MINI has issued campaign/recall to replace timing chains!
Neutral
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Stay on track/forum
Let try to stay on track with this issue. I want to help others and VICE VERSA.
I know how easy it is to get off track on forums.
This is by far the best one yet on this issue.
Lets stick together.
Thanks
I know how easy it is to get off track on forums.
This is by far the best one yet on this issue.
Lets stick together.
Thanks
2nd Gear
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 61
Likes: 1
From: Las Vegas
Hello all. Here is a brief of what I just went through with my MINI and MINI of The WOODLANDS, TX. VERY IMPORTANT. KNOWLEDGE. GOOD NEWS.
1. Bought 2008 MINI Cooper S w/NO MODS @ 52K. used/private seller. Mini Cooper S/N14/R56/Manual/NO MODS.
2. Heard Death Rattle for months. Owned car for 3 months.
3. Car lost power on freeway @3500 RPM.
4. Pulled valve cover and timing chain was broken in half and tensioner was broken at TOP, interference engine, ruined and totaled motor.
5. Brought car into MINI dealership and explained what happened.
6. They scanned my key and said "Yes there is a RECALL on the tensioner"
7. They dropped the oil and showed 2 Qts low..this was an issue as MINI was going to use this against me.
8. Had all the RECEIPTS and INVOICES for oil change records. This saved my ***!!!
9. MINI informed me that 1 of 2 things will happen.
1. The dealership will diagnose and approve full coverage on the spot.
2. They will have to send info to MINI USA for GOODWILL case.
10. Got a call back in only TWO days and my SA said "MINI will be covering all costs and replacing entire engine with updated tensioner, chain, HPFP, and all the problems they have been having due to recall/campaign.
11. Waiting for an ETA on replacement.
Things to do: PLEASE READ
You have to put everything in your favor. Be calm, be decisive, be informed, do research. The calmer you are the more control you have over the situation.
1. Have your OIL receipts, always keep these. I got lucky. This, I can say, single handedly help me win my case, they could prove an oil change 3 months ago when i purchased car. So they attributed the oil loss to the tensioner, my best guess.
2. They WILL SCAN YOUR KEY and say the words RECALL. It's not public, and it is a "Campaign", but MINI USA just had the lawsuit pushed forward 4 days ago after years of "will this happen". It did, and they are royally f@$%#d.
3. Dealership to dealership varies. Be nice and polite. They SERVICE department does not work for MINI. MINI of the WOODLANDS is owned by Autonation. So the SA's are on your side and they fight MINI to be reimbursed for repairs..thats why they were not able to approve on spot, it was a total engine replacement.
4. Take all the MODS you can off your car, please, they will screw you and try to attribute the issue to down pipes/exausts...etc. PLEASE.
There is too much to put in here, but this is my case. PLEASE ASK ANY QUESTIONS. I would love to help all MINI owners with this problem.
Thanks
1. Bought 2008 MINI Cooper S w/NO MODS @ 52K. used/private seller. Mini Cooper S/N14/R56/Manual/NO MODS.
2. Heard Death Rattle for months. Owned car for 3 months.
3. Car lost power on freeway @3500 RPM.
4. Pulled valve cover and timing chain was broken in half and tensioner was broken at TOP, interference engine, ruined and totaled motor.
5. Brought car into MINI dealership and explained what happened.
6. They scanned my key and said "Yes there is a RECALL on the tensioner"
7. They dropped the oil and showed 2 Qts low..this was an issue as MINI was going to use this against me.
8. Had all the RECEIPTS and INVOICES for oil change records. This saved my ***!!!
9. MINI informed me that 1 of 2 things will happen.
1. The dealership will diagnose and approve full coverage on the spot.
2. They will have to send info to MINI USA for GOODWILL case.
10. Got a call back in only TWO days and my SA said "MINI will be covering all costs and replacing entire engine with updated tensioner, chain, HPFP, and all the problems they have been having due to recall/campaign.
11. Waiting for an ETA on replacement.
Things to do: PLEASE READ
You have to put everything in your favor. Be calm, be decisive, be informed, do research. The calmer you are the more control you have over the situation.
1. Have your OIL receipts, always keep these. I got lucky. This, I can say, single handedly help me win my case, they could prove an oil change 3 months ago when i purchased car. So they attributed the oil loss to the tensioner, my best guess.
2. They WILL SCAN YOUR KEY and say the words RECALL. It's not public, and it is a "Campaign", but MINI USA just had the lawsuit pushed forward 4 days ago after years of "will this happen". It did, and they are royally f@$%#d.
