[Sunnybanker]

We are getting a little bit worried about our baby
It has been back to the dealer three times in 4 months, (and has to go back again),for roof problems, window scratches, aircon, trim replacement/attention. Last week we had a new string kit fitted to the rear passenger side of the roof mechanism , tonight, we have noticed that the internal fabric is still catching, ( I reckon only a matter of time before it snaps again - THE BIG BANG), and the rear passenger window has crescent scratch again, a problem seemingly common worldwide on the cabrio.
My question... we paid $54k for LULU , how about I say to the dealer, swap me for a equal value hardtop MCS with sunroof ? etc...dark silver of course
I really don't want 2 years of "vist the dealer" whilst BMW come up with a fix, and the continual wanting to charge us $30 each time we have to use a courtesy car through bno fault of our own.
We are getting very close to selling and walking away if we get no joy.
answers on a postcard to frustrated of Sunnybank
thanks guys

[doona]

That is no good at all...

Best of luck but I don't like your chances of the swap for a hardtop

-Dan

[n00b]

It's really not the dealer's fault but more like you will have to take it up with MINI/BMW Aust. I've been going back to the dealership once every 6 weeks every since I took delivery of my MCS in the past year for all sorts of reasons. Sad to say but just put up with it and eventually it will all be sorted (that's how I manipulated myself into thinking.....lol )

With my old MC, I had to go back to the dealer 10 times in 9 weeks for ABS and airbag issues and those are more of a concern than a semi-not working roof as they are safety related.

I reckon Tim (IML337) might be a good person for you to talk to, he had to put up with more problems than a lot of us add together yet he's still got his car LOL.

[Smurfn]

Good luck

[Sunnybanker]

I guess after 80 views and only 3 responses my chances aint good eh?

[^UB^]

Hey I thought courtesy cars are free if it is a warranty repair!?

[wildsMCSC]

I know how you're feeling, our roof is very shabby, they did the recall work last week and just put the crap canvas back on. We are now trying to get them to change it we shall wait and see. They aren't acknowledging the problem with the scratches and the moment. We are not overly happy with the aftersales department at the moment but TBO we wouldn't swop for a tin top the cabrio is just too much fun, good luck whichever way you decide to go.

[Smurfn]

Quote: Originally Posted by Sunnybanker

I guess after 80 views and only 3 responses my chances aint good eh?

I wouldn't think so, but I'm no expert in this matter

[Smurfn]

Quote: Originally Posted by ^UB^

Hey I thought courtesy cars are free if it is a warranty repair!?

Not necessarily, it is up to the dealer. I have always had free courtesy cars for warranty and non-warranty work

[^UB^]

Quote: Originally Posted by smurfn

Not necessarily, it is up to the dealer. I have always had free courtesy cars for warranty and non-warranty work

Ah... shows its best to have a good relationship with your dealer

[Sunnybanker]

Quote: Originally Posted by ^UB^

Hey I thought courtesy cars are free if it is a warranty repair!?

Something about excess on insurance. So would be interesting to see what happened if our car was damaged whilst at the dealer.I mean, if we are charged excess, does that mean the dealers' insurance only covers certain things?
Makes you wonder
While we are up the Sunshine Coast in a couple of weeks time, we will be looking at a Mercedes C200k, which is one of the cars we looked at last January.I wonder if the nice man will give us $54k in part ex

[n00b]

You really wouldn't want a C200k..it has nothing on the Mini.

[21Blue]

I don't know how good your chances of a swap are but please dont go to a Merc darryl. The roof mechanism seems like it has been causing lots of trouble for every cabrio owner, do BMW Mini really expect their dealers to have the know-how to fix the roofs? These local service people only know as much as what the professional factory trained technicians know and if they can't get it right at that end, don't put your money on your dealership to fix it for you.

You could also sell your MCSC privately and then buy a MCS hardtop. There's one for sale near me It's pepper white too..

[cjay]

Hi Sunnybanker

I know how you feel... after 2 MINI's and never-ending problems I walked away from MINI's Which is kind of sad as I loved the car and the other MINI owners around here.

They are great little cars but it's just not worth all the drama. I have had a 10 year old Lotus for the last year and it has been more reliable and had less problems than both my MINI's... I lost count of how many times my MINI's went back to the dealer in the first year

BTW BMW will not replace a car. Your dealer is the only one that may be able to help you.

Hope you get your problems sorted soon

cjay

[GOGADGET]

I really don't fancy your chances of the dealer doing the swap for you.

I do feel your pain and totally empathize with you. I have had many problems with my MINI and the situation is made worse by the total lack of information and knowledge that your average MINI dealer seems to have on what are common problems known to all here on MINI2, thing then get really exasperating as the dealer tries to weasel, worm and bulls**t there way out of things.

The only thing that keeps me in a MINI is the camaraderie of clubMINI and MINI2 and trying to focus only on the good aspects of my MINI and forgetting the nightmarish dealing I have had from various dealers and service departments.

