[Paul]

OK, after my none too dramatic scrape I am still without a car that should only take a week max to repair.

Alright, so I've got a courtesy car, and I will have until mine's finally better, but I'm still not happy.

BMW Insurance, as good as their 'accident management' are (and they are pretty helpful) seem to have a dreadful system.

Between the bodyshop and the insurance company it has taken about 20 days to get authority for the work to go ahead, now they've ordered the stuff, and I still wait....

I want my MINI back.

Oh, and the courtesy MINI has developed the 'airbag light on' fault. Oh joy.

[Daddu]

ABI, it sounds like Paul needs a hug!!!

[Dom]

look on the bright side Paul, they didn't give you a micra as a courtesy car

Dom

[ravensaxo]

M8 I knoiw how you feel .
i was left 2 months without my cooper or another car i was so gutted , i lived at work for about 5 weeks because i couldnt get anywhere , so i know how you feel .
it will be back soon and when it comes it will feel like that day you went to pick it up from the show room , it will be sat there smiling at you
yipppppppppe , dont worry

[geist]

I know how you feel, I lost mine on Thursday, after a mishap with a puddle. The car is now at the dealer who advised me to contact the Insurance company.

I have had 2 different stories from the Insurance Customer services as what to do. They don't work weekends so now have to wait til Monday to speak to the office concerned.

All I want to do is get the ball rolling and the OK for the work to go ahead.

I miss my MINI too

Hope you get yours back on the road soon !!!

[uua]

Whenevr I've had a vehicle at the panel/body shop, I visit it and them once to twice a day, to follow progress on ordering parts, find out about any hold ups, etc. They really hate to see me. Things usually get fixed pretty quick.

-uu

[Chalky]

This stuff is still pretty alien to me - 5000 mls in 9 weeks and absolutley superb. No complaints at all - what a car!

[BruceK]

After my MINI's encounter with the flying wheel, I endured about 50 days without my MINI.

But.......following that the reunion of owner and car was sweet - like getting a new MINI all over again.

I had forgotten just how great it felt to drive a MINI.

[Paul]

Quote:

Originally posted by BruceK
After my MINI's encounter with the flying wheel, I endured about 50 days without my MINI.

But.......following that the reunion of owner and car was sweet - like getting a new MINI all over again.

I had forgotten just how great it felt to drive a MINI.

I should see the car back to me next week. Can't wait.

Driving around in a Cooper S this weekend to help ease the wait!

[AidenL]

Quote:

Originally posted by Paul_Mullett


Driving around in a Cooper S this weekend to help ease the wait!

Not a bad way to while away the time !

[uua]

50 Days bruce? What did they do? Reinvent the wheel instead of just replacing it?

[BruceK]

Quote:

Originally posted by uua
50 Days bruce? What did they do? Reinvent the wheel instead of just replacing it?

"A series a of accidents Mr. Bridger" (you have to watch the original Italian Job movie to appreciate that quote)


Actually there were no problems with my car's wheels, but a pickup truck shedded one and launched it at about 50 mph directly at my windshield. (you can do a Search for "freak and accident" for pictures and the story).

Anyway, besides the usual insurance procedural delays, there were (as the bodyshop tells the story) delays in getting the right parts to Texas (hood and windshield). With no MINI dealers in the state (at that time) the bodyshop ordered parts from Hank Aaron MINI in Atlanta. The parts department at Hank Aaron kept, the story goes, receiving damaged replacement bonnets, and would not forward the damaged goods on to Texas. So it took about 5 weeks just to get the parts installed and painted. Then the fun began. When I went to pickup the car, I noticed the side of the car opposite of the original damage was scratched and damaged in the bodyshop. I refused the car and a week later that was repainted and corrected. Then demanded them to show that all electrical items on the new hood worked (headlights, automatic leveling, headlight washers, etc.) Well, the headlight washers would not function so I refused the car again. After more than 1 week (!) they still could not get the headlight washer to work so the car was sent the to local BMW dealer (not yet a MINI dealer) to be sorted. That took another 2 days but they finally got the headlight washers to work but somehow in the process broke off the black plastic molding around the windshield A-pillar (no idea how). That took another week for the part to arrive (after first mis-ordering a windshield trim piece for the interior of the car).

[Ginger]

Paul,
I'm sorry to hear about your car, and wish you all the best for getting it fixed speedily!
What happened?

[uua]

omg Bruce, how frustrating. Your story is a lesson to all of us to car check out all of the vehicle after repairs. Imagine how screwed you would have been had you not discovered the faults till you got home.
-uu

[Paul]

30 days.

For a wheel, bonnet, bumper and trim. Through BMW insurance, at a BMW body shop.

I would say this is a joke, but it's not funny.

[Minty]

paul, mine was back within 2 weeks...that was bonnet, bumper and trim...mind you...it was their fault!!

[Paul]

I'm expecting a call today, it should be ready.

But... I've heard that one before.

Didn't help that they got the wrong bumper (but they told me that on Monday, so what's up now I don't know).

Paul

[Minty]

make sure the bonnet is correctly lined up with the bumper when it comes back.

mine was slightly off, but they corrected it now..looks as good as new.

fingers crossed for you paul

[Paul]

We've got that problem with the S from the factory (and Abi's one to a lesser extent).

I am more concerned about the colour match. If the body shop at Elms couldn't match something as small as the filler cap (and they couldn't) the guys in Milton Keynes had better do a better job of the front end!

[Minty]

hmmm the indi blue is hard to match (not as bad as the silver) but the BMW approved bodyshop did a good job of mine, and i cant spot any difference. bloomin good job too!!!