EMY-RDL, with all respect that is a load of tripe.

We, who plunked down our cash (or at least extended our credit) should not be held hostage to the profit maximization of the dealership. The dealership is not doing me a favor when they repair my car under warranty or service it under the included maintenance - I've paid for both up front in the purchase price of the car.

MoS in specific and MINI NA in general the victim of their success, yes they have to expand, and yes they have a business problem. But when they can't provide timely service they transfer they problem to me. And that is unacceptable.

When you evaluate the SERVICE provided, you aren't voting on how empathic a bond you made with the Service Adviser, you are evaluating the totality of the SERVICE, and that includes the unreasonable wait for the appointment.

 

I kinda agree, I don't think it is that straight forward, I don't know if I am average or not but I got my first oil change after 9 months; you also have to figure in people that bought there car 2 or 3 years ago that will be coming in for break service or there 1st or 2nd inspection(not state but MINI maintenance inspection), plus cars that need emergency service, people getting into accidents ect. If they strictly dealt with oil changes I think they could fit everyone in. Now factoring everything else in, it would seem painfully obvious that they need to get a bigger building; and I would completely agree. I don't know the dealer but do know some people that work in the service department. From what they have said that they have been looking for places to get more service bays for some time but for some reason it has not happened. If I had to guess it would be $$ or locations. I know they have been trying to build because in the dealership they have pictures of the new building in the showrooms, I think those have been there for awhile though so who knows if it will ever happen. I would not be surprised if BMW/MINI regulate how big the dealer can be; I know they regulate how many loaner cars a dealer can have and MoS is always out of them. This is just my opinion, but I think that building a new dealer or adding onto the current dealer is much easier said than done. Every time I have been to MoS the place is packed full and finding a parking spot is pretty hard; they might have to find a whole new site to build on. Who knows what the dealers finical stuff looks like but I still think banks are going to be hesitant about giving any car dealer a huge loan for a brand new building, or addition to a current building, with the way cars sales have been over the past year or so.


Agree; I was referring more to people who just put a 0 for everything because they had to wait a long time for there appointment. There are different questions for a reason, and you should answer them all biased on how you feel they did on that specific thing. It does not help the dealer get better if you put they were bad at everything if you were actually happy with your service once you got to the dealer. I would encourage people to write angry letters and comments on the surveys that the wait time is unacceptable, or about anything else that they felt was unacceptable during there visit. Sorry, I should have been more specific the first time.

I guess I just don't see the point of getting so mad at something you can't change. At this moment in time there is nothing the dealer can do to make everyone happy. They only have themselves to blame for it, but hopefully they are trying to do the best they can with what they have right now and are planning so they can handle everything better in the future. I personally don't see waiting a month or 2 to get my oil changed as doing any damage to my car(I am sure some people do and I am sure you have valid points, but please don't lecture me on the importance of clean oil, I also changed mine before the MINI recommended time) so for me I put the appointment on my calendar and now I don't have to worry about it for a couple of months and have plenty of time to plan my schedule around a few hour trip to the dealer.

 

For what it's worth, the scheduling person at MoS told me there was some large recall on early-model MINIs (catalytic converter?) that booked up all the service slots this month.

--Dan
Mach V

 

I paid out of pocket to have the oil changed on my Mini when the odometer hit 3k. Then I had the first year service on Monday at Alexandria Mini. Hell, considering the Mini replaced a 2000 Benz that was in the shop every time I looked cross at it, I'm a satisfied camper.

Alex Mini is still under construction but the place is open and has plenty of product in the lot. I felt like Homer Simpson eyeing a doughnut.

 

can anyone give me an update to this tread--dc area--best service experience--especially does anyone know a mini mechanic-real pro in the area for post warrantee service??? i did go this weekend to passport mini in alexandria for basic stuff--no issues at all--but next month my warrantee drops--so looking for a specialist with fair prices

 

A quick update, re: MoS. The service improved substantially - and wait times reduced significantly - once Passport MINI of Alexandria opened up. I think that took a huge load off of them, service-wise. Probably cost them some customers too, but that's how it goes.

For service at other than a dealership, I'd highly recommend Dan and his team at Mach V in Dulles. Fair prices, great work!

 

WOW!!! I just drive in to my dealership and they take my car without an appointment. Then if they really can't service my car that day they'll tell me to book an appointment for tomorrow or the day after.

 

I know this is an old thread, but about a year after I bought my MINI I had about 5 problems with my car in the matter of a couple of months. They weren't huge problems but they weren't little ones either IMO. The dealer wasn't exactly the most accommodating to me, and considering the price I paid for the car, I was getting very frustrated with them. So, I gave MINI USA a call. Ever since, my dealer has done everything in its' power to keep me happy with the car. I know customers shouldn't have to resort to that, but it's never a bad idea to contact the "higher ups."