Good luck.

[Avocado]

So very sorry to hear about your problems Sunnybanker. We've just ordered our mini so I'm afraid we can't be of much help. But I would agree with the others that the chances of the dealer doing you a swap would be quite slim.

Just wondering if everyone who has had problems with their minis to get together and write something to Mini in the UK? Or at least Mini in Australia. They would have heard about all the problems no doubt but they may think their dealer is handling it pretty well (or getting their butts out of trouble pretty well) and they don't have to do anything about it. But if we all get together and say/do something, perhaps that will give them pressure.

When I first bought my A3 a few years back, there were problems with it within the first day. I complained to the dealer but nothing happened. They just said it's like that...blah blah blah. Then I wrote to Audi in Australia and then Audi in Germany (think it's Germany, where-ever it's made) and the dealer was pressued to apologise and gave me free scheduled services, etc etc.

I'm not saying free scheduled services is the solution but at least the big guys will hear about it.

Just a thought...

[bigturtle]

This is all some sort of initiation test, isn't it? You guys are just testing we folk who have our new cars on order and are waiting to join the MINI fraternity to see if we really are Pure Of Heart and worthy of being At One With MINI. Yeah, right ... well it's not going to work! I'm still getting the car and nothing you can say will stop me.

I"m now going to put my fingers in my ears and sing la-la-la, just in case the horror stories are true.

[Indi_booze]

Bit of bad news concerning the Cabrio Darrell, the thing is with the MINI is with as many bad stories you hear about faults, there is always good stories as well, i have had mine for nearly 2 years & 30,000kms, & have only had 2 warraties issues, a reversing light filling with water everytime i washed it & a dash rattle , with both being fixed without a hassle.i have had more fun with the mini than any other car i have owned, i hope you can get everything sorted soon

Ashley

[Avocado]

Quote: Originally Posted by Indi_booze

Bit of bad news concerning the Cabrio Darrell, the thing is with the MINI is with as many bad stories you hear about faults, there is always good stories as well, i have had mine for nearly 2 years & 30,000kms, & have only had 2 warraties issues, a reversing light filling with water everytime i washed it & a dash rattle , with both being fixed without a hassle.i have had more fun with the mini than any other car i have owned, i hope you can get everything sorted soon

Ashley

Finally some good news!! I hope we'll be as lucky as you when our mini arrives next year. But if you think about it though, both your problems are quite trivial, it's not something you'd expect from a well-built car like the mini.

[swamos]

Quote: Originally Posted by Sunnybanker

Something about excess on insurance. So would be interesting to see what happened if our car was damaged whilst at the dealer.I mean, if we are charged excess, does that mean the dealers' insurance only covers certain things?
Makes you wonder
While we are up the Sunshine Coast in a couple of weeks time, we will be looking at a Mercedes C200k, which is one of the cars we looked at last January.I wonder if the nice man will give us $54k in part ex

**really** sorry to hear this Darryl. It would appear to me as a seasoned MINI owner that MINI/BMW are kind of a rapid development firm. They design things and rush them to market which is how they retain their technological/nnovation leadership in the marketplace.

Unfortunately, with this comes some problems. They tend to test on their early adopters. It doesn't take them long to sort things out, but the early adopters usually suffer.

Our car is June 02. They had been buiding them since April 01, but that wasn't enough time. Our car has had a plethora of small but annoying issues. A great regret of mine is that we haven't logged our trips to the dealer but I think 25+ would be safe. And the earlier ones were even worse again from what I could gather.

However, by late 02 things were getting much better, and by the 03 builds (with the thumb notches on the steering wheel) things were getting much better So, it's very sad that you've been hit by the bugs.

If it is a problem that effect others, then they will most probably address the issue, and if you ask the right question of your service manager you will get the upgrades for gratis. On the positive side, I've had things replaced that a toyota or honda owner wouldn't get in his dreams. I would say they have thrown 5k+ of parts at our car so far.

Also on the positive side, if you are the first owner of a MINI, and do the right thing by the dealer, even though your car is out of warranty you will probably have some MINI support until 4/5 years after delivery

As to your chances of replacement...you're going to have to go through a lot more heartache before you get anywhere. Someone here had 4 engines overheat and leave the car stranded before they offered him a replacement, and even then he had to threaten press coverage. What's more... the dealership retailed the car ... I haven't heard if it's problems continued.

So, you have two options... to bail... or to stay. I am certain that they will remedy the issues but you'll have to make a few more trips to the dealer. It may also be some time before they have the fixes sorted too. I am confident that if you got yourself into a hardto p you'd have trouble free ride.

Also, the reason why I quoted the above was that my dealer pulled the $30 excess thing. There was a $3k excess he said. What he neglected to tell me was that the BMW insurance that they sold me covers you for $2k when in a BMW loaner so I just get them an don't pay the excess anymore. Check with your insurance

Bit of an essay but ther you go