Mini is a LEMON

[rihock]

All,

My Mini has been at the dealership for nearly 3 weeks without hope of it being fixed.

The car is a 2005 Mini S that I bought in December and only has about 2500 miles on it.

It started with the break lights staying on while the car was turned off. Nothing short of detaching the battery would fix the problem. I dropped it at the Mini dealer and asked them to fix it.

At first they thought it was the BC1 control module as Mini has released a service bulletin on this (yes, your BC1 will fail). They replaced it and no dice.

The dealer then did some checking and decided to open a 'puma' case. A puma case is a special service call to Mini engineers when the dealer encounters a difficult issue. This was a week and a half ago.

The engineers have basically tried to replace everything but the tires to no avail. The break lights still come on. They are now attempting to trace wires on the harness to look for a broken, nicked, or scratched wire that might be shorting out the system. The dealer has had to take the entire interior of the car out in order to work on this.

While I appreciate his effort, I'm not sure I'll be able to trust the car any longer and will be selling it immediately when (or if) it is returned. In fact, I'll be filing the Lemon Law paperwork for Florida where I bought it today or tomorrow to seek arbitration or a return of my money.

This is the third Mini I have owned. I currently have a cabrio and the broken one. I'll never by another Mini again as I think the quality is going down as compared to the 2002 I owned.

I'm shocked and dismayed by their inability to fix the car, a lack of able customer service (calling the 800 number for Mini is a joke- they offered to call the dealer for me? To what end? Its not like they're unaware of the issue, you twits.)

I'm disappointed at my experience and just wanted to share it with others- be careful - the Mini WAS a great car, now its just another mass produced low quality vehicle...

[SweetReverie]

oh wow. i'm sorry you feel that way. i've had my MINI since october 2005, and it's an '05 MC. i haven't had any problems or issues with it, and the service i get from 2 dealers near me are amazing.

i hope that they can resolve the issues you have.

[BITSI'S MOM]

Still have problems with my MINI S. The following is a little background which I had posted on the forum previously.

June 22, 2005 - Ordered "Bitsi" in February and brought her home in May. Since then she has been back to the dealer twice, and is currently there. It seems she is having a similar problem as many in this thread; however, most of these postings are on earlier models. Has anyone had this problem on a new MINI? "Bitsi" is an S, Automatic with Steptronics. Being a woman, I am not familiar with all the technical aspects of a car, I just know something is wrong. As others have posted, I am experiencing stalling at red lights, generally the one right next to where I work. It is like I pull onto the highway, stop at the red light, and my car stalls. It begins a sort of vibration, then when I try to accelerate, I cannot exceed 10 MPH. Most recently, she died as I was backing from my garage. I can see this happening with a manual shift, but not an automatic. I live in a small town and am one of maybe four MINI owners, (not to mention all the anticipation and the whole town knowing I was waiting for my car), it is very embarrassing that I am driving a rental car. I have had my car less than two months and twice already a tow truck has had to come to my work and carry it to the dealer. I am also about 200 miles from the closest dealer so it has really been an inconvenience for all. I must admit the dealer has been fairly good in helping us get "Bitsi" to them. I am just extremely frustrated and my husband is wishing I had never talked him into a MINI. I was just wondering if anyone might be experiencing the same thing, and if so what should I do? The dealer says they have never seen this before, but that is kind of hard to believe after reading all the postings on this thread. PLEASE HELP!


June 23, 2005 - Please do not get me started on the dealer! You could not have asked for nicer people until the sale was final. The first time we sent "Bitsi" back it was not too bad, that is aside from no one ever returning our phone calls.

I had only had her two weeks and I was not going to make another three hour trip due to a problem that was not my fault. They agreed to send out Road Side Service and they took her in. However, they wanted us to pick her up. I refused. She was then driven back down to me by the dealership.

I began having the same problem again within two weeks. After calling the dealer, they told me that if the problem continued they would bring me a MC as a loaner while they serviced my car. I did not stall again at all the following week, so the dealer said that it would probably work itself out. I made them agree to still providing me with a car in the event that the problem reoccurred sometime later.

Well, now it is later. I called the dealer Friday before last and tried to arrange a time for them to pick up "Bitsi." I was told that they would not have any cars to lend me for another week and a half. As my car was coming to a dead stop about once a week during rush-hour traffic, I felt unsafe. I told them I was not driving my car this way one more day! At that they agreed to provide me with a rental car in which they would foot the bill up to $40 a day. My car was taken back to the dealer on the following Monday. After numerous attempts on my behalf, someone finally returned my call on Thursday. They were just getting to my car that day because they has MINI's "backed-up," which was not a good sign to me. I was told on Friday that my car was complete but that there was no one to return it to me until Monday. So I scratched my weekend plans and waited.

