MCS Convertible Roof cable Snapped & Rear Glass Scratched!

[voyager7]

Hi Y'all, I had my Oct 2004 MCS Convertible roof replaced last year because of a shattered rear windscreen, funded 75% by BMW and the rest by me (after kicking up a stink with BMW HQ that it was a known problem). This week, I pressed the roof open button and the passenger side slid back but the driver's side refused to budge. On closer inspection of the rear side glass I noticed both sides had several deep crescent shaped scratches, apparently caused in some way by the roof mechanism. I immediately looked at this site to see if any other owners had experienced similar issues and the answer seemed to be from other owners that the cable had snapped. I went along to Cooper BMW to see what they had to say, but they said all the technicians were busy and they would look at it the next day if I dropped it off beween 8.30am and 9.30 am. On collection I was told that it was indeed the cable that had snapped and it would cost £670.00 to repair and the glass would be an extra £530.00, a total bill of £1200.00!! To add insult to injury I then had to pay £74.00 for their 50 minutes to diagnose the problem!

I would like to approach BMW again about another goodwill contribution as the car has only done 30K and it does appear that both problems are again, known faults and I am livid about the £74.00 charged to confirm what I already suspected! I assumed a technician would simply come out and have a quick look and say "Yes, it's the cable" (How many other things could it have possibly been?) and at no point did the service manager mention there would be any cost for having a look at the car until she presented me with the bill!

Has anyone successfully persuaded BMW for a Goodwill Contribution for either the snapped cable or the scratched glass? (Does anyone know what causes the scratches on the glass?) I only noticed the scratches since the roof was replaced September 2008. Does anyone know if there was a memo number circulated to the BMW Service depts about these 2 issues (like the one for the shattering rear windsreen) indicating that BMW was aware it is an inherent fault.

Failing all else, has anyone successfully replaced the cable themselves and is it a difficult job?

Thanks in advance!

[Geoff & Gill]

Our Mini is September 2004 and had the same roof cable problem. We are regular customers of Dick Lovett in Hungerford (with my BMW too). They looked at it at 8am in the morning (don't open until 8.30) for no charge and suggested the cable. They ordered in all the parts it could be (sale or return) and booked the car in at a time convenient to me. Car has only done 28k and is in really good nick. It is also on the third roof cover (which is nothing to do with the cable), both of which BMW paid for under warranty.
Dick Lovett got BMW to pay for the parts and 50% labour cost which gave me a bill of £105.
I know all circumstances are different but this shows that BMW are mindful of the problem.
Good luck.
Geoff

[voyager7]

Quote: Originally Posted by Geoff & Gill (original)

Our Mini is September 2004 and had the same roof cable problem. We are regular customers of Dick Lovett in Hungerford (with my BMW too). They looked at it at 8am in the morning (don't open until 8.30) for no charge and suggested the cable. They ordered in all the parts it could be (sale or return) and booked the car in at a time convenient to me. Car has only done 28k and is in really good nick. It is also on the third roof cover (which is nothing to do with the cable), both of which BMW paid for under warranty.
Dick Lovett got BMW to pay for the parts and 50% labour cost which gave me a bill of £105.
I know all circumstances are different but this shows that BMW are mindful of the problem.
Good luck.
Geoff

Thanks for the info Geoff, and for confirming it appears to be a known problem.(apparently lots of 2004 models) I have just written to BMW/Mini Customer service to ask for a "Goodwill Contribution", I will report back when they have replied. May I ask if the work on your car was done recently and did you have the side window scratches issue? What happened for you to have 3 roofs?!!

Cheers!

[Annika]

I've read about the side glass problem too - as my 2005 MCSC has the same problem

[bensidewalker]

voyager - good luck with that! I've got to the conclusion that I'm gonna use my roof as much as possible whilst it's under warranty (it's an October '07 build Sidewalk which I got new) in case something goes wrong with it! I love the sun anyway, so any opportunity is taken!

