Warranty Penalty for '04 MINI Alarm?

[Theo]

As most of you know, we in the US have not been able to take delivery of our '04 MINIs with the dealer installed MINI alarm. Evidently a design change renders the '03 alarm kit inoperable when installed on '04 MINIs.

This raises a future warranty issue when the '04 alarm kit is available through the dealer parts channel. MINI issues a standard warranty (48/50) to any MINI accessory that is installed before delivery of the vehicle. Post-delivery parts are covered for only 24 months. Thus, those of us who have already taken delivery of our '04s will receive a 50%shorter warranty if and when we do have the '04 alarm installed. In essence, our warranty period will be penalized by MINI due to MINI's own inability to provide compatible parts for current models.

As a potential '04 alarm customer, I am at odds with this situation. I have contacted MINIUSA via email for a clarification of this issue. They have acknowledged that my email has been received and have responded with the following:

" What a good question! I [sic] you have the best question of the day (so far). :-) I want
to double check my answer, so I will need a little time to look into this for you.
I'll drop you an e-mail mail when I have more information.

LET’S MOTOR.
Amanda Cordell
MINI Division
Customer Relations
1-866-ASK-MINI "

I will post an update when further information is available.

Theo

[Theo]

This comes directly from my dealer...twice. This is why I am escalating it to MINIUSA for their "official" position.

Theo

[Casey]

if accessories are installed before delivery you do get a longer warrenty - I believe if you goto the MINIUSA build a car section under accessories it states that - I'd check it myself but I hate FLASH and try to use the MINIUSA site as little as possible.

[NEMINI]

Quote:

The best time to order your MINI accessories is when you order your MINI. When your original MINI Accessories are installed by your dealer in or on your MINI prior to delivery, the accessories will carry the full new vehicle warranty. If the installation is made by your dealer after the retail sale of your MINI, the accessory will be warranted for the balance of the new vehicle warranty period, or one year from its installation date, whichever is greater. That's what we call customizing with confidence.

That is taken directly from the back of the accessory catalog and as such is the written word (typos, should there be any are my own).

[stryder]

Well so then you did lose some warranty. The few days/weeks difference between delivery and when you get the alarm installed. Exactly as you should, since its logical.

So what dealer failed the IQ test? Seems like they either were uninformed (not too likely) or they were trying to con you into more accessories, because you'd be convinced you needed to get them now to keep the warranty.

[Theo]

I just referenced the back cover of the 2003 accessory catalog which confirms what CurtP and GMINI03 have posted. I will still wait to hear back from MINIUSA before going back to the dealer with the issue.

By the way, has anyone been given a 2004 accessory catalog?

Theo

[NEMINI]

just take the catalog with you to the dealer that will prove they are full crap