Just picked up my Countryman. The trim came in from Germany, so it has all now been replaced with the "heat tested" trim that Mini says is a "permanent fix." Looks good today. I will let you know if the problem shows up again, or if indeed they got it right this time. Again, for those of you that have been told by your dealer that the parts are not available from Germany...that is not true. My parts were expedited from Germany and arrived in about 5 days. The Regional Mini Rep. had to get involved, and again, I had to threaten recourse and throw a fit, but in the end, it got my trim replaced while others around me are being told, "No Parts Available."

 

Any tips for the rest of as about how you got you parts expedited?
Just got off the phone and was told that there's no estimate for delivery and that all parts are probably being used to fill current orders instead of being sent out to fix existing problems.

 

Would you have anything listing the part#s of the trim that was replaced? It would be helpful for everyone to know what parts they need to tell the dealer to order (just to make sure they don't replace the old with more of the same)

Thanks,

Mark

 

Thanks for sharing.

Is it just "new" tape, or is it a more solid replacement piece? The equivalent trim on the R55/R56/R57 is a solid piece of plastic that looks like metal.

 

The Service Manager spoke with the "Mini Regional Rep." It was the that Mini Rep. that got the parts expedited from Germany. They did this after I threatened to sue the dealership and Mini. While I was waiting for them to bring me a loaner vehicle while they kept my Countryman, two other customers came in with a Countryman that had the same problem and I heard each of them told, "No parts are available. When they are, we will contact you." Those customers just said, "OK," and drove off with their trim tape flapping in the wind. So, "nice" didn't get their trim replaced. So, to answer your question, you have to make a big scene and threaten them to get your trim pieces expedited from Germany. Also, perhaps your dealer will do what mine did and give you a loaner to keep until your vehicle is ready. I think it also helps to leave it with them, as I think that also helps to "expedite" the process. To answer the other question about is it "new" tape, the answer is, "Yes, it is." Mini says it has been heat tested and that it is the permanent replacement. I am in Texas, so we shall see. This is funny...today when I picked up my Countryman after the dealer replaced the trim, they had it all cleaned up with a huge red bow on top along with one of those $150.00 Mini Cooper Duffle Bags in the front seat along with a nice card.

 

Part numbers are...

51-37-9-803-776, 777, 778, 780, 781, 782, 789, 790, 791, 792

 

Correction to part numbers on my previous post...

51-37-9-803-781
51-37-9-803-782
51-13-9-803-780
51-13-9-803-776
51-13-9-803-777
51-13-9-803-778
51-33-9-803-789
51-33-9-803-790
51-35-9-803-791
51-35-9-803-792

 

OK - I'm in the club now.

I just got my CM4 back from repair (unrelated to the chrome trip strips) and, examining the trim, I found strips that had come loose at one end, strips that had shrunk at both ends showing the underlying support strip, and strips that had the sides come loose, flattening out.

The strip that had the end come loose has a replacement coming in from Germany this week (so much for spares not being available). The remaining strips will be a subject of discussion with my local dealer next week.

 

Well, after 2500 miles....add me to the club. At least I knew it was coming and I have you all to thank. I would have been extremely pi$$ed. Now I'm just extremely disappointed.

My rear passenger side quarter panel trim has shrunk on both ends and pulled away in the middle. Guess I'll be calling service on Monday....

 

Talked to my MA on Thursday. He said that he has a stock of replacement trim pieces, but they are the old design. He is hoarding them for customers that absolutely have to have a cosmetic fix now and are unwilling to wait until the new redesigned pieces are out. They have a new CM on the lot with the chrome tape already removed and the yellow plastic showing underneath. Mine was coming off when I picked up the car. I have the black out tape but have not had time to install it.

 

Got a call from the dealer late today. Apparently the "new" trim pieces are in, and they want me to set up a time to get them replaced. They must be replacing the whole group, because they never asked which pieces are bad. They are planning to replace them all. I'll try to get the appointment for Monday, or tuesday, and then I'll get a copy of the part numbers they replace.

We'll see if the fix is real, or if tghey are simply stalling some more.

Mark

 

Well, the dealer did exactly what I expected they would do. They looked at the car, identified only the trim pieces that showed obvious failures, and ordered only those parts. No part#s to report yet, but I will get them when I bring the car back AGAIN, to have the trim replaced.
When I asked the dealer about the remaining trim pieces, (only 3 pieces had not failed) they said something along the line that 'nothing is wrong with them now, and if they fail, they would replace them'. Very disappointing. I almost had to argue to have one of the pieces replaced because only a very small corner had started to peel. I told the service guy "how do you think the other pieces looked when they started to fail?" So they added it to the list. I could have argued more, but I shouldn't have to. As big a problem as this is, they should have offered to replace them all, and thanked me for putting up with their defect. Instead, they made me feel like I was at fault for complaining.
I'm going to have these replaced, and make a fuss over the rest of them once I see that they are actually different parts. I just wish they would have offered on their own.
I honestly thought MINI was better than this.

Mark

 

By the way, the 1/2 of the part numbers DTPROMAN reported are the same numbers that were in the system last April. (776-hood,777-front left,778-front right,781-window left, and 782-window right) were the same as the old ones. I think they simply replaced old with more of the same. The other #s are new, and might be the 'new' parts being replaced.

Mark

Mark

 

I hope everyone saying there is a fix for the trim is right. I noticed mine peeling around the back windows in May. They told me in June the parts would be in 3-4 weeks.

