This is my first post here and I am sad to come on after such a negative experience! I prefer to post on these types of forums with fun stuff. Let me explain, I was in the Automobile business for 26 years, in sales service, you name it. I have modified many Turbo's mostly Porsche and Audi. My car before my 2003 Mini was a Modifies 2000 Audi S, it was one of the first 2 in the USA. Nuff said. A few weeks ago my Mini with 40,000 lost boost/power, I was concerned as I run a 15% pulley and open air intake thats been on the car trouble free for about 25,000 miles. I did what I always do and go on line and see if anyone else had issues. Low and behold, confirmed many with bad air intake bypass valves, (reminded me of Audi), that made sense to me. I did the zip tied temp repair to confirm the failed part, boost was almost all back, called Braman Mini in West Palm Beach, Fl. the store I bought it at and is 75 miles away, they offered an appointment the next day(the first time in 3 years I did not have to wait 3-5 weeks for a service appointment), I let them know I needed to wait as I live 75 miles away.The next day I cut off the zip tie, to drive to Braman and much to my surprise, the valve is working, not like new mind you, but with about 75% power! Dang what to do, I know the part is bad, but I also know how warranty works. I never had a check engine light so no stored codes for the dealer. I was counting on a tech driving it and confirming the part failure that way, but now, even though I can feel it is not 100% to them it will feel normal. I decided to take a shot and drive the 75 Freaking miles. As I left my drive the glove box opened on it's own, as it will do over bumps from time to time, bet some of yours does too.I decided maybe they can adjust that as well. A few miles down the road my "tailgate open" warning light came on with all the doors and hood/tailgate shut. This happened a few weeks back, but I adjusted the striker on the tailgate and it's been OK till today! Well maybe they can fix that to? So I get there right on time I sit down with the service adviser and explain my dilemma, he will do what he can, then I tell him I am waiting and he seems surprised, upset, and says there are 10 people in before me, but he'll see what he can do. 20 minutes later he come out looking rather sheepish, mentioned that they can not verify my concern, the car runs fine and because I have a reduction pulley and an open air element and without any codes any further diagnoses 1.5 hours would be at my own expense! I tell him not to diag the valve but what about the glove box and the rear latch, he says he does not have time to look at them. Now I can understand the valve issue, even though it's a known issue, even though it's about an hour long repair, even though other symptoms were present like an air leak noise under boost, and the SC is louder than normal, I can understand why they did not want to just slap a new valve in, but to let me drive back 75 miles without adjusting or repairing my glove box and trunk lid is inexcusable! So I grumpily make my way over to parts to buy the G.D. valve and they don't even have one in stock! The parts guy said he can order one, I said Dude I can order one too, and they will bring to my front door, I don't need a dealer for that. Now I'm pissed, I go back in to talk to the Sales manager who has been sending me letters telling me how much equity I have in my Mini, and how they would love me to trade it in! I tell him what just happened, he asked me to give him a second chance at a repair (he does not know I already know they don't even have the parts), and I refuse. Basically my attitude is they should have at least repaired the two minor problems, I know they did not have many people that drive as far as I have, and I told them I was prepared to wait all day if needed. I have had my problems with this dealer in the past, but this takes the cake. Keep in mind I was a service adviser myself for 3 years, and I know the drill, and this store seems to have an attitude. So I quess it's a Detroit valve for me. I just thought it would be nice to get it fixed under warranty, then upgrade and have two good valves. Bottom line: this is not a friendly dealer Downtown Mini in Orlando has been far more accommodating, my next Mini will be from them if I decide I can live with what seem to be problems adding up, God help us when they put a motor being assembled in France in these cars!!!! I welcome your input.

 

I feel your pain, but you know, sometimes, even if something is under warranty, considering a long drive, the time involved, the frustration with having to deal with a service dept that really doesn't share your concern, makes it just a lot simplier and quicker and sometimes cheaper to just fix what is wrong yourself and drive on.

YD

 

I agree, but I am tired of fixing these problems, I have adjusted the glove box two times and it's better, but still opens over hard bumps and my fix for the rear latch works for about two weeks each time. I suspect that adjustments are stop gap and new parts are needed, should I buy my own parts and fix these things myself, just cause it's more convenient? I have done that in the past, but I am fed up with being Mr Nice guy!!! I gave a higher level of service at frigging Ford for crying out loud. When a customer drove into our service drive I was expected to pop the hood, fill all fluids, check the battery, inspect the wipers. I had to answer my own phone, myself and do it in 3 rings! This was at a dealer that took in 50 to 120 cars a day. My Mini dealer was not even close to this level of service, that's what bothers me, I had higher standards at Ford. I sold cars at a Ferrari, Bentley Aston Martin dealer in Greenwich Ct., So I am aware of how it should be done. Forgive my rant I am still steamed.

 

I have also had problems with my dealer. (Century MINI/Greenville,SC) I really liked my salesman Henk, but the service department and MA (Jim Pickett) SUCK!!! I've made my last trip down there and have been reccommending that anyone buying a MINI in my area go to MINI of Nashville. I have no idea about their sales force, but their service department is MUCH MUCH better. Because of the service at Century, or lack there of, I've pretty much decided that my first MINI will be my last. I've have 40,000 miles on the car and I've had 2 motor mounts replaced, a wheel bearing, a windshield, clear coat peeling, and a seat elevator lever that broke off in my wifes hand. That's entirely too much stuff going wrong for a car that has only 40,000 miles on it. Not to mention the crazy gremlins we all deal with. These things do not hapopen with most cars built in Japan or the US. I am very disappointed.