3. Dealership to dealership varies. Be nice and polite. They SERVICE department does not work for MINI. MINI of the WOODLANDS is owned by Autonation. So the SA's are on your side and they fight MINI to be reimbursed for repairs..thats why they were not able to approve on spot, it was a total engine replacement.
4. Take all the MODS you can off your car, please, they will screw you and try to attribute the issue to down pipes/exausts...etc. PLEASE.
There is too much to put in here, but this is my case. PLEASE ASK ANY QUESTIONS. I would love to help all MINI owners with this problem.
Thanks
2nd Gear
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 61
Likes: 1
From: Las Vegas
I would go so far as to gather signatures or be a a part of a class action lawsuit against Mini USA. Thats how pissed off I am about this. I dont want punitive damages or any of that nonsense, I just want my car fixed, and being that I have spent money I didnt have to have my car fixed, I want my money back for the repair. Am I askign too much?
Honestly had Mini USA not done such a half a**ed job of acknowledging this and rectifying it, the majority of the posts would be positive not negative. A car manufacturer that stands behind its cars seems to be a rarity these days, and if there is one that you guys know of please let me know so I can buy one of their cars next..
Honestly had Mini USA not done such a half a**ed job of acknowledging this and rectifying it, the majority of the posts would be positive not negative. A car manufacturer that stands behind its cars seems to be a rarity these days, and if there is one that you guys know of please let me know so I can buy one of their cars next..
2nd Gear
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 61
Likes: 1
From: Las Vegas
2. They WILL SCAN YOUR KEY and say the words RECALL. It's not public, and it is a "Campaign", but MINI USA just had the lawsuit pushed forward 4 days ago after years of "will this happen". It did, and they are royally f@$%#d.
Do you have any info about the facts surrounding this lawsuit? Is it a class action or something local? They dont like to use the word RECALL because it affects their stock (meaning wall street stock not cars in stock). Remember what happened when Toyota announced they were sorry for the deaths and injury to people when their cars went out of control on their own? The robot supervisor I spoke to when I first addressed this issue with Mini told me it was a service bulletin. He was also the one that informed me that the "first wave" affected 27000 cars and he did not know if a second or third wave would be initiated. He was under the impression that fixing 27000 cars would solve the problem..
Also were your service records from a Mini dealer or an independent service place or both? My dealer didnt seem to like that I was either A. doing it myself, or B. bringing it somewhere else besides them
Do you have any info about the facts surrounding this lawsuit? Is it a class action or something local? They dont like to use the word RECALL because it affects their stock (meaning wall street stock not cars in stock). Remember what happened when Toyota announced they were sorry for the deaths and injury to people when their cars went out of control on their own? The robot supervisor I spoke to when I first addressed this issue with Mini told me it was a service bulletin. He was also the one that informed me that the "first wave" affected 27000 cars and he did not know if a second or third wave would be initiated. He was under the impression that fixing 27000 cars would solve the problem..
Also were your service records from a Mini dealer or an independent service place or both? My dealer didnt seem to like that I was either A. doing it myself, or B. bringing it somewhere else besides them
2nd Gear
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 61
Likes: 1
From: Las Vegas
Heres an interesting about a couple of lawyers looking to or already suing Mini Cooper over their timing chain issues:
http://www.topclassactions.com/lawsu...ction-lawsuit/
Also the transmission is mentioned as well in a previous lawsuit for certain models of the Cooper from 2007 to 2009 I believe.
Now here is something odd as well:
http://www.motoringfile.com/2012/01/...fecting-79000/
Mini USA apparently recalled ALL of the cars listed and fixed them for the aux water pump. I also remember a recall on my Cooper S because the tailpipe stuck out a few inches and burned your legs. Mine were burned as well. Was it a lawsuit that triggered these recalls. And I believe these were actual recalls and not service bulletins or campaigns or whatever they wanna call it.
The purpose of my posts are to educate those who are dealing with the same issues I am having. Maybe someone will have some luck on the west coast in regards to getting their car fixed good will or not, recall specific or not. I will be posting a copy of the letter I write to the heads or BMW, Auto Nation and Mini USA if anyone is interested and wants to follow my lead.
http://www.topclassactions.com/lawsu...ction-lawsuit/
Also the transmission is mentioned as well in a previous lawsuit for certain models of the Cooper from 2007 to 2009 I believe.
