it really seems as if it would be cheaper for MINI to buy my car back than to keep on paying these kind of warranty claims every month.

This month -- water pump recall, replace the passenger seat because the airbag sensor isn't working, leaking oil at the rear main seal, reattach the trim around the barn doors for the 2nd or 3rd time, fix loose exhaust shield and the big $$ item (I cannot even begin to imagine how much this would be if I had to pay for it!) replace the transmission. Not the clutch, it was replaced 3 months ago, the actual transmission.

Thank doG that MINI of Sterling has EXCELLENT techs! I emailed my wonderful service advisor to describe the weird noises I was hearing over the weekend and he printed out a couple of copies of the email and handed it to the techs to see what they thought.

When I brought the car in,turned out that the metallic noise at very low speed was the exhaust heat shield rattling, the high pitched whine that started at 60 mph was the differential.

While I am profoundly grateful for intelligent, well trained techs with the skills to recognize that the "weird sound" was actually 2 different sounds that started up at the same time, I am still not happy with making payments every month on a car that needs more repairs than any $500 beater I have ever owned.

And please dont suggest trading in the car -- I do not want to think about taking that kind of a financial hit yet. When I buy a brand new car and finance it, it is with the expectation that I can drive it for long enough to be worth it. When I talked to the dealership about trading it in they offered less than 50% of MSRP for a car I have been driving for 1.5 years

Any one want to try and total up what they have already paid in warranty claims?

Clutch, timing chain and tensioner, various bits and pieces that keep on falling off, turbo oil line leaking, random suspension bits, replacing the comfort access module that was unlocking my door randomly, and a bunch of other little stuff.

 

I would be curious how you granade'd the Getrag tranny? That's a doozy right there.
However, the differential is different (but apart) of the transmission; what was the cause?

Your tally should read $0.00, as that's what's a warranty is for. Fixes for free by the manufacturer.
Now, if you're replacing parts out of warranty, or including preventative maintenance items, that's entirely different.

What did you drive before the MINI?
Have you dealt with German / English vehicles before at all?

- Erik

 

Erik, I think you misunderstood my question -- the reason that I asked for quesses on the repair "cost" is because everything has been done under warranty. My cost is indeed "$0.00" I am just wondering if MINI USA has paid the dealership more to repair my car than I paid to buy it.

As for how I, as you put it "grenaded" the tranny, I didn't. I heard a new, weird sound & reported it to my service advisor. He had me bring the car in and when the head tech -- their JCW expert -- examined my car he found a problem with the differential that was causing the weird noise. I don't know exactly what the problem was, I am a car enthusiast, but not a MINI tech (or any sort of mechanic) and I won't know precisely what the problem was until I get a full report from the tech. WHATEVER the problem with the differential is, MINI does not allow the dealership to disassemble the transmission, it has to be replaced. Our neighbor across the street is an independent mechanic who worked as a MINI tech before opening his own shop, if MINI would let me take the tranny to him, I would love to find out EXACTLY what caused the problem, but they dont get paid for the warranty repair if they dont have the old parts.

As for what other cars I have driven, everything from Citroens to Hondas. Including used VWs & BMWs.

 

It's scary to think one day your warranty will run out! I'm not sure what I'll do when I reach that point.

 

I might have overlooked your original intended direction of the question; sorry.
But no, you're not even close of what the car's worth is; even with all the replacements you've noted.
Now if you were to have the complete airbag system replaced or an new engine installed down to the short-block, then we can discuss car worth versus needed repair.

That's a wide variety; how excellent.
Reason I asked is that several R56 owners are coming from a different level of expectation, typically a Japanese manufacturer.
And those owners haven't dealt with likes of German / English engineering, not knowing or experiencing the nuances that come with such.

I'm not wanting to make enemies; I'm trying to get pertinent information flowing around on NAM.

- Erik

 

I too am the proud owner of a black pit of financial despair. In other contexts some people would call this a "Mini". However, from a financial perspective "mini" it is not.

This wonderful piece of modern engineering is a 2009 Clubman D (mercifully not available in North America).

Since I purchased it (from new), I have:

- had the timing belt replaced (D models have a belt, not chain) (approx €1000 labour)
- water pump number 1 replaced (approx €1300 parts + labour)
- water pump number 2 replaced (approx €1300 parts + labour) (water pump number 3 is currently on its way out again)
- had "enhanced" friction wheel fitted (€400 parts +labour with no obvious benefits)
- had entire clutch kit replaced (at 55,000km no less because I just refuse to remove my foot from that nice, comfy, shiny third pedal. At least that's what the dealership wanted me to believe)
- dual mass flywheel replaced (clutch and flywheel were €2300 parts and labour combined)
- Entire Garrett turbocharger unit replaced as it blew its internal seal and was leaking raw, untreated diesel exhaust into the engine bay and subsequently into the car via the ventilation system - awesome for lung health!(new turbo was 1600€ itself, labour €650, necessitated engine air filter and cabin microfilter change along with pressure wash of engine bay)
- sunroof refitted as it was jamming in hot weather and making terrible rattling noises when open (1000€ labour + small parts done under warranty)
- other odds and ends like failed hill start assist system (let's say €400)

Some of this work was done under warranty, other work was not. Total of about €9950 there. I paid about €21,000 for the car. These figures obviously omit brake changes, tire changes, oil and regular services.

This is appalling for a 2 and 1/2 year old car. Car also goes in next week for another issue (loss of power, strange wobbling/fluttering noise from engine, bad cold starts that sound like no oil circulating). Can't imagine what this will cost me. I'm hoping its the replacement turbo and so will be covered under warranty.

Atrocious car, never seen anything like it. Worst vehicle I ever owned, hands down. I wish someone would explain why the residuals on these cars are so high. I'm thinking its because when owners dump them they've essentially been rebuilt.

 

This would be the reason I got rid of my MINI after only a year of ownership. In and out of the shop starting just three weeks after picking it up and most of the time for the same issues that the dealership either couldn't fix or said there was nothing wrong.

My only saving grace was working for a large auto group that was able to trade me out of the MINI while only loosing $500 which I then put $500 down and got the VW I currently have for only $1000 over what they owned it for.

 

yeah i hear you guys. mine is a money pit with all the probs, which only seem to happen out of warranty even though the car has only done 20000miles. i used to think euro cars were the best made until i got 2 mini's.

 

And just to keep everything in perspective.

My 2008 Clubman S now has 89K+ on it and is driven hard every day, and it has been to the dealer for a HPFP replacement once. That is the ONLY repair needed other than standard maintenance items such as brakes, tires etc.

 

don't jinx yourself!
in Australia we don't have a 10 year warranty on the HPFP, just the standard 3 year warranty with the new car, when it fails out of warranty you have to pay A$2500 to fix it so count yourself very lucky.

 

MINIs are starting to sound like old Volvos...sometimes you get a good one sometimes you get a bad one.

 

BMW should be both ashamed and embarrassed of these problems. The current generation has been in production for more than 5 years (MINI has been in the market since 2001). After all these years, they seem not been able to get these cars right. Oh but the prices continue to climb year after year on new ones...