[mccaffs]

Jeeez...pull the plug BM big mistake........shoulda wrote off and transfered production to USA (X5) or Bavaria anywherelse then - No Rattles, Squeaks, Leaks, Hatch lock problems etc etc etc

[NEMINI]

Fault free here.

[R1]

Quote:

Originally posted by mccaffs
Jeeez...pull the plug BM big mistake........shoulda wrote off and transfered production to USA

Now theres a scary thought!!!

Seriously though, they really do need to invest some money to sort out the continuing problems!

Get rid of that 5 speed gearbox for a start!

[R1]

Quote:

Originally posted by mccaffs
Low lie the fields of Athenry but I can stiil feel every bleedin' bump with this f'n sports suspension plus option DON'T BUY IT!

Should have f'n test drove one first then!

I find it excellant. Been driving a One with standard suspension for the past week and hated it!!

[KenL]

Quote:

Originally posted by R1
Should have f'n test drove one first then!

I find it excellant. Been driving a One with standard suspension for the past week and hated it!!

Oi You're gonna upset us ONE drivers

[Monsta Mo Mini]

Quote:

I find it excellant. Been driving a One with standard suspension for the past week and hated it!!

I agree - had a ONE the other week as a courtesy car and decided to give it some stick. Ended up scaring myself just can't handle corners like a coop with S+.

[Paul]

Quote:

Originally posted by mccaffs
Jeeez...pull the plug BM big mistake........shoulda wrote off and transfered production to USA (X5) or Bavaria anywherelse then - No Rattles, Squeaks, Leaks, Hatch lock problems etc etc etc

I believe about half of the work force are from Germany still, and while I agree they need to improve their quality checking, I don't think the MINI is worse car for car than any other car in it's price bracket.

[R1]

Quote:

Originally posted by KenL


Oi You're gonna upset us ONE drivers

sorry!

[AntH]

America? Don't make me laugh! The X5 is notorious for build problems, even Mercedes can't get the ML's built properly out there. If Nissan can make a good (well, well built, at least!) car in Sunderland, then I am sure BMW can do the same in Oxford. And wasn't the previous 3-series lousy for the first 18 months of production? They all seem sorted now! A few niggling faults is very different to long-term longevity.

Oh, and the SSP+? Fning excellent, esp. with 17" wheels. Pot-hole dodging is fast becoming my favourite past-time! Its such fun...

[Apial]

Quote:

Originally posted by Monsta Mo Mini


I agree - had a ONE the other week as a courtesy car and decided to give it some stick. Ended up scaring myself just can't handle corners like a coop with S+.

Better leave the ONE for the number ONE drivers then!

[stryder]

Quote:

Originally posted by AntH
America? Don't make me laugh! The X5 is notorious for build problems, even Mercedes can't get the ML's built properly out there. If Nissan can make a good (well, well built, at least!) car in Sunderland, then I am sure BMW can do the same in Oxford. And wasn't the previous 3-series lousy for the first 18 months of production? They all seem sorted now! A few niggling faults is very different to long-term longevity.

To at least defend the US workforce, Honda's Merryville OH plant (Accords) and Toyota/GM's plant in Fremont CA (A bunch of stuff) all make typical Japanese super high quality cars. (Granted they're boring to drive, boring to own, and are everywhere). It is possible to use American labor and make nearly problem free cars, its just not simple.

[Basil]

Quote:

Originally posted by mccaffs
Jeeez...pull the plug BM big mistake........shoulda wrote off and transfered production to USA (X5) or Bavaria anywherelse then - No Rattles, Squeaks, Leaks, Hatch lock problems etc etc etc

I am sure most of us here understand where your coming from, and obviously you share my own dissapointed experience in the MINI. But things are improving all the time, and to be fair BMW are adressing most peoples concerns as they are raised, even to the extent of replacing whole vehicles.

The Honda Civic Type R is made in the UK as well, and I seriously doubt they are experiencing the same "build" quality issues. Things do need to improve, and undoubtedly it has something to do with outside suppliers as well.

