I strongly suggest you do not just call the 800 number. Contact your nearest dealer and they can submit it in your behalf. Also you will have a contact to follow up. Mini NA replaced my pump and fan and reimbursed me for a rebuild via BBA reman. I could not be happier with the attention I was given.

I actually had to source a pump from German auto parts.com and they paid me back. Pretty much all pumps through mini are backordered

 

Great that your dealer did a solid for you. Mine had no problem putting in the pump and it works great, too. They just didn't want to be part of the process of obtaining the refund for the part or the work. When I asked them to submit it on my behalf, they told me to file it direct with MINI if I wanted to see it faster. Not as helpful as your dealership, I think.

Update: I did call the main MINI customer service number (866) 275-6464 (for others like me who just wanted the number) and gave them the aforementioned last 7 digits of my VIN number and was relieved to find out that they did get my request (although they didn't input it into their system intil two weeks after I sent it) and reassured me that I can call back after 1 October if I haven't received my check before then. They are making progress, evidently. It's just v e r y s l o w . . .

 

Glad to hear that they have your documents as well. It's going a lot slower that we'd have liked, but getting a check at the end will make it all worth it

 

This is absolutely rotten, and just goes to show us what kind of a company we are dealing with.

First of all, we shouldn't have never had to lay out the money for the original repair years ago, because there's no question that BMW knew they had a big Problem long before our pump needed to get replaced.

I believe the only reason after all these years that they finally agreed to cover the cost of the repairs was because they knew the federal government was coming after them, Just as the Canadian government previously did. Better public relations to make it sound like they are graciously reimbursing owners, versus having the public hear that The federal government was pressuring BMW to cover the cost of the repairs.

And on top of all that, we can't get any answer as to when we are going to get our money reimbursed that we should've never had to pay in the first place. We mailed in our claim in July, and we can't even get any answer as to whether they received it or not. Every time we call we get different answers and different excuses.

When we first called we were told that reimbursement would take 4 to 6 weeks, and that we did not need to mail the claim via certified mail. Now when we call we are asked why we did not mail it via certified mail So we would have proof of their receipt, And we are told that our claim has not even been entered into their system yet, and that we can expect a check 8 to 12 weeks after we mailed in the claim.

Another one of their customer representatives advised us to call every week until we get an answer. Sounds like she was trying to provide herself with job security so that they would need her to keep answering the phones :-)

The whole thing is just utter nonsense. Would you really trust this company enough to ever buy another product from them?

I'll bet I know what their answer would be if we told them that the monthly payment on our Countryman was going to be delayed for 8 to 12 weeks.

 

I would post your disappointments here. https://www.facebook.com/MINIUSA

I did, over a year ago and many times after that. Shame them enough and their public will recognize what scumbags they are. I had to replace my PSP and all the other parts. $1400.00 and I won't get a refund because my car was built after their cut off production date. They said they changed the pump after that date but why did mine fail... because they're liars and cheats like most big corps. Screwing the little guy.

 

I just got a 05 and noticed leaking by the pump area. Power steering still works, but worried about what's to come.

The cars has mods (engine mods eg alta). If I went to the dealership, is it a foregone conclusion they will outright reject any recall fixes on my car and the power steering pump?

 

Mods have nothing to do with your PS. If your MINI is built before 2/05 you will be covered.

 

Called again today, and was told no update from the last time we called, and was transferred to a "resolution specialist" who said "the goal is to have everything out by the end of September, and that there are people who submitted claims in May who are still awaiting their checks".

Felt like the message was "who do you think you are pestering us for your money when you have been waiting only 2 1/2 months for it?"

Does anyone seriously think they are going to meet their "goal"? Hint: the end of September is Monday

 

I haven't even sent mine in yet - probably shouldn't expect this to be a "Christmas money" kind of check...

 

Just received my check in the mail yesterday. They approved both parts and labor, which was surprising, since the repairs were done at a local shop.

 

Update 3:
Sept 30th - pick up car, driven 300m, return car to dealership. brake pulse like using your own foot to simulate ABS. Shift extremely stiff. stick can be positioned anywhere within each vertical slots, without bouncing in or out.
OCT 1st - BMW replaced all brakes.
OCT 2th - pick up car again. still stiff shifting, was told it's not related to sitting too long. I request road test
OCT 4th - road test completed. "Shifter is similar as other 05 Cooper" and then quoted parts for Shifter Cable, Selector Lever, and Selector Rod for CAD$480 + $300 labour
OCT 7th - shifting losen tiny bit. but I really don't feel it's safe to drive.

