Please Help! Desperate Advice Needed!!!

[lori21]

Hi Guys,

I really need some help & advice, im a girl (a car clueless one!) and this is my first car! I dont have a clue what to do about this problem that has just appeared on my Mini!


I have a cooper R53 made in 2003, manual gearbox. I have rattling/clatter noise that can be heard over the normal engine noise coming from the transmission, When I depress the clutch the noise vanishes only to return as soon as i take my foot off the clutch! I only bought the car at the end of December for 6k and only started driving it 3 weeks ago due to only just passing my test! It’s been in the garage at home waiting for me to pass for 6 weeks.

It’s only got 34500 miles on the clock and I’ve done probably not even 300 miles in it since I’ve had it on the road. I bought the car from a well known car dealership, i dont know whether i should name the brand but its up there with the popular car manufacturers (its not mini or bmw). Ive got a 3 month used car warranty on it from this garage which runs out at the end of this month. Im taking it back to the garage tomorrow but i just know they are going to try to fob me off on this one, ive read about this fault and that the only repair is a new gearbox which can cost up to £1500! A friend of mine (mechanic) looked at it yesterday for me and said its defiantly the gearbox, input shaft problem?

I really just need some help on how i word my case when i arrive at the garage, i know they are going to say im imagining it or that the gearbox is noisy but has not yet failed and therefore not there problem. I was originally taking it back because a wheel bearing has started making noise and the bracket which hold the exhaust are broken! I only noticed this noise last week and it just seems to be getting louder and more noticeable (

Im so desperate and feeling rather heartbroken! I saved for so long for this car i cant believe this has happened, i can’t afford to fix this problem if they wont fix it uder warrenty i don’t know what il do

Any advice would be really appreciated

links to a couple of videos i took today of the horrible noise!

YouTube- BMW Mini Cooper 2003 R53 Gearbox noise /...

YouTube- BMW Mini Cooper 2003 R53 Gearbox noise /...

[redlinepete]

You must take your friend with you at all costs...He will back you up. Don't go on your own

[lori21]

I wish he would come with me but he cant come because he has work all week do you think if i go tomorrow and they try to feed me loads of rubbish i can go back on the weekend with him and let him demand they do something??

As far as the garage know right now they think im just going in tomorrow because of the wheel bearing problem, i haven’t rang them again to tell them of latest problem, figure il just drop it in when i get there! maybe its worth paying for an AA inspection? then at least il have it in writing from a reputable company that there is a fault what do you think?

[DaFlake]

Quote: Originally Posted by lori21 (original)

I wish he would come with me but he cant come because he has work all week do you think if i go tomorrow and they try to feed me loads of rubbish i can go back on the weekend with him and let him demand they do something??

Don't.... You have rights and if they promise you anything I highly recommend that you get it in writing with a signature on company letter head. You have a problem and they need to fix it so make them do it.

[redlinepete]

Tell them the problem tomorrow then if they are awkward go back with your friend on the weekend.Make a note of the time, the name of the person you talk to, put down the conversation on paper,as you remember it.DON'T LOSE YOUR COOL stay calm.

[hanoi]

My 2002 sounded just like this at that mileage and I'm sorry to say it needed a new gearbox. They replaced the clutch whilst it was out. I found a local specialist run by ex BMW mechanics who quoted half the dealer £ who then reduced their quote by 50%. They said it was BMW goodwill but I'm not really sure. I quoted all the bad stories about gearboxes on here.

[lori21]

Hi guys,

Took it back the dealership today and basically got told i was imagining things and that they couldnt hear anything whatsoever wrong with my car!!

Mechanics and the service manager went out in my car came back said there was nothing wrong with it. They also said they couldnt hear the bad wheel bearing even though it sounds like its about to snap off soon as you hit 40! The excuse was traffic was to busy to go fast in the car!!

I was so upset and at this point beyond being able to hold my nerve that i practically locked the guy in my car and made him listen to the gearbox noise! it sounds like a tractor or a sewing machine! Anyways he still denied there was any fault and said all gearboxes make noise and it sounded normal to him.

until he heard the engine squeaking abit he then said that was the thrust bearing and that they would replace it and change my wheel bearing. He said all they will do about the noise i was worried about was take it to a bmw dealership for them to assess. What do you think i should do? Should i let them take it? I have 3 months warrenty that runs out the end of this month and all im thinking right now is of course they dont want to replace a gearbox at £1000 + cost to them so will try get out of it anyway possible. And i cant help but think the if they take it to BMW they will just denie the fault anyway! So il be no better off (

Sorry if this makes no sense right now im just very sad, very tired and very stressed (

thankyou for all your help / advice

x

[DaFlake]

Bottom line is that it needs to be fixed as there is a clearly a problem. Tell them you don't care what they need to do to get it fixed, just get it done. Stick to your guns and you will be ok. I had to threaten to sue a dealership once to get them to act on it.

I do know that you have laws that protect you from things like this and you might be able to use them to your advantage.

