[roland2003]

Hi Guys, as you know we include a variety of checks /top ups as part of our GTT conversions. I have mentioned before that we get maybe 1 in 3 cars with the oil very low.
Last week 4 cars that came in (2 had just been bought from dealers the same or previous day) had zilch oil showing on the dipstick! -so were around 1.5 litres down (3 pints).
Of those cars 2 had no coolant showing in the tank whatsoever, one was below min on the brake fluid aswell , and one had half an inch of fluid left in the power steering fluid tank.
Tyres... Two cars had no (or less than 5psi) air in one tyre, & two cars had at least one illegal tyre.............
-Just as well we check these things and put them right.
I'd give the car/its occupants a week before something (crash/blow up/ long arm of the law) happened. How can someone sell a car like this (especially dealers) , what is the world coming too?
Best Regards Roland GTT

[Sunnyk]

I must admit I'm one of these people. I travelled over from Ireland to collect my new Mini Cooper S at Blackpool. The pics the guy sent me of the car were taken when it was 100%. The guy arrived in the airport to collect me in a dirty car that hadn't even been hoovered. I wasn't impressed to say the least but what can you do when you've travelled that far?

Anyway I drove the car down to Blandford the same day and then had Roland fit a GTT220 kit with Oil Catcher Can, Lightweight Crank Pulley , Exhaust Re-route Pipe and the Tensioner Limit Stop with the Pulley also. Roland did a full check on the car and sorted a lot of problems out for me which I hadn't noticed. He even replaced the coolant tank (I think it was the coolant tank?) for me which he found had a crack in it. What a great guy! My oil was also extremely low!

I spent 7 hours yesterday cleaning my Cooper S to my standard and today I'm applying 3 stage Meguiars Wax.

I cannot rate Roland's service enough!! Your car is always in good hands when he is in charge!

[Cooooooperslad]

Why can't they just have sensors in each of the tanks with lights on the dash? I dont understand why manufacturers don't do this? It's not exactly expensive

[T-bone S]

By the time the oil warning loght comes on - its too late anyway.
I tend to check my oil every 2k miles or so - however haven't done so in a while - will do it later!! - Also i've put the car in for the Mini Pit stop at my dealer - £40 for a general check up - top up of levels and pressures - stuff you could do yourself or pay for convienence

[Loui]

If it was bought from a mini dealer those should have been sorted on AUC, if not then id be having some stern words with the dealer myself as they shouldnt have sold it under the mini cherished scheme

[BRMCooper]

Quote: Originally Posted by Loui (original)

If it was bought from a mini dealer those should have been sorted on AUC, if not then id be having some stern words with the dealer myself as they shouldnt have sold it under the mini cherished scheme

very true! they charge you for them checks as well!!

[Loui]

Quote: Originally Posted by BRMCooper (original)

very true! they charge you for them checks as well!!

In the region of £170 service charges sales

[JAMIE1131]

Quote: Originally Posted by Cooooooperslad (original)

Why can't they just have sensors in each of the tanks with lights on the dash? I dont understand why manufacturers don't do this? It's not exactly expensive

Er... yes it is! you would probably be looking at around £100 a car to add sensors for oil, coolant, and brake fluid. Doesn't sound like a lot of money but I would guess the whole car only costs around £5K to build its a big percentage, and for most customers those features arent worth the extra £100 on the price tag.

[roland2003]

There is one for low brake fluid, not oil or coolant though. The low tyre pressure indicator often doesnt work as it might too.

[Cooooooperslad]

Roland do you remember my coolant and oil filter? that was 3 weeks after picking the car up

[Martin F]

Quote: Originally Posted by roland2003 (original)

There is one for low brake fluid, not oil or coolant though. The low tyre pressure indicator often doesnt work as it might too.

Actually the R56 does have a light to say when the oil level needs topping up. But I am not relying on it as I would rather trust the dipstick.

[roland2003]

True, but this is R53 forum Even the power steering tank has no level sensor.
Weve just had another car arrive this morning for GTT220, guess what?.......no oil.

[1320autos]

Have you got enough oil in stock

It might be worth you starting this thread in General and Faults and Fixes and making it a sticky, as most of the people visiting here are gear heads and should know better

Noticed I said should

[Yellow/Black OneD]

Why do we need 'idiot' lights for everything, surely it isn't that hard just to check oil levels etc every other week (That should be plenty, if you need to check more than that, you have a fault), and take a bit of responsibility.

I actually quite enjoy popping the old bonnet up for a snoop, even if I have only got a rattly old tractor engine under there!!

[alski]

are all these oil free motors under TLC? or total lack of checks?
why don't BMW give 1ltr of top up oil with every new car, it might re-enforce the suggestion that people should look under the hood every now and again between services, also will save BMW a few quid in the long run as well, with dubious warranty claims

Roland how can you offer any sort of warranty on a GTT conversion starting off with a oil free car
as the engine might have been neglected before you see it, and will no doubt be equally well looked after it leaves you?

[BigShow300]

I should probably know this but is it best to check oil and other fluids when the car is hot or cold?

[Cooooooperslad]

Oil Cold
Coolant, leave 15 mins after driving at optimum temp

IIRC

[roland2003]

hi Guys, yes weve got an underground oil line direct to the North Sea. Its true we do rely on people checking things as per the book.
ps. The car in this morning also had no coolant in the tank aswell as no oil.

[MINI-Morgan]

Oil I can understand slightly a tiny bit but no water? Where did it go? leaking tank or venting? Tyres? Well if you have a crash its your wrists that the cuffs will be on. Maybe im just naive that I think people in this day and age must know how to pump up a tyre atleast once a month? Or go to a petrol station and use one of the free ones? A major problem with the runflats as I experienced but once I fitted normal road tyres they barely loose any pressure a month let alone a week like we should all be checking.

Rant over..... hehe

[Richard Crofts]

I just don't get why people don't notice?! I mean water is actually visable when you open the bonnet as is brakes. I would never leave my car more than 2 days without checking at least one of the fluids, even if its just a visual check on coolant as i'm topping up the washers!

I get the guy from Ireland who got the car in blackpool and then went to Roland ... but the others?!