[Geoff & Gill]

We've not had a scratched side window. The three roofs were; the one it came with that became very marked where it folds behind the rear window (white marks) after about 18 months. Roof number 2 had the same problem at around the same time - but nowhere near as bad. Roof number three is on now. It is 18 months old and seems fine.
BMW were brilliant. Changed each time without a discussion. I paid £20 towards the current roof so get the benefit of a 2 year warranty on it.

[voyager7]

Quote: Originally Posted by Geoff & Gill (original)

We've not had a scratched side window. The three roofs were; the one it came with that became very marked where it folds behind the rear window (white marks) after about 18 months. Roof number 2 had the same problem at around the same time - but nowhere near as bad. Roof number three is on now. It is 18 months old and seems fine.
BMW were brilliant. Changed each time without a discussion. I paid £20 towards the current roof so get the benefit of a 2 year warranty on it.

Hi Geoff,

Thanks again for the reply. Did you approach BMW/Mini Customer Service directly about the Goodwill contribution for the broken roof cable or did Dick Lovett dealership suggest/claim on your behalf to BMW assuming it was out of warranty? Was the cable replaced recently? Also, can you elaborate on the £20 towards the roof for the benefit of a 2 yr warranty? I would be really interested in that, if an additional 2 yrs warranty was only £20!!

Cheers

[Geoff & Gill]

Dick Lovett spoke with BMW for the second and third roof and the cable (which was replaced last Thursday!). BMW phoned me on the second roof and explained that if they met the full cost, the warranty on the roof would expire when the car warranty expired - (which was about a week later!) but if made a contribution then the part would have a two year warranty. Pretty fair of them to point it out in my view.
Sorry to disappoint those that were hoping for a full car two year warranty!
My experience has been that by being reasonable and thankful they have been very fair with me. I'm sure it does help having a good dealer to ask the question too. I cannot speak highly enough of the people in Hungerford.
Good luck.
Geoff

[rellik666]

Quote: Originally Posted by bensidewalker (original)

voyager - good luck with that! I've got to the conclusion that I'm gonna use my roof as much as possible whilst it's under warranty (it's an October '07 build Sidewalk which I got new) in case something goes wrong with it! I love the sun anyway, so any opportunity is taken!

Same here!

[voyager7]

Quote: Originally Posted by Geoff & Gill (original)

Dick Lovett spoke with BMW for the second and third roof and the cable (which was replaced last Thursday!). BMW phoned me on the second roof and explained that if they met the full cost, the warranty on the roof would expire when the car warranty expired - (which was about a week later!) but if made a contribution then the part would have a two year warranty. Pretty fair of them to point it out in my view.
Sorry to disappoint those that were hoping for a full car two year warranty!
My experience has been that by being reasonable and thankful they have been very fair with me. I'm sure it does help having a good dealer to ask the question too. I cannot speak highly enough of the people in Hungerford.
Good luck.
Geoff

Hi Geoff, Thanks again for the reply. When my roof was replaced last October for the "Rear Window Shattering" fault, (approx 1 yr out of warranty) I made a £100 contribution, the rest was paid by BMW after some negotiating. Does that mean in my case, that as I made a contribution (same as you did) that the roof cable will also be covered under the extra 2 yrs warranty (as it appears yours has been)The only difference seems to be that you made a contribution to having a new roof fitted a week before your standard 3 yr warranty ran out, and my roof was replaced appox a year after the standard 3 yr warranty expired. I am still waiting for a reply (4 days so far) from Mini CS to see what they will offer, but my rude BMW dealership service manager insisted as it was a seperate roof fault (ie, not an exploding rear window!!) then BMW will charge for the replacement cable.

This problem seems to be getting more and more documented by other owners with the same issue on this forum every time I log on!!

[tofto]

Hi All

I thought I'd let you know my current situation seeing as it's relevant. My Mini is an MCS convertible built 12/2004, and the cable snapped recently.

I was charged the £75 to diagnose the problem and eventually explained that it would cost £1,796.50 to repair. As you can imagine I fell off my seat and asked whether BMW would contribute anything as a good will gesture. The dealership have since advised me that they have asked for a contribution from BMW however the request was rejected.

The dealership has asked me to bring the car back up to them to see whether they can provide some sort of repair on the roof, so I'll let you know how that goes.

