[polska344]

I own a 2003 Green Mini, US spec, that was purchesed in Germany, and driven back to the UK. The dealership in UK charged my 400 pounds for the light Conversion. When I was in Germany, I was trying to get the Rear fog lights, wiring, and toggle switch panel, and it would of only cost 150 Euro. Here in England they charged me 275 Pounds for the parts, What's up with that? and Secondly my car got smashed up in Germany, and I Had it fixed here in England, and they did a VERY ****** job at painting on my back left Quater panel. So if your in the Bury St. Edmunds area, DON'T go to CARRS BMW, if your not from England, THEY WILL RAPE YOU FOR YOUR MONEY!!!

Well what I'm getting at is, even though my car is US spec and I bought it over here in Europe, shouldn't my car have come standard with the rear fog light?, and if there is a way to get renburst for this? I see other Mini's that are US Spec. on base(I'm in the USAF ar RAF Lakenheath, UK) but with no tape on their lights, and with the rear foglights. I've talked to a couple of them and they said thier car came standard with them. some one please help me someway.

nic

[stryder]

Hi, as children read the site, you probably should refrain from cursing.

Anyway, US spec MINIs don't have rear fogs active. They have the lights, but the switch on the toggle panel is missing. They will be able to get them as of December, or can have them retrofit sometime very soon with a kit that includes a new switch panel that has the switch and the dealer programs them to work. There's no wiring necessary, and no dealer yet has been able to activate them, because they don't have the necessary software. MINIUSA should be releasing the software very soon so they can. (They said Sept, but everyone's still waiting).

My only guess on why yours didn't include rear fogs but others did is because MINI realizes you will need them in the UK, so they made a special 'US Version' for servicemen that ordered in the UK, and didn't bother for ones ordered elsewhere in Europe. If you call up MINIUK they might be able to tell you, but no one seems to know anything about rear fogs. Its probably best to wait until the US retrofit kit is available anyway

[polska344]

I just had a UK dealer put the lights in, put in the wiring harness, new toggle stich panel, and program my computer. This cost me 400 pound, about $650. I believe that BMW should hpay for this installation someway or an other. Here I spent thousands of hard worked dollara for a new car, and I have to pay even more money to them to turn on some lightsm just because I'm an American serivering my country, and protecting their country, gives them that right to over charge me? This isn't the end of this with me, I'm pressing on through till I make waves with someone somewhere in this world to get this straightened out. I'm getting fed up with dealers giving me the run-around on my car. When I was in Germany, the dealer that I went to(BMW Military Sales) was a british national. He gave me a run around. I know the Britsh think they are all mighty, but so does everybody else. Weh have you ever seen the USA ever put taxes, and extra surcharges on a British item? when have you ever seen a slaesman give the run around on a British person in the states? But it happen over here ALL THE TIME!!!!!!!!! Not with just cars everything else too. well anywho, I'm not bashing all of England, so please no nasty comments, I'm just trying ot make a point here. I've gotten the run around too many times. SO It's about time I do something about it so in the future, other Americans that serve in the military don't get screwed over here in England..................

[B4d4Bing]

stop this rubbish you are talking....why on earth should you get a mini that doesn't conform to any international spec just cos u are a service man?? get real...u bought a US spec mini doesn't bloody matter what contry you bought it in it is US spec and spec'ed like everyother US mini built why should you be so special. If you want UK spec taillights you have to pay...if you don't like the price quoted, don't pay it then stamp ur feet go to another dealership...plenty in the uk, and it's not like the UK is too big to drivesomewhere else for a better price. So i say shut and stop moaning...when in someone elses contry respect it...GOD you should know all about that...after 9/11.

PS. the brits do not think they are high and mighty...thats US territory now matey...bloody scared of your own shadows now...and denying non-us people human rights incase they want to bomb you...Land of the brave home of the free...NOT ANY MORE....Land of xenophobes rascists!

shut it yank!

[stryder]

Now calm down everyone... we don't need to start our own fights over a few words.

It seems like most of the problem is with BMW corporate, who last time I checked was in Germany, so please direct your complaints about how you were treated to them, and not just randomly insinuate everyone carrying a certain passport acts a certain way on either side! There's good and bad apples everywhere.

