Since 2005 I have had many mechanical problems. Most of these have occured since taking my vehicle to the nearest dealer in Sacramento for service. Latest problem #2 spark plug stripping threads. After giving me several reasons for this happening, the dealer concluded I had overtightened plugs, thereby causing after several thousand miles threads stripped by plugs pulling upwards. I would like to find out if any other Mini Cooper S owners have had this problem, if so how many? However, I believe that the dealer caused the damage and are using warranty clauses to cover themselves. I have filed complaints against the dealer with the BBB, BAR & Mini USA. At this time I have been offered a settlement where I would pay 1/3rd of the costs in the amount of $1300.00 Mini USA & dealer to pay $2600.00. I have refused settlement at this time and considering taking legal action against the dealer. Any advise or comments?

 

No advice per se, but I do have a question and some thoughts.

Question: is the $3900 just for the spark plug?? If so that's nonsense, but I'm imagining it is the sum total of the problems.

Another question occurs to me: does California have a Lemon Law? If so your vehicle may qualify to be repurchased by the dealer. Usually a Lemon Law kicks in when the car has been at the dealer for X number of days overall or for X numbe of days for the same problem.

Thoughts: How did they arrive at the $3900 figure? I think they should be calculating from an internal cost basis not a retail basis. That is to say the amount should be the wholesale (without profit) cost that the dealership incurs to fix the problem(s), and your percentage should be calculated from that.


Good luck!

/gary

 

Are they stock plugs? Are they the original plugs that came with the car or changed out at the dealer? In other words. Have you changed the plugs for them to believe you are responsible for the damage? Unless you have changed the plugs to aftermarket I don't see how they can say it is your fault. What would be the reason for tightening plugs if they are the original?

Then again. This is a MINI dealer we're talking about.

 

Thanks for your comments. Briefly, I fitted after market coil, wires and plugs. At first the dealer said that this is what caused the damage. Later after finding out that they had reimbursed me for these parts they changed the cause of damage to overtightening of plugs. However their diagnostic printout showed that DME showed misfire on cyclinder 2 & 4 but not present at time of test.

 

You did not say what year you MINI is. 02 and early 03 has had this problem, see Randy Webb's site. I had this happen to me and it was WAY less than even your share, $1,300.00 to fix it. It was fixed without removing the head and I have had no other problems with it (and I drive it HARD).

If interested pm me and I will explain it to you.

Earl

 

Purchase date was 2003. I assume your fix was helicoil? Please give details. Thank you

 

Heatsink I believe it is called (like helicoil but better). Find someone who works on Ford V10s, they have this problem of blowing plugs according to the guy that fixed mine, and they will have the tools to do it. He did it on the car and I have never had another problem.

Earl

 

At that cost I'd bet that the dealer is going to replace the head. I understand you not wanting to pay anything for this repair, I wouldn't either. That being said there have been people that have had this very problem & MINI would not cover any of the cost. Try & get the whole thing covered, but if they won't 1/3 is a whole lot better that paying the full bill. Good luck.

Chuck

 

except that 1/3 of what they want is more than I paid by about 2/3 times I don't remember exactly what I paid but was like $350/$400.

Earl

 

The problem is trying to prove that you didnt do the damage when you replaced the plug. You could be the best mechanic in the world...but when you mess with something under warranty...you are giving the manufacturer a way out.