I'm now left wondering what on earth I should do if they can't repair it, as I have a wedding to pay for in September, and can therefore not afford to pay for it!

[voyager7]

Quote: Originally Posted by tofto (original)

Hi All

I thought I'd let you know my current situation seeing as it's relevant. My Mini is an MCS convertible built 12/2004, and the cable snapped recently.

I was charged the £75 to diagnose the problem and eventually explained that it would cost £1,796.50 to repair. As you can imagine I fell off my seat and asked whether BMW would contribute anything as a good will gesture. The dealership have since advised me that they have asked for a contribution from BMW however the request was rejected.

The dealership has asked me to bring the car back up to them to see whether they can provide some sort of repair on the roof, so I'll let you know how that goes.

I'm now left wondering what on earth I should do if they can't repair it, as I have a wedding to pay for in September, and can therefore not afford to pay for it!

Hi Mate,

Send off a complaint of your own, to: customer.service@mini.co.uk independently of the Dealership. Only by individually sending off emails to BMW will they realise the scale of the problem. It does not matter that you did not buy the car from a dealership. (mine was bought privately on the 4th owner!) If Mini will not play ball, I will quite happliy write to BBC's Watchdog and report the problem and I am sure Mini will not want more bad press like the item they recently had on that program about the Mini power steering pump seizing up and causing almost fatal accidents. I am also sure all the people suffering from what is obviously a manufacturing defect, not an isolated incident, will want to back me up on this course of action if need be!

[Geoff & Gill]

I would ask the dealer to give you the name and phone number of the person at BMW who turned your claim down. Speak to them very politely and explain that you know there has been a problem which is quite possibly a manufacturing defect and ask them why they would not make a contribution.
The problem with e-mail is that the person reading it can read it differently from the way the writer intended.
How well do you know the dealership? How strong a case did they put for you?
I am sure that a gentle conversation with the decision maker will get it sorted.
Good luck.

[tofto]

Hi All

I thought I would provide people with an update on my situation, as I think some of you may find it of interest in your own problems.

Having almost died of a heart attack after being quoted £1,796.50 to have my roof fixed, I complained to the service manager, and told them it was completely unacceptable. I was particularly derogatory about their servicing, their attitude and the quality of the product. Correspondence went back and forth, and he suggested to me that he had asked BMW/Mini for a good will gesture, but they had said they were unwilling, as the car was over 3 years old, and I was not the original owner.

Two weeks later (having calmed down significantly from my initial rage) I got in touch with him again and explained that I knew of almost 30 other people who had suffered the same problems with the 2004 registered convertibles, and that I could provide him with a list, so it should serve to prove that it is a fault with the design. I also advised him that many people in my position had their dealerships contact BMW/Mini, and that many had been offered good will, some as much as having all parts paid for, plus 50% of the labour. The service manager came back to me (appreciating that I was frustrated, but much calmer) and said to bring the vehicle back in and he would see if they could repair it. He'd then contact BMW/Mini again with this new information and try to "squeeze their purse strings". He also said that ultimately if BMW/Mini were unwilling to give any good will, that he could discount the labour charge, which he would be willing to do.

Well, I took the car in yesterday, and picked it up after work. They confirmed that they had checked everything required and had lodged a good will request with BMW/Mini, and that they would expect to be able to confirm the position by lunch time today........

So, I received a call about half hour ago saying that BMW/Mini would be willing to make a good will gesture by paying for 100% of the parts required, and I would therefore just have to pay for the labour, totalling £297.

Job done. Totally thrilled at the outcome, and amazed (seeing the weather we're having) that I'll actually get to use my convertible roof this summer!

Moral of the story??? Your dealership will, and should request good will from BMW/Mini, as it is obvious from the number of people who have had the problem, whom they have already offered good will to, that there is a design fault!!! Whatever you do, don't give up!

[PGORDON]

Tried to ope roof today and only the passenger side went to open. The runner looks as if it has dropped. I am interested in the 30 names tofto mentions to use as a stick for my dealer. The car is 4-6 weeks out of their warranty and pepper pack