Engine blown, BMW/MINI wont replace it

[fj0]

I'm driving home, took the exit off the highway, all of the sudden I hear this clunk noise, when I have the throttle at like 10%, I push harder to see if it's still there, no, it isn't. I shift to the next gear(3rd) and the same sound, oh well, I have 500m home so I drive carefully and park the car, then I call MINI Road assistance. They sent a flatbed and then a service car with a mechanic. He proceeds to look at the car and trying to listen where it's coming from, after a while he says he thinks it's the oilpump, alright then, check the oil.

Checks oil, wow, no oil, well, let it cool down maybe it will show more. Cools down, still, no oil. Ok, add oil. He adds oil, not enough, add a little more, repeat 2-3times then we see oil on the stick. Start it up, try again, sound is still there, oh well, flatbed it to the dealer, friday evening. They start looking at it today, Monday and I call them about 2pm and they go like, yeah, they looked at it, seems like the engine is gone. I go oh well then, it's warranty, right. He proceeds telling me that they aren't going to replace it, they tried with goodwill but it didn't get accepted. By now I am like :wtf:.

I shout a little, then proceed to tell him I'll have my brother call him back, my brother calls our salesman, he says he will look into it and call him back, he calls him back and tells him that he will see with his boss. About 30mins ago he calls and his boss said no, they are not going to replace the engine.

So, by now you guys are thinking, wtf. you should've checked the oil.

Well;

1. No oil light was on, ever. Obviously when the mechanic came to the scene in the end he wired his computer to the car and did some diagnostics stuff, then he took a multimeter and started checking the fuses, apparently, the fuse that holds the oil light was broken. OF COURSE EVERY OTHER F<sp>UCKING LIGHT WORKED!@#

2. The car said there was 9000 kilometers to the next oilservice.

3. The car was in for a change of several engine parts, transmission and a clutch about 1-2months ago.(Did they take out the oil? And then put too little back in?)

I mean, everything was done as it should have, the car has gone a total of 26000 kilometers and I've driven about 7000 of those, so, 7000km ago, the oil was changed, at BMW.

I am so fu<sp>cking ****ed, if I wanted problems I'd buy a 10year old car with no history, not a new one with all services made from the dealer.


Mini Cooper S 2003

[LMB]

I wouldn't accept that.......no way.

[lightbody]

There is no 'oil light' - the only thing is an oil pressure light - and if that light comes on then you've probably already done damage.

I think the handbook says to check the oil every time you fill up with fuel?

My previous Mini used a lot of oil in the first 10,000 miles and then hardly used any at all... i kept an eye on it frequently. My current one (September 04) even came with a free bottle of oil so they must expect it to need topping up frequently.

[Cooper76]

Checking or no checking, they can't expect people to check at every fueling. There was definitely a defect for all of it to run out on you as there is no way BMW engineered that trait into the car. Who the hell would?!

I would keep fighting.

[fj0]

Quote: Originally Posted by LMB

I wouldn't accept that.......no way.

Don't worry, I wont. I'll make some phonecalls tomorrow, I will do everything I can.

Quote: Originally Posted by lightbody

There is no 'oil light' - the only thing is an oil pressure light - and if that light comes on then you've probably already done damage.

I think the handbook says to check the oil every time you fill up with fuel?

My previous Mini used a lot of oil in the first 10,000 miles and then hardly used any at all... i kept an eye on it frequently. My current one (September 04) even came with a free bottle of oil so they must expect it to need topping up frequently.

When you start the car it tells you how much there is left to the next oilservice, it adapts to your driving type and for it to be 9000km off, something has to be wrong...

[Iamamini]

...I am very sry to hear this. It even made me check my oil a few min ago because I will need oil service in a few weeks. It was ok from what I could see. I have heard some disapointed people when it comes to Solna regarding service, I will never let them do it. I had a friend who bought a motor cycle from Solna and they behaved like idiots when he had an accident with it and let them fix the damage, they never did and he was furious. In the end after many months he got his money back, so do not give up! I hope it will be ok in the end but prepare for a fight!

