Brand New Mini or not so new? [Archive] - MINI Cooper Forum - MINI2 Mini Cooper Forums

: Brand New Mini or not so new?


ydnaharap
Mar 21st, 2010, 10:30 PM
Any advice on this one would be appreciated.

Purchased out of the box Mini unregistered and with only 3 miles on the clock.

Noticed on pictures sent prior to pick up bonnet fit slightly higher than some other pics.

Had a look when collected all looked OK, checked some others in showroom they had similar fitting bonnets.

First impressions headlights very poor compared to any other car I've driven. installed H4 Phillips Extreme improved but still poor

After the snow and ice some 6 weeks later during cleaning spotted defective paint on front bonnet flange, assumed factory missed during spraying.

Steering wheel boss rubber finish delaminating.

Today cleaned car and checked out paint defect first oppurtunity with weather and light.

Conclusions the car has had frontal lefthand damage, bumper, bonnet and valance have respray imperfections, the inner wing shields have not been located in the wheel trim groove at the top therefore forcing them to fit lower than should be requiring the loosening of 4 fixing bolts to the bonnet along with the 2 forward lower bonnet hinge bolts to best fit the bonnet to the mislocated wheel trims. The obviously adjusted bolts and relocated bonnet have left the paint finish outline of the previuos position which have then be daubed with waxoyl.

Several chips are evident on the frontal paintwork (only 2k mls, average speed 33MPH ) less frontal paint chips on my 9 year old 70k freelander and realise my concern that the car has been repaired which never is as good quality or durable as the factory finish.

I never for one moment thought they would of sold a damage repairable as new and only today put 2 + 2 together and made the connection, headlights not good because they have not been reset properly after damage

This is my assessment and I have contacted all concerned on the matter for comment and await response.

Advice would be appreciated on the following

1) Are Mini hreadlights poor

2) Anyone else have a new Mini with adjusted bonnet outline of washer/paint previous position and waxoyl daub.

3) Are Mini's prone to frontal chipping bearing in mind my one has barely been above 60mph and we used the freelander during the snow and ice?

4) Has anyone else got a new mini with frontal imperfections very small of blobs and indents on there valance bumper

5 Can someone confirm or not whether the front inner wing shield should sit into the groove on the top section of the wheel trim.

6) What is generally the delivery mileage on a brand new unregistered mini? Were the 3 miles used to drive it to the paint shop?

I have to say that the repair apart for the obvious bonnet bolt paint outlines defective area not painted and my assumed mislocation of inner wheel shields almost fooled me, dammed good.

Like the car but when spending almost £18k not what i would expect, any advice on recourse similar problems and how resolved?

TTFN will update on progress

I will give the Dealer/ BMW-Mini the courtesy to investigate and report before I blow my top.

LGH
Mar 23rd, 2010, 09:55 AM
Took ownership of brand new MC Feb 11. 6km on the clock. Headlights good. Paintwork perfect- no visible "blemishes" at all. Mine is very noisy to drive though-particularly in first and second gear- sounds like an electric car or a golf cart. Is yours also noisy?

dirchy
Mar 23rd, 2010, 12:29 PM
Picked my MCS up on 5th Mar and it had 4 miles on it I think. It's defo got waxoyl blobs over the bolts and things but nothing that looks like it was a cover up. Looks factory.
No imperfections on the paint, I have the Sport Pack with colour coded arches and it all looks spot on.
I've tried to look at the inner wing and where it meets the plastic wheel arch. I think that's what you mean and the inner bit seems to be right up to the outer arch. I can't push the inner cover up at all so it might well be sat in a groove. Difficult to tell though.

For LGH - yep it's noisy and the 1st-2nd gears seem really clunky.

ydnaharap
Mar 23rd, 2010, 04:08 PM
Low down our car seems a bit noisy/clattery thats diesels for you but at 70-80mph really find it a quiet pleasnt drive.

ydnaharap
Mar 23rd, 2010, 06:40 PM
Advised 1700hrs today my complaint has been escalated to a BMW technical manager for review, what more could I ask for possibly that he is a German one.

markjborg
Mar 25th, 2010, 10:49 PM
Hope you sort it out, my headlamps are fine and quite bright...