So our Mini is a garage queen and doesn't get driven much therefore we had minimal experience w/ the local dealer.

She was serviced at 10K (we were happy w/ the service and the indicator was set to 15K)

I did an in between oil change at 15K....

Scheduled a service at 20K eventhough the indicator still had 7800 miles to go.

I wanted to take her in for service bec airbag light was on (for the 2nd time) and asked to dealer to service the car as well and activate couple of the programable options. And I also asked them to put inside the car a new version of the cup holder since the old one was broken. We also left a Huge note asking them NOT to wash the car since she was just detailed.

Here is what we got:

-They chaged a faulty wiring harness for the airbag system.
-Oil was changed but the service indicator is still showing 7800 miles
-Cup holder was installed w/ $40 labor charge
-The programable options were never done becuase they could not find our list of what to do and did not call us until 4:30pm as we were heading down to the dealer.
-The car was washed!!!!
-Drivers side brake bulb not working (worked fine before the service)
-Total cost for an oil change and cup holder was $200.00
-Dealer never provided the usual inspection sheet????? We just got an invoice which pretty much says oil & lube and airbag wiring harness (warranty)

My questions are:

-The car is at 20K now, is the next service really in 7800 miles or did they not reset the indicator?

-Does your dealer provide and inspection sheet everytime you are in for a scheuled service (brakes, rotor wear etc)?

-What is the deal w/ the airbag light coming on once a year? Do 02's have that big of a problem with airbags?

Thanks in advance.

 

No, your service interval now, at least for an oil change by MINI's standards, is 15k. I really can't recall receiving a check list or detailed invoice when I was in for my first service, and I can't speak about air bag issues with 02s since I have an 03. Others will know!

 

I had three airbag lights in 2.5 years of owning my '03 MC, so yeah, one per year sounds about right. I never got a satisfactory explanation of how the third light came to pass, since each seat had supposedly been hardwired to address the first two lights. Apparently there's a wire connection that comes apart if you put the seat forward to get in the back seat too many times (great design!).

 

the reprogram of the key would have cost you another 50 or 100 bucks, you were charged for the oil change because it was changed before the service indicator indcated time for service. The scheduled service is still 7800 miles away. the brake light has nothing to do with the service, just bad timing, the wiring harness is a known issue and was the cause of your airbag light, they always wash unless you specifically tell them to keep away

 

To summarize as the previous poster got it right

The car is at 20K now, is the next service really in 7800 miles or did they not reset the indicator?

Yes. Nothing has changed. That is when its due. You asked for an early oil change, you pay.

Does your dealer provide and inspection sheet everytime you are in for a scheuled service (brakes, rotor wear etc)?

They didn't do a scheduled service, only an oil change. As such, they inspected nothing.

Cup holder was installed w/ $40 labor charge

Nothing wrong with that. Standard labor change.

The car was washed!!!!

Common courtesy from the dealer.

I don't see that you have anything to vent about EXCEPT not doing the programming. The blown bulb .... it could just have been its time to go

 

Thanks for your response.

-The car is out of Maint warranty so no problem on the oil change charge (as far as MINI is concerend last oil change was over 14 months ago)
-As far as I am concerned most dealers I have been to check for all bulbs and other stuff during service.
-It wasn't the key that needed programing..... We wanted to activate some programable options.
-The car had big post its every where including on the initial paperwork that said "No WASH"

 

Thanks for clarification on the service indicator light. So she will be due for a big service in 7800 miles.

I guess MINI dealer is much different than the Volvo dealer's that I have been taking my other car to. Volvo does a 50 point inspection everytime the car is in for a service or just an oil change.

I never asked them to install the cup holder..... But that could have been a misunderstanding on either side.....

Once again thanks for clarification.

 

If you had a big sign on saying NO WASH,

you got every right to go yell at them ... I would!

 

Seriously now, what good would that do?

 

I told my dealer not to wash the car. They said the car was about ready. Caught them washing it ... I stopped and yelled at the guy. They just couldn't understand why I didn't want it washed.

What good? Maybe, just Maybe they will listen next time (or maybe not!)

 

I've had notes put on my MINI, notes put on the service order, etc., and STILL they wash her! I surrender! Then when I took Maximusmini to purchase his new MCS last week, we'd just gotten home from my 2-month roadtrip the night before, and Wanda was FILTHY! I made mention of how dirty she was, and Tony, our MA, had her washed. I was more than grateful! LOL! Funny how we get different perspectives on things...... *wink*

 

Personally, I don't appreciate the dealer installed swirl marks that come when they wash my baby!

When I ordered the car, I told the MA that, if the car was washed, that I would not take posession of it. I made sure that it was written on the order sheet. He didn't understand until he went out and saw my trade-in... a 7 year-old Nissan Altima that looked like it had just rolled off of the showroom floor (w/ 80k miles).

I've seen a dealer DESTROY a black BMW 7-series by washing/buffing it. It looked like someone had taken a piece of sand paper to the finish.

 

To take this even further, I actually watched as one dealer washed cars with just a hose and rag, over and over again. If you ever watch "Whips", there was an episode when the owner tore into the "intern" for dropping the rag.

