Called Wollaston and told them our decision is to reject it and not go for a replacement.

They're going to "work on that" (or whatever they have to do) and call me back ASAP and let me know where/how to progress from here.


MINI will be glad to hear that you going for a replacement heres hoping they come up with a proper car for you this time Paul.

:confused: :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused:

And the wheel arch trim I'm certain is a design/engineering issue that will take some work to sort out.

I know its not an issue now, but I drive quite a lot on very similar roads to you by the sounds of things and i've had absolutely no problems, been drving through loads of massive puddles with all the rain recently and the trim hasn't budged at all.

I even tried moving it around myself and there is absolutely no play in it so hopefully they have it fixed now :confused:

Design/Engineering issues .... I thought that was just one of hundreds of reasons why motor car manufacturers go hot cold and everything else testing for 100's of thousand tough miles :puzzled:

Abi reckons they should employ me as a test driver, as I appear to have a knack of finding faults and breaking everything I get from them.

I guess they dont test them on our local lanes. I know they do test them ON lanes, but real world ownership and testing can never exactly compare.

For example, I'm sure if I was one of their testers, for example an employee who gets a car and is told to put x amount of miles on it ASAP and report back. Then I told them wheel arch trim repeatedly broke off, I'm sure they'd look into it. Hopefuly, based on my experience (I let MINI HQ know right away the first time it happened) they'll look at that and will develop a fix.

With the first gen, despite it's relatively buggy nature, I could do these things, and never lost a bit of trim:

http://www.mini2.com/images/miniweek/1/thumbnails/shoot1%20075.jpg (http://www.mini2.com/images/miniweek/1/images/shoot1%20075.jpg)

http://www.mini2.com/images/works/bridge_thumb.jpg (http://www.mini2.com/images/works/bridge.jpg)

I know its not an issue now, but I drive quite a lot on very similar roads to you by the sounds of things and i've had absolutely no problems, been drving through loads of massive puddles with all the rain recently and the trim hasn't budged at all.

I even tried moving it around myself and there is absolutely no play in it so hopefully they have it fixed now :confused:

I couldn't move the trim by hand either, but a spinnnig wheel hitting it with the sort of forces you get driving a car is more than I could do, and from a different angle.

Point is, all my other cars, no problem, two new Cooper S, both had trim problems. It's not coincidence.

Oh Well Paul, its a shame but no doubt this will leave a bitter taste in your mouth!

Its shocking that the MINI2 site owner is giving the MINI back, but at the end of the day the faults and service have been nothing but poor.

Though i wont bash the R56, as i think its a good car but with all new cars there are faults and some lemons. After reading some faults ill get an S on a 57 plate and let some fixes come into being :D

If you do get invited to some press converences, will you bring up these faults? Or stay tight lipped, as with all PR events it looks at the good, not the bad, but it would be good if they could explain some of these issues

I couldn't move the trim by hand either, but a spinnnig wheel hitting it with the sort of forces you get driving a car is more than I could do, and from a different angle.

Point is, all my other cars, no problem, two new Cooper S, both had trim problems. It's not coincidence.

I agree with you its no coincidence that the trim fell off there is obviously a fault.

All I was trying to suggest was my car was built approx 2 months after yours and potentially a fix may have been applied.

It is odd that knowone else has had the trim falling off though :confused: Maybe as you suggest, you should become a test driver :D

Good luck Paul so far my R56 has a few minor glitches which really should have been sorted before launch, (part of the rear plastic grille has just fallen off my Aero bumper).

I love the car but the bugs are annoying and my dealer's aftercare has gone downhill. Just found out my parts haven't been ordered after weeks of waiting and every time I ring I'm passed from pillar to post. They also seem incapable of basic tasks like returning calls or transferring a call without cutting me off - happened twice this morning.

Must say all the doom and gloom on here has helped to dampen ones new car, can't wait excitement factor to almost zero!



Yes I know what you mean, I was just saying to a colleague of mine that I am rather dreading taking delivery of mine rather than being excited, and that's not the way it should be with a new car.

I know its not an issue now, but I drive quite a lot on very similar roads to you by the sounds of things and i've had absolutely no problems, been drving through loads of massive puddles with all the rain recently and the trim hasn't budged at all.