So, I'm think of getting it done. just not sure if all 3 parts needed as two of them seems to be special order parts.

Mini Experience....

 

I changed all those parts on my shifter as well but in the end it was a fluid change that solved the problem.

 

I mailed my reimbursement request back in June. I unfortunately didn't follow up until today and when I called mini customer relations they said there is no record of receiving my request. They then gave me an email address to confirm with them if they have received it or not... If they haven't received anything they are estimating that it will be another 8-12 weeks after resubmitting the request for reimbursement.

 

I sent in mine at the beginning of June. At the end of July I called and was told they have it, but it hadn't been processed. I called again today and was told that it has still yet to be processed. Even once it is processed and approved it basically goes back in a queue for the check to be mailed. I don't expect to see anything this year which is crazy since it went from 1-1.5 months to probably 6 or more.

 

Obviously these need to be sent certified mail return receipt requested.

 

My PS failed last Sunday with 140022 miles on the car. Dropped it off yesterday at Moritz Mini and was given a new Clubman as a loaner (not bad, BTW). I just picked up my ten-year-old dream car with a new PS pump and fan, all under warranty.

 

Seems like you submitted yours on a similar timeline as I did. June + regular emails/calls to keep the pressure on. I'm at 18 (or 19...I'm losing track) weeks and counting. My last phone call they said "end of October" and they'd gotten 100,000 requests.

Nice to hear of an actual refund happening, though!

 

Yes, my submission was mid-June. I just sent it via First Class (without any tracking or confirmation). Then, I called at the beginning of September and was told that the check should arrive at the end of September or beginning of October, which it did.

Good luck!

 

Called again today and was told that the goal of making all payments by the end of September is now the end of December...surprise, surprise. I wonder what BMW would do if we were 6 months behind on the payments on our Countryman...no, I think I know...

 

Somehow missed the update from shark715 about the payment not-really-promised date moving to the end of the year, but spoke with customer service rep just a few minutes ago and heard the same news.

We own two Minis. My wife loves her '08 Clubby; I enjoy driving my supercharged '02 R53 every day. That said, the experience I've had with the not-a-recall-but-a-warranty-extension process that MINI instituted with these faulty pumps has soured me from ever purchasing another. I couldn't recommend this company to anyone other than a masochist who is looking for an expensive-to-maintain 2nd or 3rd vehicle.

I don't know if dealership management reads these posts - it's not like it's a secret club here - but there's no way dealers can keep the enthusiasm alive for these cars other than as a second-hand market.

With the extension of the warranty of these pumps, MINI promised much more than they are delivering. I paid for my repair in April at a dealership. You think you're ever going to see me for another repair, let alone sell me a new one????

Who do you think you are, Congress???

 

At least you will eventually get a refund. I was one of the unfortunate ones that had a build date after the cut off, however I had the same problem that all others have had and it was $1400.00 out of pocket. I love my car but I'll never buy another nor will I ever set foot in a Mini dealership or service center.
If you want to be heard by Mini USA, post your angst on their Mini USA facebook site. Do you think they treat BMW owners like this? Not!

 

One thing I can tell you is that BMW definitely DOES monitor the posts to this website.

We had a 2012 Countryman that had to be towed to the dealer repeatedly because of electrical problems. When we started to voice our frustrations on this forum, the dealer's service manager showed me a print out of one of my forum posts, and it appeared to have been sent to him by someone at BMW.

No question they are very aware of how many potential purchasers check out forums like this to see what current owners are saying.

 

After my conversation with their customer service rep, I have no doubt that MINI USA is hearing plenty of discontent from its owner base. She was appropriate and well-trained in handling my kind of phone complaint. MINI management knows. They just do not evidently possess the abilility to respond to the number of faulty cars they've made. I would encourage you to report your VIN to the Highway Safety/Recall folks with the same complaint about the steering going out. If the feds (and previously the Canadian government) weren't on BMW/MINI about this, they never would have gone back to extend the warranty on this component to 2002 cars. If enough owners like you log the complaints, I suspect the feds will pressure the carmaker to cover yours as well.

You can dream, anyway - which is what I'm doing about my $1400 repair...

 

You might be surprised! Just check out some of the BMW on-line forums. The BMWUSA and MINIUSA people are one in the same. Having separate dealers is just a marketing ploy. In many cases it's the same dealer operating at a second nearby location.

 

You're are absolutely right. And they have no doubt calculated how much this is hurting them and [evidently] concluded that it's not that much...