Uh-Oh, guess I will inspect my chrome moldings upon delivery!

 

For those who have note taken delivery yet, you may not have the problem initially since we are going to Fall/Winter. The peeling may not manifest itself until late spring earlier summer of next year. I'm curious, has anyone who goes on Mini2 which is Eurpean oriented, seen any threads regarding this issue in other countries.

It seems the adhesive and the material used does not stand up to the high temperatures we had across the country this year. The frustrating part of this is my wife's Countryman spends a lot of time in the garage during the day which is insulated and does not get above 85, even on the scorchers.

 

Received an update from MA today:

"By the way, we now actually have new part numbers for the chrome pieces, they have not released them yet, but I am hoping that they would be here mid to late September, but I will keep you posted as I get more info."

 

My understanding is they are going to the polished aluminum like on the cooper so the whole beltline will be replaced on those MINI manufactured during the period the trim was defective. The polished aluminum will not match the chrome tape.

Moral, don't get a half baked replacement, insist on all the trim.

Bill

 

FYI: I believe the old part #s were:

[FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]51139803776 [/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Arial][SIZE=2] Molding, hood[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]51139803777[/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Arial][SIZE=2] Molding, side panel, front left[/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]51139803778[/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Arial][SIZE=2] Molding, side panel, front right[/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]51379803781[/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Arial][SIZE=2] Trim strip, window, fixed, left[/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]51379803782[/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Arial][SIZE=2] Trim strip, window, fixed, right[/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]51379803783[/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Arial][SIZE=2] SUPPORTING LEDGE LEFT[/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]51379803784[/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Arial][SIZE=2] SUPPORTING LEDGE RIGHT[/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]51379803785[/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Arial][SIZE=2] Retaining strip, D-pillar, left[/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]51379803786[/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Arial][SIZE=2] Retaining strip, D-pillar, right[/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]51139803787[/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Arial][SIZE=2] Supporting ledge[/SIZE][/FONT]

It would be interesting to see if your dealer orders the above part #s. If so, you will get more of the same.

Mark

 

Well, that didn't work. I guess inserting a table in the post isn't as easy as I thought.

The numbers are:

51139803776 Molding, hood
51139803777 Molding, side panel, front left
51139803778 Molding, side panel, front right
51379803781 Trim strip, window, fixed, left
51379803782 Trim strip, window, fixed, right
51379803783 SUPPORTING LEDGE LEFT
51379803784 SUPPORTING LEDGE RIGHT
51379803785 Retaining strip, D-pillar, left
51379803786 Retaining strip, D-pillar, right
51139803787 Supporting ledge

Mark

 

Can you get the new part numbers from your MA and post them here?

 

Talked to my SA yesterday and he stated that the new parts are starting to make their way into the distribution channel. He was going to check when I should expect my replacements.

 

I called my dealership today and this is the first time they have fully acknowledged the problem of the chrome trim pieces. They said they just received communication yesterday from Mini that they have worked out the issue and the new parts should start shipping in the next couple weeks.

 

I was looking at a CM in the showroom today and it had this problem. I couldn't believe they would have one with an obvious defect in the showroom.

 

Well, the body shop that did some work on my Countryman (don't ask..) called and said they finally had a replacement part for the chrome strip below my door. Sounds like the parts are starting to show up. I'll let people know tomorrow what the replacements look like.

 

Anyone heard yet if the 2012 Countryman's have the same issue?

Has anyones 2012 Countryman hit the US shore yet?

 

Spoke with my MA this week. Permanent replacement parts are manufactured and being sent to the states. These parts conform with the original aluminum trim on other minis. They plan on replacing all the belt line pieces. This is great news. Other areas have begun to peel and those replaced are peeling again. I live in south Louisiana where heat and humidity are of the charts! Despite the issues, I still like the vehicle.

 

First post here so hello all. I've been creeping all over the site but I have something to say here.

I bought my CM in OKC and immediately moved to The Woodlands Texas in getting here I noticed the chrome/sticker (junk). I called the dealer in OKC that I bought it from and they told me that there was a $100 credit in the parts department for the inconvenience that MINI was giving but that it would be better for me to get on the list in Texas as I am living here now. I went in to get on the list to have my chrome replaced and they said that there was no such credit offered. They also told me that they have mo idea when the replacement chrome was going to be coming in.