On the other hand, another dealer runs it through a touchless car wash but hand dries with lots of different towels so maybe each dealer is different

 

I agree w/ you. I am very particular about how my car looks and I spend hours on it to make it the way it looks. Thank God this particular dealer hand washes their cars...... If the had been through one of those automatic washes the hell would of broke loose for sure.

 

Washing the car when it is requested that the car not be washed is just plain bad customer service to me. If they damaged it I would expect them to fix it (like anything else - which is why I insist on walk-around forms).

Also, I would have a big problem with a dealer who did not state any potential charges up front clearly and have them agreed to in advance, or call to have any non-discussed at drop-off charges approved. Anytime I've taken a car in in between free maint for oil the service person has made it clear what it would cost, and any potential service charge is addressed and actually intialled on the paperwork. When they call with additional charges I expect them to not go ahead until I approve it and I have opted not to have the work done, or negotiated the costs, at that point before.

I don't understand the mix up with the cupholder install, but if it were me and I had not be quoted a price and agreed to it I would have had quite an issue with that...

 

- Yes, they ding you for reprogramming - $70 in our neighborhood.

- $40 to install a cupholder? ouch. That's $20 per screw. Said that way, does it sound as bad?

- If you were further south, I'd say put a sign in the car that read "No se lave", then again, you might need one up there, too.

 

The point I was trying to make is that it just doesn't do much good to yell at someone whether is justified or not. More than likely you just come off like a jerk and the person on the other end still doesn't get it. Better off to just keep your cool and try to explain yourself calmly. The person on the receiving end might even listen if your approach is rational.

 

Even if you do a walk around some dealers do everything thing to claim that the damage was already there..... Volvo dealer scratched underneath my freshly painted front bumper and did tell me that they were not responsible for the damage.

Cup holder thing pissed me off too (BIG TIME) but I did not want to argue over $40 infront of my girlfriend.

Erick might be right about the wash thing.. Next time I will write in in couple of different languages.

I am still amazed that MINI dealers don't do any sorts of an inspection when the car is in for a "not scheduled" service..... A lot of things can go wrong with a car during a 15K period.... Go figure, so much for free maintanece....

Knowing all the stuff that BMW and MINI dealers pull, I would not ever want to buy a used BMW or a MINI without talking to the 1st owner and knowing how they took care of their car w/ all documentation.

 

I am still amazed that MINI dealers don't do any sorts of an inspection when the car is in for a "not scheduled" service..... A lot of things can go wrong with a car during a 15K period.... Go figure, so much for free maintanece....
[Quote]

Your oil change/maintenance is 15,000 or 1 year If you had the standard warranty it is 3yrs 36,000 which by your 02 car it would probably be up, If you got the extended warranty 5yrs 50,000 you should not have been charged if it was a year since the last one.(by the dealer) Since you have an 02 you should of had about 3 by the dealer.,1 per year reguardless of milage. If you do not ask for them they are not obligated to give them. If you have the extended warranty and the dealer last serviced it a year prior to this. I would go get my money back. As far the high price always ask the cost first. You basically told them to fix this and do that basically giving them the OK. Just be glad they didn't do the programming or it would have been more.

I encourage all do your homework first. A less than honest Dealer or mechanic shop can cost you alot. Be an informed consumer not a willing victim.
Stepping down from the soap box now.

 

The black BMW 7 series belonged to a neighbor. Before he took posession, a detailer at the dealer buffed the entire side of his car w/ a rotary buffer and high-gloss wax. The buffer pad apparently had a piece of sand in it, and it scratched the entire side of the car. It looked like someone had hand-sanded it with 100 grit sandpaper! The high-gloss wax filled in the scratches while at the dealer... it was gorgeous when he brought it home. The first time he washed it, they showed up like faint swirlmarks. After the second and third wash, the entire side of his car went grey and looked like it had been fingerpainted by a 3-year-old. The dealer had to buy the car back from him!

 

I made the same demand after having visited the dealership one evening near sunset. There was a RG convertible on the property and the low sun was just at the right angle to highlight the buffer damage. The paint was ruined. They apparently had a blind chimp doing the detail work. I also told them that if the car was buffed, I wouldn't take it.

I also refuse the courtesy wash. I'd rather do it myself with my **** two bucket process and not have some indifferent grunt do permanent damage.

 

Too funny ... the Internet really is a lousy place to communicate because you can't tell the writers intentions easily and some words/phrases can be interpreted wrong.

I didn't physically "yell" at them. I learned a LONG time ago that sugar attracts the flies better than vinegar. Rather, I used the word "yell" in the sense of tried to make them understand that is not what I wanted done (and they still didn't get it).

I can see why you thought what you did. It has been my experience that "yelling", is kind of like the squeaky wheel get the grease and only works in certain instances

 

your car is out of warranty. $200 for a visit is really quite reasonable considering its a mini/bmw dealership.

Service advisers arent always on top of their game... the same can be said for many fields as well...

 

My Mazda dealer has an inspection for any car that they service. Its really liability protection for them.

I just took my Mini in for some warrenty work, and I cant remember if they inspected my car or not.

With a $102/hour shop rate, I'd expect them to give my car a look over each time it comes in.

Towson has a touchless carwash, so I have no complaints with them washing my car.