Hi all,

I have had my car since 4/1/2002. It has pulled left since I got it. The day I bought it, the mechanic was in the showroom and I talked to him & they told me they all pulled left. No big deal. Well, it's in the shop now for some other things (for the first time) and I told them to fix the left pull. The service advisor just called to tell me that they had adjusted the tire pressures!!! He said they have had no other ones pulling to the left. This can't be true -- the mechanic told me they all pull to the left. He said that they would not do an alignment, but I've already forgotten the reason because I was so steamed at the tire pressure comment.

Shew! Does any know of any MINI technical bulletin numbers or any such specifics that I can pass on to these folk?

Thanks
Chip

There are hundreds of threads on MINI2 about the left pull and there is a definitive fix - try a search. If your dealer won't play ball get in touch with MINI USA.

Originally posted by KenL
There are hundreds of threads on MINI2 about the left pull and there is a definitive fix - try a search. If your dealer won't play ball get in touch with MINI USA.

Right -- I was hoping to avoid calling Mini since it seems there is indeed a fix. I had done a search and read through many messages in 19 threads. I just didn't see any specifics. That's all I was hoping for.

Thanks
Chip

I remember one of the threads having before and after pics of the struts.

There most certainly is a fix. You can find pics of the new struts in Apial's gallery. The new parts were installed on the production line beginning in week 9 of 2002. All US MINIs should already have the new parts, but it is possible a few slipped through. Perhaps they figured the left pull would be nullified a bit by the road crown since we drive on the right side here. If your car already has the new suspension parts and still pulls left, then it needs to have a four wheel alignment done. You could have a misaligned subframe. In the US, the car should drift slightly to the right due to road camber, but it should not drift left. A lot of early UK MINI owners went through hell trying to get BMW to even admit there was a problem with the front suspension. They will replace the parts under warranty, but only if the owner complains loudly enough.

I got mine sorted in the end.

Just talked to the dealer. They replaced the front springs to correct the problem. Wonder why they were able to suddenly figure this out?
And tell me more about this 'compensation' one can claim.

My springs have been replaced and it still pulls left - what could be the reason?

tire preeure? misaligned? damaged suspension components?

How many miles you have on your MINI? how long has it been pulling left?

My springs have been replaced and it still pulls left - what could be the reason?

I had two suspensions changed on my first Cooper, the first was an improvement, only the second cured it completely... Bug the dealer to get it fixed...

Good luck!

:)

(Red Cooper I have sent you a PM as well)

We are experiencing the syndrome of pull left as well with our APR02 Cooper. And, what a surprise the dealer and the Dutch Customer Services are in denial :bad: My trust in MINI is sliding downhill slowly but the pace increases fast.

I am trying to get as much info as possible on this subject to smash the dealer in his face and force him to get things sorted.

Does anyone perhaps have details (e.g. part numbers) on what exactly has been replaced or perhaps any formal statement from BMW?

Thanks a million for your support!

Dutch cheers!

Oz-i

I have confronted the dealer with the available pics. Meeting this afternoon to further investigate issue ("we already investigated this and solved it twice, your MINI can't pull to the left. It didn't when we made a test drive"). :o

As said we are meeting this afternoon and I will update later ...........

TBC

Good news so far Oz-i!

Keep the pressure on the dealer until they eliminate the pull to left completely - it can be done.

Cheers

I have confronted the dealer with the available pics. Meeting this afternoon to further investigate issue ("we already investigated this and solved it twice, your MINI can't pull to the left. It didn't when we made a test drive"). :o

As said we are meeting this afternoon and I will update later ...........

TBC

Well I have had a very disappointing meeting with the dealer last Wednesday. Reason why it took rather long to come with the update. I am so f :bad: :bad: :bad: :bad: :bad: g disappointed in the level of service. Especially considering the fact that the MINI has to go back for the second time to have issue with the trim (chequered flag and bonnet stripes) fixed.

I made a test drive with their chief engineer. He confirms that the MINI does not drive in a straight line but to his opinion the pulling is "within the accepted margins". Hence no solution. He suggested an ultimate solution which he did not even support: adjust the suspension mounting holes in the chassis and by doing so amend the camber.

We also discussed the pictures I got from Apial (thanks again). (http://www.mini2.com/gallery/personal/gallery_86.html) My MINI is equipped with the equipment shown on these pictures (the shiny thing - don't know how it's called in English) except for the new suspension (I still have the ones with the bulb on top), i.e. we seem to have part of the fix :confused:

I now am considering which next steps to take .... obviously I need either a second opinion and I plan to get this from another MINI dealership or the independent Dutch ANWB (motorist organisation). Or, I need a formal statement from BMW/MINI in which they acknowledge the existence of the issue. Requests are outstanding with MINI org and MINI UK. However, it sounds very unlikely that I will receive a reply at all. Does anyone here have any formal statement from the manufacturer / a dealer?

OK, just to make sure we are clear.....

