So my MINI had the gear selector thingy break on a Saturday. The airconditioning also failed the same day. So to make a long story short - they need to keep the car for five days minimum (I am in Los Angeles) and will not supply a rental car. I cannot believe this. Any suggestions? Very disheartened. Will stop recommending car to people.

 

I am so very sorry to hear this news.
Please do not let yourself put down the car that has made you so happy in the past.
Where have you been?
We have been discussing the recall issue for weeks. I even listed VIN #'s so owners could get their cars in for repair before a mishap could happen.
I think you should come down hard on your service rep and tell him because this is a recall you NEED a rental car. NOW!!
We are here for you.
The MINI's are a great car, and I am soory for your luck.

 

I agree with mini-g. Don't let the repair work get you down, although five days without your Mini (or even a rental!) is disheartening. As someone whose Mini has seen the inside of the dealer's service department three times since I got in April (it's there now, in fact), I know how you feel. But don't worry. Once you drive it away from the dealer again, you'll remember why you love that car. Besides, these are just early production problems.....they're no reason to stop recommending the car.

 

About the rental... You should contact Mini USA, and in many instances, they agree to pay sometihing like $35 per day for you to get a rental car... If you have a different vehicle you could use, then I suppose it would be a different story!

 

Thanks guys, I appreciate your responses. I know, I should have more patience as I knew that getting the first edition of this car would require it. She was actually booked in to be looked at before the selector snapped as I did see your post and she is in that VIN group! The dealer won't budge on a rental but I will contact MINI. Can't believe I miss my car. too funny!

 

Hey russmeyergirl,

Sorry to hear it. Same thing with me (but a little different- they refused to fix the linkage before it brakes eventhough I'm one of those VINs). MINI has no loaner policy eventhough I was told BMW does (yet a friend with a BMW was still refused a loaner!). Call MINI USA first and explain to them that this is not routine work, nor is it optional- it is warranty work that needs to be done because the car is undriveable! Try and get some compensation out of them for a rental. Then call the service center and ask for the service manager. If you ***** loud enough, especially there in person, they will do almost anything to make you happy and stop. I was promised a BMW loaner for when I finally get a letter from MINI and have to take my car in for the linkage repair. What dealership are you at? Universal/Century West BMW sucks, just to warn you!

Good-luck- let us know if you're victorious! :smile:

 

I was fortunate to get the shift linkage repaired befor it broke. To this day, I've never gotten a letter from MINI advising or acknowledging the problem. I learned about in the Wall Street Journal. I also had some hassle the first trip to the dealer to get it fixed but, it all worked out, eventually. For what it's worth, I did the following: I contacted MINIUSA through the email on theowner's lounge on their website. i explained the problem and asked that they call me back, not email. They promptly did. I went through the situation with them on the phone and they contacted my dealer, arranged for the order of the part and confirmed it all again with the dealer. My impression is that if you just contact your dealer, you won't get too far. The "order" allowing repair seems to need to come from MINIUSA to allow the dealer to proceed. For reasons I don't understand, they don't seem to want to fix the cars until they break. This seems just too weird since they've acknowledged the problem exists and why would you want people breaking down on the road. So go to the MINIUSA web site, owner's lounge, or call 866 2756464 and try to set things up through Mini with your selling dealer. By the way don't try going to another dealer. I've found that at this early stage of the game with this car, if the dealer didn't sell it to you (at least in Los Angeles area) they don't want to talk to you. Case in point is Universal (mentioned by others). I tried to buy from them and they were JERKS. I then tried to get the shift problem fixed there(after I bought elsewhere), 'cause they are the closest dealer to me and they were COMPLETE JERKS. Their excuses were beyond belief. They ultimately said they'd fix my car but it would take a month for the parts and I never heard from them again. Universal is the WORST dealership I have ever dealt with, regardless of car brand or any factor.

 

CMINIGO>>>>
They wouldn't fix the shift linkage before it broke?? Isn't that a little dangerous!?!?!? If you are part of the recall they should be repairing it right away!

 

I just got home from my dealer, Downtown Mini in Orlando. We called up there late last week to see if my mini was in the recall. I'd been hearing about the recall, and I knew that my VIN was in those that had been listed on this site. They said that they couldn't be sure until they looked at it, so I took it up there today, and everyone was great. They checked it out and I did indeed need the cable. They replaced it in no time...and absolutely no hassle!!! Of course, I've never had anything but wonderful experiences at Downtown. It's an utter shame that so many people are having bad luck with their dealers/service... :smile:

 

>>I was fortunate to get the shift linkage repaired befor it broke. To this day, I've never gotten a letter from MINI advising or acknowledging the problem. I learned about in the Wall Street Journal.

Case in point is Universal (mentioned by others). I tried to buy from them and they were JERKS. I then tried to get the shift problem fixed there(after I bought elsewhere), 'cause they are the closest dealer to me and they were COMPLETE JERKS. Their excuses were beyond belief. They ultimately said they'd fix my car but it would take a month for the parts and I never heard from them again. Universal is the WORST dealership I have ever dealt with, regardless of car brand or any factor.<<


:evil:

Sorry about the rant...