Now here is something odd as well:
http://www.motoringfile.com/2012/01/...fecting-79000/
Mini USA apparently recalled ALL of the cars listed and fixed them for the aux water pump. I also remember a recall on my Cooper S because the tailpipe stuck out a few inches and burned your legs. Mine were burned as well. Was it a lawsuit that triggered these recalls. And I believe these were actual recalls and not service bulletins or campaigns or whatever they wanna call it.
The purpose of my posts are to educate those who are dealing with the same issues I am having. Maybe someone will have some luck on the west coast in regards to getting their car fixed good will or not, recall specific or not. I will be posting a copy of the letter I write to the heads or BMW, Auto Nation and Mini USA if anyone is interested and wants to follow my lead.
Last edited by damiencain; Feb 7, 2014 at 01:48 PM.
6th Gear
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 3,790
Likes: 10
From: Kansas City
I appreciate your position, but make sure you're posting facts, not innuendo.
BMW stock is not traded on US exchanges.
Toyotas did not go out of control all on their own due to defective floor mats.
Do some research on these items if you want to use them in your posts. The people who died were driving a Lexus, and they had aftermarket floor mats on top of the factory ones, that's why they interfered with the accelerator. The driver of that car was a California Highway Patrol officer, but even he panicked and he caused the wreck that took his and his family's lives.
Japanese culture is different from German or even ours, they will behave differently....the situation is not the same.
That said, I agree that MINI should be fixing your timing chain and I hope you find a way to get them to do so.
But internet hysterics is the wrong way to go.
I'd be curious to hear about any replies you get from your letter writing campaign. Be careful what you post on the internet, it can be used against you by clever lawyers.
BMW stock is not traded on US exchanges.
Toyotas did not go out of control all on their own due to defective floor mats.
Do some research on these items if you want to use them in your posts. The people who died were driving a Lexus, and they had aftermarket floor mats on top of the factory ones, that's why they interfered with the accelerator. The driver of that car was a California Highway Patrol officer, but even he panicked and he caused the wreck that took his and his family's lives.
Japanese culture is different from German or even ours, they will behave differently....the situation is not the same.
That said, I agree that MINI should be fixing your timing chain and I hope you find a way to get them to do so.
But internet hysterics is the wrong way to go.
I'd be curious to hear about any replies you get from your letter writing campaign. Be careful what you post on the internet, it can be used against you by clever lawyers.
Last edited by MINIdave; Feb 7, 2014 at 02:15 PM.
2nd Gear
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 61
Likes: 1
From: Las Vegas
Here you go:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/0..._n_303584.html
Actually I did do my research. Toyota recalled over 3.8 MILLION cars because of the floormat issue. And Lexus is owned by Toyota. So it was more than just aftermarket floormats being installed on top of original ones. Oddly enough they never recalled the Lexus brand over the floormat issue. Regardless if BMW is traded in the US or not, information is global. What happens in the US affects Japanese and European stock markets and vice versa. Just because I am not hungry right now doesnt mean a million people in Africa arent starving.
Here is more interesting "fact":
http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/video/...oyota-10048825
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/out-of-c...s-multiplying/
Not hysterics, simple fact..
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/0..._n_303584.html
Actually I did do my research. Toyota recalled over 3.8 MILLION cars because of the floormat issue. And Lexus is owned by Toyota. So it was more than just aftermarket floormats being installed on top of original ones. Oddly enough they never recalled the Lexus brand over the floormat issue. Regardless if BMW is traded in the US or not, information is global. What happens in the US affects Japanese and European stock markets and vice versa. Just because I am not hungry right now doesnt mean a million people in Africa arent starving.
Here is more interesting "fact":
http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/video/...oyota-10048825
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/out-of-c...s-multiplying/
Not hysterics, simple fact..
They never scanned my key before scheduling the work, because I live 75 miles away. I called with my VIN and they said it falls into the effected vehicles. When I took it in they checked the tensioner, said it was the old style and scheduled the work and a loaner within five minutes.
6th Gear
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 3,428
Likes: 37
From: Mission Viejo, CA
Officially no, but given the circumstances of a major issue with timing chains I'd be surprised if Mini didn't help you.
Neutral
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Google
Yes. Please just do a simple google search on the class action lawsuit.
Stay calm when you talk to your dealership but DEF assert your domain and supply them with FACTS.
As far as the SA's using the term "RECALL"..they could be using it loosely, not understanding the difference and just trying to calm or make the customer feel comfortable.
They aren't really aware of the online monster of threads and talk, so they are loose with their conversation on a case by case basis..all good.
Good luck.
If anyone was in my position and want's some advice, I would love to help.
