I can't believe you guys think that after buying a brand new vehicle and the engine dying on the first day, you would be cool with that. I would want a new vehicle.

 

Lighten up, no one wants to have a situation like this in their lives.. 90 miles... Geez, Lets face it, I would want a new one and so would you.

In fact, hmm.. I am a mechanic.. I have some tools.. Let me pull your engine out and put it back in..
I promise, I will not scratch or dent.
It should not take me more than a few weeks and you can drive a Rental car while I do this.
You might incur some costs along the way, but I promise your engine will run just as smooth with no rattles.
I promise, you will enjoy your car just as much as before..

Of course, the numbers matching, will probably never ever be an issue to the OP..
The exhaust leak? The dealer will say, just bring it back..
Even if it rattles, the dealer will look at it and let him know how much they care about him and his financial attachment to this investment.

So, please, think about the total picture and just allow the OP to Vent. He may live quite a few miles from his dealer. (There is not a dealer in every town)
We are here to support the Membership...
Mini knows how to make this right.
There is a difference in what is "Legally required" and what is actually "doing right by the customer".

We are all interested in seeing how MINI steps up to the plate for this member...
How many members are watching this?
I know I am... And I am a consumer..

What difference to you does it make if he gets a NEW car.
He bought a new one, he should be driving a new one.
One where the Manufacturer assembled the vehicle, not the dealer's best, but the Factory's best..

Can I take your engine out and put it back in? I will tighten every bolt, I promise..

Besides, the OP may have already waited 12 weeks for His Mini to get here.
I am sure he should feel all happy about getting a Free Rental Car!!!

Lucky it happened in the first 90 miles and not on that first long trip away from home...

Now, if Mini wants to give him a John Cooper Works engine.. Then lets play. I would love my New improved Mini..

 

+1!

 

If it was me, as a business owner for over 25 years, I'd be standing behind the product I'm producing and place him in a new vehicle. Then I'd be shipping the old vehicle back to the plant and start to find out why this happened.

Sure it could be a one off, but as well all know MINI's quality rep isn't the greatest.

 

Come on Mini, replace the car, period!
No drama, no tears, no lawyers.

 

I agree with those that say let them put the motor in it. Your only inconvenience is not having your car to drive, and no doubt they will give you a loaner. The upside is you get a new motor at no expense to you. I could see if you would have to spend any $, but won't cost you a dime. Also this should not devalue the vehicle, there was no accident damage which comprised the structure integrity of the vehicle.

 

I can't believe these people who are saying that it's no big deal and that the OP should be happy with a new motor. I would be livid! Yes, it will impact the resale value of the car because it will not have a clean carfax. A non-matching number engine is a red flag for a lot of buyers and anything that limits the number of potential buyers for a car or anything else for that matter lowers its value. If you don't believe me, paint every room in your house in primary colors and then try to sell the house. How about having to drive the car for the next several years with the thought of that first day in your head when the engine blew up and your brand new, waited for 8 weeks, 90 mile car had to be towed away. Let's keep in mind also that the new engine is not going to be put in at the factory in the sequence it was meant to be put in and that the whole front end of the car will have to be disassembled. There will be few machines and no robots involved and there is the potential for errors, squeaks, rattles and other issues. To those of you with this "no problem" attitude towards this, I say put yourself in the OP's situation and ask yourself honestly if you'd feel like you think he/she should feel. And to the poster who said "you're getting a brand new engine at no cost to you", he/she HAD a brand new engine! It had 90 miles on it! Hello, Earth to poster...

 

+1

 

I matching engine number? I don't believe they record the engine number, does it even have one? If it does where is it located?

What does having every room in your house painted in primary colors have to do with anything? (Actually, that wouldn't be bad at all!)

I'd be secure in the thought that I had a brand new engine, that was carefully hand installed by skilled technicians who knew what they were doing.

The original poster had a defective part in his engine, afterwards he would have a new engine with all good parts. That is what the warranty is for!

I would be entirely satisfied, especially if I could sqeeze MINI for some free upgrades, you know, for the trouble!

Dave

 

The more I read this thread, the more I'm changing my stance on this.. considering the installation at the dealer rather than the factory, etc, I concede I would probably want a brand new car.

 

As well as you should.

 

At your LOCAL DEALER 165 miles away?
Your Local Dealer has skilled technicians for the ALL NEW 2012 Engine and can install everything perfectly?

I have some great land in Florida I would love to sell you.. You are so easy.

Perhaps the Dealer will give him a free key chain..

