I'm not sure if any of you remember but within the last month or so I've been trying to find a pepper white Cooper for my mother.

After looking around, she ended up buying a brand new 2010 S in pepper white with white roof, JCW aero kit with custom black leather seats with white piping.

Of course she believes what her son tells her and doesn't hesitate in buying based on my suggestion.

She received the car Monday and in less than 24 hours, she had to have it towed to the dealer. (greeeeaaaat, after I tell her how reliable these cars are)

The car won't stay running. At first, I thought it was my non technologically gifted mother.... maybe she wasn't pushing on the brake, maybe she didn't push the key in first before pushing the start button.... I was hoping.

Today she picked up the car and she had to start 5 times to keep it running. She had it picked up and after examining it, it turns out there is a glitch in the software. They are expecting a fix within 30 days.

I haven't spoken to her yet but if I find out that she has the car at the dealer, I'm gonna hit the roof.

I understand new cars have issues too but come on, could the woman at least drive it 24 hours without having an issue.

I'm so glad mom listened to me.




Mark

 

That has to be the worst! Sounds like my luck. I would be telling them to get her another car or at least a new loaner. Then tell her to take a loooong trip with it.lol!

 

The more I hear about these issues--and it seems pretty damned frequent--the more I think MINI has some people with their heads wedged in their backsides as a matter of course. Or maybe it's just the computer division.

Sorry to hear it.

 

Luck has not been your friend lately! (survival notwithstanding)

 

This is exactly why I never recommend cars to anyone. I drive Land/Range Rovers (never, ever, have problems) and people always ask me for recommendations about them. Despite the flawless (knock on wood) record for me, I never recommend them to friend or family. Same with the Mini.

 

Glitch in the software?

Really? That's the best your dealer could come up with?

Honestly it's tough on me to read stories like this. Sure- every car can come with some bugs right out of the box. These problems should be fixed immediately with top notch customer service from their dealership. This doesn't include a blanket statement with crutch type words like "glitch".

On the flip side she may have a car that needs smoothing over- it is not ideal and puts you in a rough spot, I know, and I'm truly sorry, but it could be the case. Let the dealer come to, what I hope, a solid conclusion of what's causing this. Then we can start pin pointing the wrong doings of this situation.

I can imagine the frustration and needing to vent. I always look forward to your unbiased opinions on everything pertaining to the MINI enthusiast. That's why I hope in the coming days I'll see this updated with a happy ending.

As a side note- I'm in no way affiliated with any effected parties. I just really hope to reasonable conclusion.

 

full refund ? :]

 

Glitch in the software? No one noticed the car wouldn't stay running from the time the car left the assembly line to the time your mom drove it off the lot? Bet several people noticed but just didn't care, pushed off the problem to someone else... Shameful...

 

Thanks guys. I talked to my mom last night and found out exactly what the problem is.

Apparently when she starts it, it's okay. If she has to make several stops, each time (not every single time) she starts to go off on her next destination, she has to push the start button more and more. The more she stops, the more times she has to start the car. It'll stay running once it's running, it's getting to stay running immediately that is the problem.

Something I'm not understanding. They said they've only seen this one other time but yet they have a fix coming for it in 30 days? How the hell could they have a fix for it in 30 days if they've never seen this before? I mean seriously, they've known about the timing chain tensioner for years and blew it off, you're gonna tell me they only know of one other problem and they already know a fix is coming?

Complete and utter bullshiet.

She has another car to drive and isn't really bothered by it but I am. If I pay cash for a new car, I expect the freakin' thing to be operable, not "here's your car, we'll get it fixed in 30 days"

Though she's okay with it, I'm going to escalate this with the dealership, it's ridiculous IMO.

I'll let ya'll know what is going on.

Mark

 

Brand new car broken in 24 hours and the fix is 30 days away......UNEXCEPTABLE.

 

Software glitch? I'm a software guy and I know only too well what that means! The software from the factory is going to be basically the same for all MY cars until an update is made. So essentially what they are saying is that the "software" is not properly handling something that the car is doing. They may be able to work around this with software, but I would try to get to the bottom of what the failing symptom is...what is going on in the engine, electrical system, etc. that is giving the software difficulty. Sometimes work a rounds are not the best solutions. My $.02.

 

Sorry to hear about this Mark. I agree with you. Complete BS on the dealers part. I hope a solution to this problem is found sooner rather than later.

 

I completely agree... here's my thought. If it's a "software" issue, then reinstall the software.

