I keep reading about folks who have one problem or another, and they say they will wait to get it looked at, at their next service

If you live 500 miles from a dealer, ok, wait if you can.

I live an hour away, I have an issue, I'm there appointment or not.

I'm friendly about it, but I PAID to have this car work right. And I NEED it to work right.

Putting things off is a bad idea. You may forget something, it may go away, just to come back later.

Now I'm not saying to get in the dealers face because the windsheild washer fluid ran out. But letting them know about problems, is the only way they can track things that come up.

I have a great time at the dealer, we can go into the service bays and talk to the techs while they work on our cars. I learn alot, and I can explain things that a work order will never get across.

Plus I got a free tow hook today

Going to have 2 in place this winter.

 

but if you have a job that doesn't let you run off to the dealers any old time then there's a problem eh? Sure if the car isn't running, or a light that says get service immediately then it has to be taken care of asap. But if it's a rattle or something along those lines then it'll wait.

 

Exactly what I was going to say. Some of us WORK you know.

 

Obviously it depends on how serious the defect is on the car, some people just don't have time to get to the dealer about a common MINI problem. Most people that say they have a problem are experiencing similar things to other NAM members, so they hold off a little.

Me, I live 40 min away from Princeton MINI and I visit that dealer as soon as a problem surfaces. Like lot15 said we all paid for this wonderful little car, and it should be in working order.

 

Lotsie, I love you, but I live too far from the dealer to spend an entire day getting my rattling boot latch fixed. For minor inconveniences that don't affect my day to day motoring, I wait until I have enough work for them to do before I head in there. . . .

I'm going to the dealer next week because my DSC light is coming on by itself and refusing to turn off. It only happens about every 5 times I start the MINI and goes away if I restart the engine. While they fix that important issue, they will also fix my torn up vents below the windshield wipers, boot latch, and the torn boot beneath the hand brake which has been punctured by a protruding bolt inside.

I dream of the day when our local BMW dealer will be able to service my MINI, and when/if that day comes, I will be there for any little thing ASAP. . . but until then I am playing the waiting game.. .

 

I love reading how some dealers actually fix stuff and address issues. I'm waiting for the word to bring my ride back for the 5th time for the SES and DSC lights. At this point, you'd think they'd just break the little bulbs and pretend it's all fixed.

I live 15 minutes from the dealer, but they make it so utterly difficult to get anything repaired, it turns into 2-3 days for anything. I once asked them about a broken clip under the bonnet. They said "nothin we can do about it. It won't hurt anything."

I recently told one of their managers that all i want is for them to get the damn SES and DSC lights off, and they will never have to see or hear from me again!

 

I called my dealer the other day and asked if my wipers had been replaced on my first check up. It hadn't so I asked them to mail me a set. Which was nice since it's a 100 mile trip one way.


Art

 

Desert MINI wouldn't let me take a set of wipers with me instead of waiting around for a MINI tech to install them. They are under the maintenance deal, so they MUST be installed by the tech.

 

I wish the service departments here in SoCal would let customers into the service bays to watch, but they strictly forbid it. That's pretty cool, Lot, that you have such a nice rapport with your dealership.


Clover

 

I don't have time to wait.. but i don't want to drive the dealer's crappy rental cars neither.. So I'm trying to make the trip to the dealer as infrequent as possible.
Acuras have service hours from 6 am till 12 am(midnight) 7 days a week.

 

I work 2min from the dealer but i would rather not have to go there for little things each time. :smile: just not worth the hassle.

 

I believe it's a US, if not a CA thing. Liability and all
I called to get a service appointment, and I had to wait TWO WEEKS. Don't know if they'd take a drop in, but I'm not driving 60 (not fun motoring) miles to find out.

 

On a coffee break are we

Yes, it can be tough when you have to work 18+ days straight, 14 hours a day

I have only gone straight there once, when the tranny was dumping fluid, when I was 10 minutes away. Got a new tranny.

If something is wrong, they encourage me to get it in as soon as possible.

I can usually get an appointment within 2 days. I go in early, the service desk is open at 7:00 am. Get a loaner, and get to work for 8:00 am.

There are some advantages to living in a small MINI market area I guess