Servicing Out of State Mini

[JohnT]

I am anticipating getting a Mini in NY and either driving it or having it delivered back to L.A. (I'm second on the '05 wait list from a dealer who sells for MSRP.)

Someone with infinitely more wisdom and years than I sternly advised me against this plan. The reason being that no dealer will service or deal with a car purchased from another dealer with the same care. Longer to make appointments. Servicing poorly done. You get the idea of what he says I'm looking at.

Now I'm thinking that especially in SoCal, there must be lots of people who buy their Mini from a dealer who isn't the most convenient to where they live. I don't see many comments about people passing up an available car that they are comfortable paying for to purchase one at a specific dealer so that their serving and car care needs will be met in a timely manner. I do see warnings about some service departments here in SoCal and have been making the assumption that those dealers with the best service departments are getting the most service work tossed their way. I also am making the assumption that servicing is a money maker for the dealer.

So my question is does it really matter if the car purchase is made from a different dealer than the one who will be doing the servicing?

[BruceK]

I bought my MINI in NY and have never had any issue with servicing the car here in Texas. After all, when it comes time to buy my next MINI, I may very well make my decision as to which dealer I buy from on how well I was treated by the service dept. So, it is a double-edged sword. And does the service dept really keep track of which cars were sold by their dealer's sales dept? I don't think they have a clue -- or care.

[Jen]

I bought my MINI in VA and had a poor service experience at the dealer I bought the car from. I take it to a dealer in MD now who does a fantastic job and does not seem to care that I did not buy the car from them.

I know lots of folks who do the reverse - take their MD cars to VA for service because the VA dealerships are closer to their work etc.

It hasn't seemed to make any difference at least in the DC Metro area where you bought the car from when you take it for service.

Hope this helps.