Up until now, I've read many times that Mini will service your car as long as the OBC tells you or its been over 1 year since you've purchased the car.

Today I went in to get my Mini serviced since its been well over a year but my OBC says 3k miles to go. I was promptly notified that Mini of NA has now told dealers they are to no longer do a 1 year service of R56's.

Interesting stuff...

On a side note, I was also told that a tire rotation and balance isn't part of the service warranty and was going to run me $100. Has anyone been able to get them to do this under service?

P.S. Dealer was Irvine MINI.

OPish

 

This is the first I've heard of them not doing an oil change at least once a year. Anyone else? On my MC they let me come in to get a 1-year oil change (only oil change - nothing else) done last November without issue. Then I had to go back a few months later to get the balance of the OBC services done (and no additional oil change during this visit). This was at South Bay.
This is what I was told as well. No tire service, period (unless you pay or ask them to do it for free out of the kindness of their hearts).

 

I would think we would be able to make an argument regarding the original details of MINI service as noted and advertised at the time of our purchase. I would think--though I honestly have no idea--that this would be written somewhere, thus making it a potentially binding contract.

Regarding tires, rotations, and the such, same info here--all for-fee only, no comped or included types of service of such things.

 

Same thing happened to me, they wouldn't even try to schedule me until my OBC said less than 1000mi. I just called back a few days later and said I wanted to schedule my 1yr oil change and didn't give them any other details.

...and they charged me $75 for the tire rotation @ Princeton MINI. I believe that's common practice.

 

I got my 1 year service done for free last month. You may want to call another dealer in your area to confirm.

 

they do an oil change at 12 months .... not the full service ... 'service' only happens when the computer says so.

and sometimes it ends up you get an oil change at 12 months and two months later another cuz it is 'service' time.

been that way since I bought my 02 new off the lot and as of my last service on the 7 last month stayed the same.

Florida dealer tho

 

Tire rotation and alignment is not part of the service plan. Most dealers send it out to a tire place and then take a nice profit on it. Go to a tire place to get that done.

I had a 1 year oil change, and then the countdown odometer service later. They are two different things. All you get after one year is an oil change they may do some visual inspection. The countdown service includes things like brake fluid flush, oil change, and new pollen filter.

 

I got a 1 year OC and then the indicator went off about 6 months later. Then it went off again but that was only for inspection and brakefluid. I get OC one year after the last one which will be in Oct. Tire service=$60.

 

I called Mini of Dallas a few weeks ago to schedule a 1yr service appt. for Sept. I did this a few weeks early so that I could get a loaner car for the day. I told them that the computer showed a servicing was due on 9/2009 (which is strange, since I custom ordered it and picked it up in mid Oct). I also asked them what they would do during the service and was told, "they will completely go over it, change oil, cabin filter, etc." I just did the tire rotation myself (comp reset too) since I knew it wasn't covered. Hopefully, I won't get short changed on the servicing or have to come back. So far, I've had zero issues with the car.

 

I forgot to mention that I still have something like 5-6K miles to go on the service computer.

 

My SA called and told me to schedule the 1 yr service a couple of weeks ago and I did, no issues. They did the oil and filter change, changed front and rear wipers and refilled all the fluids. Wheel rotation and balance can be done but I would have to pay $127.

 

Wow, rotation and balance at my dealer is $65.

 

Dreyer & Reinbolt in Indianapolis changes oil at 1 year regarless of service odo.
Do your tire rotatin yourself - use the factory jack at the front jack point and BOTH wheels come off the ground making this job quite easy. Its a good oportunity to do a thourough wheel cleaning as well. Spend the 65 bucks on dinner.

 

I bought my 07 mini S last spring used from the dealer.

The service notifier is showing I'm due in september. so I guess this would be my last free service? Thinking I have to count 07,08,09 or do I start with 08,09,10 and still have another one?
I know we get the oil, filter, wipers etc included, but is the inspection free?
Just so happens the inspection is up in september too.....
Do they change the brake pads as well? Even if the aren't completely warn down?

 

I wonder if rotation is covered with the tire extended warranty?

 

As far as the '07 car and when is your last free mtn, I would think that the years would tick off based on the birthdate of your MINI - The date the original owner bought the MINI. It would also be dependent on what the mtn warranty was in place at that time - 3 yr/36,000 ?

As far as the tire warranty, I would also have to check my paperwork but believe it covers damage to the tire/rim during the period the warranty is in effect. I do not think it covers tire rotation like you would get from a local tire store like NTB.

 

My tire warranty requires owner-paid rotations/balances.

 

My tire warranty covers tire damage, wheel damage, and curb rash. not maintenance.

 

My dealer did not take the car after a year because computer didn't read "0". Last week, with 19,800 miles computer finally reads 0, called dealer and I was told that they were booked until October.
So I wrote to the equivalent of "ask mini" and the response is:

"MINI recommends changing the oil in your vehicle once a year if you do not drive enough miles for the service interval indicator to alert you that a change is necessary. This oil service will be covered under the MINI Maintenance Plan."

BTW, after more calls, they finally took the car, they did a great service, but just discovered that the computer now shows: 08/2011 20,000 miles for next oil service. Do you guys think that they "made a typo or a mistake" ?

Some dealers are just BSing us. And another thing: I do my own oil changes, but can you imagine buying a used mini or bmw knowing that the previous owner didn't change the oil for 20,000 miles?

On the good side: by mistake (or being stupid)I arrived 2 weeks early to my appointment, and they took the car... this was nice.

 

Is free inspection covered under the 3 year free maintenance?

 

They will "inspect" your tires and brakes, and body for dents. Then if you have dents, they will try to charge you about $100 per dent, and I'm sure that I would have received a quote if my tires and brake pads would have been worn out.

So the answer, is YES, it's a free inspection.

I noted that they added winshield washer and they replaced the AC micro filter for free.

 

Depends on what your inspection means....

If you mean a state required inspection then by MINI-USA the answer is no.

I bought my first MINI in VA where there is a required State annual safety inspection. This was NOT covered by MINI maintenance plan (nor did I think it would); the dealer would do it for a charge. However I'd note that some dealers of other brands in the area would inspect cars of their brand bought at & brought in for service ... it was a hook to get customers and not a brand policy.

 

yes, what I mean is the State and Emissions inspection. Wasn't sure if that was covered under the "Free 3yr Maintenance". I figured it wasn't.

My scheduler is showing 9/2009 or 3000 miles remaining. I figure this is for the oil change, but I just bought the car pre-owned from the dealer in april. I've only put about 2500 miles on it since purchase.
But my inspection is also due in September so I figured I could get that done as well thinking it might be included. But since it's not, they probably hammer you with price.

I can get both inspections done a few blocks from my house by a private mechanic for $50.00.... I can't imagine the dealer being that cheap.....

 

$75 to rotate your tires? I just had mine rotated at a tire shop for the grand total of $.25 that I spent in the gumball dispenser.