MINI2

G8BAD_COOPER · Apr 29th, 2002, 07:28 AM

Has anyone else had this problem??

My Alarm has gone maaaad, ive listed the problems as its easier:

1. It constantly beeps (Every 1-2 seconds)
2. Locks and Unlocks itself
3. Sets the immobiliser (so i cant start the engine)
4. Opens and closes the windows
5. sounds the alarm regardless if its locked/unlocked

whats also worrying is ALL this happens while im driving it, aswell as if its parked up....

ive been on the phone to BMW and they called out MINI Assitants but they cant do anything because its not a mechanical fault,

anyone else had this problem??? comments please

G8BAD_COOPER · Apr 29th, 2002, 09:04 AM

this is getting worse, the immobiliser just kicked in while i was driving (luckily i had just pulled away so i was only just moving) but this is a potential death trap if it happened at speed. As i was left without any brakes or steering...!!

i guess that im the only one with this very dangerous problem??

chiph · Apr 29th, 2002, 09:06 AM

Actually, this is a known fault.
Do a seach on the windows rolling up and down by themselves.

Chip H.

Dom · Apr 29th, 2002, 09:22 AM

That's some MINI adventure!!

And they say the new MINI doesn't have character...

Dom

G8BAD_COOPER · Apr 29th, 2002, 09:48 AM

ive been on the phone to BMW/MINI trying to sort this, MINI Assitants came out to have a look but said that they cant do anything because its not a mechanical fault!!! they also said they wouldnt tow it away because its drivable, even though its deadly!!!

Also because of my age (20) i cant get a hire car, and MINIuk wont supply one, but if i got insured on any car they'd give me £25 towards it for 2 days even though it will be in for 2 weeks!!

i am servely ****ED off, and cant believe that if anyone under the age of 25 has anything wrong with they're MINI your buggered!!!!!!!

Dom · Apr 29th, 2002, 09:58 AM

What are they actually using as an excuse not to give you a hire car? You should demand one and if that doesn't work, start throwing random words like "rejection" "never buy another BMW" etc into sentences. It's not your fault the car's being naughty, it's theirs!

Dom

G8BAD_COOPER · Apr 29th, 2002, 10:05 AM

so far ive been playing it cool, but im waiting on a phone call from MINI customer serivces and im going to start getting arsy with them......!

Im having the worst day since i got my mini, i spent all night listeing to the alarm and eventually went to go and disconnect the battery at 4.30am but that only made matters worse.....

GIVE ME STRENGTH.....!!!!!

Dom · Apr 29th, 2002, 10:11 AM

Tried covering the alarm speaker with towels?

Dom

G8BAD_COOPER · Apr 29th, 2002, 10:31 AM

no but ive thourght of smashing the bloody thing pieces with a Jack Hammer.....

blade929 · Apr 29th, 2002, 12:05 PM

Hi there

Have you approached your dealer ??

I would find it very strange if they could not supply you with an alternative car until this is resolved. They have demo cars available all the time. Mention the security aspect - are they going to cover theft from a car that has opened it's own windows !!!! (I Think not)

With all the problems we had with our car I did find that the best way forward is to pester your dealer, go see the BOSS man/woman, not the service receptionist. They can then put pressure directly onto BMW.

Was this fault resolved by new ECU's in the past ???

Good luck.

Paul · Apr 29th, 2002, 12:10 PM

The 'christine' or 'herbie' behaviour is a known fault, however I thought affected cars were subject to a recall?

Anyway, sounds as if you're getting dreadful customer "care".

The car clearly is not safe to drive if it opens windows and sounds the alarm when you're driving along (surely a hazard), let alone stalls itself!

timlowden771 · Apr 29th, 2002, 12:13 PM

You should ring your dealer and demand a hire car. When my car was in the Garage having a load of work done to it, they gave me a hire car and I did not have to insure it myself. I am also 20,Go and kick ass!!

Crashandburn · Apr 29th, 2002, 01:49 PM

Hi G8BAD_COOPER,

My car had a similar fault, although I'm not sure if it would have done it whilst driving. The alarm started going, unlocking the doors, attempting to drop the windows etc.. I ended up leaving it unlocked in the hope that no lock meant no alarm, but no - it went off at 3.30am in the morning despite that. I took it back to the dealership there and then (only a couple of miles away) and left it in their compound. It took them a couple of days to work out what was going on, diagnostics didn't reveal anything at first, but then they replaced the ECU and I haven't had any reoccurence of those symptoms.

Replacing the ECU is a half hour job, provided they've got / can get one. If you can convince them to do that your troubles with hire cars should be over.