The picture below is taken in the engine compartment, and the round rubber bung on top of the strut has been removed so that you can see inside. This is the strut top that is recessed with an allen head bolt that is sunken in below the surrounding painted bodywork. THIS IS THE ONE THAT FIXES THE LEFT PULL.

http://www.mini2.com/gallery/personal/Apial/newstruts_0013_thumb.jpg (http://www.mini2.com/gallery/personal/Apial/newstruts_0013.jpg)


If you still have the original MK1 type, as pictured BELOW, and your car pulls left, then you should get it changed to the newer type. NOTE: THE OLDER TYPE HAVE A RAISED BOLT HEAD ABOVE THE SURROUNDING BODYWORK.

http://www.mini2.com/gallery/personal/Apial/wheels_0007_thumb.jpg (http://www.mini2.com/gallery/personal/Apial/wheels_0007.jpg)

The change took place on the production line from around March 2002, but remember it could take a month or two before you car was first registered. Check the build date stamp in your engine bay, and check the strut tops. There are other differences, but this is the quickest way to check. WHY DO YOU THINK THAT BMW CHANGED THE DESIGN?

Once cars are out of warranty, ie March 2005, BMW will not want to know, so you must act now.

Beau - is your steering wheel off-center at all while traveling straight?

...THIS IS THE ONE THAT FIXES THE LEFT PULL.

http://www.mini2.com/gallery/personal/Apial/newstruts_0013_thumb.jpg (http://www.mini2.com/gallery/personal/Apial/newstruts_0013.jpg)

THE OLDER TYPE HAVE A RAISED BOLT HEAD ABOVE THE SURROUNDING BODYWORK.

http://www.mini2.com/gallery/personal/Apial/wheels_0007_thumb.jpg (http://www.mini2.com/gallery/personal/Apial/wheels_0007.jpg)

Once cars are out of warranty, ie March 2005, BMW will not want to know, so you must act now.

Apial,

We are singing from the same hymesheet ... the top one is identical to one applied in new MINI's nowadays and the second picture could have been taken from my engine compartment (i.e. is the one we have in our Liquid Yellow).

I will continue to battle. Never give up, never give in!.

Regarding warranty; our Cooper is bought under the conditions of the MINI Next program and provides us with 2 years of warranty from date of purchase, i.e. August 2006. Although I do not intend to wait for so long, I do have some spare time.

In the meantime I have put out requests to Customer Service @MINI.CO.UK and @MINI.com for more details.

Oz-i

Further update

The e-mail mentioned in my previous post was supported with the "Apial pixies". MINI Customer Services UK replied to my e-mail;

.....
After an investigation regarding the vehicle diagnosis, I believe that this has been a manufacturing fault with certain models of vehicle. There has been a product recall made previously. This is due to the positioning of Wishbone Strut Kit/ Anti Roll Bar-Links as well as the Shock Absorbers. As far as we have been made aware this fault had been rectified for all MINI Models from March 2002 onwards.

In regards to the Anti-Roll Bar brackets, pre March 2002, the original mounting was manufactured on a spring mount rather than the modified lower positioned bracket.
..... :D

This information has now been forwarded to my local dealer and they are in contact with BMW / MINI......................and today (Sep 14th) I got a call from the dealer that this will be investigated by a engineer from MINI The Netherlands. He will make a test drive, bla, bla, bla :o So, sacrifice another day-off for the good cause..........

Further update II

Just got back from a visit to the dealer. As mentioned in the previous posting a tech rep of MINI The Netherlands would come and he would probably want to make a test drive. Well indeed he came but he did not make the test drive. He just said there probably was some miscommunication; there even was no need for me to come. :mad:

The issue is known. However as it only applies to a small number of cars and it does not harm the safety, no recall has been made. But if a customer comes with the complaint the known fix is to be applied. :) The dealer after sales rep was rather "confused" by this information. :p

Based on the chassis number a check will be done on what exactly needs to be ordered (seems that the fix is also based on actual weight of the MINI and options such as a/c do make a difference). Once it is available I will be contacted to make an appointment to bring the MINI in and have it fixed!

Thanks again to those who have contributed with info.

Wow! Well done Oz-i for standing up to the dodgy dealer! :)

I hope you get your MINI sorted out to your satisfaction as soon as possible.

Cheers

Got a call from the dealer y'day. Parts have been ordered and are expected to arrive next week. Fix date is set at Nov 8th (was first available slot for 1 day).

Replacement car will be arranged (... asked for MCSC :D )

Hi, my January 2002 build pulled left wheni bought it. Took it to dealers, they agreed. I think i still have the work sheet they gave me with all the parts they replaced AND the part numbers. If this would be of help, i can dig it out and send a copy of it to you, and then you can take that to your dealer. All the best Damian. :) :red:

This will not be necessary, but thanks for the offer Damian. The dealer and the service rep from MINI NL already sorted out the required parts. These are on order and the fix will be applied begin of Nov.

Question What exactly is it that makes it pull left (as apposed to which part of the car is updated to fix it . ) Something that effects the car in this way implies the part(s) fitted on the left side have not been manufactured as a true mirror image of the right hand side
(on parts that are handed)
Has anybody actually checked the geometry /damping/ springs/ of the faulty part to establish in engineering terms what they got wrong?

Not that I am aware off. The thing I do know is that not only parts are being replaced, but also added.

I have been told that the "pre" situation does not have wishbones whereas the "post" situations has.

Perhaps DJC can look up the sheets for you and you can conclude anything from that. I'm not a techy guy but just someone who experienced the left pull to such an extend that I convinced both dealer and national organization to apply a change that has been successfully applied in the past. :D

:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

I'm a happy chappy!. Picked up the MINI today. New parts have been placed and left pull is gone ... BYE BYE

It pays to stand up to your dealer and become unfriendly :mad: in a friendly way :)

Thanks again to all those who have support me in my battle with the dealer. Especially Apial for documenting those clear pictures!