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Mini Cooper: BEWARE!!!! There aren't parts ..

37 messages,  Last post on Dec 12, 2008 at 7:29 PM

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#1 of 37 Mini Cooper: BEWARE!!!! There aren't parts .. by lilblue32 Apr 25, 2007 (5:42 am)
I have a 4 month old Mini Cooper S convertible. It has less than 4K miles. I am the original and only owner ~ I had it made. The interior of the car suffered some water damage in early March. To date I don't have my car and the earliest estimate on delivery is END OF MAY. MINI DOESN'T HAVE/STOCK REPLACEMENT PARTS FOR THESE VEHCILES. At best, I am looking at a 3 MONTH repair ... nearly 3 times longer than it took to BUILD the entire car. There is NO URGENCY to fix my car on ANY LEVEL. MiniUSA is TOTALLY unhelpful, my local dealership is worse. The stress/financial burden of renting a car for an unspecified/extended period of time while Mini remanufactures parts for my brand new car is simply not worth any enjoyment I may have derived from driving it. Without equivocation I would recommend NEVER buying one of these vehicles. It's simply not worth it. Replies to this message: british_rover (Apr 25, 2007 5:56 am) lilblue32 (Apr 25, 2007 8:05 am) minimike (Apr 26, 2007 8:12 am) coupah (Jul 22, 2008 1:23 pm)
#2 of 37 Re: Mini Cooper: BEWARE!!!! There aren't parts .. [lilblue32] by british_rover Apr 25, 2007 (5:56 am)
Replying to: lilblue32 (Apr 25, 2007 5:42 am) You need to calm down. I know it is frustrating but this is just something you have to deal with when you drive a relatively low production european car. All the parts are made in europe or other countries and sometimes you get back orders.   I have run into the same problem with Range Rovers. The car ends up being down for three months because the part was just not avaliable. That particular part never broke so there were no spares in the whole country. Replies to this message: lilblue32 (Apr 25, 2007 8:05 am)
#3 of 37 Re: Mini Cooper: BEWARE!!!! There aren't parts .. [british_rover] by lilblue32 Apr 25, 2007 (8:05 am)
Replying to: british_rover (Apr 25, 2007 5:56 am) Thank you for your suggestion of another automobile on which, I will never spend money. This would be a TOTALLY different matter IF MiniUSA had been upfront about the challenge of getting parts for these cars while I was in the purchasing process, MiniUSA/the local dealership was willing to assist in ANY manner with transportation while I wait AND/OR I felt Mini was upfront about this challenge with prospective new buyers. You'll never see "hard to get parts for" in any mini marketing collateral small print because whether or not its TYPICAL of european made cars, its definitely NOT a compelling selling point and MiniUSA knows it. I suspect thats why Mini hasn't been particularly upfront about it when I've inquired. Knowing what I now know, I have specifically asked Mini dealerships and have been repeatedly told "NO WAY, getting parts for these cars is not a problem" That's completely untrue. I would have reconsidered the purchase if I had THOUGHT to ask the question and been told the truth while I was buying. I want people to be AWARE, because I was not. I also want people to be WARNED if they ASKED and were told no. Additionally, the general manager of the dealership has told me on no fewer than 4 occasions that if it were HIS Mini, the dealership would have recommended it be totaled. Since the car belongs to me, I can't even get the dealership to recommend replacing the interior parts that were submerged in water. Why would his car be treated better/differently? I'll point out, although its unlikely I have to, that if the dealership HAD recommended my car be totaled, I could have ordered, purchased and would now be driving a NEW MINI in the 8 weeks I've been waiting. Other people should be aware of this situation. It seems to be the position of MiniUSA to turn their backs on their cars/customers once you've handed them your money.
#4 of 37 Re: Mini Cooper: BEWARE!!!! There aren't parts .. [lilblue32] by minimike Apr 26, 2007 (8:12 am)
Replying to: lilblue32 (Apr 25, 2007 5:42 am) Lilblue32...you're not alone as I and many others share your frustrations. While the cars are easy on the eyes and fun to drive it's BUYER BEWARE when it comes to SERVICE and PARTS. MINIUSA's CUSTOMER RELATION DEPARTMENT is a JOKE as are the UNCARING CLOWNS in MINIUSA's CORPORATE office. My best advice, NEVER BUY A MINI!
#5 of 37 Richie "C" by richchinappi Apr 26, 2007 (4:44 pm)