Well thats good news for you, and for others that are looking for a bit of reassurance that there are some fault free ones out there.

As this thread has developed I have resolved to relay my experiences.

I have had 3 x R53 MCS from a May 02 build car. All were purchased new and had minor niggles which were fixed by my dealer swiftly and courteously. In total these cars did 125,000 miles. At no time was I let down by any of them, all were well 'used' and retained an amazing % of their original cost in p/ex. Importantly as well as being very easy to 'own' they were great fun to drive.

On 25.11.07 I collected a new R56 MCS and as at today have just racked up 10,000 miles. I have had no problems other than to my eye and my eye alone there is a slight mis colour match on the nsr panel. The fit of the chrome trim around the belt line is poor but in retrospect it is designed in such a way at make a perfect fit impossible particularly where the bonnet trim meets the trim below the A Post. It dos'nt affect the function and despite probably 20 visits to the car wash nothing has shown any signs of coming loose. I live in deepest Devon and the car gets thrashed along muddy, rutted and wet lanes without problems. It gets no different treatment to that of our Impeza STi or L/C Amazon and why should it?

I believe the R56 is a great improvement over the R53 and feels much better built. It is a lot more economical and a much more capable car. I have done a number of 650 mile round trips in a day with no aches and pains. Its not a cheap car and has to be compared with other cars that cost £21-22k. Golf GTi, 120d, A3 all spring to mind and are all very good but the MINI has more charm and class.

I feel very sorry for those of you who have had problems with the R56 but I do fear that the car is getting an undeserved reputation. From what I have read on this site MINI take a very enlightened and proactive approach to problems. Far better than many other manufacturers who frankly wouldnt in my experience even consider some of the issues raised by contributors to this site to be problems.

I am looking forward to a Clubman S in November 07.

Can we hear from the silent [majority/minority] who are pleased with their R56.

PS Vital Statistics: Average speed from new 51.6mph
MPG 36.4
16000 miles to first service
Oil consumption nil
Front Tyres 60% worn

Atleast there is one owner happy well said that man

On 25.11.07 I collected a new R56 MCS and as at today have just racked up 10,000 miles. I have had no problems other than to my eye and my eye alone there is a slight mis colour match on the nsr panel. The fit of the chrome trim around the belt line is poor but in retrospect it is designed in such a way at make a perfect fit impossible particularly where the bonnet trim meets the trim below the A Post.

I'm afraid this sounds like another "there's no problems..... but" message. Maybe I expect too much, but for panels to be "designed" so they don't line up and will never fit correctly isn't what I'd expect from MINI, or any "premium" car brand.

I feel very sorry for those of you who have had problems with the R56 but I do fear that the car is getting an undeserved reputation. From what I have read on this site MINI take a very enlightened and proactive approach to problems. Far better than many other manufacturers who frankly wouldnt in my experience even consider some of the issues raised by contributors to this site to be problems.

You have read this thread through yes?

:eek:

I probably would still have my MINI if their proactive approach included finding and fixing problems properly, preferably in less than a month.

I think the new MINI has the potential to be a really, really good car. I really liked a LOT about mine. But I don't believe it's up to the task of being my daily driver. That's the first time I've ever really thought that of the MINI.

I'm afraid this sounds like another "there's no problems..... but" message. Maybe I expect too much, but for panels to be "designed" so they don't line up and will never fit correctly isn't what I'd expect from MINI, or any "premium" car brand.



You have read this thread through yes?


I'd be a lot more concerned if the complaints in this forum were consistant as they were at the begining. Things seemed to have died down considerably.

As I've said, I'm sure the odds are in favour of a good example, this view of faults and fixes is a better way to judge what new is cropping up, rather than repeat problems: http://www.mini2.com/forum/2nd-gen-faults-fixes/?pp=30&sort=dateline&order=desc

hi paul,
sorry to hear that you are not going to replace it, have a look at this link it may give you an idea of what to get next, i wouls go for the honda type r

http://www.mini2.com/forum/2nd-gen-mini-cooper-s/136343-top-gear-best-hot-hatch.html

Best regards

Lordy

I may be easy to please or I may be too relaxed about my cars but life is too short to get stressed about some bits of chrome that dont line up perfectly. When the car goes in for its first service at circa 26,000 miles I have every confidence that my dealer will sort out the trim alignment. In the meantime I will enjoy the car and revel in its charm and ability.