FWIW, Enterprise do the MINIemergency cars, and its their age policy you're running foul of. Dealers don't have the same restrictions - its at their discretion to provide a courtesy car, but up to you to insure it. They should give you a car.

G8BAD_COOPER · Apr 30th, 2002, 04:36 AM

thanx everyone for your advice

after spending all day on the phone to MINIUK, and after they only offord £25 for 2 days towards a hire car, i eventually got them to pay the insurance for me to drive my girlfriends car till the end of the week.

They said (MINIUK) that its in the smallprint on the warrenty that anyone under the age of 25 are not garenteed a hire car and its not the responsibility of MINIUK to provide one (which i think is appalling)!!!

My local dealer (Lind) said that they do not have to provide a MINI curtosy car (but they do have to for BMW's) they do have 1 MINI curtosy car but they said that its only part of them "going the extra mile" for customer care!!!

I am discusted at not only the way I have been treated but also by the procedure that they have for under 25's.... considering that the MINI is quite a young persons car, this is a large segment of they're customers.

Anyway my car is now at my dealers getting 'fixed' and Im driving a Ford KA for the next few days (hopefully).

The only good thing that happened yesterday was that, when I first phoned Lind in morning and told them i had a problem with my alarm which was dangerous they said they couldnt see it till next thursday (9th) but as soon as MINI assistance are called out the dealer has to look at the car within 24hrs......

I'll keep you posted on the what caused the problem and how they solve it....

Lee.

Tobes · Apr 30th, 2002, 05:32 AM

Fingers crossed that they get the car sorted quickly so you can get the baby back on the road!

Tobes

G8BAD_COOPER · Apr 30th, 2002, 05:41 AM

yeah cheers mate

i hope so, because im going to the New Forest this weekend and my mates coming aswell in his Clio 16v so i want to kick his ass round the country roads...

(not that id ever over take on winding country roads)

Tobes · Apr 30th, 2002, 05:50 AM

Hope your friend can handle serious Jealousy!

Jon E · May 2nd, 2002, 04:55 AM

Quote:

not that id ever over take on winding country roads

No I didn't think I saw you racing that 'smoothed' silver Cooper on Sunday on that gorgeous twisting mountain road!

Best of luck with your motor. Lind in Norwich have always given me a courtesy car and I'm under 25. Just stay friendly and nice with them - no one can argue with nice.

Best of luck mate,

Jon E

G8BAD_COOPER · May 2nd, 2002, 05:03 AM

Quote:

No I didn't think I saw you racing that 'smoothed' silver Cooper on Sunday on that gorgeous twisting mountain road!

I keep having this problem, where the accelerator get stuck!!! oh well never mind

I got my car back this morning, they said that they replaced one of the sender units in the alarm

and so far so good... but they did damage one of my St.Georges X graphic on the mirrors, dont know if i can be bothered to go though the hassle of getting them to pay for it as it would only cost about £10 to repair it....

Tobes · May 2nd, 2002, 05:58 AM

Glad to hear you got the car back but dont let them get away with the damage especially as they werent helpful with a replcaement car

You St George....them the Dragon!!

Apr 29th, 2002, 07:28 AM	#1
G8BAD_COOPER MINI2 Senior Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Gravesend, Kent Local Time: 08:38 PM Posts: 494 Offline	A New Alarm Fault Has anyone else had this problem?? My Alarm has gone maaaad, ive listed the problems as its easier: 1. It constantly beeps (Every 1-2 seconds) 2. Locks and Unlocks itself 3. Sets the immobiliser (so i cant start the engine) 4. Opens and closes the windows 5. sounds the alarm regardless if its locked/unlocked whats also worrying is ALL this happens while im driving it, aswell as if its parked up.... ive been on the phone to BMW and they called out MINI Assitants but they cant do anything because its not a mechanical fault, anyone else had this problem??? comments please

Apr 29th, 2002, 09:04 AM	#2 (permalink)
G8BAD_COOPER MINI2 Senior Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Gravesend, Kent Local Time: 08:38 PM Posts: 494 Offline	this is getting worse, the immobiliser just kicked in while i was driving (luckily i had just pulled away so i was only just moving) but this is a potential death trap if it happened at speed. As i was left without any brakes or steering...!! i guess that im the only one with this very dangerous problem?? Last edited by G8BAD_COOPER : Apr 29th, 2002 at 09:27 AM.

