[Bilbo Baggins]

My MCS was happily parked in a parking lot/car park when it was brutally attacked by the rear bumper of an old ladies Saturn station wagon as she backed out of her space. This most heinous and brutal attack was visited upon my poor innocent MCS while I was in a shop.

Fortunately the woman acknowledged her responsibility and stayed until I returned.

The silver lining of this whole thing is the body shop that effected the repair. I used a shop called Traynor Collision Center. They were pleasant to deal with. They were able to start the work quickly and they completed the job when promised, four days. Unlike the BMW of Darien service department that I have had to deal with in the past.

The absolute best thing was picking up my poor violated baby. There she was proudly sitting all nice and shiny in front of the body shop. Not only had the door been replaced and the side of the car painted but all of the plastic bits, all around the car, were all black and glistening just like new, even the tires were looking fresh and clean with a coat of shine freshly applied.

The body shop went above and beyond what they had to do, and delivered truely superior service. The car had been cleaned outside and inside. It had been detailed with all of the glass cleaned inside and out, the carpets vaccumed, the black plastic bits treated and restored to their original beauty, and the tires given a fresh coat of shine.

So, anyone in either Fairfield county or New Haven county Connecticut should you ever have the need of a great body shop I could not recommend these guys more highly. There are two locations, one in Milford, CT and the other in Fairfield, CT.

An interesting aside here is that they commented upon how well built and solid they found the MINI. The first comment was about how heavy the replacement door was, significantly heavier than other compact cars. When I asked for more information about what they thought of MINI construction they commented about several other MINIs that they had worked on and how strong they had found the basic structure.

And, NO I do not work for them nor do I receive a kick back. I just feel that superior service should be rewarded.

Now if I could only get BMW of Darien to use them for their body work. The body shop they use took 4.5 weeks to re-paint the top of my car. I had to reject their paint job three times before they got it correct. When my car was returned there were greasy foot prints on the carpet, paint on the leather steering wheel and shift knob, dust and wet-sanding residue all over the outside and in the door jambs, and a water stain on the drivers seat. This is BMW quality service? Or, do they just save such service for the MINI owners?

Traynor Collision Center a true silver lining.

[obehave]

Excellent. Considering what I have to deal with around here it might be worth the 400 mile drive.
Glad alls well.

[Smurfn]

I can't believe she stayed Just goes to show that some people out there are honest and decent people.

I am glad that things got sorted out for you. Sounds like it is an excellent body shop. It seems like they realise that it is good service that gets people to return.

[Cape Cod MINI]

You should forward this info. to the MINI dealers in CT.
If they have any brains they'll use them.
Glad to hear your issue turned out well from start to finish.

[ScottyB]

Wow. That surprises me that the person stayed to fess up to it. Very decent.

[Bilbo Baggins]

Quote: Originally Posted by Cape Cod MINI

You should forward this info. to the MINI dealers in CT.
If they have any brains they'll use them.
Glad to hear your issue turned out well from start to finish.

Apparently part of the problem is that the owner of BMW of Darien, CT also owns the body shop that they use. I doubt that they would consider upgrading the quality of their service if it is going to take money out of the pocket of the owner. Basic conflict of interest, at least the interests of the customer.

What we really need is a better BMW servicing dealer. BMW of NA made a BAD choice when they selected BMW of Darien for the MINI.

At the minimum they need to clean house and fire all of their service department with the sole exception of Brett Dreson. Starting with the highest level of manager down to the service writers.

A change in the pay for warranty work would also help the work ethic of the mechanics. Apparently, BMW techs get paid more to preform BMW warranty than MINI techs get paid to preform MINI warranty work. Little wonder that nobody wants to do MINI warranty work if they can get paid more to work on a BMW. Creating a caste system within a shop is never good for moral.

The Motoring Assistants are not the issue. The sales experience is without exception one of the most pleasant that I have ever had. It is what happens afterwards that really bites the big one.

[Smurfn]

Quote: Originally Posted by Bilbo Baggins

A change in the pay for warranty work would also help the work ethic of the mechanics. Apparently, BMW techs get paid more to preform BMW warranty than MINI techs get paid to preform MINI warranty work. Little wonder that nobody wants to do MINI warranty work if they can get paid more to work on a BMW. Creating a caste system within a shop is never good for moral.

Really !!!

That is unbelievable, how stupid.