Ask the Car People.SM


MINI Cooper Care & Maintenance

393 messages,  Last post on May 06, 2013 at 3:44 PM

You are in the MINI Cooper Forum.

What is this discussion about? MINI Cooper, Hatchback

Messages Page 12 of 40

#110 of 393 Mini Extended MAINTENANCE "upgrade"...thoughts? by simplygwents

Oct 26, 2007 (7:23 pm)

Hi,
Looking for thoughts on the MINI/BMW Maintenance (Service) Extended coverage. Here's the deal: Husband purchased dream 2007 MINI Cooper S less than 48 hours ago. He agreed and signed the program upgrade agreement at cost of $1795. It is listed as "OPTIONAL" in the actual PURCHASE AGREEMENT. After he shows me....I start to wonder, "Is this really a 'good deal'? Is this 'even money' as I'm sure he'll want service at authorized MINI dealership only?" Then I think, let me check it out before we commit....but when we call dealership, they say it's "too late"....contract has been turned into BMW and we agreed to it and it's a done deal. My financing credit union says NO! It's "optional" and they can just NOT pay it. Dealer then says, "Yeah, but you'll owe us $1795". What happened to "buyer's remorse" laws? Don't I have like 72 hours to revoke an agreement like this?
 
AND, when all is said and done, are we being ripped off....or is this TRULY an "Even money" good deal? I just wanted a little more time to explore....I don't have long though. I would appreciate thoughts from people that know....thus I appreciate all help you can provide! Car will be driven AT LEAST 20K (probably more like 25K) a year in non-extreme (well, HOT) weather conditions. Many freeway miles as well.
 
As for bumper-to-bumper warranty extension, credit union beat BMW/MINI by $1500 and so will go with their coverage. 72/100K with $200 deductible at $831/year. Thoughts on this as well are appreciated!

#111 of 393 mechanic for mini-boston area by mrosmarin

Oct 29, 2007 (7:59 am)

Need a good mechanic in the Boston area........west of Boston is ok too. I love my mini! Thanks!
 
P.S. I got a large amount of Stree tar on the side doors and found a great body work person to remove it in an hour for a reasonable fee. Let me know if you need address/name....he is in Needham Mass.

#112 of 393 Re: Mini Extended MAINTENANCE "upgrade"...thoughts? [simplygwents] by coop10

Nov 02, 2007 (6:39 am)

Replying to: simplygwents (Oct 26, 2007 7:23 pm)
The extended maintenance service program agreement is a pretty good deal, and it is sold by BMW Mini. BMW MINI charges the dealerships $1195 for this package and recommends that they sell it at a $1395 retail price - anything above $1195 is dealership profit. Around the country, prices range from $1395 to $2195 depending on the dealership. All dealerships will negotiate the price on this package. That being said, considering that you and your husband will be driving the car pretty consistently, and this maintenance package pays for all "normal " maintenance for 6 years/100,000 mi, including brake pads/rotors, oil changes, service inspections, clutch, etc (all the stuff included in your original 3 year/36000mi maintenance coverage), it is worth the price. Keep in mind that this is separate from a warranty. Currently those are all 3rd-party, and you have to be very careful, as these "warranties " tend to have exclusion lists that are much longer than the lists of what is covered. Read carefully. You should have a 72 hour/ 3 day right to cancel, but it sounds like you have gone past that anyhow - but I think your husband did OK.

#113 of 393 when do I get serviced or change oil? by tica

Nov 11, 2007 (11:02 am)

I'm leasing a 2007 Mini Cooper basic. I've had it 6 1/2 months and I'm just about to hit 5000 miles
 
I thought I was supposed to change the oil at 5000 miles, maybe I read that somewhere.
 
But I called the dealer and they said I'm not due for service yet. , what am I supposed to do? I can't find anything in the manual or lease form that gives me specifics.
 
Is there anything I need to do before lease return date in May?
 
thanks

#114 of 393 Re: when do I get serviced or change oil? [tica] by bodble2

Nov 12, 2007 (12:55 am)

Replying to: tica (Nov 11, 2007 11:02 am)
"...lease return date in May"
 
You're on a 12-month lease?

