santa, right?

 

Did you ever ask about the District Service Rep I mentioned a while back? Just curious if they responded.

I'd move on. I'd be in touch with corporate at this point, and let them tell the dealer(s) what to do. This is too much BS from them, and it should never be this way.

 

So what happened at the meeting?

 

Well i just had mine in for a CEL about for misfire. They reset the ECU BCU checked the plugs and dropped in a new high preasure fuel pump. All that on a car that has like 2800 miles on it now. Lets hope the pump was truly the evil part and that my mini rocks on from now on. I am not uber skepitcal about the car.

 

I'm wondering if Mini slapped a gag order into a deal on the OP with a buy-back.

 

Damn. Just when we were getting to the good stuff.

I hate it when I tune in for an epic and get a Pauly Shore movie.

 

Iceman,
I am having very similar struggles with mini of towson service department. They claim there's an oily substance in the gas (service advisor said "someone must have put diesel in it". I was pretty pissed, my husband and I are the only ones who have ever filled up the car and we never put diesel in it.). So because its bad gas, its not covered and I'm out $800.
I don't buy this bad gas BS. It seems to occur too often.
I also bought my car (cooper-s) from Evan (who is no longer there I recently discovered) in March of this year.
I was in once before already too with only 1200 miles on the car for a new high pressure fuel pump. And due to 'bad gas', they're draining and cleaning the tank and changing the spark plugs and possibly a fuel injector.
Did they claim that it was an oily substance in your gas?

I'm wishing I would have bought another Chevy instead of the mini cause I don't need these headaches!!

 

I'm just taking a shot in the dark here and have not compiled any real data, but it seems like most of the problems posted here center around the "S" rather then the "MC". Anyone know if there is any truth to this observation?

Jim

 

FWIW, I have a friend who got gas at the Exxon station by the Graul's off exit 27 from 83. Two days later, her fuel pump died. The VW dealer asked her if she'd bought gas there and said they had a rash of fuel pumps dying because of some issue with the gas from that station. The station (or Exxon) has admitted the problem, and my friend's fuel pump was replaced at their cost.

So, it does happen.

OTOH, I brought my car into MoT to have the cold start problem fixed. They fixed it, but later that day, the CEL came on. The SA I worked with told me they might have to charge me something like $125 for diagnosis if it turned out to be gas with too much alcohol in it. She said 90% of their CELs are from too much alcohol in the gas. Other than that, I've been very happy with my experience with MoT's service department (OK, they could answer their phones more, instead of hitting voice mail, but I understand we MINI owners are a chatty bunch.)

 

If people are having problems because of too much alcohol, is anyone asking the state to check out the ethanol percentage? Seems that would be the first thing to do, since the correct percentage has to be marked on the pump.

Interesting that you mention Exxon. "Back in the day," our Peugeot's fuel injectors--a brand new innovation at the time--were constantly fouling. It took a while, and many dollars, to see the pattern because we used more than one brand of gas, but we eventually stopped using Exxon, and it never happened again. I'm surprised that it's apparently creeping in again.

 

In AZ the ethanol % varies depending on where you are (Phx has more pollution so they mandate the maximum 15% ETOH more than other counties) and what time of year (winter gets more ETOH). But good luck getting anyone to check out what goes in the tanks at your gas station. They're lucky if someone checks the pumps for accurate flow and to see if they reset to zero every few years here. I think checking the composition of the fuel happens at the storage sites, not at the stations where you buy it. I bet you can get a bad tank of gas almost anywhere. IMO Mini dealers should just deal with that and fix the damn car. Noone is directly responsible for putting bad gas in their car anymore than they're responsible for a cracked windshield because they were too close behind a truck or ripping the seat because they wore the wrong pants. It's like a tire shop accusing you of driving without enough air so that's why the new tire blew. It's a weak act and the sign of a dishonest dealer.

 

Wow--you have 15%?! Our max is 10%, and many counties have none at all (it's all or nothing, though). I live in the county north of Houston's Harris County, and the county above us requires no ethanol. Fortunately, we live fairly close to the line, which is especially good for our '64 Porsche 356. The old cars don't like ethanol...

 

Iceman cant you figure out that the Mini Cooper non s is just the same thing with out a turbo though. What is the bad thing about a standard mini kraut?

 

Or else sell your mini and buy a suzuki.

 

Uh...power. As in a lack thereof, especially with an automatic.

(Guess I have a little Tim Taylor in me.)

 

You should prolly just seriously sell for a suzuki. Might not have as much problems with them as the mini as you think and how crappy you say the JAC is.