Hi all,

I've done a few searches on this topic, but I'm looking for people's opinions on which dealers have the best service departments in the SoCal area. I have also extensively read the Dealer Ratings on this site.

I ordered out of state (didn't like Assael's mark-up) but I have heard their service isn't too bad. I live in the Pasadena area, but I am willing to drive for a good service department.

Thanks in advance.

 

Nick Alexander has been getting high marks for service lately. So has Assael. I would stay away from Long Beach for the time being as I've been hearing a lot of bad about them. Also worth the drive is Crevier in Santa Ana. They have never done wrong by me and most everyone else I know that goes there.

 

I used Crevier, where I bought my MCS, and had a good experience. I also have an appointment Saturday the 20th.

Earl

 

Has anyone have any opinions on Irvine Mini's service? I was thinking on having them install JCW.

 

I have had good experiences with Nick Alexander MINI, ask for Chad Harrison, he is one of the MINI service guys there.

 

I think painting Long Beach as bad, is very unfair. I bought 3 Minis over there and had nothing but good
experiences. And as a Tuner I purchase a lot of parts for my R&D work, and those guy's are.....FAB.

I would say instead of listening to rumours call them, talk to some one, get the vibe and then decide...

peter

 

Oh I don't know M7, if you look at the other threads talking about service I think there is plenty of reason to avoid Long Beach.

 

Assael sucks, they dont really care about the customer...just money! But they do have free pop corn and drinks

 

avoid long beach mini at all cost. they need to go out of business. i hope they do! they did not tighten a bolt that was recalled and the car was brought to them to fix and they didn't even do the recall work just sent me on my way with the car after they said they did the work. only later did i find the bolt still loose. also they seem to think that we are second rate customers. i felt better at other dealers. my car is now in washington state so i don't have to deal with them anymore. johnny's speed shop in san pedro did some nice mod's for me and was fair on the price. he love's the mini and has one trick mini. if you need work he would be a good source. mcs brg stripes checkerboard top pulley short shifter and bmp intake and tower brace. i love my mini and would only think of taking it to someone who will look after my car with good intention.

 

went to Bob Smith to have my 10K done Thursday. It went great. Alvin was the Service Advisor. He mentioned I was in for the 10K service and asked if I had any questions or concerns. Also probed a bit to ask about software updates and stumble probs. He said they would go over it thoroughly and make sure all was well. They did a software update and changed the oil. Washed the car (albeit very poorly) and was returned to me in an hour and 20. It went very well and I won't hesistate to give them a five. They also had fresh donuts and coffee available for those of you who go to the dealer hungry. I would recommend them, it's worth the drive to the far end of LA county.

 

The parts dept. guys at MINI of Irvine are great. The MINI side of the dealership is nice despite their pricing but they had absolutely no information about the availability JCW wheels. Lots of nice MINIS on the showroom floor ready for thier people to pick them up, several were new JCW kit installs.
Service must have something on the ball; no unhappy faces in the waiting area. Have had no experience with the service and don't know anyone who does. I will give them a try for some stuff this summer.

 

Thanks everyone for your responses, they are greatly appreciated.

 

"Has anyone have any opinions on Irvine Mini's service? I was thinking on having them install JCW."

I've had one service experience with them and came away shaking my head -- the tech that worked on my car was either untrained or incompetent. The car had to be sent back twice to fix things he said had been fixed.

That was probably just an isolated incident though -- hopefully you'll have better luck with the JCW installation. What's the worst that can happen...

 

I've had my windshield replaced by Long Beach. It appears that they outsource the glass replacement so this may not be a good indication but the passenger trim piece flew off a few days later and they had to replace it . I'd give them an average for service. Crevier wanted $1000 for the windshield compared to $400 at LB.

I had my 10K service at Irvine. They knew what v36 was and flashed the ECU when I asked them to. Thay also replaced a broken reflector at no cost. This was all done on a Saturday which is an 'Oil Change only' day in the schedule. Overall a good experience.

