- #268 of 282
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Re: big maintenance bill [snicker2]
by rlmiller9
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Oct 20, 2009 (5:49 pm)
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Replying to: snicker2 (Oct 20, 2009 6:57 am)
Hi there snicker2,
Here is what is happening, one of two choices;
1. The dealership needs money as many are scimping on repairs and want to get as much as they can from you, they will also likey suggest that you only maybe do half of it now. That way you will pay only 2k and be happy about it!!!!
2. They are trying to steer you to a new car, by making you feel your existing one is going to cost you so much you can and should think new. This will also help them get you to take a low ball offer for trade.
Find an honest independant shop that can inspect your car and never ever go to that dealer again, punish them for treating you this way.
Ray
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- #269 of 282
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Re: big maintenance bill [snicker2]
by rlmiller9
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Oct 20, 2009 (5:54 pm)
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Replying to: snicker2 (Oct 20, 2009 8:25 am)
Hey sniceker2,
Just so you know if the dealersip did work on your car without you oking the work in writing ahead of time I am not sure you have to pay for it.
Ray
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- #270 of 282
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Re: mini radiator fan [cinboden]
by snicker2
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Oct 21, 2009 (3:25 am)
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Replying to: cinboden (Oct 06, 2008 12:39 pm)
I'm new to this and just read your msg yesterday so you have probably resolved your problem by now. I had the same problem last year. My fan got stuck and ran on wide open even when the car was off and killed the battery so I had it towed in to dealership who repaired it for $600 and said it was an end stage fan failure. I asked how it was a failure when it wouldn't stop running on wide open and they said that is how it acted. It made no sense that it had failed and would keep on running. Now that I've read the posts, I'm pretty sure I had a relay switch problem and not a bad fan. Just wanted to pass this along to anyone who may have the same problem.
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- #271 of 282
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Re: It would be nice! [coasterguy]
by snicker2
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Oct 21, 2009 (3:40 am)
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Replying to: coasterguy (Jun 16, 2008 6:52 pm)
Except for my astonomical maintenance bills, which are basically my fault for not searching out a good independent mechanic, (which I will now begin to do!), I have nothing but great things to say about my 02 MCS. It is a great car and definitely makes driving fun. I'll keep it until I go to heaven where there will be no maintenance bills to deal with anyway! It is well made, hugs the road even when my Pirelli fun flat was flat on the right front, (really). I love the run flats. Never knew about them until I got the Mini and would never have any other kind of tire! LOVE the car!
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- #272 of 282
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Re: big maintenance bill [rlmiller9]
by snicker2
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Oct 21, 2009 (4:50 am)
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Replying to: rlmiller9 (Oct 20, 2009 5:49 pm)
Thanks for your replies. I think your number 1 is pretty much what was happening. I have always been afraid to take the car to anyone else so have always taken it to a dealership. Now I definitely see the need to search for a good independent shop. I also will educate myself more on the mechanical aspects of my car instead of just depending on what someone tells me. I'm glad I found this site. Lots of good info. Thanks again for your encouragement.
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- #273 of 282
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Re: big maintenance bill [shark715]
by snicker2
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Oct 21, 2009 (5:04 am)
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Replying to: shark715 (Oct 20, 2009 10:36 am)
Thanks! Glad to hear you have seen steam too. That really had me concerned. The whole oil pan gasket thing could have probably been fixed as you suggested because after reading your post, I do remember hearing something thump pretty loud under my car not too long ago while I was driving and wondering if it hurt anyhing. Could have knocked the oil pan loose but I'll never know. One last question regarding this whole thing. I asked if the rear rotors had to be replaced too or just the pads and she told me they were "together" so they both had to be replaced. Is that true? I know it is not true on other cars but when she told me that, I thought it was something unique to the Mini.
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- #274 of 282
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Re: big maintenance bill [snicker2]
by shark715
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Oct 21, 2009 (5:33 am)
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Replying to: snicker2 (Oct 21, 2009 5:04 am)
The rear brakes on your Mini are just like disc brakes on any other car. As with most front wheel drive cars, the rear brakes generally last far longer than the fronts because they have far less work to do. The rotors would need to be replaced only if they are damaged or warped, which would be fairly unusual for rear brakes unless you have been unusually hard on the brakes. Sounds like she inferred that the rotors must be replaced when the pads are, and that's simply not true unless the rotors themselves need to be replaced. The game that I've seen a lot of dealers (and unfortunately other garages) play is to tell you that you need new pads and/or rotors before they reach the point that the manufacturer says they need to be replaced. It's like asking a barber if you need a haircut. Dealers make an incredible markup selling parts and labor at retail, so they have a vested interest in trying to "sell" you as many parts and services as they can, especially expensive parts like rotors.
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- #275 of 282
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Re: big maintenance bill [shark715]
by british_rover
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Oct 22, 2009 (6:14 am)
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Replying to: shark715 (Oct 21, 2009 5:33 am)
Remember that the MINI is a euro car and like most euro cars the rotors wear with the pads.
Sure sometimes you can get away with just a pad swap and not replacing the rotors but the new pads most likely will not last as long. You might be able to do that once but not twice as the rotors on most newer euro cars are too thin and too soft to turn even once.
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- #276 of 282
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Re: big maintenance bill [british_rover]
by Mr_Shiftright HOST
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Oct 22, 2009 (8:40 am)
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Replying to: british_rover (Oct 22, 2009 6:14 am)
On German cars today, you throw the rotors away if there is any discernible wear.
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- #277 of 282
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Re: big maintenance bill [Mr_Shiftright]
by british_rover
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Oct 22, 2009 (2:36 pm)
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Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Oct 22, 2009 8:40 am)
I know I did that on my MINI but most people are cheap and think they can get away with new pads and old rotors.
Generally the new pads will last half as long, sometimes less, when matched up to the old rotors.
That is not cheap at all.
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