[drb5]

We received our brand new S on the 3rd.

Straight away, when i got back home, i knew of a couple of problems. The front number plate was cracked, numerous creaks and rattles inside the car and a chip on the bonnet. The chip wasn't a stone chip, due it being on a rear facing edge of the bonnet. Unfortunately i picked the car up in the snow, so i never seen the plate and chip.

5 days later when i managed to give the car a good wax, i found this...



Ontop of this(i'm MOST upset about that issue, as that is definately human error!), i now have the loud ticking noise from the engine that goes away once warmed up, when selecting certain gears there is a snick and now rushing water behind the dash.

I know mechanical problems can be fixed, but paintwork will always never be right....repainted or not, i shouldn't have to accept this. The whole thing is making me feel worse due to the amount of "common faults" appearing.

I'm going into the dealers today, to pick up the new front number plate and tell them about the 2 new problems....gearbox and water noise.

I'm still yet to find out what happens IF i let them repair the bodywork and i'm not happy with the outcome. The service manager was ment to call me about that, but funnily enough, he never did.

Anyone had similar problems with the bodywork, or the amount of problems i have?

[NeuroBeaker]

Sorry to hear about your problems - just out of curiosity, which dealership was this (I note you're also in Scotland)?

All the best,
Andrew.

[drb5]

Thanks.

I don't really want to disclose the details of the dealer quite yet...if at all. It's not fair on them, dependant on what the outcome is and if i need to go into legal action, keeping that private is probably the sensible option.

[NeuroBeaker]

No worries, good thinking.

[drb5]

Ach, i'm sure you'll have a short list of possibilities anyway.

[NeuroBeaker]

Aye - true enough!

[iain cooper]

again I am sorry you have these faults on a brand new and expensive car.

it is just not good enough

a lot of this should have been picked up by the pdi and this reflects badly on the dealer, and I am also very interested in who is the dealer !! but appreciate your comments.

my own feeling is, depending on the dealer's response and action you could be in for a long haul................but I think initially you need to let them try to fix the faults to your satisfaction.

ultimately you may need to reject the car if this is not achieved................so you need to document everything, ie list all faults, times, dates, visits, etc , etc, which you can submit to bmw/mini if need be at some time in the future if required.

when you take the car to the dealer give him the list of faults so that he cannot say he was not aware.

as I said it's really in the hands of the dealer how you get on so please keep us up to date with your progress.

best of luck

ps don't be too upset, it's only a metal box on four wheels and whatever the outcome you should not lose out financially...............that's how I look at it anyway

[Hartge210]

Sorry to hear about your problems. I hope you get some joy from the dealer.

You said that you picked the car up in the snow? I really can't understand why dealers do things like this, surely there must be somewhere WITHIN the building that they can hand over cars to the customer so that the customer can do a proper inspection of their brand new vehicle in WARM & DRY conditions, surely even their own sales people don't like standing out in ****ing rain & snow. Its their own fault if customers bring cars back with faults not spotted on collection because the car was covered in snow

Sorry for the minor rant but it does get on my nerves when I hear things like this.

[drb5]

Thanks very much for the support and help guys.

I partly blame myself, for picking the car up in the snow, but never thought i should HAVE to check the car for faults.

Got my list of problems at the ready, but i DO need to start a list of details of vists and calls etc.

I will of course keep the thread updated with bits and pieces, no matter how small or insignificant they are.

Popped into the dealers today and received my new number plate. I mentioned the service manager had not phoned me and how annoyed at that i was. I had been trying to find out what would happen after they had repaired the bodywork and i wasn't happy with the outcome. Also, there is ment to be a report from Thorne that will tell if there had been any issues with the car and if/how they were dealt with. Only the service manager can let me know this, so no call from him, makes me think he wants to be rid of me without dealing with me.

I let my salesperson know my 2 new faults(gearbox and rushing water). She hadn't heard about the water issue, but never commented on the gearbox thing, so i presume they've had a couple in with the same problem.

She's given me BMW customer services number to ask them how i stand in rights, so i'll give them a call soon.

[NeuroBeaker]

I'd imagine customer services will be closed until Tuesday - Easter weekend and such. So perhaps you could give them a ring then?

As mentioned above, documenting everything is important. Also - and I keep saying this to everyone I run into - don't underestimate the power of the written word! Communicating in writing with your dealership makes them think very carefully about their responses and they will be recorded for posterity.

Good luck!
Andrew.

[drb5]

Yer, will phone them tomorrow.

Once i've made up my list of communication so far and called customer services, i will start putting a letter together. Will probably still go into CAB, just to see what they say my options are before anything gets "fixed".

[npalao]

Well, for what I have seen, the R56 is full of gremlins! Mine is only 6 months old and only 3500 kms on it, and has this loud clunck heard while driving at low speeds on rough surfaces. It has been 7 weeks in the shop and after a whole bunch of parts were changed, both the dealership and BMW Mexico told me that the sound is "normal". Pure BS! I am disappointed at both the car and the brand. I have also read that this non-caring behaviour by BMW is worldwide. I am sorry to hear about your problems, hope you get them solved and stay bug-free for the time you keep your car.

