[paul04]

Hello all,

I have moved from the northeast to the northwest and the MCS is ready for the first inspection on the TLC. My dealer in NE was cooper Sunderland mini. They have been great, every time I had a problem it was sorted out no questions asked and a free car wash .

I ask my dealer (cooper Sunderland) who they recommend and said Williams Manchester as they are one of the biggest around. So I booked it in. The woman on the phone said it will get a oil service, brake fluid service etc etc. She asks if it was any problems other than the service, yes the back washer isn't working. They asked if I used bmw screen wash as they said it is not covered in the warranty if I don't use bmw products. What? They said they will check it out and tell what the problem is. Block by screen wash or a component failure.
This afternoon I dropped it off after 20 mins trying to park (nightmare). She said she would give me a ring when it was ready.
When I went back my car was parked at the front of the service department and MCS wasn't washed. I went inside and she told me what they had done. And in their notes they had cover on wiper arm missing, yes I know, they didn't tell me how much for a replacement, next front side lamps are not mini ones and could fail MOT, WHAT? It is only two years old and doesn't need a MOT for another year and they are Halo ring sidelamps and I’m sure they are road legal fools.
Finally left disappointed and thinking never too go back, I got home and looked at my service books and they are not signed or stamped. I think next year I will try another Mini dealer.

Has anybody else had this sort of experience and is it worth complaining

Cheers
Paul

[humph]

Welcome to the North West Paul Have a look in Dealership feedback and you fill find plenty of negative feedback for the Williams group, especially the branches at Manchester, Bolton, and Rochdale. I have vowed after various bad experiences with Rochdale that I would never use any of their dealers again. I swapped to Derek Woodman about two years ago even though it is a long drive up there.

Just my opinions here of course

[paul04]

Thanks for that I think woodmans is about half an hour away it looks like it will be worth the trip

[..Blackadder..]

I'm with Humph i've took mine to Bolton don't know there ar*e from their elbow i've used Derek Woodmans and the differance is unexplanable well worth the extra miles to get there as you know the car will be in excellent hands.

[cooperSMark]

uh oh.. that's where i'm getting my car from. I think i'll use my local Mini dealer when it comes to servicing and things if Williams are that bad

[R99]

Yep, another recommendation for Woodmans from me too. I live right in the top corner of NW Lancs. (I can walk into Cumbria from my house)

Anyway.... tried the local dealer (Bateman) for a few jobs, and after they refused to acknowledge that my R99's were in fact

a) a MINI designed wheel (I had to physically show them to the guy at the desk in the MINI brochure)
b) genuine wheels (they printed out the spec from the factory, which showed 15" Rockets, neglecting the fact that R99's are in fact dealer fit ONLY.
c) not, to quote, "too shiny" to be real R99's

Now all my business goes down to Woodmans, well worth the blast down the motorway.

[J1JPE]

Go back, complain, get your book stamped and give them a bill for the petrol, inconvenience then go see Dave at Woodmans ... you'll get the service you'd expect, hope for, want when owning a MINI

[popey]

Quote: Originally Posted by J1JPE (original)

Go back, complain, get your book stamped and give them a bill for the petrol, inconvenience then go see Dave at Woodmans ... you'll get the service you'd expect, hope for, want when owning a MINI

Daves back doing sales, you will be dealing with Phil on service now who is a MINI technician and knows his stuff (as does (DJ) Dave)

[paul04]

thanks for all the replies, I will keep it in mine. I have to take it back next week as power steering pipe is starting to leak, they are coming to collect it from work and then return it but i'm having second thoughts

[Lawrothegreat]

I'm sure that I've read somewhere else on here that the halos are a MOT failure?

As for the wiper / BMW screen wash, that is rather silly. I cannot imagine for a second that the three BMW / MINI dealers I've used so far would claim this.

Good luck

[monkeynuts]

Williams are pants!
It feels as though they are always looking for a way to avoid replacing anything under warranty.

I have LED sidelamps too and it recently had its MOT and they did state that it MAY fail in the future if there are changes in the law making LED sidelights illegal.

Car Parking is a joke - The Sales Team hate the Service Team and both of them hate the Bodyshop so god help you if you park in either or of the above. You are guaranteed some abusive idiot from the Bodywork shop to storm in asking who has parked on his "plot".

Do they know what there looking for - Nope!

The women in the Service Dept always and i mean always have a chip on their shoulder and a face like a slapped a55. There is one guy there who speaks to you how you expect you should be spoken to and really does want to help you. No sexism just fact!

Oh and you really dont want them to wash your car unless you want the paint scratched to high heaven.

Funny really, when my dad goes to Mercedes for his service the experience is a totally different one in EVERY way! .... gone of the day when Mercedes were exclusive cars..... most minis are more expensive!

If others give good advice on other dealerships - follow their advice and hope for much better service

[paul04]

The dealership I bought my car from looks after my mini and are always willing to help. They make you feel proud of having a mini. I thought all dealers will be the same, I think I need to wake up to real life.

[andrewcregan]

I have never used Williams, but like many others highly recommend Woodmans in Blackpool. I drive past about five dealerships to get to them - they are really that good!
Phil (Service) really knows his stuff and is very helpful, Chris (Parts) is also very helpful and will give discount prices, and sales are excellent too (Dave and Alison).

[iain cooper]

shocking customer service and unfortunately all too common.

they did not stamp your book ? have you checked that they actually did the proper service, changed oil, etc ?

I certainly would not let them touch you car again...............take it somewhere else

[TallAndy]

Williams are completely rubbish. My two experiences:

1. My old JCW S they refused to do any warranty work on the car because the JCW kit was fitted by John Cooper Works Garages and not a franchised dealer.

2. My mrs old Mini Cooper S. Tried to charge us £40.00 for looking at the car under warranty and blamed the Alta Induction kit on the emissions light coming on. Took it Woodmans( Thanks Dave) and it was a faulty o2 sensor! Swapped under warranty no problems!

Every time I went into the Bolton Williams there was always someone with BMW or Mini losing their rag at what a bunch of useless cretins they all are!

[airbusA346]

Quote: Originally Posted by andrewcregan (original)

I have never used Williams, but like many others highly recommend Woodmans in Blackpool. I drive past about five dealerships to get to them - they are really that good!
Phil (Service) really knows his stuff and is very helpful, Chris (Parts) is also very helpful and will give discount prices, and sales are excellent too (Dave and Alison).

I thought Dave was in Service?

[W44NE G]

What is it with Manchester dealers??

I bought my car from Halliwell Jones Warrington and they were great when selling the car but hopeless when I asked them to sort out a few niggles.

For this reason, I took it to Williams Rochdale and they did actually manage to sort everything though... and a lot quicker than I and they expected so I was very pleased. The only thing they didn't do was wash the car which I did expect really.

I reckon they didn't tell MINI that the car had been booked in though as I haven't received a questionnaire like you'd normally get within a few days of the car going to the garage.

In future, if I can get a courtesy car I'll probably still go to Woodmans as it just seems too hit and miss whether any of the Manchester dealers will actually do a good job.

[paul04]

Quote: Originally Posted by iain cooper (original)

shocking customer service and unfortunately all too common.

they did not stamp your book ? have you checked that they actually did the proper service, changed oil, etc ?

I certainly would not let them touch you car again...............take it somewhere else

I know for def they put oil in and screen wash but who knows if they did what they were meant to

[paul04]

The thing is, I know the whole point of any business is to make money but what is the point of having a warrenty if they are not going to carry out the work

[andrewcregan]

Quote: Originally Posted by airbusA346 (original)

I thought Dave was in Service?

Dave is now back in sales, and Phil is now Mr Service