FYI: you're risking your warranty
 

Please be informed that the official policy of miniusa is that any autocross event will void your warranty. Interestingly, this doesn't seem to apply to an HPDE.

But, if you are going to autocross, either put down a fake name or be aware they can void your warranty.

Please feel free to review the following email exchange.


<MINI.Assistance@askMINIUSA.COM> wrote:
From: MINI.Assistance@askMINIUSA.COM <MINI.Assistance@askMINIUSA.COM>
Subject: Your Warranty Inquiry [1-775739423]
To: Date: Monday, June 16, 2008, 10:24 AM


Hi ----,

Thanks for writing MINI. We appreciate your inquiry regardig the warranty.

As indicated in the Service and Warranty booklet, the warranty shall be null
and void if the vehicle has been used in any competitive event. Please also
note that only a service technician at an authorized MINI dealer can provide
technical support and specific warranty coverage advice upon inspection of the
vehicle. If you need it, you can find a list of our MINI dealers and their
contact information on our website,
http://www.miniusa.com/link/findadealer/dealerlocator.

If there are further questions I can assist with, please feel free to drop me
an e-mail. I will be happy to lend a hand.

LET’S MOTOR.

Darlene Hawley
MINI Customer
Relations and Services
Representative
866.ASK.MINI (275-6464)




-----Original Message-----

From: Sent: 6/16/2008 12:00:00 AM
To: miniassist <miniassist@internal>
Subject: General customer service



question/comment:
I am an avid autocrosser and I enjoy the occasional HPDE. I have been running
my 02 Cooper S for both of these events and I have been considering upgrading
to a 07 or 08 cooper S. Unfortunately, I just read this post:

https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/showthread.php?t=125769&page=2

What is your stance on your warranty for cars used in

1) autocross

2) HPDE

3) Time Trials

4) Hill Climbs

5) Nasa or SCCA stock road races

Please email me your response as this is sorted out.

That's also clearly stated in the warranty info that comes with each vehicle. Most dealers won't hassle you for non competition related issues, although they always "reserve the right". To me, this is perfectly acceptable. Expecting the dealer to fix a falure caused by competition (or even HPDE) is unreasonable if you ask me.

Jason

wow this is the third thread in differing forums started by the same initial post...


hmmm...

:roll:

I've been using an assumed name for two years now; it's more of a joke at this point. In my state (perhaps nation wide, not sure), the dealer would have to show definitive evidence that any damage sustained was a direct effect of a "competitive event". If the dealer/MINIUSA can't show proof that my car, with my VIN, was at an event, registered and competing, then they have no way of legally voiding my warranty. Besides, any "damage" to your car done at an autocross could easily be blamed on rough/crappy roads around town.

warranties
 

Here's a good guide from SEMA on this issue:

http://www.sema.org/main/semaorghome.aspx?ID=50096