Apr 29th, 2002, 09:06 AM	#3 (permalink)
chiph Spectator Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Raleigh, NC Local Time: 04:38 PM Posts: 1,574 Offline	Actually, this is a known fault. Do a seach on the windows rolling up and down by themselves. Chip H. ex-MINI Cooper S owner and all around good-guy

Apr 29th, 2002, 12:05 PM	#10 (permalink)
blade929 MINI2 Regular Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Bedfordshire Local Time: 08:38 PM Posts: 154 Offline	Hi there Have you approached your dealer ?? I would find it very strange if they could not supply you with an alternative car until this is resolved. They have demo cars available all the time. Mention the security aspect - are they going to cover theft from a car that has opened it's own windows !!!! (I Think not) With all the problems we had with our car I did find that the best way forward is to pester your dealer, go see the BOSS man/woman, not the service receptionist. They can then put pressure directly onto BMW. Was this fault resolved by new ECU's in the past ??? Good luck. - Red/White Cooper, Silver wheels, Climate Control, Chili Pack, heated mirrors, CD Boost, Alarm, Heated seats, Factory Tint Windows. Now gone (but not forgotten)

Apr 29th, 2002, 12:13 PM	#12 (permalink)
timlowden771 MINI2 Senior Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Here, there and ever Local Time: 08:38 PM Posts: 395 Offline	Hire car You should ring your dealer and demand a hire car. When my car was in the Garage having a load of work done to it, they gave me a hire car and I did not have to insure it myself. I am also 20,Go and kick ass!! If she's not smoking she broken!

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Apr 29th, 2002, 09:22 AM	#4 (permalink)
Dom Test thread infiltrator Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Swindon Local Time: 09:38 PM Posts: 8,543 Offline	That's some MINI adventure!! And they say the new MINI doesn't have character... Dom

Apr 29th, 2002, 09:48 AM	#5 (permalink)
G8BAD_COOPER MINI2 Senior Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Gravesend, Kent Local Time: 08:38 PM Posts: 494 Offline	ive been on the phone to BMW/MINI trying to sort this, MINI Assitants came out to have a look but said that they cant do anything because its not a mechanical fault!!! they also said they wouldnt tow it away because its drivable, even though its deadly!!! Also because of my age (20) i cant get a hire car, and MINIuk wont supply one, but if i got insured on any car they'd give me £25 towards it for 2 days even though it will be in for 2 weeks!! i am servely ****ED off, and cant believe that if anyone under the age of 25 has anything wrong with they're MINI your buggered!!!!!!!

Apr 29th, 2002, 09:58 AM	#6 (permalink)
Dom Test thread infiltrator Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Swindon Local Time: 09:38 PM Posts: 8,543 Offline	What are they actually using as an excuse not to give you a hire car? You should demand one and if that doesn't work, start throwing random words like "rejection" "never buy another BMW" etc into sentences. It's not your fault the car's being naughty, it's theirs! Dom

Apr 29th, 2002, 10:05 AM	#7 (permalink)
G8BAD_COOPER MINI2 Senior Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Gravesend, Kent Local Time: 08:38 PM Posts: 494 Offline	so far ive been playing it cool, but im waiting on a phone call from MINI customer serivces and im going to start getting arsy with them......! Im having the worst day since i got my mini, i spent all night listeing to the alarm and eventually went to go and disconnect the battery at 4.30am but that only made matters worse..... GIVE ME STRENGTH.....!!!!!

Apr 29th, 2002, 10:11 AM	#8 (permalink)
Dom Test thread infiltrator Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Swindon Local Time: 09:38 PM Posts: 8,543 Offline	Tried covering the alarm speaker with towels? Dom

Apr 29th, 2002, 10:31 AM	#9 (permalink)
G8BAD_COOPER MINI2 Senior Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Gravesend, Kent Local Time: 08:38 PM Posts: 494 Offline	no but ive thourght of smashing the bloody thing pieces with a Jack Hammer.....

Apr 29th, 2002, 12:10 PM	#11 (permalink)
Paul Trained Monkey My Classifieds Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Bedfordshire Local Time: 09:38 PM Posts: 40,873 Online	The 'christine' or 'herbie' behaviour is a known fault, however I thought affected cars were subject to a recall? Anyway, sounds as if you're getting dreadful customer "care". The car clearly is not safe to drive if it opens windows and sounds the alarm when you're driving along (surely a hazard), let alone stalls itself!

