Who's happy with the MINI servicing/dealer in Melbourne/Victoria?

[duomono]

We are happy owners of a new MINI since having it delivered in December 09, but we've probably experienced the worst after sale service ever with our dealer in South Yarra/Prahran (compared to Jeep, Landrover & Honda).

Anyone in Melbourne is happy with them or would recommend one they prefer?

[OZChris]

We used Doncaster MINI in the past - very happy with their service

[nickmcsR56]

Try the MINI kingsway, I always do my servicing there and very happy with it.

[Nil Time]

Likewise, I am very happy with the service at the Geelong Mini Garage.

[pw4]

Very happy with Doncaster MINI.

For non-standard stuff, Link Automotive in Nunawading seem to find their way around new MINIs pretty well - they specialize in the old Minis.

[COOL MINI CAB]

service wise yeah ive had no problems with brighton bmw/mini garage but bmw as a whole company as for parts etc is very very bad

[duomono]

Thanks everyone. Had a good experience with Doncaster MINI. A nice change from South Yarra.

[Bender15]

We have had a good experience with Geelong BMW/Mini (Rex Gorrell).

We also get free pick up and delivery and loan car when we need a service.

[pw4]

Quote: Originally Posted by Bender15 (original)

We have had a good experience with Geelong BMW/Mini (Rex Gorrell).

We also get free pick up and delivery and loan car when we need a service.

You would need that away out in Geelong!

[Bender15]

Quote: Originally Posted by pw4 (original)

You would need that away out in Geelong!

we live out west anyway so it was a no brainer to buy at Geelong. We also got the 3 years free servicing included when we negotiated.

[Yuf's Mini]

The Mini Victoria Club recommended to me (as an alternative to the dealer) BM Autowerks in Oakleigh.
I will use them on the next service.

I have had a terrible experience with Brighton Mini when they wanted to charge $2000 to fix a latch hook and cable on the convertible roof. The parts were quoted as $1350. I flew in the same parts from the UK (genuine parts) and landed it here for $145 including freight. It is all fixed now, happy as Larry, and saved $1400.

And I must mention, Brighton Mini charged me $200 to just to look at the problem - when Automotive Sunroof and Trim eye-balled it and told me exactly what was wrong, which parts I needed replaced, and didn't charge me a thing!!!

[Terrafirma]

I took my daughters 2002 Mini Cooper to BM tech for a service, it was expensive yet thorough, however recently her Power Steering Pump failed and I had the car trucked their, they quoted $2200 to replace the pump. I said no and arranged to have the car picked up, I can buy the pump OS for $585 and I will arrange for someone else to fit it. They charged me $137 for diagnosing the PS pump failure. They have not done anything wrong however the pricing I cannot justify.

[dsakko]

Would be interesting to see what they quoted to replace.

Had a friend have a sensor go on a Landrover Freelander. The dealer didn't have just the sensor on their parts list so quoted $$$ for a complete box plus fitting. Turned out to be a $15 sensor if yo can get it separately.

Recently a connector to the coil pack of my Volvo died. $4400 for a new wiring loom cause they couldn't get the connectors separately and only way was to replace the loom.

Seems like a common thing across modern cars. Soon it will be "Hmmm, your interior light bulb has blown. Well, we don't sell them separately. To fix it will cost you $35,990 for a whole new car."

[Elucubrator]

My thoughts:

Bought my Mini middle of last year from MINI Kingsway in South Melbourne. Great folks. I changed my trim about two days after the original order, and they assured me they had not sent the build order to the factory. Despite that, the change wasn't noted and I got my first choice of trim. The dealer got that sorted, and a few weeks later I took it in for a day and they swapped it over. In fact, they went a bit nuts, and accidentally gave me a JCW interior! That suited me down to the ground.

The service folks were great.

But then late last year my windscreen cracked in the cold. (Must have had a stone chip that weakened it.)

I tried BM Autowerks in Oakleigh, who were just shutting down for Christmas. So I rang them back in January. Three times. I spoke with John. He was very helpful, and sounded like he knows what he's on about. He just never rang back to say when he could get a windscreen.

So I tried MINI Kingsway. I rang their service department 5 times. The first time a chap rang back, and promised to call back with details, but never did. The next 4 I left messages. They did ring back once, but I couldn't take the call, and they didn't leave a voicemail. I rang another 3 times and left messages, but two weeks on, I still haven't heard back.

So last week I rang MINI Doncaster, and spoke with the service manager Dominique and asked him if they would like my money.

Well, I could not be happier with the help I got from Dominique. He rang me back within a couple of hours to book a time when his windscreen fitter could attend, and helped source some other accessories I was after.

He made me feel like he had all the time in the world for me, but when I turned up I could see he and his team work like one-armed paper hangers. I got emails and SMS's telling me when I was booked in, and when the car was ready.

He even checked if my car was subject to the turbo recall — it isn't — and did the next inspection service while they had the car, even though it wasn't booked in for it! That's service.

I was really, really impressed with Doncaster. Even though it's a fair hike from my home, I'll go back there again and can really recommend them. I hear lots of good things about them from friends who have their BMWs serviced there, and I can see why.

[BRGJCW]

Doncaster Mini is great - but like any BMW parts and labour are expensive. They must be doing something right though as are renovating the entire dealership - will also we adding BMW motorbikes too.