 

It really sucks...

I really suggest you to get a Detroit Tuned bypass valve... It is roughly 125$ and improves the MINI. It is also fairly easy to install. Detroit Tuned provides very good instructions!

btw, your posts are hard to read... Please break these texts in paragraphs... I now have an headache reading it lol

 

Dang! At least my problems are mostly just annoying, except for that leaking cv joint that requires a total replacement of the steering rack! I really do not want this to become a Mini bash, I love my Mini and knew it was a risk buying a car with both my dealers 75 miles away. Just so you know the problems with American cars and trucks are just as bad or worst, you would not believe the stories I can tell you from my time in service with both Ford and GM involving current models. All manufacture with the exception of Japanese cars are having quality control issues. It's my opinion it has to do with outsourcing parts production to factories all over the world, most with poor work ethics at best, just wait till Mini puts a Peugeot/Citroen motor assembled in France into these cars. If your not aware of Frances Labor and Immigration issues, you will be if you buy a car with a Motor assembled there!

 

There are 2 ways to build cars for profit.

1.) Build cars to satisfy the bottom line for the share holders. That means buying the cheapest materials availible that day so that the share holders are happy and making money. - The American way.

2.) Build cars to satisfy the consumer and rely on happy customers for repeat business and brand loyalty. - The Japanese way

I can't figure out what the philosophy is in Oxford.

I agree that US built cars have their problems, I've owned several. BUT, I've never seen anything to compare to the number of common problems that most MINI owners are facing or will face. I've owned Chevy's, Fords, Mazda's, Honda's, Isuzu's, and BMW's. All the problems combined from my previous cars can't match what all has happened to my MINI. (build date was 1/1/'05)

I don't consider telling the truth about what has happened to my MINI as "BASHING." Simply the facts.

 

Ah, then you've never owned a Saab or Volvo . These two outfits carry design flaws from model to model, year to year, decade to dacade. Read the forums at www.saabnet.com and you'll feel a lot better about your MINI.

My take is that, for the most part, European cars don't have near the reliability of a Japanese make. If you want hassle-free that means Toyota or Honda. Of course driving those is like a toaster oven with four wheels - B O R I N G appliances! The fun to drive part of a MINI (or any Euro car) comes with quirky mechanicals, poorly engineered sub-assemblies and often marginal designs - this is, unfortunately, part of the price of admission.

If we didn't have a fabulous MINI dealer in my area, I would not have even considered the purchase of a car of European origin.

 

Last week i replaced a bypass valve under warranty only because there was a stored code(not current) on the customers DME. The car drove perfect on my test drive and i still went ahead and replaced the valve. He wasn't even in for that issue. With so many of them having problems why not replace it before the guy has to come back...

about the glove box: it should not take more than 1/2 hour to adjust the latch and place washers behind the top screws of the glove box, that's all. why would they not do it is beyond me...

about the rear hatch staying on: if your car is convertible is the switch on the left side of the rear hatch(just place an ob rign on it to push it out). if it's a hard top then it's out of adjustment, which should not take more than 15 minutes to repair either one...

man my manager would had slapped me if i had told him i wasn't going to fix those problems...

 

THANK YOU! My old service Manager would have B*** slapped me (verbally) if I had let a customer go like that! I replaced lots of parts that I could not verify because they were common failures, like window regulator motors in almost any Ford, customer calls up says my drivers window is inop, they come in it started to work on the way over. This is typical, some would start to work if you banged on the inside of the door! I would replace it because we knew these motors break all the time. The adviser at Bremen said these valves were not an issue? Guess he thought I just felt like driving 150 miles and getting them to replace mine for fun.

 

not an issue??? then why do i have about 5 of them taking space on my bench??? the parts dept. do not want them back because BMW does not call for them since they know is a common problem. i'm just too lazy to throw them out.

Same with window motors, broken glove boxes, door lock actuators, motor mounts and seat back frames...

 

It may be that the valve issue is due to the screws that hold the butterfly plate onto the shaft. If they loosen, the plate can stick open thus causing a reduction in boost.

If you are removing the valve anyway, I'd check the screws and realign the butterfly. Of course, you get the stiffer spring with DT's BPV (meant to address the yo-yo effect), but as Dr. Obnxs points out, you can stretch the stock spring for the same solution.

I am lucky that I have one of the best MINI dealers in the US (MINI of Peabody, MA) servicing my MINI. This is a standalone dealership and the service department is dedicated to MINI only. I think that it is worth the two-hour (one-way) drive for the attention and expertise I receive at this dealership.

Is there a MINI-only dealer in your area?

Theo

 

I have been to two MINI dealers for service (both 2 hrs away). One gives me good service, the other great service. So. you can guess which one I usually go to. If I got bad service I would go to another dealer (no matter how far I had to drive) or sell the car.

I feel Philbert's pain...driving 1-2 hours for nothing is no way to treat a customer. I'm guessing you didn't buy the car there, and thus are not getting star treatment.

funny to see Joey1320's list of common problems, as they have almost all happened to me!

 

I did buy the car there!