Quote: Originally Posted by MINI Division (original)
I'm with MINI USA. I've passed this message on to a MINI National Customer Relations Representative who will be in touch with you soon.
Just wanted to follow up on my previous posting, specifically with regards to my clutch problem.
A rep from the National Customer Relations team did in fact get in touch with me. Despite his patience and great manners, the end result regarding my clutch was this: Mini, after much deliberation, has agreed to cover 50% of the cost to replace it. The other 50% will come right out of my pocket.
Their reasoning is, to paraphrase: if a clutch needs replacement within 30,000 miles, it must be due to driver abuse.
Wow!!! What a leap in logic. From my standpoint, if a clutch needs to be replaced within 30K (or just 19K in this case), it's a pretty clear indication that the clutch itself is deficient or defective in some way. Just to reiterate, I am 37 years old and have owned stick vehicles exclusively since I first got my license 21 years ago. I have never, ever, ever gone through a clutch in less than 70K, and have seen them last well beyond 100K on vehicles that I've owned. There is no way that the problem I'm experiencing is due to abuse on my part, and the mere suggestion is just absurd and proof of this company's refusal to stand behind its product.
Apparently, I am not alone on this issue. For some corroborating cases, do a Google search on "Consumer complaints about Mini Cooper". This should locate a link to a consumer affairs page. Bring it up and do a text search on "clutch". (Forgive the roundabout nature of this reference, but forum rules forbid me from posting a URL to another site...)
Furthermore, I have spoken to various mechanics (from BMW) who have confirmed that these cars have clutch issues. My service adviser at Mini in San Francisco even admitted as much, but kept insisting her hands were tied by corporate policy. So the dealer is bound by corporate, and corporate passes the blame right back to the consumer. Fantastic business model!!!
It saddens me to say that I will not be purchasing or recommending any other Mini's. I've also decided against taking the company up on their 50% offer. Though that may sound absurd, my local mechanic wants $1200 to do the whole job. Mini quoted me $1800 for the work, $900 of which I would owe. I will gladly pay $300 extra to see an honest man perform an honest day's work before I'll see another nickel of my hard-earned pay in the hands of these clowns.
