I agree totally with you. This will be the 25th visit to the dealership for major rectification work since I bought the car new in October 2002.
My steering wheel clicks now too Paul, a subject that I know you've experienced as well!
Here's the list of my problems so far. Get this little lot, in chronological order:
My MCS problems - so far
1). Single-slot CD player replaced because it skips. And it still does. My Sony Discman doesn't and that cost £95. The dash-mounted MINI equipment cost a darn sight more!
2). Wiper-speed step-down programming requested as per the "MINI User Manual". Turns out that the manual is incorrect.
3). Replacement Single-slot CD player fails.
4). Dash rattle.
5). Driver seat mechanism squeaks requiring total rebuild and lenghts of anti-rattle tape to finish the job started in the factory.
6). OSF suspension mounting failed causing the car to lean and fall to the OS-kerb/centre of the road under braking.
7). Replacement Single-slot CD player fails.
8). NSF run-flat puncture on a Sunday. Ran out of miles on the flat tyres. COnsequently had to drive the car to the dealer an leave it there for replacement the next day. They hadn't got any service people or tyres to replace it on the Sunday you see. They didn't on Monday either. I had to pick the car up on Tuesday. Wholly unsatisfactory.
9). Replacement Single-slot CD player fails.
10). MPG is averaging at 27MPG at a steady 70mph.
11). Fuel Computer registers "30MPG" instead. It's wrong. Even a £50 after-market one that I fitted to my 1972 Beetle was more accurate. There is no reason why the more expensive MINI one shouldn't be correct.
12). Clutch pedal clicks when being depressed and released.
13). NSF side repeater falls out, with it's retaining catch broken. I was told not to brake hard or drop off of kerbs as that shatters them. I have done neither.
14). Handbrake releases itself and car rolls away.
15). Replacement Single-slot CD player fails.
16). Two-stage door locking couldn't be programmed again because of a mistake in the manual.
17). Glove-box creaks.
18). Lacquer marks in paintwork (since new) removed.
19). Extremely loud front brakes squeal
20). Extremely loud front brakes squeal again.
21). Extremely loud front brakes squeal yet again. Pads skimmed and deglazed to resolve.
22). Fuel consumption worsens (25MPG)
23). Fuel computer still over-registers by 10%
24). Yo-yo'ing or Surging effect ("Kangeroo petrol"). 3 visits until...
25). Throttle housing shatters. Yo-Yo effect disappears.
26). Power Steering pump fails because the terminals have corroded away. The steering wheel has become a static item and needs He-Man to move when the car is stationary. Car recovered by MINI Emergency. Courtesy car, a Nissan Almera is very, very boring. But it works fine. How sad.
27). Traction Control light and Tyre pressure warning lights on permanently. There is a total sensor failure in the car. I wanted it recovered. MINI Emergency told me to drive it "...carefully". Unreal. Am I really paying for this?
28). Tailgate latch mechanism fails and rattles like crazy.
29). OSF and NSF seat-belt hangers rattle together. How tuneful.
30). Yo-Yo effect returns.
31). ECU version 33 loaded.
32). "Stumble" now arises when pulling away in 1st gear, throwing passengers forward in their seats. I call out MINI Emergency, as the car is unsafe. It cut's out at 10-15mph which when your pulling away at a set of lights means that following traffic could easily shunt it. Car recovered to dealer. Astra Diesel works fine too. Again, sad.
33). Gear stick rattles around like crazy when pulling away in 1st.
34). Drivers seat mechanism begins it's squeaking-rattling thing again.
35). Cooper "S" bonnet inlet duct looses retaining nuts into engine bay and rattles around. At high motorway speeds, it flaps up and down!
36). ECU version 34 loaded.
37). Stumble still exists. I dispair.
38). Steering column clicks (can be felt through steering wheel).
39). Power Steering pump fails again and car is again recovered (25/09/03) never to be seen again. Car recovered by MINI Emergency. Courtesy car, a Vauxhall Daddy-wagon is pants, but it goes.
What do you reckon then people? The dealer is trying their hardest but I am now tired of taking the car back, day-in, day-out.
(By the way, I still really really love MINI. It's just BK52MXM that's tripe). 
NEWS UPDATE... NEWS UPDATE... NEWS UPDATE...
You can all now buy BK52MXM from my dealer! Here's the link:
http://www.minicherished.co.uk/AUC/MINI_Details/index/1,2948,,00.html?arriveFromDealerSite=1&postcode=&d istance=&selectedModelGroups=&pricemin=&pricemax=& mileage=&search=&county=&dealer=16309&dealerNum=16 309&yourname=&email=&searchPageType=D&arriveFromSt ockNote=&hostDealer=&postcodeError=&transmission=& color_1=&color_2=&color_3=&color_4=&color_5=&color _6=&color_7=&color_8=&color_9=&mch1=WMWRE32000&mch 2=TC65927®No=BK52MXM
All the best,