I called around to all the LA Mini dealers and there was only about a $200 difference to install the JCW kit. The person I spoke with at Assael seemed willing to deal on the cost but I didn't follow up due to my opinion of their sales department.

Based upon my personal experience I'll probably give Irvine first shot when I do the JCW kit.

Sean

 

Any one had experience with the only San Diego dealer, Brecht BMW/Mini?

The first time I spoke with the service advisor, it felt like I was a second class citizen, but then I went back and scheduled a service, and they were better, but still leaving me a bit odd.

Especially, since the only "progamming" they have is a check list of four options, yet I know there's more.

Scott

 

I called the service department of Alexander Mini today. The first available service appointment is July 15th, over a month away. They told me I could bring the car in, leave it, but there was no guarantee anyone would look at it. Given that Alexander is in the middle of "no where" that doesn't sound like great service to me...

 

Well, just had me service from Brecht...

They were nice, friendly, did all the work, didn't charge me for the setting the options, and it was great!

But....

Got home and then "Service Engine Soon" lit up, so will update tomorrow what they forgot/what else broke. :(

Scott

 

I had my 10,000 service done at Brecht in May. Harris Fecher was my service advisor. I was in and out in 90 minutes (oil change, V36 update and they took a look at the rubber shock covers on the rear). Very nice experience....I had some serious apprehension after reading the posts here. The only down side was I had to make an appointment three weeks in advance.

 

Yeah, what is with that.

Them: "The next appointment we have is.... August 5th"
Me: "But it's March?"

How many other dealerships, have that long of a wait for "Warranty Service" work?

Scott

 

PS> The service engine soon light went out, and I was up all weekend working on the RootFu quals, so I did'nt go back, will update when they call me to say my parts are in.

 

Took my mini to Universal City BMW for service...if you aren't a high dollar BMW driver, forget about service! You have to wait until all the BMWs are taken in before they will even talk to you.

Then they changed my oil in about 36 hours. I took it home, and the oil leaked all over my garage. When I brought it back to complain that all the oil they put in my car was now on the floor of my garage, they denied that anything had gone wrong. They treated me like a moron, set my milage to 12,500 miles until the next visit, and sent me on my way.

When the leather started peeling off of my 6 month old steering wheel, I naturally took it in for servicing. They asked me if my HANDS were abnormally acidic! WHAT???? Are you joking!? Finally I convinced them to swap it out, only to have the wheel put back on crooked. Bringing this to the attention of the mechanic, he gladly cocked it to the opposite side. After about 5 visits back to the shop, they corrected it.

So I showed up a few miles early for my next visit, and the sales rep. felt the need to explain to me that the car would tell me when it was ready for an oil change by flashing a maintenance light. Like this was big news to me or something! He couldn't get it through his thick skull that I wanted it changed after 10,000 miles. That it had been long enough! Once again, Universal City BMW has BOMBED!

 

I'm curious about all the slagging of Long Beach MINI's service department. Are these from people who bought their cars at LB MINI, or did they all buy elsewhere? I wonder if they treat customers better? The reason I ask is, my driver side window is failing and need to take it in for service. I bought from LB MINI and generally had a good experience with the sales team, and my one experience with service (turning on DRLs) was painless and quick. I'd like to support LB MINI, since they've never marked up their cars, but if their service dept. is really that terrible even to customers, I might have to go somewhere else.

 

petsounds, some who've had problems with LB service also bought their cars there, others have not. A few people have had no problems with them whatsoever. But why risk being one of the unlucky ones? It seems that when they mess up, they really mess up.

 

Really? Not my experience at all. I took mine in to have something checked and they had it in/out in under an hour. Good service and matter resolved. Kudos to Universal City BMW/MINI.

 

i have used irvine mini service alot of times and i am very happy...

ask for miguel he is very nice service adviser...
good luck...