This deal is sour. Lets remove all doubt.
Order them a new car.. Sell this one as a Demo.. Oh yeah, that is right, the dealer would lose Thousands on the deal wouldn't he..
Funny how that works,,

 

Why would you send the entire car back to the plant, to find out why the engine broke? Was the faulty spring in the tail light? There is NOTHING wrong with the rest of the car. Mini will replace the engine under warranty. That is all they have to do to stand behind their product. A lawyer will charge you to tell you the same. Is the lawyer supposed to scare BMW / Mini into replacing the car?

 

True, but there is something called good business practice. Just because you can, doesn't mean you should......

 

Of course the engine has a number. Every part has a number and the engine and transmission numbers are supposed to match. That is, they were "born" together. When they don't match it means that one of these key and most expensive components was replaced, While this wasn't the case here, this could be an indication of possible abuse of the engine or transmission, or careless maintenance and all the seller has is a story about how his engine blew up after 90 miles (a true story, but yet another reason for the buyer not to buy the car). The point of the primary color analogy was that doing that would significantly reduce the number of buyers interested in buying your house making it harder to sell, especially at the price you'd like to get for it. The same is true of a car whose engine has been replaced. That fact reduces the pool of potential buyers of that car thereby reducing the price the seller can get for it. And, let's throw in another issue. Will they turn back or replace the odometer or will the car forever have two mileage numbers, one for the engine and one for the rest of the car? If the odometer is turned back, that fact must, by state law in most states, be disclosed whenever the car changes owners.

 

I agree that a lawyer would probably be of little help. You're right. all they HAVE to do under the warranty is replace the engine, but that's not all they SHOULD do. They should give the OP a new car. There is the letter of the contract and then there is good customer service and doing the right thing. And, by "they" I don't mean the dealership, I mean MINI/BMW.

 

Let them put in the engine, but....make them give you the longest, most comprehensive warranty/maintenance program they offer.

Another car will not really give you anything. Adding a huge warranty will give you hundreds of $$ worth of something.

Either way you have a new car and engine, with one you have the extra.

 

Step one, let them replace the engine.
Step two, make sure all is well afterwards.
Step three, if not happy, then get lawyers, etc., involved to get you a new car.

These things happen and it sucks but hopefully step one will take care of everything for you!

 

There are options to all three parties.
All three have suffered a loss.
I buy stuff.
I like to buy from companies that do the right thing.
I tend to not buy from companies that do not put their customers first.
Feeling good about a purchase.
I want to feel good about his purchase.

So, what does the Customer want?
Can Mini do what the customer wants?
I will be sitting in Judgement with MY dollars.
You can sit in Judgement with what the customer owes Mini.

Mini will sell a LOT of 2012's
Sadly, this OP will only be buying the one.
Six years of payments.
Six years of a reminder every month.
Six years of talking about your wonderful experience with your Mini!
Whoops, did I let it slip about my sadness?
I am sorry, I like my little car.
I am happy with my experience with Mini.
I am happy, really I am..
Yes, you should buy one.. It is a great company.

Now, would you believe my testimony if I felt bad about the exchange?
Would you believe me if I felt really good about my experience?

This will cost all three parties.
Lets get past the Hurt feelings.
Lets get back to trust.
It is not a simple fix, it is a WHOLE new engine.
Not a simple fix.
It is about promoting your product.
I know, I am only watching from the outside.
Still, I am watching for the outcome.

Mini can use this as a great promotion.
Or they can walk away.
How can you mend a broken heart?

The Dealer can sell this Mini and save the new owner a bit of money.
(The new owner will Know up front what they are buying into and will accept that this will be a great deal).

Several names come to mind as I say this.
If they can save a few grand then why not step up to the plate, sign the contract and let the OP have his feelings restored.
One of them would save several thousands of dollars and would have a perfect, pristine, trouble free Mini.
The Best new Mini deal offered in America!
Perhaps even the Dealer can buy this new Mini for his son or daughter, knowing what a good job his mechanics (technicians?) have done.


Mini can help the Dealer with incentives.
Mini can mend a broken heart.

It is all about relationship.

 

What are you smoking?

 

If I sell you food that makes you sick, then I offer to cook you a free meal with food that will not make you sick,
Legally, now we are even. Right?
You are no longer sick, get over it...
Want a cigarette while you wait?

 

+1 The extra warranty is the way to go. It will actually give peace of mind, and that's what is needed in this situation.

 

I had a new engine put in my Wrangler a few years back. While it had around 10k miles on it when i did, It still was never quite the same........

 

I agree too.

It's not like they're putting in a remanufactured engine.

If they were, then I would want a new car.

 

do what you feel comfortable with. don't let others make the decision for you. 50% of buying the new car is that 'new car' feeling you get. this isn't a $100 purchase we're talking about. so, op, do what makes you happy because you're be stuck with it for quite some time. good luck.