Thats a shocking display of customer service :mad:

I must admit with the faults that you've had I was expecting MINI to just order you a replacement car and offer a sincere apology. I couldn't have been more wrong :(

Paul - if I were you I would reject it & get one of the last of the line R53's - you know what a great car they are & the quality by the end was tops (mine is perfect :))
Let others be the beta testers for the 1st year/2 years

I feel I've "done" the first generation thing. We have a lovely 2002 Cooper S in our care that's a real family member, and less than 12k on the clock (increasing while this drags on though :(). That's part of the reason for my enthusiasm for the new car, I felt I was due a change, the new model seemed to come at the perfect time.

Get a GP & wait for the clubman??

Not interested in the Clubman.

Not allowed a GP. ;) :eek:

Really upset to hear about your troubles Paul. Im sure you must have one of a very select few "lemons / lemmings" Ours seems to be fine.

Both, read above. ;)

I suspect that being who you are, with the potential publicity involved, it actually makes it difficult for MINI to know how to play this one:

Refuse to accept an exchange or refund = massive bad publicity and a huge PR own goal.

Instigate an exchange or refund = many other owners with varying degrees of problems (from the serious to the not-so-serious) demanding exactly the same treatment.

In their defence there is no easy answer for them, although their reply is less than tactful. Having said that, if it were me, I'd "set the dogs on them" now :mad:

Good luck
I think you could be right, the level of interest this case alone brings with it could be why they will dig their heels in:(

But I do think thats a shocking response when they know that any such comment will be shared amongst the largest community of MINI owners.

Seems MINI are following very much in the footsteps of the parent company as far as customer service is concerned rather than the helpful and understanding route.

Surely better to make it clear this is a bad example and deal with this swiftly, than start making negative headlines.

If I'd have had a different response in that email, although very disappointed my experience was a bad one, I could be confident that MINI feel it's exceptional, and not acceptable.

After the response I had I'm now angry, upset, and have been given the impression that MINI feel it's unreasonable to expect any better.

Mistakes happen, bad cars come down every manufacturing line, but this isn't the response I'd expect from a "premium brand" car manufacturer.

Sure it's not a BMW, but they're ever so keen to stress it's unique position in the market as a premium small car.

But an inherently faulty, sub-standard car is just that, and is not acceptable (well, in my view anyway), if I bought a cheap runaround from new I wouldn't expect these problems. Being a MINI, and me being the loyal MINI nut I am I was prepared to give it a go. But it's not right, and it's not acceptable.

Oh My God,

I have just read the whole thread and am shocked. If you of all people are having these problems what hope is there for the rest of us!!:eek:

I love my Dec2002 MCS to pieces and have had no "real" Problems with it. I would love to have a rag top when the new convertable comes out here and have considered adding to my MCS with a new one. Don't think so now!

Will look at getting a late build Convertable instead.

I would love to love the new mini, and have no qualms with what MINI have done to it, even though I haven't seen it in the flesh yet! But I am so sad to hear that there are so many issues.

It's one thing having sill issues, rattles and the like but to have bodywork not fitting, leaking boot, petrol pumps failing........Come On these are not normal and on a car that is so much, it is dispicable.

I hope that MINI sort themselves out soon and I hope that they do read this cause for every owner that posts on hear and has problems I am sure that there are at least three more that don't!:frown:

I am very disappointed with Mini and their response to you. Not what you expect.

I suspect they don't care who you are in the grand scheme of things,

Surely better to make it clear this is a bad example and deal with this swiftly, than start making negative headlines.

If I'd have had a different response in that email, although very disappointed my experience was a bad one, I could be confident that MINI feel it's exceptional, and not acceptable.

After the response I had I'm now angry, upset, and have been given the impression that MINI feel it's unreasonable to expect any better.

Mistakes happen, bad cars come down every manufacturing line, but this isn't the response I'd expect from a "premium brand" car manufacturer.

Sure it's not a BMW, but they're ever so keen to stress it's unique position in the market as a premium small car.

But an inherently faulty, sub-standard car is just that, and is not acceptable (well, in my view anyway), if I bought a cheap runaround from new I wouldn't expect these problems. Being a MINI, and me being the loyal MINI nut I am I was prepared to give it a go. But it's not right, and it's not acceptable.

Would agree and why I have been watching owners passing comments on their R56 these past few months with interest. I understand what you said a while back that the new model is very different from the previous generation however I do feel MINI have not done justice with the new car, whether its design faults or poor quality control standards MINI could be doing much much better. as you say if you can buy a cheapo car with no faults then why on earth are MINI unable to do this or at least the build of the cars seem pretty much hit and miss at the moment. I wonder how many owners of the new model have similar problems which are not voiced. However some perspective is needed and hopefully alot of the problems are confined to a batch of cars rather than this being the norm.