I just don't understand how they could have a "fix" for it and have never heard of the problem.

I've already got a call in, I'll call them back in 15 minutes.

Mark

 

Ditto, except I'm a hardware girl, and I know that when you have the same hardware running the same software, successfully in thousands of other situations (cars), when something doesn't work right, it's not a "software glitch". I guarantee you it's a hardware issue, some sensor somewhere that's busted or a small, but faulty IC. Hardware isn't always right, ICs are as reliable as Lindsay Lohan

 

BTW, what angers me the most about MINI is the arrogance. Trying to sell a car above MSRP, saying no negotiations, saying the cars have "software glitches", you drive it wrong, crummy service and saying you're too picky, etcetcetc.

 

That whole situation blows, OC. Sorry to hear about it. Don't they know who's mom they're messin' with?! Hope they do the right thing.

 

Here's an update.

I spoke with the service director/manager and told him what's going on. He's going to look into it and let me know what/if they can do.

I don't want to jump down anyone's throat yet, I'll let him look into the problem and see if he can come up with a satisfying solution.

I did however, warn the salesman that if they don't come up with a solution, I will have my mother drive the car.

When the car won't start, I will have her call BMW and have it towed to the dealership and when they can't fix it, I'll demand the car back and do it all over again.

Point is, I'll make lemonade out of the lemon law. I would like to give them the opportunity to fix it first willingly.


Mark

 

Check what the return law is on new cars, 30 days sounds like a stall so you can't return the car.

 

Oh come on!

Really? The dealership is stalling so they can't return the car?

We've got some active imaginations on board here......

Stay after them Mark, they should be able to give you a satisfactory, believable answer and they should be able to implement a fix in a whole lot less than 30 days!

And I'm not buying the whole "we'll have a fix for it in 30 days" routine either. My take is that's a misunderstanding - maybe they have a new software package coming in 30 days that they want to use, but that's not what's bothering your mom's car - something else is, I'm sure of it.

 

There have been others who have had some issues starting too. The latest round of the Stage 1 kit was causing a similar issue. Car would start fine when cold but after driving for a while it would take a few tries to start again. Mini has been rolling back the Stage 1 flash to an older version which seems to have solved the problem apparently. Seems I have also read some have had the same issue as OC mothers car, 2010's, but not quite as bad. Good luck Mark and keep us updated!

 

MINIDave: it's a plausible reason. Usually, 3 days is the return law. But 30 days eats into the Lemon Law time.
It's sad that people try to make others believe something that might not be true, just because they don't want to have to hassle/waste money because of the truth. In this case, the dealer probably doesn't want to hassle with the return and is hoping they can stall you. Obviously, you're a bit more educated I count my lucky stars everynight when I go to bed knowing I'm educated and therefor I didn't get ripped by someone that day

 

Orange Crush, you certainly start some of the most interesting threads around this forum, I'll give you that award. What a freaking drag it is to hear this. Cannot she just take the thing back and start over again, like it was a bad dream? Tell me she can, please. It isn't like she was the one who slid her car into the tires at the track.

 

Please tell us they gave her a loaner, and hopefully a JCW for her troubles.

I always tell people: MINIs are not problem-free, but there's nothing like driving one!

 

Well, you could loan her yours, but it seems to have a glitch in the HARDware.

Hmmmmm.

 

Mark I understand how pissed y'd be. When I read all the BS owners seemed to be subjected to here as of late, and all the BS quality and mechanical issues Ive had to deal with in 6 years of 1G and 2G MINI ownership, let's just say Im getting very jaded.

Jaded enough to consider a Hyundai Genesis 3.8 Track Coupe. I've driven a couple G sedans with the Tau 4.6 V8 as rentals and have been impressed with how much the brand has improved here as of late. Last week I was lucky enough to take a 6spd automatic G-coupe 3.8 Track on an extended test drive, and it excited me more than my first test drive with a MCS in 2003--nice to stomp on the gas, hear that naturally-aspirated Lambda wail, and not have to sweat torque steer trying to direct me into a ditch. Also, no DI: no HPFP! Huzzah! (maybe my jaded nature made it seem more exciting, but ive never driven a 3400 lb 312 hp RWD coupe armed with a Torsen LSD, 19 inch wheels, and 13.5 inch Brembos all around for about $30k out the door). And that warranty.....

Now, if I can just find one. They are even more exclusive than the MINIs

good luck resolving those issues M