[boobels]

Mornin',

I have got my car booked in for its first inspection service in a fortnight and was just wondering what is covered by the TLC pack. My dealer told me that I would have to pay for comsumables e.g. oil, filters, coolant, brake fluid. Thing is in all services of previous non mini cars I haven't been charged for these during a service as that is what the service was for. I have read through all the stuff I got with the car and it seems to be a fuzzy grey area, I am hoping someone on here can help me out.

Thanks

[Richard Crofts]

When you take your car in for a service on any other manufacturer you are charged a set amount for a particular milage/age service. Eg. £250

The £250 covers labour and "consumables". Consumables are things like oil, coolant (antifreeze), filter and anything else normally required to do that specific service. Usually your bill should say what element of the £250 is parts and what is labour, I believe this is something to do with VAT etc.

The MINI TLC means that everything required for a standard service is included and the whole thing costs nothing at all, that means no consumable and no labour! The only thing usually that folks end up paying for when theier TLC MINI goes in is tyres and brake items ... these are safety issues and dealers can be reluctant to let you just drive off if they are in a dangerous or illegal state. These items are wear related so are not covered in the normal servicing schedule.

TLC also covers at least 1 brake fluid change (these are every 2 years or so)

Basically this means that unless you have illegal tyres or very worn discs/pads you will walk in and leave your car....come back whenever and they tear the TLC first service slip out of your TLC cheque book and stamp your manual (service history) and you walk out with the keys...not cards or cash changes hands. If they find and issue that you need to pay for they will ring you before replacing anything to check your happy for it to be done.

To see what is completed on each service look in your service schedule/handbook and see 'first oil service' this gives a checklist of things they look at and/or replace for that particular service.

[paulm3]

Hi,

the tlc will cover the cost of the service. ie oil change, filters, fluids, labour etc...

the only thing it doesnt cover is the consuables that wear from use.. ie: tyres, brake pads, windscreen wipers. the general things that wear out from use.

Your delear should inform you before changing anything that will incur a cost to you. unless you pre-agree saying.. yeah do everything thats needed and i'll pik up the cost on pik-up.

is that ok?

[boobels]

Thanks guys for the quick response.

What you have said is what I thought. I think I am going to have to have words with the dealer over this if they insist on trying to charge me for oil, coolant and brake fluid.