Well, this is my third MINI, and the first to roll past the magic 36K mileage line where the "free maintenance" stops. My observation is....what a joke. I mean it's better than a sharp stick in the eye, but the value that their marketing wants you to believe in simply isn't there. In my 36K miles, with their suggested intervals, I got two oil services, and a onetime "inspection" that included spark plug replacement and a couple of other filters, etc. Even in Dealer dollars, probably $500 max. In contrast, on a prior BMW E46 M3 (BMW's include free maintenance for the same duration as the warranty 4yr/50K) I got the first "M service" at 1200K miles, four more oil services, and Inspections I and II which on M cars are pretty pricey. That was probably $3-4K in services. Again, I'm happy you get anything, but the system is loaded against you. Lower mileage drivers than myself probably get even less. I would just as soon MINI drop the charade and make the MSRP a bit lower.

 

I don't disagree with that...OR drop the maintenance and make it 100k mile warranty like so many other manufacturers are offering!

Better than nothing though, better than nothing.

 

Yeah I looked at the "Free Maintenance" Pamphlet and told the salesman to stop quoting it as an advantage during his sales bit. Its a complete waste of a service.

 

The military guys like me have nothing for free. We have to pay for everything unless we bring our Minis back to the US then we would get the free service deal minus the time it was overseas.

Still having to pay for my services, I took donkey in for an oil change and my obc said I still had 5000k to go. Deal told me I still had the milage left and try to hand me back my key.. I told him that i knew and do it anyways.
My money is good there LOL.

 

mtbscott, you never got brake pads or rotors? With the JCW Brembos those can be quite pricey, and if I'm not mistaken, they're included in the maintenance plan. My Cooper got all new brakes at 25000 miles.

 

I guess it's something in my driving style, but my brakes always last a long time. My M3 had 57K miles on it when I sold it and still on its original brakes. When I had the JCW in for the 30Kish mile service, estimated pad wear is still 20K miles away.

 

memo to self: put more miles on car before my free mtce thing runs out in a year, and use the brakes a helluva lot more than I have.

 

My free maintenance is almost up, so I'm trying to wear the brakes out since the OBC says they have about 2k miles left. I hate using my brakes a lot, but I've been driving with the handbrake on till I can smell it (takes about 30 seconds) and braking to where the ABS kicks in on every freeway on and off ramp where there's no other cars nearby. Good times.

 

 

It's no dif than an extended warranty - or an extended maintenance plan - They make money at it or they would not sell it. God knows what "free" maintenance adds to the base price.

 

Meh I bought mine used with 14k on the clock. In the year that it took me to get it to 36k I had 4 oil changes. Not once was I turned down and that was at 2 seperate dealerships in 2 different states. I never onced complained about it. I look at it this way you say it is a waste because it really isn't that expensive to charge you for the service and extend the warranty out to 100k all I can do is laugh at how naive you are. 100k mile warranty should be standard that would be awesome. But after owning my Nissan for 5 years and 55k miles I can tell you it took one time for the dealership to do service and I never went back unless it was something that was going to get covered under warranty. They want no less then a $200 everytime I took it in for a manufacturer reccomended serivce. And that was 5 different dealerships in 3 different states. And there service intervals were about the smae time apart for fluids and checks minus the oil changes. If you believed it was such a waste why did you use it? Obviously it meant something to you.

 

My perspective as a san franciscan with a manual was different. On my 06 mcs I got brakes and rotors AND a clutch out of those frost 3 years. Sure, I'm not the smoothest shifter out there, but not the worst. We're on steep hills and in traffic all the time. Plus, lets not forget those leaky motor mounts on that model. It can of course be argued that the mounts should be designed differently and not leak from a rocking engine on gradients, but nonetheless, I had a lot of work done without paying mo for it than I did in the cost of the car. In fact, I bought extended maintenance when mine was up. I definitely find long term value in it. In some ways it's insurance. You may not need a new clutch or brakes or whatever, but if you do, well, there's coverage.