The fit of the chrome trim around the belt line is poor but in retrospect it is designed in such a way at make a perfect fit impossible particularly where the bonnet trim meets the trim below the A Post.

When the car goes in for its first service at circa 26,000 miles I have every confidence that my dealer will sort out the trim alignment.

Having a dealer who can do the impossible would certainly have helped my experience. ;)

Seriously though, I've no doubt there's some perfect MINIs out there, there's at least three on this forum (Has Anyone Experienced a Perfect R56? (http://www.mini2.com/forum/2nd-gen-faults-fixes/136188-has-anyone-experienced-yet.html)) but mine was just a duff one, as was the one I had from the press fleet, so based on two bad experiences (some with the same problem coming back) in a matter of months, and the feedback I got from MINI customer services, I don't have the confidence to put my faith in MINI at this time.

Well I guess you can always re-evaluate the situation in 6months or so time, at least you can keep up with whats happening and whats not with the R56's (problems wise i mean). By that time it may appear what has been cured and what is a terminal MINI 'characteristic'.

All is not lost :)

I may be easy to please or I may be too relaxed about my cars but life is too short to get stressed about some bits of chrome that dont line up perfectly. When the car goes in for its first service at circa 26,000 miles I have every confidence that my dealer will sort out the trim alignment. In the meantime I will enjoy the car and revel in its charm and ability.

It's swings and roundabouts I guess, but the common problems which are surfacing are a little more than misalighned trim, which granted isn't a serious issue.

I think Paul is right what was discused earlier, I see the MINI as a premium small hatch for which you pay a premium price on par with Audi and the like and should not expect the types of probems which are now surfacing. Never mind the R56, I was still dissapointed to read the same old problems with the previous generation which MINI never seemed to fix properly, so I'm hoping the current problems won't still be there 5 years down the line with the R56.

I have to admit I'am very fussy with my cars so to me a misalighned anything would have to be sorted, why pay good money and get a car thats only 80% right.

No sure how you agreed to received a car with mismatched paint, for me it would have been rejected out of hand.

I am upset, as ideally I'd be in another MINI, but there's just no way I can see them "fixing" the wheel arch issue. The other problems such as not being water tight, the creaking wheel, badly fitted trim, and so on I can see are things that are unusual, but as the trim issue has repeated itself already for me, it really would undermine my confidence driving around here.

I do drive some exceptionally small, twisty, and bumpy roads, every day. I go over two level crossings and down uneven single track lanes. It's usually something I really enjoy, beats motorways (which I live near, but only see when I go over the bridge!) and in town driving, but I guess it's demanding.

And I'm not known for pootling around down the lanes either. :D

Paul, have you ever taken a loaner 56 down your twisties? Just curious if you could break off some trim on other 56's.

25th November 2006: MINI2 - At Home with the MINI Cooper S - Day 3 (http://www.mini2.com/forum/../article411-mini2-at-home-with-the-mini-cooper-s-day-3.html)

^^^ Yep. Which is why I've no faith another wouldn't do the same.

The only thing id choose if not a Mini would be a Golf GTI or any high spec late R53 MCS. Its sad to see that your getting rid of yours Paul :(:(

My question is how many other MINI drivers are in the same boat. Should we all be concerned or is it just a few bad apples???

Darro, I agree with you. I am so anxious now about getting the new car :(

You have to look at it in perspective though. Although the numbers on this faulty section seems overwhelming you have to remember it is only a very minute percentage. Granted that even the numbers of people on this site is probably an even smaller percentage of MINI owners.

But don't you think that if there were a mass problem in quality that these stories and issues would get out to the mainstream media? I haven't heard anything yet, which suggests that the majority would be satisfied.

I am confident my MINI coming in March will be as good as i expect. MINI would NOT release cars if they knew there was a problem, it would definately not be any good for public relations and could be damaging. No company in the world would risk releasing something if they knew there was a problem.