Cheers!
Clover

 

You are so right - Universal is a terrible place to deal with, they are my closest too. I had my car towed to the dealer I bought it from instead because I know even with their limited help it would be better than just any old dealer.

Why do they have to be such shmucks?

 

Hey guys! If a MINI dealer treats you like crap, write a letter to MINI USA (or BMW Canada for me). They will take action. A luxury brand like BMW does not like it when guys like you get treated like sh*t and then tell everybody about it.

I don't know how the MINI dealers are setup in the US but in Canada the dealers are all corporate owned stores. Bad service will not go unpunished.

If everyone who got treated badly wrote a letter, the bad dealers would be weeded out from the great ones.

Fortunately, I have a great dealer (MINI Yaletown). They have bent over backwards to take care of me. I have written a glowing letter to the President of BMW Canada to that effect.

Christian.

 

Yes, Universal is the worst!!! I cannot stress that enough. (I wish that the Canoga Park MINI was open!) The Century West BMW where you have to get it serviced treats you like crap- like they resent having to deal with MINIs because they're not "real" BMWs (from the mouth of the receptionist!). I did the whole calling MINI and the dealership back and forth, told them the car was at the service center that very second and they refused to do the linkage fix on it. All MINI said was, "Well, they should." MINI did not offer to call the dealership for me, and skirted the issue when I asked them to. I have contacted MINI via the owners lounge asking to contact me about this and let me know where I can send letters of complaint to MINI USA and BMW of North America... no response yet and it's been 3 days. I have a humungo complaint letter ready to go, if I only knew where. I ordered something from the Long Beach MINI parts dept and pick it up Thursday. When I'm there I plan on speaking with someone to find out if I'll be given a hard time if I want to take my MINI to them for service instead of where I bought it. I sure hope Canoga Park MINI opens by the time I need scheduled maintenance! I can't stand Universal/Century West! I hope MINI gets enough complaints and revolkes their MINI-selling priviledges! :evil:

 

Don't forget about the handy-dandy (yes, it's handy AND dandy) dealer rating system... that way you can make sure that your ill-comments are perserved for all...

Rocketboy_X

 

 

 

You all had great suggestions - THANX.

Got an email from MINI today that they will cover rental car (which I have now had for 6 days!!!!!). They were very cool.

But the question remains... My car was recalled, and no one told me... Anyone else freaked out by that?

 

>>Hey guys! If a MINI dealer treats you like crap, write a letter to MINI USA (or BMW Canada for me). They will take action. A luxury brand like BMW does not like it when guys like you get treated like sh*t and then tell everybody about it.
>>
>>>>Regretably, I must differ. I have been involved in the auto industry in various capacities, one of which as an attorney. I have worked for and against auto dealers, manufacturers etc. I don't think they care a whole lot about complaints, these type of web sites etc. This is at the heart of why BMW has been so slow to recognize the shift linkage issue as a recall. They have an odd arrogance about their cars. They are reluctant to label any problem as a recall or allow their cars to be identified as a lemon.Any problem is called a "campaign". They fight most lemon law cases vehemently, as do far too many manufacturers. They have the unshakeable belief that if the "give in" to one customer, then word gets out and the flood gates open. They believe in the old political warfare addage of "millions for defense but not one cent for tribute" i.e. they'd rather fight you, at least for awhile, rather then jump in, be good guys and address problems. Again, they never want to admit there are problems. I've just been through this attitude with them in getting my shift linkage (finally) fixed. They wanted it to break first. Told me it was no big deal, etc. Letters, etc. help you vent but, with the auto industry, more concerted efforts are needed.

 

>>Hey guys! If a MINI dealer treats you like crap, write a letter to MINI USA (or BMW Canada for me). They will take action. A luxury brand like BMW does not like it when guys like you get treated like sh*t and then tell everybody about it.
>>

This certainly sounds like a dealer problem. Be sure to slide over to the dealer rating system page and post up.

Maybe if the dealer starts to understand that future new car sales might be directly effected by post sale customer service, they might have a change of heart. The net gives us all a voice, use it.

-Dale

 

From the horse's mouth:
________________

You absolutely can take your MINI to another authorized MINI Dealer for scheduled maintenance and warranty work. They are required to honor both the maintenance and warranty agreements that come equipped with your MINI.

If you would like to submit a formal letter in writing you may do so to address:

MINI Division
PO Box 1227
Westwood, NJ 07675
_________________

If you have complaints, send your letter in! I am! I hope someone cares about so many of us having so many problems with BMW service centers. At least it's good to know MINI cares, even if BMW dealers don't. I'm so glad they agreed to cover your rental car! One small victory at a time...
:smile:

 

It wouldn't hurt to give it a try...

SoCal Better Business Bureau