[YYMC]

I had a terrible terrible service experience at nick alexander mini this morning, I don't know this is common there or what.

my MC is having this loud resonance noise when I get to around 2400 RPM and 40-50 MPH, the seats feel shaky when this happens. It has only 1500 miles on it when it happened for the first time. I first went to Long Beach MIN, where I bought the car from. A technician spend about 2 hours with me study the problem. We test drove my mini, also drove two new minis for comparison. We identified the noise, it is from the exhaust system. but they couldn't fix it even after they put a new exhaust for me.

well after reading few posts on MINI2 and NAM, I though maybe it is because technicians of Long Beach weren't not experienced enough; so I called Nick Alexander, it surprised me that I can only have the appointment a month later, coz they are all full for a month. I said to myself NIck Alexander must be good.

This Monday morning I drove my mini there, a service representative named Jose told me that he would call me if they couldn't identify the problem, so I left the car there. But I hadn't get any call for two days. This morning I called them, a guy said " Jose said he talked to your brother about it, you need to come over and test drive with our technician."

My brother??? I have no brother, and they only have my cell phone number. come on. you don't need to lie to me on this, do you?

I drove there right away after I hang up. They had done nothing, they only listened to the engine when car parked, while I clearly described it is a noise when driving, hello!!!!! After two hours waiting, I finally met this technician Eddie, who Jose referred as the sharpest guy they ever have. All right, we drove my mini on this bumpy road around the dealer for like 5 minutes, he floored gas everytime he accelerated, I almost begged him to stay from 2000RPM to 2400 RPM gently in order to hear the noise. Thank god he heard it, "oh, it is a normal engine noise!" he said, "normal? but how comes other cars don't have it? my seats are shaky, don't you feel?" I asked. he answered "I don't know, nothing is abnormal."
I am speechless!

I rememberd a post in MINI2 Faults and Fixes section, the guy had the similiar noise, and his dealer found out it was the front wheel bearing's problem. So I asked his at least check the front wheel bearings for me, he refused and said "It is not the noise from front wheel bearings, why should I look at it?" So he left, I told Jose, the representative, that I want to talk to Eddie again. Jose went and came back few minutes later, "Eddie said your car has nothing wrong, he doesn't want to talk to you any more" he said. I am shocked, really. Apparently Eddie doesn't want to spend time on my problem, later Jose told me coz they have about 4 scheduled maintance a day, and they have big big commission on this.

well, Eddie maybe very experienced, but as to the unknown faults on your mini, he is not willing to spend time on studying your problem; while Long beach serive may not as experienced, but they will study and try to solve it.

Overall, after this bad expereience at Nick Alexander, I guess I probably won't come down there again simply coz I don't trust them.

[tavis1]

I feel your pain. I habe been to three different dealerships in LA and all have been crap! I have called and filed complaints with MINI USA. I think you should do th e same.
Tavis1

[IS2000]

I also have a soft resonance (at around 2200-2400rpm) from the exhaust on my MCS. The car came with this since day one. Should I be worried about it as well? Any input from other MCS owners?

[tavis1]

Some of un another thread are making plans to bombard MINI USA with Emails and Phone calls about dealer service in So Cal. We are planning on Sept 17th in case you want to join in.
Tavis1