Calling IRISH Mini Owners

[corkmini]

Folks,

I have a real rattlebag on my hands and am wondering how many other Irish MINI owners reading this are being frustrated on an ongoing basis by their little cars?

Really would appreciate if anybody, particularly in the Cork area would get in contact to discuss. As they say, problem shared, problem halved.

Thanks.

[belason]

Have you brought the car back to your dealership?

[Hat]

knowing what the roads around Cork are like, i'd contact the local council & get them to put some tarmac on the roads before blaming the car!

[AidenL]

I have 4000 miles up now, a few rattles are evident from the rear, and the usual squeaky seats, car will be going in for the gearbox mod next week, Ill be asking them to see if they can sort the rattles, Ill let you know how it develops......

Contrary to the scene in the UK, where there is a rejection process on cars, no such facility exists here unfortunately.....

Cork MINI, maybe you should upgrade to that Cooper they were offering you before !

[belason]

No Im sorry, your wrong. If a product does not match to a purpose you purchased it for or it has some problems of coarse u can reject. And besides all minis rattle from the rear any of the early ones anyway. Its either the lock which is normally sorted out by getting lubed up or its the rubber balls on the end of the parcel shelf string. If its from the Rear sides its usually the panels which will need some additional foam behind them. Up front the seats base will have to be lubed up around the rails. Sometimes the safety belt height adjustment can rattle, Once again foam goes behind it. Get the dealer to listen to them while your in the car that way they at least have half a chance for you to demostrate the rattles that are bothering you.

[corkmini]

Well all,

thank you for the responses - I've been sans computer for about 10 days, hence no response.

Well, as AidenL says, rejection in Ireland is a tedious business. And I would like to get a little more pro-activity from the local council about those roads!

Unfortunately the problems are a bit deeper than lock rattles and seat lube. And Aiden, soon as I pursued the Cooper option it was promptly withdrawn by the dealer. So, following the latest problem - leaking windscreen, resulting in condensation inside the speedo unit, I fear it's time to take things to the next stage. How long that will take I don't know, but there's only so much of being taken for a complete mug that anybody should have to endure. I've noticed quite a few 02 used cars on the forecourt, and whilst I know some of these are possibly rental cars, there's a few whose histories I'd be keen to explore.

So, one or two more discussions with the good people at BMW and then I'll know for sure what to do, but options are getting thin on the ground.

A great looking car - AWFUL, AWFUL build quality. For example, I currently have NINE wheel balance weights put on the left wheel by the dealer to prevent the left-pull, counterbalanced by 4 on the rear right. Really! Total joke. Presented the dealer with the new front suspension plan to prevent the left-pull and they did nothing!!! Not good for the blood pressure!

I fear the end of the relationship is nigh!

[AidenL]

Sorry to hear about all that trouble, its a terrible pity your MINI is so unsatisfactory, but it seems the dealer really isnt trying to help at all.......


All I can say is, give them hell, and let us know how it turns out !

[belason]

Put in a mail on www.mini.ie and see what reply you get

[corkmini]

Thanks for the suggestions. I have decided to get the car independently assessed and see what I'm actually facing. Wonder would it pass the NCT? I sincerely doubt it.

Will keep you posted.

[belason]

This is how it goes. You go get the car assesed by an independent assessor. You then goto your dealer and present everything he has found. They have a look and fix as needed. It comes back from the dealership and you find they havent really done that much in the repairs. BTW a recognised independent assessor is very expensive and one which BMW will supply FOC.
Or you can put your complaint in an email to BMW on www.mini.ie where you tell them you want the car assessed because you are unhappy with it and they will get the car looked at.

[belason]

how many times has your car gone into K O L with these problems?

[AidenL]

Its a shame they arent looking after you better......I agree with belason, it must be better to talk to MINI direct now.......I had great response from them via the website too, they were very helpful with queries I had......

[corkmini]

I didn't buy the car from KOL, just to clear that up! It's been off the road for 5 weeks in the last 3 months and in total has been back to the dealer 6 times. Doesn't seem like a lot maybe, however on each occasion it's been because something fairly important went on the blink.

Arranged yesterday to get the car assessed, so that's happening next week. Now, what's going to be interesting is this - a dealer will argue that the car is fixable and drivable (my question: so why didn't you fix it then?) and that they're not liable for "cosmetic" issues like crap build and leaks and electrical failure and useless customer service. So I'm going to get the assessment done, and see whether I have a case for an exchange or return - I genuinely don't see how this car can be "fixed" so I think I'm entitled to an alternative car. It's literally creaking from left, right, front and rear, so there's no way concsientiously that I could sell it on to some other poor mug or another garage. And if the dealer won't play ball, I'm thinking skip them, go straight to BMW, but only after I've had it assessed. My bottom line thought is this, if they all acknowledge there are problems, then do me a decent deal on a replacement car (that works properly) and let them own the problem. I have suggested this to the dealer but they don't want to know. It's quite stunning. I wonder what the Sunday Indo would make of it all?!

Anyway, I'll have to stop moaning and just get it sorted. Thanks for the comments/ suggestions. And be glad the majority of the cars seem to be fine. For the record, my car was built in July 2001 and this seems to have been the month for building most of the "lemons" out there. I still think they're a fabulous car, and am itching to get my hands on one without any problems and just enjoy it.

Later!

[corkmini]

Great news.

I have found a fellow sufferer. Same dealer, same problems, apparently both of us are suffering the same bout of dementia the dealer has accused us of. They've even given each of us word for word the same excuses, including my favourite:

"We've been selling these cars successfully for over a year now and no one has ever brought any faults to our attention before. You're the only one who seems to have a problem."

Oh happy day!!

Can't wait to hear their response to the fact that the bug is catching!

Will keep ye posted.

[AidenL]

Thats good news........backup is always a help !




My dealer fixed my squeaky seats last week,going well so far !