Part of my own issue is a "price point" one, but that will vary from market to market. In Oz the MINI Cooper and the "S" are expensive compared to other vehicles, and on that basis they need to be "perfect". At the moment, they are a little short on that "need".

( I don't think a US based operation would help much on the quality side of things..... )

Cheers

[BruceK]

Quote:

Originally posted by Basil
....( I don't think a US based operation would help much on the quality side of things..... )

No, but I don't think it would hurt either.

The country in which a product is produced is really not an issue. What matters is how well the product is designed and engineered and how tight the quality control is when it is produced.

[Basil]

Quote:

Originally posted by BruceK




The country in which a product is produced is really not an issue. What matters is how well the product is designed and engineered and how tight the quality control is when it is produced.

My point exactly........

[NEMINI]

Quote:

Originally posted by BruceK


No, but I don't think it would hurt either.

The country in which a product is produced is really not an issue. What matters is how well the product is designed and engineered and how tight the quality control is when it is produced.

I think part of the problem has been the constant ramping up of production to try and meet demand ... hell no ones at their best when things are going 24/7/365 ... I've really no idea what the schedules are like but I'd be willing to guess that many are working insane hours because of the demand and ever increasing production.

[bigahead]

Quote:

and transfered production to USA

we want our cars to go around corners don't we?

[NickG]

Quote:

Originally posted by Basil


The Honda Civic Type R is made in the UK as well, and I seriously doubt they are experiencing the same "build" quality issues.

It supprised me to read in EVO magazine that they have received lost of corespondance on how poorly put together some of the CTRs are, looking through the article it could be a MINI they are writing about, creaky trim, mysterious rattles, paint esily chipped, interior trim easily scratched, seat fabric ruffling up, high oil consumption (4.5 litres) in 7000 miles.

So it just seems to be a factor of production costs really.

[eBrit]

Quote:

Originally posted by mccaffs
Jeeez...pull the plug BM big mistake........shoulda wrote off and transfered production to USA (X5) or Bavaria anywherelse then - No Rattles, Squeaks, Leaks, Hatch lock problems etc etc etc

mccaffs

Do I trace just a hint of predujice and strereotyping in your observations? I'm very pleased with my Cooper S. I do have a squeaky seat and rattles. And the suspension is hard. But....absolutely none of those issues are connected to the competency or commitment of the Cowley workforce ..are they?

1.The seats come in as a prebuilt unit
2.The dash comes in as a prebuilt unit
3.The suspension is designed to be hard....and even when the motoring press said 16" wheels" are probably more suited to UK roads" we still (nearly) all went out and bought the harsher 17" wheels (and ran MINI dry of them) because we "liked the image".

So if fault lies anywhere... it is with designers and top (BMW) management. Why keep ordering the same squeaky seats?...design or material problems should be addressed.

Will the plastic dash ever be adequate for such a hard sprung car?....after all my teeth rattle in it let alone dashboard! I think not. So redesign it.

And hard suspension?....my choice. I drive my Freelander when I "want it soft" ...that doesn't even register potholes and rolls comfortingly on bends.

So, in short, don't unfairly blame the British Worker (And no...I don't work for MINI, neither am I a shop steward).

eBrit

[rayasp]

Honda,Nissan and Toyota build cars in the UK with top notch build quality,so it can't be that British car workers abilities thats causing the build problems at MINI.
RAYASP.

[NewOne]

£10300 for a small car that has ABS,EBFD,electric one touch front windows,tyre sensor,BMW's Z axle,power steering,1.6 litre engine,remote locking,height adjustable seats,superb handling,tinted windows,generally well built,4 airbags,good stereo.Try getting a Fiesta for that money with all this basic equipment.No wonder there are some quality issues BMW must be losing bucketloads on this car .Look at Mercedes' build quality since they started ramping production up to 'Normal' car numbers.The A,class for example,what a dogs dinner that is.Oh but its got that 3 pointed star on the bonnet,I forgot