[adam_Randell]

As some of you who read my other thread may know, i recently cut through my air bag cables as i was informed that they were my audio cables! I took my MINI Cooper in today to have the light reset and was told it would cost £40.99 which was fine. However, later the guy came to me and said the the car i.e the ECU wasnt communicating with the diagnostics and that they would have to charge me £103.60+VAT an hour labour to find out how to do it, and that it would take at least 2 hours! Plus stall charged me £40.99 for labour. Firstly, surely £40.99 is how much it costs to do it, not how much it costs if they know how to do it and more if they dont?? Also if the ECU isnt communicating with the diagnostics then there is a problem with the ECU....a warrenty item...rite?

Can someone please give me some advice on this pleeease



Thanks, Adam

[Lawrothegreat]

I wouldn't let them take advantage of the fact you cut some wires. If the ECU isn't communicating with their diagnostic equipment, I would expect it to be sorted under warranty. The only situation where you would be liable for the cost of repair, is if cutting the wires has directly caused the ECU to malfunction and to not communicate properly.

A couple of years ago I queried having normal tyres fitted instead of runflats (be patient there is relevance). I was told by a service manager that fitting non-runflat tyres to a MINI would cause improper readings to be taken by the ABS sensors if the tyres run flat, and could cause the ECU to fail which would be something not covered by the warranty. You have to laugh, really you do.

Mind, another service manager once advised me the MINI was rear-wheel drive which is why my rear brake pads were wearing faster than the fronts. Work that one out.

[adam_Randell]

Quote: Originally Posted by Lawrothegreat (original)

Mind, another service manager once advised me the MINI was rear-wheel drive which is why my rear brake pads were wearing faster than the fronts. Work that one out.

You cant believe some people - i think even my mum knows it front wheel drive! haha.

With the runflat situation - they are only an optional extra, i have non runflats on mine!

Back to the ECU not communicating i am thinking the same as you, i will take it to another garage and tell them the situation - their equipment not working is not something i expect to pay for. Also, has anyone written a letter/email complaining to mini? As i wrote one on monday, highlighting all of the problems with all 3 R56 minis on my drive, and i have, as yet had no comunication back from them?

[mikeythemini]

I had to take an R56 in for airbag light reset & it took them ages to do as they couldnt communicate with the car.
Much the same as dealers having trouble getting the ipod adaptor software to upload- a dealer I spoke to says it can take from 1 hour to 2 days
Maybe the car is running on windows 95??

[adam_Randell]

Really?! If this happens everywhere then surely MINI are not training their staff correctly?

Quote: Originally Posted by mikeythemini (original)

Maybe the car is running on windows 95??

do you mean its running on the R50/53 software?

[mikeythemini]

r53 didnt run on software - it ran on wires

[adam_Randell]

oh ok. wires is the best option i think

what do u mean by running on windows 95 then?

[MiniMpi]

Think it's a joke ref Windows 95!! :-) ie: it's so slow to work etc.

[adam_Randell]

oh okay, lol :$

[airbusA346]

I'm sure when I was in a MINI dealer, I could see one of their comps in the serivce area through a window and it was running Windows 95/98 and when I go into my 'local' dealer all you ever hear apart from the phones ringing for a very long time is the bong noise Windows makes when errors happen.

[KillerByte]

Quote: Originally Posted by airbusA346 (original)

I'm sure when I was in a MINI dealer, I could see one of their comps in the serivce area through a window and it was running Windows 95/98 and when I go into my 'local' dealer all you ever hear apart from the phones ringing for a very long time is the bong noise Windows makes when errors happen.

I very much doubt that Tom. More likely to be running Windows XP with themes turned off.

[airbusA346]

True, but it wouldn't suprise me.

[adam_Randell]

Lol, i wouldnt put it past them - but to be fair, if you have a decent computer you dont have to have XP/Vista as the hardware is more important. But i dont see the point in having windows/pc....Apple are the future...never crash etc.

I think i will contact MINI customer services about the problem - see what they have to say.