After owning and maintaining a Mini in Newcastle upon Tyne for over 4 years, I reckon I've got a reasonable handle on which dealers will shaft you the most. None of them are particularly brilliant, but Stratstone (previously Victoria and before that, Priory) are best, with Fawdington and Mill equal last. Anyway, this thread's about Fawdington, as I wanted to relay my most recent experiences with them:
1. Wanted to get my white wheels refurbished, so got a couple of quotes. Fawdington's quoted me approx £85 per corner, while Victoria quoted £55. Guess who I chose.
2. A brake hose failed on my car earlier this week, so I limped it to Fawdington's, as it was nearby. Despite the fact that the work required was only the replacement of a brake hose (a *very* simple job), they quoted me £148.50 for 1.5 hours work (their words). Yep, that's a £100 per hour labour rate. Disgraceful. In the end, I got the car towed elsewhere and saved money.
3. Needed a replacement wing mirror, as one of mine was stolen. Fawdington's was most convenient, as I lived round the corner at the time, so I just got them to do it. Don't know whether the price was competitive, but they managed to:
- not connect the heating element (I've got the heated mirrors option)
- install the wrong glass (fishbowl effect, rendering the mirror useless)
- affix it so poorly it rattled on closing the door
Frankly, every experience I've had with Fawdington's has been a let-down. For me, they're nothing but an extortionate last resort.
These days, I much prefer to visit the Robertshaw Service Centre in Boldon. They're not a Mini dealership, but they've got good experience with Minis, as they support up the Robertshaw Racing race team, the 2004 Mini Clubsport Champions. As such, they know new Minis inside out.
Well, I hope this litany of failures is of some help to someone.
Only dealt with them a couple of times when I lived up in the Toon - car booked in for a service, and I asked the service reception if I could drop the car in at 7.30am and then get a lift, from them, back in to town to go to work. Arrived at 7.30am to be told that the driver didn't start til 8am. D'oh! Just a little thing, but annoying nevertheless!
Everything else was fine tho - they rang to let me know that all the work was completed, and nothing serious had been found, and then I got a follow up call a few days later to make sure that everything was ok
Mal your not alone i to have had a big run in with Farmington's the service manger is a big headed (a) hole they tried to charge me £300 for a failed slave cylinder for something that was a warranty claim i stood my ground and paid nothing because i was ready to PX my cooper s for my GP so they waved the bill... by the way i use Robert shaw fantastic garage great lads but watch Steve he talks to his spanners... and watch for biker John hes the one wearing all the leather gear including leather buttless shaps and leather hat with studs....
They will fit performace parts IE pulleys cams heads induction kits manifolds exhausts.they are the true mini experts plus have you seen all the race cars wow!
Fawdingtons still owe me a Aero grill from when i bought my car in january! 5 month ago! The part ex price of my cooper wasnt excellent but they had the car i really wanted and own now!
Robert Shaw Racing seems to be the best place for us northerner's!!
I've only uses them a few times and that was cos i was litterally around the corner (just off studly terrace) each time I needed a stealer. The first was cos I ran out of colant and they topped it up and booked it in to get looked at. It took them just over a day to get my car back and that was with a delay as there was an air lock in the coolant system. Other than that I've had no troubles.
Also I bought my first mini from priory and my current mini from victoria, now stratstone as I lived less than a mile away at the time, had no problems with any of them.
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Fawdington, Newcastle upon Tyne 
by the way i use Robert shaw fantastic garage great lads but watch Steve he talks to his spanners...
i would rather take out the pit bike...