PS I have read on coopersweden about you and your car, that is why I know about your car DS
/Staffan

[fj0]

Quote: Originally Posted by Iamamini

...I am very sry to hear this. It even made me check my oil a few min ago because I will need oil service in a few weeks. It was ok from what I could see. I have heard some disapointed people when it comes to Solna regarding service, I will never let them do it. I had a friend who bought a motor cycle from Solna and they behaved like idiots when he had an accident with it and let them fix the damage, they never did and he was furious. In the end after many months he got his money back, so do not give up! I hope it will be ok in the end but prepare for a fight!

PS I have read on coopersweden about you and your car, that is why I know about your car DS
/Staffan

Thanks Staffan.

Yes, well, that was the last time I'm going to Solna and I will from now on discourage anyone and tell them my story, I'm sure they will be scared far away from Solna.

I'm having a friend who knows the guys over at Borgs bil to ask them about my case, and see if they might be able to help me out.

[cooper_s_flyer]

...strikes fear straight into the heart of even the most die-hard Mini fan...or owner.

Their answer is unacceptable. They must help. It is inconceivable to me that the exact warning light you needed was inoperative at a crucial moment. Very inopportune indeed.

Keep pressing them for a more equitable solution...

Best of luck.

[Iamamini]

..they can help you and find some kind of solution to this problem. I am not saying that you have done something wrong but IF that is the case, I think they will come up with a decent proposal and help you out. And one thing is for sure, I have to check if that lamp is working!
If it had worked, it would of course be visible that u had very low oil pressure and this would never have happened. One more thing: u said u had the car fixed some time ago. I am thinking why did they not check that lamp at that time? I mean, it is very important that is works! I think they have made a mistake here, but I guess they can always say "We did that, it must have broken recently". This is crap...

[Johnny L]

Hafter agree with Cooper76 and Cooper_S_flyer: This is about as bogus as it gets. This car is designed to go a long time between oil changes, so I ain't buyin' their explanation.

It seems to me that the coroporate standard of care is now "We couldn't care less." I think big companies figure that most people won't put in the effort to fight an executive decision, which, unfortunately, is probably true.

I say keep fighting it; eventually, as Lamamini points out, they need to find some sort of solution. BMW/MINI are probably just testing you to see how far you're willing to go--perhapes to point of obtaining the help of a legal professional, which you might need to do. What's an engine replacement? About $6,000?

Go get 'em!

[fj0]

Thank you all!

I will keep you up to date.

[LMB]

Quote: Originally Posted by fj0

Thank you all!

I will keep you up to date.

Best of luck.

How much do you want to bet everyone will go check their oil in the morning.

[Babes]

Ive never once had to top my oil up in 36000Kms. Obviously have had it changed at service intervals but nevr had to top up myself. My dealer provides a free pit stop service, if you are in the area you can just call in and they will check all fluid levels, tyre pressures etc while you sit and have a coffee. If it does need anything it is topped up free of charge.

Sounds like your dealer is a right ******, sorry to hear of your dramas

[KPKalle]

Quote: Originally Posted by LMB

Best of luck.

How much do you want to bet everyone will go check their oil in the morning.

You bet! That same dealer just did my first oil service a few weeks ago

[cooper_s_flyer]

Quote: Originally Posted by LMB

Best of luck.

How much do you want to bet everyone will go check their oil in the morning.

...check mine immediately after reading this thread (earlier) and signing off Mini2. It was down 2/3 of a quart. To me... that is alot. I topped it off with German Castrol 5w30w synth. and must have checked the stick at least 3 or 4 times (yeah, just a little O.C.). I pray all is well now beneath Flyer's bonnet, at least with respect to oil level.

Can't wait to put M1 - 0w40w in it the next oil change...Its been predicted that we will have more than our fair share of 100 deg. F(+) days in south central Texas this summer.

Excellent call on the "oil check hysteria" LMB..., at least with respect to myself !