I hope when you get your replacement S, your dealer will see fit to allow you to tick a few of the options boxes free gratis :D :p :)

I read your original post a couple of days after you posted it and thought it would have been sorted by now, and have just started looking on here again as I have a new problem with my car , so I’ve just read the whole 10 pages again now, i too have had several problems with my mini, from day one, including the below.
ticking noise from under the bonnet, ( first week )
rear boot sensor, saying it was open, when it was not, ( second week)
smell of fuel, which has now been renewed, (other people got £500 , i did not even get a c/car)
carpets not fitting correct, passenger footwell, ( no response from the dealer)
ipod connection took 5 hours, when i was told one. ( gave me a car for 3 hrs)
speaker system renewed, ( my doing – by mike )
and now have a handbrake that let the car slip back down a hill

The car was built early Nov 2006 , but all the problems above, in my mind are easy to fix, but your car , is the one in the UK that should have had no problems ( checked before you got it ( 10 times) ). if i had your problems and you were still not satisfied with the car, Park the car outside the dealers, with a notice in the window, telling other customers of your problems .and this web site address. at the end of the day , its your dealer who has to add weight to your request to mini uk . You should not worry about upsetting the dealer, it his job !! I Don’t think that you should use the words (do you know who I am !) the words to use are , (do you know how many people know about these problems and this car, Worldwide!! ) . As you my friend are the oracle of mini2.com !! if you leave the car there, and need a replacement, im sure we can help ! Good Luck !!

The car was built early Nov 2006 , but all the problems above, in my mind are easy to fix, but your car , is the one in the UK that should have had no problems ( checked before you got it ( 10 times) ).

Why???????????????????????:confused:

Everyone is entitled to a well built problem free car.

Why???????????????????????:confused:

Everyone is entitled to a well built problem free car.

You'd certainly hope so, but at least according to that email response it appears that's unrealistic.

:mad:

My husband has just had confirmation from the dealer that Mini are willing to give us a full refund. So keep plugging Paul. Your next headache will be trying to find a car that you like, then when you have found it, to be told there is a 6 - 16 week wait. I wish I had never gone down the Mini route at all. With 3 kids relying on me, it is no joke.

My husband has just had confirmation from the dealer that Mini are willing to give us a full refund. So keep plugging Paul. Your next headache will be trying to find a car that you like, then when you have found it, to be told there is a 6 - 16 week wait. I wish I had never gone down the Mini route at all. With 3 kids relying on me, it is no joke.

I've only got one offspring to worry about, but I know what you mean.

Glad you got a happy (sort of) resolution.

Why???????????????????????:confused:

Everyone is entitled to a well built problem free car.

yep i agree, so i am i ! but what im saying is normal, for example,
if i am doing work for the boss of a company, you tell you men doing the work , "do not make any mistakes on this one" not that you expect any, but you make sure they know on the ground level , that this is important, as with any company . Pauls views will be looked at , by us (mini2 ) with some respect, never mind what mini say . It always amazes me, how people think small. You, i , and everyone else on here has bought a car for around 20k , but because someone's spent 28k on there mini , or 70k on a top merc does that mean that they should be looked at better , ( not in my eyes) we should all be treated the same, but we are not !!!! life aint like that . people should use what they have around them , to there best intrest, and in pauls case, his power is everyone on here,

I can't understand why MINI don't get Paul's problem sorted to his satisfaction ASAP. All they seem intent on doing is shooting themselves in the foot - over and over again.

The thing is, despite all this, the car is still faulty, and the email confirmed that (at this stage) they have no idea how to rectify the creaking/coiled spring noise from the steering, which has also been there since new. They've had it for a month and cant fix something, and that, it would seem, is OK by MINI.

So the car is inherently faulty, and still faulty. I, like some of you, can't understand their problem with accepting what would seem to be a clear case for rejection.

I sent a fairly long email reply Yesterday, more strongly worded (as you may imagine), but largely just restating my case and asking for their advice on how to continue with the rejection process. Sent again both to MINI and Wollaston MINI (I know Wollaston have read it, the joy of read receipts hey).

would you take a new @ the same spec Paul if they offered it to you now

Paul, you are a beta tester for MINI, plain and simple. They don't care who you are or whether you own and host one of the oldest and best MINI sites in the planet.

This is a given with first year products. You take a gamble and you either win or lose.