[polska344]

I'm not saying I'm special b/c I'm in the service. My car was being pushed out as a Germn Demo car for Berlin. The dealer in Darmstat(just south of Frankfurt) told me about it. It was the color and the options I wanted. So I asked him if they could change it to US specs, and they did. BUT!!!!!!!!!! the didn't install teh rear bulbs, etc... What I don't get is that the German Spec has them, and if my car started off as German Spec, then why did I have to Pay the 400 pounds for something that should have came with the car?

[B4d4Bing]

if it was that important you shouldn't have rushed in to the purchase with out asking...how many US people do you think they deal with...not many if any! can't blame them...its up to you to make sure you get all you want before signing on the dotted line.

plus on one hand you asked them to make you car US spec...which is no rear fogs...then on the other you blame them for not leaving the rear fogs working....the rear fogs are presumably left of the us spec as they are not legal in all states...i am sure the dealer ship would not liked to be blamed for letting a car leave it site illegal in the country you asked for it to be spec'ed!

screams of you wanting your cake and eating it!!!

[mikeythemini]

What I don't understand here, is that the rear lamps and the wiring is the same. On USA spec just the toggle switch needs replaceing £70.22 then them activating in the software

[polska344]

Well of course I have to want my cake and eat it too. Tell you the truth, in that area where I got my car, well about 1/2 their business is Americans. That area was ans still is a heavily US Military area. There are about 8-10 military instalations with in a 25 mile radious. The dealer in Germany was trying to get me the parts for the lights, but I got sent back here the the UK on a days notice. So he was trying to send the parts up to me, but there was complications with that. but anywho, B4d4Bing Keep bashing Me all you want. I don't really care what you say, I was just trying to see if someone somewhere had the same problem like I did. And to try to find away so it won't happen to someone else. Th emoney doesn't really matter, b/c I have a thing call JOB SECURITY, and don't have to worry about what other people have to say about Brits. ot German, Or Canadians, Or Americans or anybody else in the world.

[polska344]

There's labor charge. Hey Mikeythemini, can you show me proof of this???

[MINIALEX]

Why sis you buy a US spec car for use in Europe? I'm confused

[B4d4Bing]

that's fine mate, please don't get all sanctimonious and condescending, i'm a doctor...service men don't have the monopoly on job security!

i am not out to bash any country...but please allow me to come to my nations aid when other's (yourself!) start bashing it!

let this be the end to this silly argument...enjoy your mini...a very brilliant BRITISH built car!

made in germany but i am also half italian and a very proud european! One of the greatest and diverse collection of people on the planet!

[B4d4Bing]

yeah i agree why not just buy a european spec one for europe and if you go back to the states sell it and buy a US spec on when you get home! must be cheaper than exporting accross the atlantic...plus you would get less for the car as it would be an import in the US...rather than a true US spec mini!

[obehave]

Quote: Originally Posted by B4d4Bing

that's fine mate, please don't get all sanctimonious and condescending, i'm a doctor...service men don't have the monopoly on job security!

I'm a gov't contractor and have no security

Quote:

i am not out to bash any country...but please allow me to come to my nations aid when other's (yourself!) start bashing it!

I'm a yank and this is embarrassing me. Unfortunately when I lived in the UK at RAF Woodbrdge(now closed) I saw that type of reaction all the time. I was also painfully aware of the fact that quite a few of my fellow Americans needed a good b!tch slap to knock them off their high horse. We are there to serve ALL nations and represent our wonderful country by our deeds and actions.
You're not looking too stellar there buddy. And your poor spelling doesn't help
Yes you may have gotten shafted. Gee have you NEVER gotten shafted in the US??? What's your excuse then?

Quote:

let this be the end to this silly argument...enjoy your mini...a very brilliant BRITISH built car!

made in germany but i am also half italian and a very proud european! One of the greatest and diverse collection of people on the planet!

Oh please yes.

On behalf of every American that cares please accept my apology for some of the tactless comments posted on this thread.


stryder, keep an eye on this one please.

[stryder]

Guys, calm down and stay on topic.

There isn't any 'proof' that all you need is the switch panel for 70 quid and the software, except that if you check out the rear fogs thread, people have installed and tested everything, but are stuck needing the dealer to activate the fogs in the BC1 computer onboard. Also, to give you an idea of the cost, the cost for the retrofit kit MINIUSA will be offering is $75, plus labor, which matches exactly with the toggle panel being all that's necessary and labor, no one will know for sure until the kits + software at the dealer is available, but that should be any day now.