I know for a fact, but it’s a secret so mums the word… MINI has two production lines. One turns out everyday driving MINIs that have the normal wear and tear bumps and problems. The other is the ultra top secret indestructible MINI production line.

I’m sitting here thinking when the last time I was to the nearest dealer for service and it’s been… It’s been over two years since I’ve even seen a MINI dealer, let alone have had a service done or repair or anything.

My 02 MCS is a daily driver, I race it and I don’t even have a garage to put it in. It’s 100% the best car I’ve owned in my life.

My MCS came off the indestructible assembly line, what’s your story.

 

My first 03 Cooper came off the indestructible line.. then I killed him.

My replacement 03 Cooper came off the 'piece of crap' line. But, I love him anway.

 

Our 02' CR/W MCS came off the indestructible line.. then Scooter committed suicide last month for some unknown reason..

So far our 05' MCSC is doing fine.... Stil undecided as to a replacement for Scooter...

Donna
02' CR/W MCS (gone to MINI heaven)
05' Cool Blue MCSC

 

Donna I cry when I think about what Scooter did.

 

Me too... Darn her!!

 

My 04 MCS was bulletproof until I took it to the dealership for the first service and it was all downhill from there.

That is a big part of why I was so frustrated having it overheat and spray oil and water all over the place and have to watch it being loaded on a flatbed in front of a bunch of people. I just kept thinking about how it was such a great car and this should never happen and people in their Chevy Tahoes and Ford Explorers looking at me thinking how stupid I am for buying one of those little pieces of **** BMWs.

I'd still have my MINI today if it wasn't for the BMW dealership/service and MINIUSA.

However, MINIS and MINI owners are cool

 

How do you know it's not the "indestructible shift" that built your MCS and MINIs like scooter?

Maybe the indestructible workers are on vacation right now?

How troublefree your MINI is may be a function of:
Automotive design
Sub contractor part quality
Subassembly/Assembly quality (were they awake or not)
How you drive/use the MINI (drive like a grandma-who stole it)
What exta "stuff" you might put on your MINI (where did that come from?)
And a "bit o mini luck" (most important part)
Magic charm doesn't hurt either- keep eating those Lucky charms.

 

Well see that was the problem.... Scooter was a BOY!!!! :cool :

 

sbgobig, you’ve got some serious issues to deal with. Back off take a deep breath and let it out.
You either own or want a big truck/SUV thing from your statement because you are so worried about what they think. Secondly BMW does not recognize the MINI as a BMW so why even start that argument up again.

Let’s stick with the question.

When was your last service or trip to the dealer for a repair/fault or just plain service?

I could realy give a drop of dog doo what problems you may have had. When was the service was the question. 1 month, 2 months, a year? It's been over 2 years here folks.

I'm totally problem free.

 

Nice try, but I don't buy it.

Anyone want to trade service records as to the most problem free MINI. As Bob Barker says, "Come on down".

 

Going in for the 2 service bulletins tomorrow, so I can re-register her, and getting Inspection II. Have had a persistent problem with the interior passenger-side doorhandle. It is tweaked! I also had a problem with a dash rattle, but that was fixed, and the fix has held.

The shift working on Wanda's doors must have had too many Guinnesses on their lunch break!

Still, she is the best!


Clover

 

What is that I hear? Knocking wood?

 

Never a durabilty or reliability problem. Ever.

But 7 trips back to the dealer in the first 10k miles: airbag light, bad sunroof leak, window motor/regulator replacement, etc. You know, the usual new car stuff.

So was mine on the good line or the bad one?

regards,
Red

 

The only things I have had fixed so far were rattles - sunroof rattle and speaker rattles. No mechanical problems whatsoever. Still under 15k miles though.

 

My car is an early '02 build, with most of the issues that come along with having a first year car. It only has 10,000 miles, and i have been lazy with having the issues looked at, but now as its almost almost up on its 3 years, i sent it in. It is getting an oil change, the windows, rear latch and moonroof looked at for rattles... lets hope they get fixed, it's also having its steering looked at because of crunching noise when turning the wheel and finally the transmission makes a horrible noise when its in neutral. Last i heard, they are changing the clutch under warentee to hopefully fix the transmission . It may also get two new front tires, because of excessive wear...but that is my fault These didn't take away from the driving experience, but i guess are "issues" that needed to be looked at, so i guess i havent had a problem free mini experience. oh well...

 

The only negative I have that I haven't taken into the dealer for yet is
the stumble (running pre-v34) and ticking passenger door (which I think
I fixed the other day, will take it out for a test drive this weekend).


The recall stuff will be done next time Im in for an oil change at 25k miles
along with the ECU version update. I still have more than 10k miles to drive
before that, so might be next year before I take her in again. :smile:

 

U just jinx yourself..

Our mini is the shop having the steering column and heated seats looked at. It has the assorted rattles(but I blame SF streets more for that) and lopey idle. The exhaust seems to resonate against the body but that was deemed normal as well as the the big clacking noise the cat convertor makes on occasion(running or not).

So trouble free..nope but that doesn't stop most people from repeating their buying experience. Mini owners are quite friendly and I have never seen so many people smile at a car when they see ours. Amazing experience and that's not even considering how fun it is to drive.

 

wait, i forgot about the lopey idle as well... after it idles for a minute of so it starts coughing like i've taken out a spark plug wire...yay, oh and to fix the windows they are replacing the window relays. are the relays the motors? or is that electrical? after all this i hope the car will be problem free!!

 

Ah, the crunching noise. Is that like you have rocks in the tranny and when you press the clutch pedal it goes away? I have that too but it's not always present. Our MCS has 7k miles and is a May 04 build.

 

yeah it sounds like a rattling noise, and yes, when the clutch is depressed it goes away. if you slowly release the clutch it doesnt come back, but if you quickly release it, it starts rattling again. i wonder if the sound will go away when the clutch is replaced. i remember someone saying that it had something to do with the bell housing on the transmission, or something like that. i guess we will see....

edit: here is the topic i started on this issue https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=32571

 

My 03 MC has had a long list of problems,but I don't care,thats why I got an extended warrenty,and the problems once fixed have not come back.When the warrenty runs out at 95K,I will take stock of how things have been going,and decide if I keep this car,or get another MINI.I won't be buying anything else.I love motoring in this car,I feel safe,I get great MPG,it goes like snot,and with snow tires,goes anywhere I need to go

 

11 months on my '04 MCS and NO trips to the dealer.

After I saw how the dealer installed my driving lights before I picked up my new MINI - they are not touching it again. Here is why my factory rally lights were shaking worse than Ozzy Ozborne...






Maybe it's where we live SndWave?:smile:

 

Service Update: I had the 2 service bulletins done, and a new doorhandle cover was ordered which will be installed tomorrow. She is running great! I think she's a bit smoother and oddly enough, LOUDER!


Clover

 

Neither of my MCS's have left me stranded in over 40k miles of Motoring. Considering how much I beat them up, it's mighty impressive!

Oh, but that's not the thread title. Service, yes. Well, I'm not sure it's a very valid point, as MM2 is always in a state of flux. I change the oil about every 5-6k miles, I change the accessory belt, keep my swaybar bushing lubed, brake pads fresh, tires bald..I mean legal, and LOTS of detailing when it's above freezing

Motor-On,
Ryan