#115 of 393 Re: when do I get serviced or change oil? [tica] by wongkid

Nov 13, 2007 (9:33 am)

Replying to: tica (Nov 11, 2007 11:02 am)
Many/most serious BMW Club car owners believe that car mfgrs who now offer "free" maintenance miraculously now also believe that delaying oil changes beyond "old-school" 3000-5000 mile intervals is OK (because now THEY have to pay for it). Even with new technology and superior synthetic oils (which can go beyound 5000 miles between changes).
 
Car "fanatics" that want to keep their cars for a long time and in peak condition usually change oil more frequently than these new extended recommendations - it's cheap insurance to keep a car running beyond 75,000 miles. That said, the car certainly won't fail during the time you have it on lease, and even so, it's on warranty. Less frequent oil changes are the "next owner's problem".
 
Some more "weasle words" - If you drive in hot climates, do more stop-and-go, drive hard, then oil should be changes more often. If it's a freeway cruiser in temperate climates, less frequent. If you use synthetic oil - less frequent. If "normal" oil, more frequent.
 
Last "split the baby" - some people change the oil more frequently but change the oil filter every other time to save a little money and/or it is easier to change oil youself without changing the filter.
 
More than you wanted to know . . .

#116 of 393 Re: when do I get serviced or change oil? [wongkid] by tica

Nov 13, 2007 (8:44 pm)

Replying to: wongkid (Nov 13, 2007 9:33 am)
thank you so much, actually that's exactly what I wanted to know. I"d read about the 5000 mile oil change somewhere and then was confused when the Mini people said no...but this is the thing, I live in NYC, so lots of stop start stuff. I definitely have no idea how to change my own oil. How much does it cost? i'm not sure if I'm buying this car after my lease is up (I will if they lower the price, otherwise I might just buy a 2008 with fewer options--so around the same price as buyingm y current at residual-- and get a new car and new year on the warrantly)
 
but on the chance I do buy this one, I certainly would want to have done right by the oil! And so you're saying, I could change the whole oil and/or change the filter (whatever that is), how much can I expect to pay for these things, and, when it's time for my official Mini maintenance check will they hold it against me that I did these things? (you know some of this warrantly stuff says you are not supposed to do things on your own or somesuch)
 
thanks for the very helpful information.

#117 of 393 Scheduled Service for '07/'08 MINI Cooper by minipak

Dec 02, 2007 (8:02 pm)

BMW-MINI dealer told me that the new MINI Cooper based on the 15K miles service or ones per year. Is it right or wrong? It's very hard to believe, but I could not verify this statement in the owners manual yet, because just a week ago placed order for '08 MINI basic model (automatic with a couple optional packages). It should be ready for delivery in the second part of January, 2008. Also, is the MINI comes with the tinted glass?

#118 of 393 Re: when do I get serviced or change oil? [tica] by wongkid

Dec 04, 2007 (2:59 am)

Replying to: tica (Nov 13, 2007 8:44 pm)
You should just call around and get quotes for oil change pricing, and compare with an official Mini Dealer quote. People might look at you funny if you talk about changing the oil without changing the filter. This is definitely more a do-it-yourself, "penny-pinching" approach, but hey, I haven't found the money tree yet. BUT, if BMW/Mini say that oil filters are good for 10K or 15K, why change it at 5K (oil, on the otherhand, does break down, which is why we're discussing more frequent oil changes). As far a warranty, you should ask Mini. I don;t see how they could hold doing MORE frequent oil changes (that you pay for) against you - - as long as the oil changes are done properly.
 
Of note, in the "old days" (just 5 years ago), high performance BMWs used to require an early oil change after an engine break-in period (forgot how many miles it was at, might have been as low as 2500), before they recommended high speed/high performance driving of the car. That was "old-school".
 
Good luck.

#119 of 393 Re: Scheduled Service for '07/'08 MINI Cooper [minipak] by wongkid

Dec 04, 2007 (3:00 am)

Replying to: minipak (Dec 02, 2007 8:02 pm)
See my post #115 regarding my OPINION regarding oil changes.

Messages Page 12 of 40

To POST a message, please Sign In.

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement