my mini is a lemon

[lyndahayes]

I bought, from new at my mini dealership in Northampton, a lovely mini cooper with an automatic transmission. I got it after a 4 month wait last September (2002). In the seven months I have had it, I have had to have the steering column replaced, problems with the airbags, the automatic transmission replaced (after 3000 miles, it would not go into any gear at all... just sat and spluttered),and as I write this, I am in another rental waiting for the steernig to be fixed again. Last Thursday, I wanted to turn left and my mini veered like a bad shopping cart and wouldnt make the turn. The noise from the steering was like a loud siren and the steering wheel juddered. I was wondering, am I the only one with such problems,or are they all like this and people are just being forgiving because they are so sweet looking? I have seen my mini on the back of a tow truck 4 times now.. Mini have suggested it might be time to try another brand new one, but I am worried they are all the same.

[Mini Mims]

I wouldn't worry. They're not all lemons. I would never be that forgiving of a vehicle just because "it looks cool" and drives fun. Not after spending as much time and money as I have in it.

If the dealer is offering up a new vehicle in replacement, I would probably take them up on it. It sounds like yours is starting to sour.

Just my 3 cents.

Mims

[cooper4us]

We have a 2002 Cooper CVT (Early August 2002 build) with 5,600 troublefree miles and ZERO problems.

Solid and tight as a drum.


Sorry to hear about your problems and hope that BMW/MINI do the right thing and perhaps replace your car with a new recent build MINI.

[Cape Cod MINI]

You got a lemon, most of us got lemonade!
For me it's been 16,000 plus miles of bliss in 7 months.
Reject the one you have and get another one.
Sorry to hear of your troubles, but most of us have fantastic cars and you deserve to have the same.

[KTC]

So sorry to hear about your problems! I can relate. I had a fuel line problem with mine the first week but once they replaced the right part (after 3 tries--I think I got a "lemon" dealer it's been fine. If they're offering a new one, take it. They are wonderful and definitely worth the effort. Best of luck!

[dinlo]

I'm sorry to hear all the problems. I totally understand what you feel. I love my car to death. A little tiny problem will make me so uncomfortable.

But I wish you all my luck

[Altern8]

I took delivery of a Cooper in September 01 and had all the usual problems.

After 4 months of trips to the dealer they offered me a replacement vehicle.

I took delivery in March 02 and guess what? Yup, exactly the same problems.

The dealer was then really suprised (and offended!) when I refused to allow them to (try and) fix it and demanded a full cash refund.

They did get relent eventually though and paid up. I am now a very happy EX- MINI owner.

I don't think all MINIs are bad, but from the volume of assorted faults posts on this board their QA/QC processes seem to be absolutely non-existant.

A8.

[cooper4us]

Really? Sorry you had a bad experience, but there is an overwhelming and silent majority of MINI owners with very reliable and dependable cars outhere (Including myself).

Only people with problems/complaints tend to post more in these boards. Those who are happy or have no issues to report don't have the need to come here and say..."Gee, you know what...my car worked today, yipee!!!!"

Your second March '02 build replacement was still an early build car. Recent builds are indeed much better and steadely improving.

[TheBlackKnight]

Under the law I believe you have the right to ask for a full refund or replacement vehicle on the grounds that "the goods are not fit for the purpose they were sold for". In other words, the car doesn't work properly, for whatever reason.

I work in a law firm and that's what they told me!

I got my Cooper in Sept '01 and I had numerous problems with it - but it's all been sorted and I'm pleased to say I'm a happy chappy now.

[here2help]

My advice would be to Go for a new one..

The new 2003 models are a better quality car as a rule....
They also now have gloveboxes(uk specs)and a second remote key not to mention brake pad warning light sensors.
Perforated steering wheels are now standard on cooper s's and a £20 cost option on mini one.. if you get a cooper with a chilli pack its a no cost option also.

Steptronic steering wheel paddles are now a cost option on cars with the CVT transmission.Cost option is £50

Chrome line exterior is now available on the cooper s which also now includes DOOR MIRROR COVERS.

New options on all three modles from march:-
Top tint windscreen £50
Chromed dorr mirror caps £20

Wood effect trim:-
The wood trims just cover the dash facia and gear knob only-not the door rings and door pockets which remain in silver.

The general build quality now is the best it has been with less squeaks and rattles than before due to things like the rear catch now having a new chrome striker,better seat tilt mechanism,to name but a few.

Go on treat yourself to a new mini...there brilliant!

[cooper4us]

Thanks, here2help. Now more than ever I am looking forward to my 2004 Cooper 'S'.

[lyndahayes]

Wow, now all I have to do is hope that Mini will indeed give me a new one. I had no idea the spec had changed so much since mine was built, only 10 months ago! Thanks! Lynda

[hlellelid]

Do other people with the CVT notice that it does not coast at low speeds? Is this a "feature"? Very uncomfortable to drive in slow traffic.

-HL

[Tronboy]

Don't get too excited... Buy something else... I don't know what, but something else.. I cannot believe that the people on this forum have reliable MINIs... They can't use them. Judging by the number of low mileage used MINIs there are out there, I can only assume that most are mainly just looked at, rather than driven. I firmly believe that there is a lot of the Emperor's New Clothes syndrome with MINI owners. They simply will not admit to outsiders that their car is crap. Read on.......

My first MINI, a Y-reg MINI One was a dealer demonstrator model. I bought it at 6 months old, and loved it.... for a while.

It handled beautifully, was a real head-turner (don't forget this was a much-awaited and hyped replacement for an icon...) and the service and courtesy I experienced from my local MINI dealer was superb. Just as well, as we became regular acquaintances...

I covered 30,000 miles in my first MINI, plagued by minor niggles, and a spirited but rattly ride. More rattles than my 1983 Citroen 2CV. The car had already had its infamous fuel filler recall, but soon it was to suffer:
Front Subframe Recall
Gearlever Knob fractured
Paint peeling off towing eye covers
Driver's seat fabric puckering
Windscreen seal detached from top of screen.... Windscreen and seal replaced
Foam gauze behind air intakes disintegrated
CD player replaced, would pick up engine noise at speed
Air-con and window automation fault
Electrics recall: Water could enter A-pillar and cause electrical failure.
Airbag warning light fault
Gear Knob no.2 cracked
Handbrake recall
Underbonnet insulation recall.... Not fireproof?
Paint peeling off steering wheel boss
Noisy Air-con. Gurgling whilst in operation

OK, so none of these are life- threatening , unlike other owners' experiences of failing power steering, ABS and extinguishing headlights, but annoying nonetheless.

A superb trade-in value after 37,000 miles persuaded me to change for a new '03 reg MINI One. Slower, noisier than the first car, but with the added "improved build quality" promised by the dealer and cited by others on this forum. Little more than a glovebox cover and marginally fewer rattles.

Within days, the boot lock failed and it became increasingly difficult to engage reverse. One new gearbox later, the car was barely improved. Remote linkage changed. Still the car was balking to get into reverse. I'm a high mileage driver. In 3 months I had covered 7k miles, so I felt rejection of the car would not have been simple. I felt so downhearted that rather than have a confrontation with my friendly BMW dealer, I would ditch the car and walk away from the brand. It will take a damned good salesman to get me back into one.

Good luck.

[deirdre]

I'm very sad to say that my 2003 MINI is a lemon, too. I'm not looking forward to sorting out how to return it. My dealership has been less accommodating than some others described here.

Here's what I've experienced: After a 4 month wait, I took delivery of my MINI Cooper in October 2002. I experienced two problems immediately. One was that it was nearly impossible to turn the wheel, the other more dangerous problem was that it jittered and stuck in gear at low speed, and after about 200 miles, began to bunny hop when pulling away from a stop. This culminated in its stalling completely when pulling away from red lights. The engine would simply die as I started to drive. This happened in Drive and Sport Drive modes. It was very nervewracking to have the driver behind me anticipating my picking up speed while I coasted to a stop and they ran up to my bumper. The engine would also buck violently while waiting at lights sometimes. I brought it to service after just a couple of weeks. They said they updated the CVT software but I noticed no change. Then I brought it in for another service after a few more weeks. They said that the steering problem was due to a faulty pump, which they replaced. They also said they updated the transmission. The car drove the same. Then I got a recall notice saying that it had been filled with the wrong transmission fluid (wrong viscosity) at the factory. I brought it back to have that service done (alarmed at what that might have done to my car longterm since I'd driven 6000 miles by then). Again, I told them about my concern about bunnyhopping and stalling. They said they'd look into it. Well, as of last week, it has started stalling out (twice so far) while I am driving at speeds of 15 - 20 MPH in rush hour traffic. The car just suddenly dies and I have to find a way to coast off the road and park and restart then pull back into highway traffic. As cute as my car is, I've HAD IT. I don't think they make enough automatic models to know what they're doing, and I am sick of being endangered. I shouldn't have to think about whether I will be taking a route where I will be safe when my engine dies every time I decide to drive somewhere. Anyway, sorry to others who've had frustrating experiences. I hear you. And I'm happy for others who've had good ones. I'd love for my cute car to have worked out, but it definitely hasn't. I've never felt so unsafe.