[Roofas]

Buying my MCSa was a very pleasurable experience but that's where the pleasure has ended!

Car has to go back for some warranty work but I have to pay for a loan car - the cost is only £10/day to cover the insurance but as the work is under warranty (car is barely a month old) this feels extremely unfair and the Mini manager, all love and hugs when purchasing, now seems disinterested in me as a customer.

Also, having found out 3 weeks after collecting my car that the front/rear bumpers (that came off my MCSa to be replaced by the Aero Kit) are mine, said Mini manager promised to ring me back regarding them but has so far failed to do so (over a week has passed now )

All in all, rapidly going downhill in my estimation.

I would give it a current score of 6/10.

[supa-dupa-cooper]

Different people seem to have different experiences (even with the same dealer) - i think thats just the nature of car dealers.

Ive (runs to touch some wood) never had a problem with my dealer - either when buying the car, aftersales, parts and service. But other people using the same dealer have.

Just curious though - how come you bought from bedford?

[Roofas]

they did offer me a fantastic deal compared to Specialists in Luton and Victoria in MK (£300 cheaper + arches coded) and the salesperson (Annie) was extremely professional (especially compared to Luton, absolute jokers!). Maybe I'm just being a bit demanding, I don't know, I hope that I'm just being a bit silly and that they'll disprove my misgivings come Friday when i pick up my car after warranty work.

[Roofas]

Nope, Elm's are crap. 0/10, effing me about even though I may have dangerous brakes. Oh well, at least I know who to sue should anything happen because of the brakes!!!!

[Sooperlids]

If it's any consolution Specialist Cars are worse. I have dealt with both.

Would rather walk than buy car from Specialt, their name certainly doesn't suit their attitude/aftersales.

[ShaunSheep]

Yeah I have to agree with Sooperlids, Specialist Cars are terrible! I've found them to be unhelpful and uninterested

Whereas all dealings with Elms have been good - both for sales and aftersales. Sorry to hear you've had such a bad experience with them.

[The Red Baron]

Quote: Originally Posted by Sooperlids

If it's any consolution Specialist Cars are worse. I have dealt with both.

Would rather walk than buy car from Specialt, their name certainly doesn't suit their attitude/aftersales.

My feet shall also be walking elsewhere when it comes to buying my next mini.
Specialist cars have so far...
1 Tried to mis-sell me the extended TLC package
2 Been most unhelpful on giving me any advice when i went to ask about what acceptable
modifications i could carry out to the car.
3 Hadn't a clue what i was on about when i wanted a quote for the painting of the wheel
arches. They had to sent the office junior out to take a picture of all four arches!

I wonder if their BMW customers get the sane level of service or are they just a "Jack of all trades, SPECIALIST of none"

[Sooperlids]

Quote: Originally Posted by chrisandjax

I wonder if their BMW customers get the sane level of service or are they just a "Jack of all trades, SPECIALIST of none"

It's exactly the same in their BMW dept

They seem to have the attitude that they are doing you a favour by selling a car.

[Cooper Man]

I too have had the misfortune of dealing with the ham-fisted "mechanics" at Specialist Cars, Luton. They caused more damage to components surrounding the parts they were supposed to be replacing, then handed me back the car in a worse state than when it went in!
From there, I ventured over to Elms in Bedford - service was fine, but nothing special - I have no complaints though.

Just lately I have been using Sytner at Harold Wood (they are on my way into work) - very helpful and accomodating.

[David43]

Interesting reading about a certain Luton dealer.

I went there several weeks ago looking at a cherished Mini Cooper.

Well what a mess. I travelled from Reading and as soon as I was shown the car it was complete joke. The bonnet had a slight 'ding', the front bumper was swapped from another car and the 4 alloys were a mix (same style wheels) but sales man said they came off different cars.

Interior........... all plastic trim, seat backs and passenger area in rear badly scuffed.

To think they had it advertised at nearly £12k. Dealer said we can take £500 off and look at the bonnet ding.

Well walked away totally amazed that they were a Mini dealer representing a wonderful product.

Should Mini/BMW be informed about there dealers?

Would they listern to us and would anybody benefit?

Good news out of it. Found a nicer spec cooper at Vines in Guildford.

[David43]

Forgot to mention.

I enquired about a cherished cooper at Elms with 7k on the clock. After the dealer running through the spec I was getting more tempted. Arranaged a time to view the car.

Dealer rang me back before setting out and said they made a mistake. The car had 25k on the clock and 2 owners not 1 as mentioned. The dealers seem quick enough to get the finance figures right shame about the simple speedo reading.

[supa-dupa-cooper]

I'm still waiting for a reply to an email I sent to Elms Bedford 3 weeks ago......

Specialist Luton replied straight away........

Didnt order my car from either........