They called me in July, had me bring the car in to have the trim replaced, then called me an hour or two later and told me not all the parts had come in, but would be here in 1-2 weeks. Four weeks later I hear nothing, I email my SA and he tells me the parts were there, but MINI told them not to install them, because they would peel again. I think it should have been my decision to accept temporary parts or wait for a permanent repair, not the dealer or manufacturer.

It has been two weeks, still waiting to hear from them. Love driving the car, but my first experience with MINI service is making me seriously reconsider my purchase. I have never waited this long for parts, especially on a brand new car. Soon it will be five months since I first brought my car in! Seriously surpised no shady lawyer has started a class action suit yet!

 

Hey mark ..... It's really the dealer not MINI my dealer just replaced them all and gave us 300$ credit for mini stuff for the trouble ..... Every dealer is different sounds like its a bummer of a dealer ..... Do you have more than one you can go to? I find different dealers treat their customers differently from place to place ... Not cool but tru .

 

Hey guys, this is my first post here - this topic is annoying enough for me to join a forum over! Anyways, here is all the info I have:

The replacement parts have arrived, and they are NOT different to those originally on the vehicle. The cheapo tape is still there, and the part number hasn't changed and no supercessions have been made. This means that NO modifications have been made to the product.

All 3 of my rear trims are peeling, as are those of 2 friends of mine who bought theirs around the same time (June/July '11). We live in Spain and have 100º summers, but this seems to have affected some and not others. We have one at work which is outside in the sun all day and shows no sign at all of this issue. It is an early one from 2010, so maybe it's just a dodgy batch that's affected...?

I guess they're trying to offload all remaining trims and cross their fingers they don't peel again. When they're all gone and customers keep complaining, they'll have to come up with something.

Lastly, regarding what you all say about dealers giving you gifts etc: These gifts are not from MINI, but from the dealer. Do not expect a gift from a dealer other than the one you bought it from - they're not about to give money away if they didn't get any off you in the first place. And the fact that some people have loaners until it gets fixed is just ridiculous. This issue is annoying but certainly doesn't compromise the roadworthiness of the car.

Will post again if and when this gets sorted. Cheers all

 

My CM has been garaged all summer and it is still affected. Also a June purchase. I don't think heat is the catalyst..poor workmanship is.

Also, in regards to loaners? I expect one. It may not affect the road worthiness of the car but I will not be inconvenienced at having no car to drive or being stranded at the dealership while they fix their error.

JMHO....

 

I agree, but at most it will take an hour or so. Some people (on here, I think I've seen it mentioned) have had loaners for ages while they wait for the parts. I don't know about in USA, but in Europe BMW/MINI only pay for the loaner if you're off the road for more than 4 hours.

 

Of all the problems that could affect a car, this is relatively minor. It is annoying however. I think Mini is faced with shipping cars with a fixable cosmetic flaw or waiting for new parts and delaying shipping cars for the time it takes to ramp up.

How many people would want to wait an extra two or three months to get their Mini ? If you throw a fit on this you may lose goodwill if you ever need it. I'm not saying to ignore it , but put it in perspective.

 

actually your incorrect about this one, talk to mini USA and they are giving a credit to all countryman owners affected by this issue, mini first gave $100 dollers credit but some dealers actually worked to get higer amounts as my dealer got $300 dollers credit.

i also confirmed it so MINI is actually stepping up to this one, if some dealers are saying otherwise then they are just not informed. or MINI needs to work on their updating of dealers.


either way who cares at the end of the day, do i feel they are taking care of me ....... yes and thats why i buy their products... i however do not take their loaners unless they need the vehicle for a week or so.... i would have just ripped or cut the part thats flapping in the wind off and wait till they get new stuff in.

 

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oh almost forgot! I’m in the auto industry and things like this happen all the time, but we usually catch this stuff during testing, this is more than likely the suppliers fault that makes these things and MINI will have to pay for it..... it may have passed testing and the supplier maybe goofed with something to cut costs, who knows.

the reality is MINI will take care of it, yea its egg on face but the problem usually deals down with the supplier of the part, we will never know but I’d be mad only if they chose to do nothing about it...

it’s a new vehicle and things like this has to go through growing pains from time to time. hey I’d rather have failing trim rather than cars catching fire!

also our 60K dollar Audi also had failing clear coat on its trim around the window and they took care of it...... **** happens but in the end if the problem is fixed is it really that bad.

 

Add me to the list. Just noticed the silver trim on the hood piece is peeling at the corner. Could've been there when I bought it since it was built in June and I bought it off the lot in August.

 

Other than the MiniUSA "contact us" is there a better way to lodge a complaint about this. Also that the dealer is blowing me off - which is even worse than the actual trim peeling itself.

 

This has been one of the best cars I have owned, with one of the worst dealer experiences I have ever had. The dealer still has not got back to me about the trim installation. I was told the parts were in stock. We argued over which ones were bad. I decided to let them replace the ones that we agreed were bad, and work on the rest later. The SA said he would call me the next day to setup an appointment. Unfortunately, he has not called me back in a week, and has not even tried to contact me as to why. No call to say the parts were really not in stock. No call to let me know anything.
I think the problem is that I told the SA that I wanted the part numbers of the "new" trim they were installing so I could see if they really changed anything. I think they were trying to pass of the old parts as "New Improved" parts, and they really don't have anything new.
I'm going out of the country for a couple of weeks, and I plan to file a complaint when I return. As minor a problem as this is, there is no excuse for the way this is being handled.

Mark

 

From what I understand, this is not a one hour fix. Most have been asked to leave their cars at the dealership.