 

I, too, have thought that the program is more of a marketing plan. Most cars don't really need much service for 36k. I don't drive more than 10k a year. Since I have been following the threads on here, the mini seems to require a lot of TLC (top grade gasoline, top grade oil) and have problems that should have been corrected during production. Does the mini require sparks plugs to be changed out at 35k? Most cars today go for 60-100k before requiring the plugs to be changed out. I was looking at leasing a manual because I don't like the auto, now I am not so sure. Last car I had with a clutch didn't need it replaced until around 60k and I thought that was early. I am surprised to read of all the problems everyone deals with. This is an expensive car. It should not have the majority of the problems I see posted on here. Very frustrating, I really want to like the car. It drives great and gets great mileage, but I don't want to have to deal with a lot of problems.

 

I got two oil changes and nothing more. My dealer wanted $39 for tire rotation in the second year.

What a waste... shall we call this maintenance program a SCAM?

 

FREE

HA HA HA

you paid for it

and the guys who drive the heck out of their car

suck the life out of low mile drivers like me

my 2007 is still thousands out from service one

I'm NOT complaining . . . just stating facts.

 

I've gotten new brake pads, new wipers, full inspections, and am taking it in for a new clutch next month all through the program. It beats any VW/Audi service I've had in the past. I'm at 32k miles and the program ends for me on 12/31/2010.

 

Molly was just in for her 2.5yr. Check Up, yes she goes in every 6mo., I had already scheduled her for an Oil Change and the OBC said it was due so I got it gratis.

I've also had both Front & Rear Brakes replaced, 2 set of Wipers, she gets those changed every 6mo. as well.

Not sure what else and yes I know we are paying for it in the end, but if you really don't use it then I suppose I can see where you might think it's senseless.

 

I'm at 30K. I've had done:

@14K
-Oil changes
-Front pads
-Wipers

@ 22K
-Rear pads
-Timing Chain TSB

@29K
-Front pads & rotors
-Wipers
-Cabin filter
-Brake fluid flush

I think that's all I'll be able to get out of them. Now my valve cover gaskets are leaking oil because they don't change them with the Timing Chain TSB.

 

Its good for people with bad driving habits. Those that ride their brakes and have other bad habits. However, penalizes those of us that do drive properly. I drive the crap out of my car but drive it properly which now has 47K and all I've had were oil changes, wipers. My brakes never met the minimum for a change during warranty period. I am still driving with my original brakes which will go at least another 10K.

 

Did you have to pay for all of these or did the "free" maintenance cover it?

 

How do the high mileage people penalize the low mileage people? Low mileage just don't take advantage of the plan. It not the fault of the high mileage people.

You think it's just marketing? Try owning a Toyota or Lexus and see how much you spend each year on maintenance.

Just because YOU don't take advantage of it doesn't meant no one else does.


The way I read it, he didn't have to pay for any of that stuff.

 

if you think the mini maintaince warrenty is bad, look at the other car compaines out there trying to join in, like toyota theres is a joke. and you can always extend the mini maintaince to 100k.

 

I drive through NYC rushhour traffic 6 days a week. That's how long brakes last here. If you're @ 50K on your original pads than you should have just bought a prius dude.

No, it's all covered.

 

I know of no other Car Company at the $28,550 price point, what I paid for Molly, that offers any kind of "FREE" Maintenance. My Husband's 2010 Kia Soul...Nope, we're footin' the bill for LOFs and everything else we'll need done, they do have a great Warranty, but who knows if we will ever be using that??!!

 

I got my first service at one year 8,079 miles on the car. (Oil , Filter , Wiper blades & checked everything on the car Top to Bottom )

Second service at 14,345 miles on the car. ( Oil , Filter , Wiper Blades replaced again , Flushed & replaced the brake fluid , replaced all air filters and checked everything top to bottom of my car. I turned down the tire rotation because I do that myself every 5,000 miles so I can clean and wax the insides of my wheels.)

The mechanic that worked on my car asked me if I noticed anything at all that needs repair or inspection.

I now have 18,000 miles and everything is still excellent with my 2009 JCW.

I don't see anything really bad about the Maintenance warranty. My dealer checks everything that needs to be checked and replaces the items that need attention.

Oh yea, I always turn down the wash job. I like to wash Little Red myself.