[DITCH]

Took the MINI in for service this morning. On the list of things to fix were 9 (!) items, among them a leaky roof (leaking into the driver's side C-pillar ), the CVT fluid recall, and several buzzes squeaks and rattles fron the interior.

I'm really bummed out. I'm not expecting that Downtown MINI will do a great job of fixing all the things the first time around. I'm starting to think MINI ownership is going to be an ordeal. Can someone give me a pep talk?


Ditch

[RACER X]

sorry to hear that....i'm researching the mini also and am getting kind of dicouraged too....

but you still have the miata....drop the top and go for a spin.

[billkrz]

I'm with you. The dealer had my Cooper for a week to fix my list of a dozen items. Looks like nothing was corrected and it had 2 more problems before I drove it off the lot. At least they got the $75.00 oil change correct. Glad I kept the Miata as well(and the Bugeye!). [By the way,why does a 1959 Bugeye squeak and creak less that a new MINI Cooper plus doesn't change it's coolant color nor does it bog on acceleration and it doesn't try to stall on deceleration.] You're right, this is beginning to feel like an ordeal especially when the dealer is 100 miles away.

[Pebble]

The Service techs at Downtown MINI have been great for me. They fixed my radiator problem 4000 miles ago and I have had no problems with it since.

[DITCH]

Thanks, Pebble. Other people have also had good things to say about the techs there. So I really hope they can get it straighted out.

I almost expected lousy build quality from the British, but a leaking roof on a hardtop vehicle was not one of my expectations. That's part of the reason I didn't get a sunroof, and now this happens. I'm pretty right now about having bought the MINI.

Bitin' my fingernails,
Ditch

[KenL]

Quote:

Originally posted by DITCH


I almost expected lousy build quality from the British,

Gee thanks

I'm sorry you are experiencing problems with your MINI. Perhaps you should buy a quality American car instead

Seriously, please stick with it. Your dealer should be able to fix your faults and when they do I'm sure you'll be a happy MINI owner.

KenL

[vegan]

Boy can we not put all the negativity in one thread.
This is depressing.
Well here goes someone has to be Mary Poppins.
I have had no problems with my MINI.

[Damo]

Quote:

Originally posted by DITCH
I almost expected lousy build quality from the British.

OI! Thats a bit harsh! The less said about the Mercedes M class the better then, and a few other American cars!

Don't blame british people for the Mini being built badly! I mean it was desginged by an american!

Suppose I should stop with the mud slinging before I cause a riot! But be a little more careful with your words! (can't beleive I of all people said that!)

[MiniMan7]

Don't worry!! When I first got my Mini Cooper S, I had so many problems with it, and I was so frusturated I almost started doubting whether to keep the car or not. But in the end, I stuck with my Mini, and now she's funny just fine!! Don't turn your back on your Mini!
Just let things get ironed out.

[DITCH]

Whoa! Settle down Ken & Damo. I wasn't trolling or anything.

Over on this side of the pond, British cars have a reputation for shoddy build quality dating back to the old MGs and Triumphs. That's why my expectations weren't that high, and why I went over the car with a fine tooth comb before taking delivery.

I am no American car apologist either; with very few exceptions, American cars suck. At least with British cars you get built-in coolness. A British car might be a turd, but it's a neat-looking turd. With American cars, it's just a plain old turd. I will probably never drive American, unless I need a truck (and likely Toyota would get my truck money before Ford would.)

Sorry to ruffle those feathers.

Still bummed out,
Ditch

[Willy]

Easy on the American cars guys! I am glad that I have a Ford to drive, while the European cars I love so much are in the shop!

It's all perception.

When an American car breaks down (after its been thoroughly ragged out), people call it "JUNK".

When a European car breaks down (after its been thoroughly babied), people just call it "tempermental".

There are good and bad cars of every nationality. It's up to the manufaturer, not the country where it is produced.

[cooper4us]

Quote:

Originally posted by Willy
Easy on the American cars guys! I am glad that I have a Ford to drive, while the European cars I love so much are in the shop!

It's all perception.

When an American car breaks down (after its been thoroughly ragged out), people call it "JUNK".

When a European car breaks down (after its been thoroughly babied), people just call it "tempermental".

There are good and bad cars of every nationality. It's up to the manufaturer, not the country where it is produced.

So, so true. Some in here need to lay off the American car bashing. Remember that the MINI has a Chrysler engine under the hood.

[Damo]

Just for the record I have nothing against American Cars , I don't think, I won't but a Chrysler because its built like poo (and if it is or isn't I wouldn't know) I was just trying to make a point that British Built cars aren't neccesrily at fault because theyre built in Britain by British People!

Take the honda Civic as an example, this may of changed but last time I checked it was built in England and I don't see people saying Honda Civic's have shabby build Quality! In fact Honda's are renowned for being little work horses. In fact a lot of Japanese Cars have come to be built over here.

Just food for thought

[msenkbeil]

Quote:

Originally posted by Damo
Take the honda Civic as an example, this may of changed but last time I checked it was built in England and I don't see people saying Honda Civic's have shabby build Quality! In fact Honda's are renowned for being little work horses. In fact a lot of Japanese Cars have come to be built over here.
[/b]

True that they're assembled in the UK (and USA) close to their point of sale and to minimize tarriffs, but they're designed by Japanese and composed of mostly Japanese parts (last time I checked), so let's keep build quality and design quality well seperated in our discussions.

I've owned Toyotas and one Infiniti (Nissan). Never bought a Honda only because I like the Toyota feel better... they're equally reliable. Hands down, the Japanese dominated all other nations' auto reliability and quality through the 80's and 90's. Just change the oil and keep on driving. My '94 Camry (soon to be my Winter car when my MCS arrives) has 155K on it and it still just needs quality maintenance.

Even when working on the car (brakes, oil changes, struts, etc.) my mechanic brother always comments on how much better the design is on Japanese cars. ("On a Ford/GM I'd have to heat the brake caliper bolts with a blowtorch to get them off, on a Toyota I just use a ratchet.")

The MINI is quite a marvel of cooperative engineering with it's German design, 30% BMW 3-series parts, jointly designed engine, and British components. That sure sounds like a recipe for reliability disaster to me... but evidently not from what I've read on this board for the past months. The car is so precisely the kind of car I'm looking for (an economy car that's got an extremely fun, European driving feel) that I'm going to get one anyway, even though I know I won't be getting Toyota reliability.

... Sorry for the huge post... that's way more than my 2 cents worth.

[DITCH]

Well, the MINI's back, and I can breathe a sigh of relief. The techs couldn't find the leak after a couple days, and, of course, some of the rattles didn't manifest themselves, but they were pretty competent in getting most of the noises straightened out. Hopefully the wet seat belt was a fluke and won't happen again.

I would recommend the service department at Downtown MINI without reservations. (No affiliation, etc.)

Ditch

[eltel]

If you delete your first post, then this whole ridiculous thread will disappear.

Just a suggestion.

Regards, ElTel