Now Monday has come and gone and no "Bitsi." Evidently, the service department is short-handed and there is still no one to drive my car home. Hey, at least they called this time and said I would have her Tuesday morning or early afternoon. Tuesday came and went and not a word from the dealer, so I was on the phone again.

This morning I finally talked with someone. I have been working with three separate individuals, who apparently do not communicate very well, but that is another story! This gentleman told me they have tried everything and there is just no way they can get my car back to me until Saturday. After having a small stroke, I informed him that that was UNACCEPTABLE! Then he proceeded to tell me, "Here is what we will do. We will pay for five days of your rental car." I went into orbit!!!! He said he would see what he could do and call me back. In the mean time I had called Road Side Assistance on my own to see if they would be able to pick up my car. The answer was "Yes," for a nice fee. It made me no difference. If my dealer could not find a way to get my car home, I would, and they would be receiving the bill. I was so ready for him to call me back!

As it turns out, they will be paying for the entire ELEVEN days I have had to drive this heap of crap! And the have promised I will have "Bitsi" back in the AM. The installed new software and ran two "maps" on her. I have no idea what any of that means, I just hope it works. I have been checking in to my state's Lemon Law. I hope that it doesn't come to that. Keep your fingers crossed.

July 7, 2005 - No problems until today, then I began researching the forums again and ran accross this thread. It appears the same thing is happening again and I am afraid to tell my husband. He thinks I should get rid of the car, but I waited so long to get it and I really do love it when it works. Not sure what I should do know. I think I will look into the Texas Lemon Law a little more. I understand that there are procedures to this, but I am afraid I might need to get the ball rolling. Any advise from anyone would be an assett to me. Thanks for listening!

[deweyrocko]

I have had my 2005 Mini Cooper S Auto/Steptronic for 2 months and 2,000 miles. 2 times my car has experienced the same problem as yours has had . It is currently at the dealership where it has been for nine days now. It was in for five days the first time. I am now awaiting parts. The first "software fix" did not fix the problem. It chugs then stalls then will only go only a maximum of 10 mph. Mine was also towed from my office for all to see. My dealer, however, is great about providing me with a rental car with no hassle. However, I researched the loaner car issue before purchase. My dealer provides a loaner car to every service customer as long as you originally bought your Mini there.

[mini motoring]

[quote=BITSI'S MOM]Still have problems with my MINI S. The following is a little background which I had posted on the forum previously.

June 22, 2005 - Ordered "Bitsi" in February and brought her home in May. Since then she has been back to the dealer twice, and is currently there. It seems she is having a similar problem as many in this thread; however, most of these postings are on earlier models. Has anyone had this problem on a new MINI? "Bitsi" is an S, Automatic with Steptronics. Being a woman, I am not familiar with all the technical aspects of a car, I just know something is wrong. As others have posted, I am experiencing stalling at red lights, generally the one right next to where I work. It is like I pull onto the highway, stop at the red light, and my car stalls. It begins a sort of vibration, then when I try to accelerate, I cannot exceed 10 MPH. Most recently, she died as I was backing from my garage. I can see this happening with a manual shift, but not an automatic. I live in a small town and am one of maybe four MINI owners, (not to mention all the anticipation and the whole town knowing I was waiting for my car), it is very embarrassing that I am driving a rental car. I have had my car less than two months and twice already a tow truck has had to come to my work and carry it to the dealer. I am also about 200 miles from the closest dealer so it has really been an inconvenience for all. I must admit the dealer has been fairly good in helping us get "Bitsi" to them. I am just extremely frustrated and my husband is wishing I had never talked him into a MINI. I was just wondering if anyone might be experiencing the same thing, and if so what should I do? The dealer says they have never seen this before, but that is kind of hard to believe after reading all the postings on this thread. PLEASE HELP!


Hello
You did not say that any of the warning red / yellow lights are coming on when this problem happens. A little more info like that if you can , but don't give up hope and tell your hubby to beat it about selling ickle bitsi

[BITSI'S MOM]

[quote=mini motoring]

Quote: Originally Posted by BITSI'S MOM

Still have problems with my MINI S.

The only light that comes on os the "Service Engine Soon." It stays on for a little while, even if I am in and out of my car. Then it eventually resets itself, sometimes tkaing over night. The first time that I sent it to the dealer it was perfectly fine by the time it arrived. No lights, No problems.
My husband is taking Bitsi back to Dallas tomorrow for another software upgade. We will see how that goes.

Hello
You did not say that any of the warning red / yellow lights are coming on when this problem happens. A little more info like that if you can , but don't give up hope and tell your hubby to beat it about selling ickle bitsi