Just wonder if anyone has the proof of the credit that the OKC dealer told me of?

On another note I am going to check into carbon fiber 3M stickers to replace the chrome sticker that is coming off everywhere. Any thoughts?

 

I did a lot of my interior, head light bezels and door handles with the DI-NOC 3M and it looks very nice. It's pricey. It would probably cost $100 to buy enough to do the whole belt line. Just do the black. Way cheaper. 2 rolls of tape from pep boys for $14.

 

My R60, cosmic blue with 2K so far had similar problems with the cheapo tape, also rear quarters and rear. I'm not sure about blaming the heat since the Northwest has had a cool summer. We did take a trip to Ashland where the car was briefly exposed to 95 degrees but I parked it in the shade so the car surface never got that hot.

However, when I called our dealer I was told the trim wasn't even available from Germany. Perhaps BMW is finding a new, more reliable trim manufacturer. Also interesting the dealer said they only had one other car, also R60, with the issue but the replacement parts aren't available in the US or Germany.

In the meantime, lets all hope the quality of the car vs. trim aren't correlated.

 

I Received an automated e-mail today saying the chrome trim parts I ordered came in. Unfortunately when I called to make an appointment they could neither confirm nor deny that the parts were the new version or old... They placed a call with BMW NA and are suppesedly waiting to hear back, my bets are on the old version.

 

NickChuck,

Could you ask the service employee what the part numbers they recieved were? If the part #s they give you match the numbers listed in this thread, they are the old parts. In that case, I wouldn't bother having them changed. If they are different part #s, then let us know what they tell you, so the rest of us can do the same.

Thanks,

mark

 

Anyone know the manufacturing dates that MINI is going by? I ask, as I have had no issues with the tape, and mine was manufactured late Feb/Ealry March...just asking as I dind;t know if they were going to replace all CMs to the new parts or just the ones afflicted with "Peeling Tapeitis"?

 

Just curious, PDX MINI or up in the Seattle area?
If it was PDX MINI, I'm their other R60 and have been waiting on parts for 4 weeks now. 1 piece is in but we're still waiting for 3 more I think.
At this point I hope the rumored "fix" parts come out sooner and I just get all the trim replaced with the corrected parts.

 

Hi. Seattle Mini told me they had only one other trim failure. Maybe it is a heat related failure but what's most aggravating is BMW's failure to come up with a fix despite several months of knowing of the problem. Since chrome trim use has a very long history it's not like they have to start from scratch.

 

My dealer told me a week ago that they had in only two complete sets of replacement trim. I was told that the MINI Rep. told them that these are the new heat tested permanent replacement parts. I took my Countryman in last Tuesday to have all the trim replaced. When I went to pick it up, I was told that there were only 3 pieces of trim in the replacement kit, so those were the only pieces that they replaced. I was unhappy, so the Service Manager had the parts Manager to print him off a report of all parts available in the U.S. It showed a few other pieces in stock in the U.S. He then said that they had no idea when the other parts would be available from Germany. I threw a fit, left my Countryman with them (They gave me a car of my choice to drive in the meantime), and then the next day, I was told that the Regional Mini Rep. was having the remaining parts expedited from Germany. So, the parts ARE available if you push them. I am told that the parts from Germany would be in within 7 days. So, I am driving the loaner, leaving my Countryman with them until ALL trim pieces are replaced with what MINI says are the "heat tested" replacement parts.

 

I'm in Colorado and have the same issue. Took the car into the dealer and they stated it is a known issue and will replace the trim pieces under warranty. That was a month ago and still waiting for the parts. Not sure why they wouldn't paint these pieces instead of some cheap decal product. Poor adhesive and hot temperatures seem to be a consistent theme here.

 

What did MINI do? Switch to a "made in China" supplier?

Terrible QC.

 

I received an update today from the Service Manager at my dealership. All of my trim pieces but two have been replaced with the "permanent fix." He said that the two remaining pieces were shipped from Germany on Sept. 16th so they hope to receive them soon. In the meantime, I am still driving a loaner vehicle until the "Permanent Fix" is completed. The parts are available from Germany folks. You just have to threaten legal recourse, make a huge scene in the service department at your dealership, and tell them they can keep your Countryman with the junkie trim until it is fixed!!! (Put some miles on one of their Minis while they are fixing yours!)