[2Vizlas]

Due to an expected 1 year wait time for a new MCS I bought a used 02 MCS from a used car dealer in December. The car is flawless and with 1200 miles on a 7/02 build car I figured this is like getting a new car with no wait. The dealer tells me this was a military sales import car that was shipped direct from the factory in England without going through a US MINI dealer.

This week I decide I better have the oil changed since the car is a year and a half old and never been in for service. Surprise. My local MINI dealer tells me that the car is not in the US registry for MINIS. They tell me that I have a Great Britain warranty which is unlimited miles for 2 years. Also that I do not have MINI roadside assistance or free oil changes etc. They tell me that buyers who purchase through a US dealer pay for the extra warranty coverage. I ended up paying for the oil change and am confused.

Can some one tell me what the warranty for a MINI sold in England in 7/02 consists of? What is covered? Do US MINI buyers pay extra for additional warranty coverage?

[KenL]

Is it LHD? Did you buy it from a MINI dealer and what did they tell you about the warranty?

UK warranty is 2 years (3rd year provided by the dealer network). Servicing is provided by the owner buying a service pack which covers you UP to 50k miles/5 years.

[JBOO]

This does not sound right at all. Contactthese peple and they should be able to provide some assistance.

Pentagon

[SoggyCornFlakes]

Welcom to MINI2

I would say it does sound correct. If teh car was a military import and not done htrough a dealer there will be no dealer warranty with it, only ther standard BMW warranty, 2 years as mentioned. You could try talking to a local dealer and asking if you could now buy the warranty, but it's not likley he'll say yes.

[andyupnorth]

Quote: Originally Posted by SoggyCornFlakes

Welcom to MINI2

I would say it does sound correct. If teh car was a military import and not done htrough a dealer there will be no dealer warranty with it, only ther standard BMW warranty, 2 years as mentioned. You could try talking to a local dealer and asking if you could now buy the warranty, but it's not likley he'll say yes.

It does sound correct, however, just as UK owners are able to purchase additional year(s) warranties from dealers/BMW at the end of our 3 year term, so he should be able to buy extra warranty in the US. I'm sure BMW wouldn't have a problem with that. I suppose the question is; does the 2 year/unlimited warranty on a European sourced car become a 4 year/48k mile warranty if the car is subsequently shipped back to the US?

[jlivengo]

I have a military car sales MCS bought from a dealer in Germany. I have a 2 year, unlimited mile warranty in Europe but if the car enters the States the 4 year U.S. warranty will take over. The catch is that you need to enter the MINI into the warranty system. Here is what MINI USA sent me concerning this.

["Once you are back in the U.S., here are the steps to enter you and your
MINI into the U.S. warranty system as well.

Please submit to MINI Division....

1. A copy of the certificate of origin &/or copy of the title
2. A copy of the bill of sale (a copy of the pre-delivery date
information page located in the Service and Warranty Booklet may be substituted
if the bill of sale is not available)
3. Your name, mailing address and phone number.

Please send these items to address...

MINI Division
Attn: Warranty Validation
P.O. Box 1227
Westwood, NJ 07675-1227

&/or fax number 201-307-3736, Attn: Warranty Validation.

You will be provided with an acknowledgement letter from Warranty
Validation within approximately 14 days confirming the in-service date and
warranty coverage.

If you have additional questions, please let us know."]

I doubt you'll be able to get a refund but this will help in the future. What I don't understand is how the dealer could sell this vehicle without notifying you of the warranty?

Hope this helps.

[JBOO]

Sounds like jlivengo knowas what he's talking about. The link I enclosed stated you get the full warranty and now you have all the info you need to get it. I'm surprised the dealership just didn't file the paperwork themselves.

[2Vizlas]

Quote: Originally Posted by jlivengo

I have a military car sales MCS bought from a dealer in Germany. I have a 2 year, unlimited mile warranty in Europe but if the car enters the States the 4 year U.S. warranty will take over. The catch is that you need to enter the MINI into the warranty system. Here is what MINI USA sent me concerning this.

["Once you are back in the U.S., here are the steps to enter you and your
MINI into the U.S. warranty system as well.

Please submit to MINI Division....

1. A copy of the certificate of origin &/or copy of the title
2. A copy of the bill of sale (a copy of the pre-delivery date
information page located in the Service and Warranty Booklet may be substituted
if the bill of sale is not available)
3. Your name, mailing address and phone number.

Please send these items to address...

MINI Division
Attn: Warranty Validation
P.O. Box 1227
Westwood, NJ 07675-1227

&/or fax number 201-307-3736, Attn: Warranty Validation.

You will be provided with an acknowledgement letter from Warranty
Validation within approximately 14 days confirming the in-service date and
warranty coverage.

If you have additional questions, please let us know."]

I doubt you'll be able to get a refund but this will help in the future. What I don't understand is how the dealer could sell this vehicle without notifying you of the warranty?

Hope this helps.

[2Vizlas]

The dealer I bought the car from is not a MINI dealer. He is the one who imported the car for the original buyer. The original buyer then had the car for over a year and then sold the car back to the used car dealer who sold it to me. He did tell me it had the balance of the factory warranty but we did not discuss what that warranty was. I naiively assumed this would be a US warranty which is what I am used to.

In any event I will go to the used car dealer and ask for the documentation to allow me to register the car in the US warranty system. I will post what happens.

Thanks to all for the information. What a great resource a web like this is; the power of the knowledge of hundreds of people!