Apr 29th, 2002, 01:49 PM	#13 (permalink)
Crashandburn MINI2 Regular Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Glasgow Local Time: 09:38 PM Posts: 338 Offline	Hi G8BAD_COOPER, My car had a similar fault, although I'm not sure if it would have done it whilst driving. The alarm started going, unlocking the doors, attempting to drop the windows etc.. I ended up leaving it unlocked in the hope that no lock meant no alarm, but no - it went off at 3.30am in the morning despite that. I took it back to the dealership there and then (only a couple of miles away) and left it in their compound. It took them a couple of days to work out what was going on, diagnostics didn't reveal anything at first, but then they replaced the ECU and I haven't had any reoccurence of those symptoms. Replacing the ECU is a half hour job, provided they've got / can get one. If you can convince them to do that your troubles with hire cars should be over. FWIW, Enterprise do the MINIemergency cars, and its their age policy you're running foul of. Dealers don't have the same restrictions - its at their discretion to provide a courtesy car, but up to you to insure it. They should give you a car.

Apr 30th, 2002, 04:36 AM	#14 (permalink)
G8BAD_COOPER MINI2 Senior Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Gravesend, Kent Local Time: 08:38 PM Posts: 494 Offline	thanx everyone for your advice after spending all day on the phone to MINIUK, and after they only offord £25 for 2 days towards a hire car, i eventually got them to pay the insurance for me to drive my girlfriends car till the end of the week. They said (MINIUK) that its in the smallprint on the warrenty that anyone under the age of 25 are not garenteed a hire car and its not the responsibility of MINIUK to provide one (which i think is appalling)!!! My local dealer (Lind) said that they do not have to provide a MINI curtosy car (but they do have to for BMW's) they do have 1 MINI curtosy car but they said that its only part of them "going the extra mile" for customer care!!! I am discusted at not only the way I have been treated but also by the procedure that they have for under 25's.... considering that the MINI is quite a young persons car, this is a large segment of they're customers. Anyway my car is now at my dealers getting 'fixed' and Im driving a Ford KA for the next few days (hopefully). The only good thing that happened yesterday was that, when I first phoned Lind in morning and told them i had a problem with my alarm which was dangerous they said they couldnt see it till next thursday (9th) but as soon as MINI assistance are called out the dealer has to look at the car within 24hrs...... I'll keep you posted on the what caused the problem and how they solve it.... Lee.

Apr 30th, 2002, 05:32 AM	#15 (permalink)
Tobes MINI2 Senior My Classifieds Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Hertfordshire Local Time: 09:38 PM Posts: 435 Offline	Fingers crossed that they get the car sorted quickly so you can get the baby back on the road! Tobes

Apr 30th, 2002, 05:41 AM	#16 (permalink)
G8BAD_COOPER MINI2 Senior Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Gravesend, Kent Local Time: 08:38 PM Posts: 494 Offline	yeah cheers mate i hope so, because im going to the New Forest this weekend and my mates coming aswell in his Clio 16v so i want to kick his ass round the country roads... (not that id ever over take on winding country roads)

Apr 30th, 2002, 05:50 AM	#17 (permalink)
Tobes MINI2 Senior My Classifieds Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Hertfordshire Local Time: 09:38 PM Posts: 435 Offline	Hope your friend can handle serious Jealousy!

May 2nd, 2002, 04:55 AM	#18 (permalink)
Jon E MINI2 Regular Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: UK Local Time: 08:38 PM Posts: 72 Offline	Quote: not that id ever over take on winding country roads No I didn't think I saw you racing that 'smoothed' silver Cooper on Sunday on that gorgeous twisting mountain road! Best of luck with your motor. Lind in Norwich have always given me a courtesy car and I'm under 25. Just stay friendly and nice with them - no one can argue with nice. Best of luck mate, Jon E Sometimes I wonder whether the world is being run by smart people who are putting us on or by imbeciles who really mean it. --Mark Twain

May 2nd, 2002, 05:03 AM	#19 (permalink)
G8BAD_COOPER MINI2 Senior Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Gravesend, Kent Local Time: 08:38 PM Posts: 494 Offline	Quote: No I didn't think I saw you racing that 'smoothed' silver Cooper on Sunday on that gorgeous twisting mountain road! I keep having this problem, where the accelerator get stuck!!! oh well never mind I got my car back this morning, they said that they replaced one of the sender units in the alarm and so far so good... but they did damage one of my St.Georges X graphic on the mirrors, dont know if i can be bothered to go though the hassle of getting them to pay for it as it would only cost about £10 to repair it....

May 2nd, 2002, 05:58 AM	#20 (permalink)
Tobes MINI2 Senior My Classifieds Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Hertfordshire Local Time: 09:38 PM Posts: 435 Offline	Glad to hear you got the car back but dont let them get away with the damage especially as they werent helpful with a replcaement car You St George....them the Dragon!!

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