I like the R56 for the most part, but to me its long term reliability is still a big question mark. Perhaps first year R56 will be better than first year 2001-2002 MINIs, but still you have to contend with repeated dealer visits and time wasted. After all, what is the point of buying a new car.

Me thinks you should go back and grab a JCW GP (if still available in the UK) or a left over R53 MCS. The 2005 and 2006 MINIs are very reliable and solid. My '05 MCS will be 2 years old next month and ZERO issues to date!

Demand better and reject the car. In your position, I would go back to a reliable R53 and re-visit the R56 in a couple of years when MINI has had enough time to sort it out.

Keep us posted.

The problem is, the tone of the email was that because of who I am they don't want to accept a rejection, as it would mean others might also expect their cars to not be inherently faulty, to be water tight, not have the problems I've had from new, and that's unrealistic!

Not heard anything back Today. They must be working on their figures before they give me the good news they've seen sense and decided to accept my rejection, to stop this snowball gathering any more momentum.

Surely.

I'd love a GP, but I'm not allowed one. :o I agree really, it just doesn't fit our needs.

The problem is, the tone of the email was that because of who I am they don't want to accept a rejection, as it would mean others might also expect their cars to not be inherently faulty, to be water tight, not have the problems I've had from new, and that's unrealistic!




I've read this thread, and I'm left just scratching my head...

BMW/Mini not accepting the rejection because of who you are is probably the worst possible logic that can be applied to the situation. I agree that there is a little bit of a dilemma in that if they go beyond what they would normally do, it would potentially cause issues.

So what is the solution? Do what you'd normally do!! It's so blatantly obvious that this would be laughable if it wasn't such a pain in the rear for you. No false expectations for other owners, your taken care of properly, and everyone is happy!

My only fear is maybe this is what they'd "normally do." If so, Mini is in for some serious problems. I hope not....

Paul I wish you the best of luck. MINI has to come through for you. You are a faithful repeat customer!

I wonder if you can retrofit a rear seat to a GP?

I am also not allowed a GP....Have a 3 month old baby boy, so need the back seat..

Your car just isn't fit for purpose Paul - they have to replace it.

if this case ever hit court, it would be all over the media - indeed, it won't be long I'd say till it will make its way to other car forums.

The amount of bad publicity MINI and BMW will reap by procrastinating on this will be unprecedented I expect. they need to close this problem down before it takes on a life of its own.

Burying their heads in the sand just won't work in this instance.

Your car just isn't fit for purpose Paul - they have to replace it.
The amount of bad publicity MINI and BMW will reap by procrastinating on this will be unprecedented I expect. they need to close this problem down before it takes on a life of its own.
.

sorry , just read this and i could not remember what the meaning for this word was,so here it is , so that everone else knows what your on about .
Putting Things Off (Procrastinating) (from the Latin for "until tomorrow")

Procrastination (http://www.keele.ac.uk/depts/aa/studentsupport/counselling/problems/procrastination.htm) click on this link

maybe Mini should read the link, as it would give them some help on how to stop being stupid to paul.

The problem is, the tone of the email was that because of who I am they don't want to accept a rejection, as it would mean others might also expect their cars to not be inherently faulty, to be water tight, not have the problems I've had from new, and that's unrealistic!

Not heard anything back Today. They must be working on their figures before they give me the good news they've seen sense and decided to accept my rejection, to stop this snowball gathering any more momentum.

Surely.

I'd love a GP, but I'm not allowed one. :o I agree really, it just doesn't fit our needs.
Can't believe they haven't got back to you today with something:rolleyes:

This really is a silly thing to leave rolling on and on, as if they had given you what you legally are entitled to straight away there probably would have been a lot less interest in the rejection than there is now in this case.

I know whenever I've seen a rejection on here I've always chalked it up as good customer service in most cases, this however leaves a very bitter taste in purchasing into the MINI brand in future for me and I guess many other potential owners, if we are expected to have problems on the product and put up with it when they can't fix it:(

hmmm before everyone starts going for MINI's jugular :p dealers and manufacturers are hardly the fastest off the mark so I guess it will take a couple of days for a decision to be made as to whether to accept the rejection and replace the car. The tone of MINI's response is a little regretful and plain ludicrous if they are dragging their feet because of PM MINI connections. I don't think someone should be treated as a special case because of who they are, but if MINI start making things awkward (why should they?) they would be missing out on a great publicity opportunity. Alternatively it could simply be a case they don't give a stuff, just another customer, another sale :mad:

I would have only expected an acknowledgement today, at least I got a read receipt. ;)