I remember you saying that you expected some minor faults with it being a new car when it first came out. So you should have half expected it (even though it shouldn't have been like that).

My opinion is get another MINI, of all the thousands of new new MINI's produced not all of them are duffers. You would have to be incredibly unlucky to get another faulty one.
Besides you can sit on the side and think 'will it be crap again', but without going for it you will never know. Would it really be the end of the world even if it was crap again?
Think about things in perspective before you run off with another soulless manufacturer;)

As i said before, to the people with problems, why not write to watchdog...

...MINI would NOT release cars if they knew there was a problem, it would definately not be any good for public relations and could be damaging. No company in the world would risk releasing something if they knew there was a problem.
They certainly knew about the misaligned & badly gapped panels & still went ahead with the launch. !!

I think for Paul or anyone else who has had consistent problems with their MINI it is pretty crap to be honest. Having thought about this again I can perfectly understand not wanting to go for another MINI. It's ok having the odd minor problem but having numerous problems on your new pride and joy and it spending most of the time in the workshop is just a pain and time consuming .

Don't wish to put a dampner on this, but who knows how many other new MINIs out there are having the same problems? you can bet there are probably thousands of owners who don't even know about MINI2 and are not interested on posting on here so I guess we shall never know.

And the end of the day it's pot luck but I think I would rather have a car thats slightly less fun to own and drive then having a car where bit's fall off and it spending most of new life in the workshop :(

Wait a few years for MINI to hopefully iron all these niggles out.

And the end of the day it's pot luck but I think I would rather have a car thats slightly less fun to own and drive then having a car where bit's fall off and it spending most of new life in the workshop :(



...but this can and does happen with every make and model of car, not just the R56 MINI, even your less fun models

I know it is tough for people with problems but I think people are totally over-reacting here :confused:

...but this can and does happen with every make and model of car, not just the R56 MINI, even your less fun models

I know it is tough for people with problems but I think people are totally over-reacting here :confused:

I agree Ken, but I have to say after owning 2 Audi's with minor faults and numerous Japanese makes including currently a Suzuki alongside my S, the MINI brand does score poor. I would just expect better from a supposidly premium brand. I have been pretty lucky with my 03 S, but it's only done 6000 miles and I often wonder if I would still have the car if I had been doing a much higher mileage. I know many will knock my Suzuki Swift as a MINI clone :rolleyes: but I have to say apart from the discs replaced under warrantly, the build, fit and finish and reliability have been spot on and all contributed as an enjoyable car to own, to me that sort of reliability scores highly, hopefully I will be upgrading to the Swift Sport if it's reliability continues. There is just know way I would swap the Swift for the new Cooper at the moment. Sad I know, however at least it keeps the mileage down on my S which I still enjoy. :)

...but this can and does happen with every make and model of car, not just the R56 MINI, even your less fun models

I know it is tough for people with problems but I think people are totally over-reacting here :confused:

says the man who has a new R56 with no problems. ;)

It must be nice to be on that side of the fence.. My car now has 7 different faults. I paid over £20k for the car and I am supposed to be calm? that is after the car being delayed for 4 weeks due to faulty fuel pumps....

take that info and then add in that I advised them in writing on Wed at 6pm that I was rejecting the car and I've had no response since then, from MINI UK or the dealer.

I doubt you would be so calm if you had been treated in this manner with a car that is so sub-standard..:frown: :frown:

RANT OVER

says the man who has a new R56 with no problems. ;)

It must be nice to be on that side of the fence.. My car now has 7 different faults. I paid over £20k for the car and I am supposed to be calm? that is after the car being delayed for 4 weeks due to faulty fuel pumps....

take that info and then add in that I advised them in writing on Wed at 6pm that I was rejecting the car and I've had no response since then, from MINI UK or the dealer.

I doubt you would be so calm if you had been treated in this manner with a car that is so sub-standard..:frown: :frown:

RANT OVER

I think this was what I was trying to put across, these cars are not cheap to buy in the first place and it's not acceptable MINI churning out cars with known problems and at the present no fixes. Perfectly sympathise with those people in this situation.

I guess it's how loyal you are to put up with problems, if you are then it's not much of a problem :p