I have an 06 MCS and was looking at putting on the Dinan CAI and having their Stage 3 software installed, (it's on sale). I spoke with Eric at Dinan and he said Mini of Towson was a dealer and could install software. Called Mini of Towson, they said nope, not a dealer can't install. Called back to Dinan, they said they are but they'll see what they can do elsewhere. Got a call from Russell BMW in the area who said they could install. Called back to Mini of Towson who said they would check but thought because a non-Mini dealer installed software, warranty could be an issue on the car if problems occur


So here is my question. Would doing their CAI do much good wihout the software? Has anybody had mods installed by a BMW dealer which a MINI dealer wouldn't recognize as dealer installed? Should I go with the JCW CAI and software which Mini will do and recognize? Should I leave the heck alone and get some more miles on it? Should I stop this post and wait for some answers?

Thanks much, Gene

 

Did you go onto the Dinan website and check out their installers? Seems odd that one would be recommended by Eric but they would not acknowledge it .

I have had good experience with Dinan on my BMW, but I would follow their recommendations and not do the CAI without the software.

The Dinan warranty is honored by Dinan and its authorized dealers, so therefore not every MINI dealer would necessarily honor it.

 

I did, and the only local one for Mini, was Mini of Towson. Seems odd and it makes me wonder if something is going on I should steer clear of.

Gene

 

Hi Gene,
That's interesting. I'm thinking of going the Dinan route for my '05 also, and the website lists the BMW dealer here, but not the MINI dealer. They are at the same dealership, though. I am taking my car in for an oil change, so I'll talk to the service advisors. The MINI and BMW service people are next to each other at the dealership.

I'm also interested in knowing how much of the installation you can do yourself, and still have your warranty be valid. Does anyone know if you can self-install and keep your warranty? The Dinan price sheet lists a pulley extractor tool, seems funny that they would offer one if they didn't support some DIY.
Steve

 

I wanted to get the Stage 5 software. Called Towson and they said "nope. We don't offer Dinan anymore." Nor do they work with Mini Mania any longer.
So. I called up Russell BMW and the guy I spoke to on Saturday said that I would have to go to a MINI dealer to get the flash. This is they same guy that is listed as a contact on the DINAN web site.

I would like to get this software since it is half price currently. I may have to go the GIAC route. There is a shop that is local that will do the GIAC install for $325 + $37.50 labor.

 

Reminds me of when we purchased a brand new M roadster with a Dinan package from a local dealership.

Soon after purchasing the car, the Dealer and Dinan broke up, leaving us with a car that could only be serviced by Dinan (3 hours away) and not my local delaership.

It basically left me with a brand new car with no factory warranty - which I soon sorely missed............

 

Good point.

 

That is the impression I have gotten and am going to pass on Dinan altogether. The folks at Russell BMW said, sure we can install your software, but basically then you are on your own! We won't work on the car, and we won't service the software we installed because we don't work on Mini's.

So their products seem to have a good reputation, but their installer and service network for Mini's really seem to be a problem. Too bad.

Gene

 

What I have been told is that if you DIY, then parts are covered by DINAN but if something else breaks due to the fact that the DINAN part cuased it to, then no luck. I'm sure this issue can be fought... ex. if my supercharger went and they tried to blame it on my CAI, I would fight it so MINI would replace my SC. If you have a MINI Dealer do everything then no worries. DINAN does stand behind their product.

 

Good luck proving either and better luck fighting it.

This stance has been voiced numerous times on numerous enthisiasts Forums. The ugly truth is that it's very easy for and Manufacturer to deny you service and very hard for you to force them.

Hypothetical situation:

You install the Dinan Stage 2 package and your M45 hits the schnitz. Dealer looks at your pricey Dinan bits and says - " You have modded this car beyond the parameters of what we warranty it for - pay us to fix it."

You go to Dinan and tell them your story - their line is "There is no possible way an intake, some ECU remapping. etc. caused this."

Where do you go from there? What do you think your options are?

 

I agree with you 100%. I was only saying that some situations can be fought and won with common sense.

 

Thanks Dave,
I went to to the dealer today and the Service Advisor sent me to the parts department to ask about Dinan. I guess the service people don't handle it. They, of course, want to handle all the installation themselves, but would sell me the parts. He was kind of hazy as to what warranty I would have left if I did the install myself.

 

So is it different with JCW parts? Is there an agreement between JCW and MINI that there isn't between Dinan and MINI? If you have JCW parts and your car blows up, then it is covered by MINI regardless of who's part caused the problem? (assuming it wasn't operator error)

 

Yes.

JCW is a factory/dealer installed option - it is fully warranteed by Mini/BMW.

 

Thanks, Skiploder,
do you know if your covered if you install parts yourself?
Steve

 

The way it should work, technically, is that if the part fails, BMW/Mini should cover it. If the problem was proven to be with the install, well SOL. Mini has a poor track record when it comes to giving the customer the benfit of the doubt.

Unfortunately, if a dealer happened to notice that the JCW part in question was not installed by a Mini Dealer, they could hassle you.

It would not surprise me to hear that they would question the install as a factor in the mod going bad instead of a fault in the manufacturing of the part.

Personally, unless it was a cosmetic item, I would have the Dealer install the JCW mod in question.

 

to the car, it's pretty much like being at a lower elevation with slightly higher pressure....

Dealer can't detect tuner reflashes, at least, not without a lot of work. (have to get files out of the car and do a bit comparrison with the file that is supposed to be there. Not something I think they'd do).

Other parts are a different issue.

As for the dealer network, I spoke with some of the Dinan guys at the Historics, and they are aware that some of the dealers aren't as good as they could be.

For clarification, I'd call Dinan direct...

Matt

 

I cannot comment on where you live, but here I checked two of their listed installers - both of which had BMW in their name but not MINI - and both professed to doing both BMW and MINI installations.

 

The BMW dealer here in Baltimore would put in the software, then wash his hands of it, which with less than 1000 miles on the car I did not view as prudent. The Mini dealer would not honor the BMW dealers install and would not cover any item it may affect under the warranty, once again I did not view as prudent.

Spoke with Eric (Dinan) for a good bit this morning. I am going to install their CAI myself, then he is going to let me know at a later date if they had any luck getting a Mini dealer online with their products in the Mid-Atlantic area.

Gene