Thanks
Stay calm when you talk to your dealership but DEF assert your domain and supply them with FACTS.
As far as the SA's using the term "RECALL"..they could be using it loosely, not understanding the difference and just trying to calm or make the customer feel comfortable.
They aren't really aware of the online monster of threads and talk, so they are loose with their conversation on a case by case basis..all good.
Good luck.
If anyone was in my position and want's some advice, I would love to help.
Thanks
Neutral
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
2. They WILL SCAN YOUR KEY and say the words RECALL. It's not public, and it is a "Campaign", but MINI USA just had the lawsuit pushed forward 4 days ago after years of "will this happen". It did, and they are royally f@$%#d.
Do you have any info about the facts surrounding this lawsuit? Is it a class action or something local? They dont like to use the word RECALL because it affects their stock (meaning wall street stock not cars in stock). Remember what happened when Toyota announced they were sorry for the deaths and injury to people when their cars went out of control on their own? The robot supervisor I spoke to when I first addressed this issue with Mini told me it was a service bulletin. He was also the one that informed me that the "first wave" affected 27000 cars and he did not know if a second or third wave would be initiated. He was under the impression that fixing 27000 cars would solve the problem..
Also were your service records from a Mini dealer or an independent service place or both? My dealer didnt seem to like that I was either A. doing it myself, or B. bringing it somewhere else besides them
Do you have any info about the facts surrounding this lawsuit? Is it a class action or something local? They dont like to use the word RECALL because it affects their stock (meaning wall street stock not cars in stock). Remember what happened when Toyota announced they were sorry for the deaths and injury to people when their cars went out of control on their own? The robot supervisor I spoke to when I first addressed this issue with Mini told me it was a service bulletin. He was also the one that informed me that the "first wave" affected 27000 cars and he did not know if a second or third wave would be initiated. He was under the impression that fixing 27000 cars would solve the problem..
Also were your service records from a Mini dealer or an independent service place or both? My dealer didnt seem to like that I was either A. doing it myself, or B. bringing it somewhere else besides them
It's a class action my man, federal judge in California pushed it through. Just google it. Kinda crazy.
6th Gear
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 3,428
Likes: 37
From: Mission Viejo, CA
So you're saying the reason Mini started ("Campaign") covering the timing chain components is because of this class action?
2nd Gear
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 61
Likes: 1
From: Las Vegas
Couldnt find anything concrete either
The tranny one seems to mention the early release Coopers. Not sure if the ones from 2007 onwards are under scrutiny as well. I saw a few listings for attorneys willing to sue Mini USA over the timing chains but not sure if they are in the planning stages or or looking for people to join an already ongoing suit
2nd Gear
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 61
Likes: 1
From: Las Vegas
Never know
I know they issued recalls for the S tailpipes and the aux water pumps after issues with cars burning up and people being burned on the pipes. Suffice to say it takes a few lawsuits to get any major company to take notice and make changes. Maybe this is what it will take for Mini USA to fix everyones timing chains that need it.
2nd Gear
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 61
Likes: 1
From: Las Vegas
Found this:
http://www.forthepeople.com/class-ac...-chain-lawsuit
http://www.aronovitzlaw.com/bmw-mini...ction-lawsuit/
But both seem to indicate potential lawsuits though.
http://www.forthepeople.com/class-ac...-chain-lawsuit
http://www.aronovitzlaw.com/bmw-mini...ction-lawsuit/
But both seem to indicate potential lawsuits though.
6th Gear
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 2,358
Likes: 1
From: Graham, NC
The case referenced in NJ is the only one I am aware of that was actually filed. I thought I had a copy of the complaint, but have not been able to find it. iirc, the complaint was poorly written imo and I doubt it would be successful.
2nd Gear
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 61
Likes: 1
From: Las Vegas
Believe it or not the parts arent that expensive
Neutral
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Salinas Ca.
I just took my Mini to my dealer for the timing chain/tensioner issue. After inspection they determined the timing chain was elongated and are doing a free replacement! My mii is a 2007 Cooper s coupe with 84,000 mi. I am very happy with the replacement , and hope to have more power and less ping from the timing Chain.
2nd Gear
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 61
Likes: 1
From: Las Vegas
Interesting
I just took my Mini to my dealer for the timing chain/tensioner issue. After inspection they determined the timing chain was elongated and are doing a free replacement! My mii is a 2007 Cooper s coupe with 84,000 mi. I am very happy with the replacement , and hope to have more power and less ping from the timing Chain.