Things never end with this car. Should've bought the Civic lol.

The hatch handle is coming off on the left side - when I called the dealer they said it might be covered, provided the previous owner had it regularly serviced. Is this just a pile of crap or what?

I've already got a good 2 grand of repairs to get done to this thing.

It's a 2004 R50.

 

Yes but then you'd be driving a Civic.

It doesn't say what year your car is, but don't forget that it has to be 10 years old or more if you're posting in the R50/53 forum. If you compare the cost of ownership to the cost of brand new car payments, is it still a terrible deal?

 

Why would the dealer cover a 10+ year old car??
Rust maybe? Owning a older car of ANY make or model can be $$$...all comes down to how good you were at the prebuy.....
and one tip...
Going to a dealer is a sure way to spend 2X the amount on repairs....
Dealers do have some specialized knowledge, and have their uses...
but high overhead, large screen TV, leather couch, and free coffee has a price....most charge 2X the labor rate of the local MINI shops, and charge about 20% more for the same parts...
so your $2000 in repairs should have been UNDER $1000 in many cases....maybe even $800....heck I have done minor repairs on my car for about $100 that a dealer would charge me $600+!! Just took me an hour, a book and a few tools.

 

The reason I mention the warranty is because it was extended to 12 years. My car is an '04 and falls under that limit. I do know that repairs are expected, I'm just grumbling that I will have spent more on repairs in a little over a year of owning the car than the price of the car.

 

Actually, I've never had the car to the dealer for repairs. I do my own work as long as it does not require engine surgery or air tools.

 

I am new to Mini, so take this with a grain of salt. I have read all of the horrible reviews, but mostly they revolve around the engine and turbo. Having been an Audi tech from 2000-2005, I can say that all of their 1.8 Turbos as well as VW 1.8 Turbos at the time all suffered the same problems. The Oil intervals were extended and many people didn't keep up with "normal" oil changes or checking their oil at "normal" intervals.

That being said what you are referring to is more of a trim type repair. You didn't specify which vehicle, so its really had to comment on this rant. That being said, the parts for this vehicle are, if you buy them from the dealer, quite expensive as far as parts go; however, this is the same for almost all European automakers. Two grand is really not that much if what your saying is that you have had a handful of repairs done at a Mini Dealership with Factory parts.

When I worked for Audi the expression was, never own an Audi out of warranty. Not so much because it breaks, but because when it does break it is much more expensive to repair than a Chevy or Ford.

I look at Mini the same way. Its easy for me to say I will just fix my own car, but I will also service my own car once it gets out of warranty (and between intervals). I won't pay $2200 dollars for a brake job, when I can buy pads and rotors from ECS for under $300. For that matter I can buy a JCW upgrade for less that $2200.

I wouldn't say its a pile of crap, but I would say that its an expensive car to own and maintain.

 

If you need parts and can follow DIY's you can get them here:

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ght-cover.html

Follow the Gen 1 Grip handles. 4 screw hold it to the trunk.




Also for many other MINI Parts check us out.


www.ecstuning.com

Thanks

 

I have a 2005 R50 with 133,500 miles. I just picked her up yesterday from the dealer after rust above the boot handle was repaired for no cost to me. They replaced the boot handle, emblem, license plate bracket, name badge, and repainted the entire hatch lid!

This did take some patience on my part waiting for the MINI rep to visit the dealership, arranging for an inspection by him, then waiting for the dealer to get 2 estimates from body shops. I was even given a loaner (2015 MCS with under 1,000k) for the week they kept my MINI for repair.

Not bad for something I have driven every day for the last 10 years!

Go MINI!


before-rust by jimmy_racoon, on Flickr


rust free by jimmy_racoon, on Flickr

 

Very cool. I was just considering gluing mine back on, but maybe I'll take it in.

 

Turns out the "regular maintenance" visits weren't done at the local dealer - so I have no warranty. Oh well, guess I'll epoxy it on for now to get me through the winter and get it to a body shop once it's warm enough to take my motorcycle out of storage.

 

So let me get this straight, you just bashed this car because a dealer wouldn't cover a part... even though your maintenance wasn't done at the dealer? So the dealer is just supposed to cover everything on this vehicle for the rest of the time, you the second owner, own it? SMH

 

I didn't bash the car. I didn't bash the dealer. The car was not owned by me, do I didn't take it to the dealer. There is a 12 year extended warranty on this part for a reason - it was a bad design and Mini covers it because it's a bad design.

When I asked if it was a pile of crap I was referring to the warranty policy - as in, is this accurate or a pile of crap. This is more than trim. There's no interior release, so once it falls off you can't get into the back of your car.

There's also no need to be an ******* in my thread. If you don't have anything positive to contribute you can just **** off.

 

Well, neither a 10 year old part that breaks or the warranty policy that was good (until it wasn't serviced in the dealer). I mean a 10 year warranty is a lot to ask on ANYTHING. Even Snap-on who warranties there stuff for life might give you grief if the tool you are using just wears out. If you knew the handle was broken, then it didn't "fall off". Your logic is profound. I wasn't being an a** in your thread, I was just pointing out that your expectations are a little high. FOR ANY MANUFACTURER.

P.S. "You said you were done with this car." And yes... you should have bought a Civic, since you obviously can't keep up with a Mini.

I'm done here. *drops the microphone*

 

http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles...ne-maintenance