[KenL]

Quote: Originally Posted by drb5 (original)

She's given me BMW customer services number to ask them how i stand in rights, so i'll give them a call soon.

As I have pointed out before.

Your contract of sale is with the dealer and NOTHING to do with MINI.

If you are unhappy, you should write directly to the dealer principal of the dealership.

The sales people and the service manager have no power if you want to reject the vehicle.

I would write to the DP. Explain the vehicle contravenes the supply of goods act and if not fixed fully within a certain period of time (your terms) you want your money back or another vehicle supplied at no cost to you.

[drb5]

Thanks guys.

Who is the dealer principal exactly? Sort of a manager i presume?

I'm a bit scared of going through the letter approach, as i know how long things dealt with by letters, can take. Spose i'll need to do it that way, but i never realised there was no point phoning customer services?

[Martin F]

I had some marks under the laquer coat of the paint on my R56 MCS when I picked it up. The dealer repainted the relevant panels and did an excellent job. A good body shop can produce work to a very high standard. I would accept an offer to repair the defects in the paint work. It is not true to say it can never be as good as new. New cars often have minor paint blemishes.

The ticking from the engine is almost certainly the fuel injection and is normal. The sound of rushing water has been widely reported and although I have not experienced it myself am not sure that it is of significant concern.

In the circumstances I doubt that rejection is an option as I do not see it as proportionate to the problems. I think you need to try to get hold hold of the service manager and discuss the issues politely but firmly. And, as already suggested, keep a written record of what was said with times and dates.

Good luck

[drb5]

I'm in the trade myself and do bodywork, as well as painting. I will be a lot pickier about bodywork, than the average Joe....that's the problem. I have an eye for detail.

I spoke to a couple of people and knowing what fuel injectors do and how loud they are, i can tell you definately NOT the injectors....the noise goes away after a minute or two and is considerably louder than the injectors.

The water rushing about doesn't bother me, but it shouldn't be there...full stop.

Going to be phoning CAB this morning and getting their advice. I will post that, later on.


Thanks.

[Martin F]

Quote: Originally Posted by drb5 (original)

I spoke to a couple of people and knowing what fuel injectors do and how loud they are, i can tell you definately NOT the injectors....the noise goes away after a minute or two and is considerably louder than the injectors.

You may be experiencing the dreaded diesel sound on start up in that case. It is much more than just a ticking noise but there is a very long thread about it entitled MCS engine noise when cold.

[NeuroBeaker]

Quote: Originally Posted by drb5 (original)

Who is the dealer principal exactly?

The dealer principal is either the owner or the person selected by the owner(s) to run the dealership on their behalf. They will be the ultimate boss and have ultimate power within the dealership to make any decision.

Although in this instance, he might not be the best person to approach. I'd try the Customer Services Manager, as the Dealer Principal might just pass their letter on to them in this case - you don't want the Customer Services Manager thinking you were trying to go above their head without contacting them first. They should maybe get an opportunity to fix it before you start complaining to their boss.

Quote: Originally Posted by drb5 (original)

I'm a bit scared of going through the letter approach, as i know how long things dealt with by letters, can take. Spose i'll need to do it that way, but i never realised there was no point phoning customer services?

The letter approach is nothing to be feared. Think how long it often takes people to return calls - I'm sure letters aren't much slower. While each interaction might take a little more time, I think the overall process might actually be faster - as there is very little wiggle room for misunderstandings or things that would need clearing up when written in letter form. Everyone's position is completely clear... that's why I like it.

Quote: Originally Posted by Martin F (original)

In the circumstances I doubt that rejection is an option as I do not see it as proportionate to the problems. I think you need to try to get hold hold of the service manager and discuss the issues politely but firmly. And, as already suggested, keep a written record of what was said with times and dates.

I have to agree with Martin here - thinking about rejection is perhaps a little too extreme given the circumstances and the Customer Services Manager is probably your best first contact here.

All the best,
Andrew.

[drb5]

Thanks again.

Went into CAB there and the guy i spoke to, becuase Mini have breached their contract, i can either have it all repaired, get a replacement car, or go for a full refund. I asked him what HE would do if he was in the same situation and he leaned towards the full refund.

I'm now going to speak to the Scottish Motor Trade Association and Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, about if the dealer is definately part of their groups and ask for their advice.

[NeuroBeaker]

You know, I think before a rejection is on the table, the dealership had to first have had a stab at fixing the problem. Without the dealer getting their fix attempt, I don't think a rejection will be agreed and you'll end up in a long legal battle.

It's good to do your research and have all the information at your disposal, but it's better to gently nudge first - then if the dealer responds positively, you might find you don't need to shove.

There's a time for going in guns blazing, but the start of negotiations needs to be more friendly in tone - even if your position is firm (i.e. this must be fixed). I'd only escalate my response gradually over time in the face of continued resistance to rectify the situation.

Let us know how it goes.

All the best,
Andrew.