[redlinepete]

If anything YOU take it to the Dealers for an assessment, Then you will know what's going on. Get a report on headed paper and show them.....

[Silverado]

Don't let them fob you off. I would agree that you should take it to a BMW/MINI specialist. See what you can get in writing.

I would also start investigating getting an independant report from an expert.

Well before the warranty period is up you should send a letter of complaint by recorded delivery to the garage and also cc. it to your local trading standards office. Make sure that you say that you've only done 300 miles etc and that the service manager said that they couldn't go too fast because of the traffic.

Get a copy of the warranty. Read it through and check that you comply with the notification terms.

Make notes now of the dates, times and names of people you have spoken to and seen at the garage.

[gleamz]

Hi,

How did you get on? Your car did sound like mine and my mechanic has confirmed it is the drive pinion in the gearbox.

http://www.mini2.com/forum/first-gen...ml#post3756552

Looks like it will be quite expensive to fix [ive been quoted £800+VAT as well as a possible £70 + VAT for a new radiator, as he informed me that they sometimes leak after being taken out and put back in].

Forgot to add, get the Trading Standards number off the internet and ring them, they will give you a case number and let you know the exact process that needs to be followed. Basically, it's down to the garage to either

a) Fix the problem free of charge
b) Supply you with a vehicle on a like-for-like basis [which would mean exact colour, spec, mileage and condition]
c) Offer a full refund and they take the car back


Lee

[p3cca]

Hi there and first off all sorry about your dilema, it sure takes the shine off the new car.

Im in the same predicament.

I collected the car on Friday and then said to the Mrs that Im sure the thrust bearing (clutch/gearbox area) is on its way out and is making a noise.

I then read your post and listened to the noise in the recording. Yeap I got the same thing.

I just contacted BMW MINI UK and emailed them the problems with the car. They are contacting the dealer who Im waiting to contact me back with a plan of action.

The worst of it is...

The car has bags of character and it brings a smile to my face whenever i drive it.

(apart from when I pay £1.51 per litre here in Hamburg... Ouch!!!)

Good luck and I would certainly send a letter off to trading standards. I certainley will be doing so as soon as i get the trading standards address.)

Keep us all informed as to how you get on and I wish you all the luck.

Dirty Rotten *******s!!!!!

[lori21]

The saga continues (

I Took my mini to mini dealership on Wednesday they said the noise i have is normal and common on cars of my age with my mileage! when i quizzed them about it being the imput shaft they then said that was what causes the noise but it was due to wear and wouldnt get any louder and it had not failed nor would it be likely to. antime soon I even mentioned this forum and said about the numerous other people with minis having the same noise and then needed a new gearbox soon afterwards! They just denied all knowledge and looked at me as if i was mental! I dont understand though i dont see why they would have any reason to lie its not like im trying to claim off them for any repair work

They did agree that there was a thrust bearing noise there yet when i sent the report from mini to the crappy garage i bought it from they rang me and said they would have my car in take the gearbox out and then have to allow the warrenty company to assess the thrust bearing, then if the warrentys engineer says its not a valid claim i have to pay for the cost of the work to take it out and put it back in! which im told isnt a quick job and will cost me at least 7 hours labour!

All this even though it was the service manager at the garage i bought it from who first said he can hear the thrust bearing noise and bmw backed this up to!

I know exactly whats going to happen now they will take it apart say it worn abit but not enough to be a valid warrenty claim so tough now pay up. After forking out 6k cash for a car i really cannot afford to pay out anymore

Im totally at my wits end. Ive gone from loving my car to feeling indifferent towards it, i no longer enjoy it, i look at it and think its just a burden around my neck a timebomb that in a few months is going to cost me a fortune just to keep on the road. I saved so hard to buy a mini, im absolutly gutted and dont know what to do im feeling so down and stressed over all this. I wish id saved my money and bought some old banger. im tempted to just cut my losses and sell the car, out of interest i asked how much Mini would give me for it they offered 5k Part ex or 4750 cash ( bit rubbish considering i paid 6k not even 3 months ago

I wish i had someone to take to the garage with me from the start of this, i just feel like ive been fobbed off left right and centre and now its to late for me to claim anything, even if i do go to strading stardards i dont have a leg to stand on because bmw have told the garage i bought it from that there nothing wrong with my car (

Lucy x

[DaFlake]

Sadly this is a risk that we take when we buy used. Since you can't afford an immediate fix I would recommend that you just drive it and enjoy it. I know of a few that make that noise and have been going strong for a few years now.

or

You could let them rip into it and take the risk of having to pay a lot more. It is a 7 hour job (easy) so they aren't lying to you there...

[Clutch Cargo]

My 2003 that I got new, and have never raced nor abused, and that only has 60,000 miles on it, has just had its reverse gear, reverse throwout bearing, clutch, and main shaft bearings replaced. $3300 USD. I think these otherwise fine machines have duff gearboxes. Get the dealership to honor the warranty, or begin legal proceedings, period.