Hello all. I'm new to the Mini world but already have a story to tell.

I just received delivery of my '07 Cooper S with sunroof and punch leather seats (no other upgrades). Got it on the early September delivery to California - not sure of the lot number or any of those other facts.

After the first rain the radio display took on a contrast problem where all of the pixels including the back ground were bright orange. The letters were kind of streaked. Similar to what I have seen in water damaged displays before. During this episode the display problem went away after a day before I had a chance to show the Mini dealer.

Next rain happened a few weeks later. That morning I happen to be near the Mini dealer and I stopped in to show the SA. He saw the problem and scheduled me for an appointment the following week. The problem persisted all weekend until I showed up to the dealer. They kept the car all day and returned it to me unfixed claiming that they couldn't reproduce the problem and if it got worse to bring it back.

I called the Mini SA again last Thursday to let him know the display was again annoying me. He told me to see if it was still doing it early next week. Of course it works now and they won't see it.

I've argued with the SA of course. I happen to be an electrical engineer and know that it just needs to be replaced. They won't replace it unless the technician can see it and run through their check list while it is broke. The SA wasn't good enough.

This is obviously frustrating to me. I love the car and I understand that that with complicated systems things go wrong. I just want it fixed. Not to mention it is quite costly to go all the way to the Mini dealer.

Venting
wilhar

 

Why are you dealing with the MA? The car has been delivered--time to go to the Service Advisor (SA). If no satisfaction there, ask to speak to the Service Manager. At my dealership, he is over both BMW and MINI service departments.

P.S. Welcome to NAM!

 

edit. Talked to the SA. (didn't know the difference in acronyms).

 

Why did the rain affected the radio display? Was there a leak from the sunroof that somehow went into the dashboard? Not sure I'm following the issue. I can sense your frustrations and the the dealership's dilemma in figuring out the condensation issue inside the radio display. I have a feeling that the radio display is not properly sealed. Thus, causing the condensation inside (display).

 

Not sure. They took a pressure washer to it and couldn't get it to produce a noticeable leak or repeat the problem.

 

did it look like this?




Pictures were taken last night in my car... Problem started yesterday morning and hasn't gone away in three seperate trips in the car...

Radio functions just fine and all buttons work - you just can't tell what you are selecting...

Sounds as though Zoe needs to go visit the dealer....

 

Take some pictures of it so at least if it quits doing it when you appointment comes you can show the SA what it's doing.

 

Well I am on my 5th trip with it consistantly doing this... Dealer just called me back and said 'we better schedule a loaner' - most likely going in this afternoon...

ohhhh it was bad enough waiting for my car... I haven't even taken it in yet and I want it back...

 

Update: Dealer called and said they need to replace the entire radio...

 

Wow. So what exactly did they say the defect is???

 

The display didn't work right....

Sorry, couldn't help myself.

 

Well if such is the case couldn't they have just replaced the LCD panel? Could be wrong and it's cheaper, easier, or necessary to replace the entire head unit. Was just wondering.

 

It's probably more cost effective for the factory to pay a dealer to swap whole radio than disassemble and replace the LCD. Maybe Mini wants the whole radio to send back to their supplier or to diagnose the cause.

 

At this time... I have no idea what the root cause is... but when it is fixed and I go pick it up I will try and update this thread...

Minidrv makes an excellent point - I wouldn't want the dealer trying to disassemble the LCD screen from the radio - that is just asking for problems...

 

Update2 - the car is back and all is well - no mention of the root cause

It IS nice to have Zoey back...