I too have been iged by the dealer about parts not forth coming for my repairs on a 2006. What's the deal with these Brit cars? They can make them but they can't fix them. Don't they no that mechanical things break and they need to replace parts or don't they care once they sell the vehicle and they have our money. DON'T BUY ONE UNLESS YOU HAVE SPARE!!!!!!!!!!!! Do we have another Jaguar on our hands from the Brits? Richie "C" Replies to this message: richchinappi (May 01, 2007 5:22 pm) carla6 (Jun 28, 2007 8:40 am) lilblue32 (Jul 03, 2007 4:46 am)
#6 of 37 Richie C by richchinappi May 01, 2007 (5:19 pm)
There should be a law that says "If you don't have parts to fix the ones on the road you can't sell any more".That would shut Mini down quick and stop the sales and maybe then they'll put the parts on the dealers shelves to repair the vehicles they've already sold. No Parts Yet!!! Dealer says 3-5 more weeks for parts to fgix my mini!!!
#7 of 37 Re: Richie "C" [richchinappi] by richchinappi May 01, 2007 (5:22 pm)
Replying to: richchinappi (Apr 26, 2007 4:44 pm) We have amigos having that same problems!!! What's up with that Mini?
#8 of 37 Re: Richie "C" [richchinappi] by carla6 Jun 28, 2007 (8:40 am)
Replying to: richchinappi (Apr 26, 2007 4:44 pm) You have no idea how many times in the last 3 months (the length of time I have had my BRAND NEW mini S) that I have said "Thank God I kept the 1993 Civic". My mini has been in the shop 3 separate times now..it went back in this morning. They have already replaced 2 major parts. I have never in my life had so many problems with a new car that was not cheap by any means. I'm very dissappointed and concerned that this is a obvious sign of things to come. THANK GOODNESS the thing is still under warranty. Replies to this message: lilblue32 (Jul 03, 2007 4:46 am)
#9 of 37 Re: Richie "C" [carla6] by lilblue32 Jul 03, 2007 (4:46 am)
Replying to: carla6 (Jun 28, 2007 8:40 am) Maintenance on and repair of these cars is a joke, at best. Recently, I've returned my car for rattles and loose & creaking convertible top. They explained the repairs were made using Anti-rattle Tape and oil. PLEASE! The employees in-dealership are condescending and evasive and the quality of the work performed to "fix" maintenance concerns could be performed by a 3 year old with Fischer Price tools. Everyday I see more and more Mini's on the road/around town. As long as the money is coming in, BMW will NEVER hear complaints or address them. All things I wish I had known before I had purchased. I'd never make this mistake again. Buyer beware!
#10 of 37 2002 Minicooper by derbygal Jul 05, 2007 (12:44 pm)
I bought my 2002 Minicooper at 17,000 miles in 2004. I knew the Mini had a history of electrical bugs so wasn't too concerned with the 10 trips to the dealer for electrical issues prior to my ownership. However, after 30 trips to the dealer in 3 years, having to fork over the cash for a entirely new transmission and clutch AFTER the dealership warranty wore out, and having the dealership request that they didn't want the car towed there because I am never happy with their service. I am not happy with their service. The dealership continally attempts to imply that I am somehow at fault for these engineering, technical and mechanical faults in my Mini. When, after two years of continual service of my car, I asked Mini to replace it, I received a hysterical phone call from Mini in which the "customer service representative" reacted off the wall when I dared to suggest that the car may be a lemon. I also had the same experience as the previous blogger with the BMW sales director stating that if the car was a BMW instead of a Minicooper they would trade the car. How is this supposed to help me? I am still making payments for two years on a car that I have shelled out over $3,000 in cash to fix in the past two months. I have had to pay out of pocket because the Minicooper dealer is charging more than the suggested retail price to my mechanic for parts. He has also been shipped incorrect parts four times in a row while I have been forced to pay out of pocket for a rental car. Is there no recourse for this kind of incompetence?   Everyone is washing their hands of this car - Minicooper and the dealership in Minnesota. Is there no recourse when everything falls apart on a car. Everything has been replaced at least once except the engine block - some thing s have had to be replace up to three times. Thanks, Michelle Replies to this message: lilblue32 (Jul 07, 2007 7:04 am)

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