They did a great job!

I had a list of about 8 nit-picky things, and they were very good about seeing
to all of them. Two of them, both squeaks/rattles, they couldn't replicate so
they didn't do anything. No big deal; if they get worse, they will be able to be
replicated and fixed.

I mentioned that the driver's side wiper smeared, and they replaced both front
wipers. Both new ones seem to do a much better job than the old.

They also found that my coolant tank was leaking... I was kind of surprised
because I try to keep an eye on it. It was leaking from the back, where I
couldn't see it. They replaced it with one of the 'new' beige ones. (I thought I
HAD a beige one, but the new one is most definitely darker beige than the
old.) Has anyone heard of the problem recurring with the new tanks?

All in all, they were courteous, considerate, and did their best to make me
happy. I am pleasantly surprised!

 

Very good news, Jenn! Thanks for the report!

Cheers!
Clover

 

Thanks for the report! I'll be heading there in about 7000 miles :smile:

 

WOW 10K already! when did u get your MINI?

 

Very good news indeed. I'm at about 4k and thinking of taking my MCS in at 5k for an early/extra oil change and my own list of nit-picks.

Feedback on Brecht's sales side is not so great, so I've been concerned. Plus, thinking about trusting my "baby" to anyone else causes extreme anxiety! So I take a small measure of comfort from your report.

Thanks SCoop.

Cheers,

James

 

>>WOW 10K already! when did u get your MINI?

I've had her since mid-March. Been on a couple, three long road trips and of course all those weekend MINI events add on the miles! Loving every one of 'em!

 

>>Very good news indeed. I'm at about 4k and thinking of taking my MCS in at 5k for an early/extra oil change and my own list of nit-picks.
>>
>>Feedback on Brecht's sales side is not so great, so I've been concerned. Plus, thinking about trusting my "baby" to anyone else causes extreme anxiety! So I take a small measure of comfort from your report.
>>


I had my oil changed at 3K miles, at MINI North Scottsdale (where I bought her). I'd recommend having your oil changed at least once in the first 5K miles, just to get a fresh batch in after the break-in period. I'm not sure if I'll have it changed again before the next recommended service interval, but chances are good that I will.

I also had concerns about Brecht from hearing about their sales side. I think they've gotten the hint, at least a little bit. I wandered over to the MINI showroom while I was waiting, and a very friendly young man came over and asked if I needed any help. When I told him that mine was in for service, he remained friendly, said I could stay as long as I wanted, and even offered me a bottle of cold water! They've definitely improved the attitude of the sales staff, now let's see if they'll reduce or (gasp!) remove the 'market adjustment'!

Jenn

 

2 questions:

Does MINI provide loaners to get you to work when you drop it off in the morning?

How much did the dealership charge to change the oil before the first inspection? If high, would you recommend taking it to another shop and buy the oil/filter yourself? (I don't have blocks, much less a driveway.)

 

Scoop, what were your other issues? I'm in for my 10k (9100k, actually) next week and would love to know more about your experience at the dealer.

 

I had to have my MCS towed to Brecht in August due to an electrical problem that drained the battery. They had the car for 11 days waiting on parts. They called and told me my car was fixed and come pick it up. I went and picked it up (a 110 mile round trip) only to find it was only partially repaired and they were still waiting on parts. I had to reschedule another appointment, took it back in and had to wait another 3 days as they hadn’t ordered the correct parts the first time. The car still has electrical problems related to the original fault that will need to be resolved, but the next guy can hassle with it as my MCS’s days are numbered. Good dealer service has been my biggest ***** with this car.

 

>>2 questions:
>>
>>Does MINI provide loaners to get you to work when you drop it off in the morning?
>>
>>How much did the dealership charge to change the oil before the first inspection? If high, would you recommend taking it to another shop and buy the oil/filter yourself? (I don't have blocks, much less a driveway.)
>>

rrypma, no, MINI doesn't provide loaners. Some dealerships do. And some, like Brecht, only provide them under certain circumstances (not sure what they are at Brecht, but I know that some folks have had them there. I didn't.) One of the reasons I went to MINI North Scottsdale for service was because they always provide loaners when in for service (and my family is close to them, so I go when I visit my family).

MNS charged me (approx) $45 for the oil change. That covered labor and oil; I brought my own filter which I had bought at Brecht for $7 when I was planning to have my brother show me how to change the oil myself. They also had the car in for a door rattle to be fixed under warranty, so they may not have charged as much on labor since the car was already in. (they all charge a fortune for labor...)

 

>>Scoop, what were your other issues? I'm in for my 10k (9100k, actually) next week and would love to know more about your experience at the dealer.

Here they are:

driver's seat squeak when exiting car; couldn't replicate - nothing was done.

rattle below driver's side door hinge; couldn't replicate - nothing was done.

driver's side wiper smears; replaced both wiper blades - now they work great!

check power steering fan for debris, etc.; checked undercarriage - found nothing amiss

windshield wiper nozzle needs adjusting; fixed beautifully! - they cleaned out the nozzles and re-aimed the driver's side

rear license plate bracket - stripped screw hole; they replaced all four screws with longer ones. they're uglier than the old ones, but they do the job.

that's the list. Like I said, mostly piddly stuff...


passenger side door sill has imperfections; they replaced the metal strip that was blemished with a new one.

 

>>I had to have my MCS towed to Brecht in August due to an electrical problem that drained the battery. They had the car for 11 days waiting on parts. They called and told me my car was fixed and come pick it up. I went and picked it up (a 110 mile round trip) only to find it was only partially repaired and they were still waiting on parts. I had to reschedule another appointment, took it back in and had to wait another 3 days as they hadn’t ordered the correct parts the first time. The car still has electrical problems related to the original fault that will need to be resolved, but the next guy can hassle with it as my MCS’s days are numbered. Good dealer service has been my biggest ***** with this car.


gerry, I'm sorry to hear that they gave you such poor service... and that you're parting with your MCS. I hope things improve for you.

 

Both my metal door sill strips have imperfections, the MCS only has 500 miles on it. Need to get them replaced. I'll call tomorrow.

 

I had my "Inspection 1" and an oil change done on my '04 MCS at Brecht on Monday the 5th. Plus a couple of small warranty items - creaking dash and squeaking passenger window motor.

I was given a MC Convertible for a loaner! On a day it hit 75 degrees in downtown San Diego. I *did* take advantage of the weather and the car.

I was sad when they called me at 3 pm and said my car was ready - I asked them if they were sure they didn't need it for another day?

A better Monday than most! I am very happy with the way I was treated at Brecht.

 

I have had great luck with Brecht. I'll be taking mine in for the 10k service soon. What I like best are the girly that runs around in the pumps and the pants that unzip from the back...

 

What is it with all the MINI dealers. They all have the HOT girls working to greet you at the door. I always found myself looking at the hot girly's pooper, and loosing my focus instead of the nice new MINI's on the showroom floor

 

It's all in their master plan!

 

Im coming up on my 25K service. Any idea how long it takes for them to do it? If they dont give me a loaner, Im gonna have to sit at dealership and wait for it. Ill be coming from Chula Vista and am not gonna ask any1 to follow me up for a ride home if they can get it done in a few (3) hours..