Should I Care?

[MadisonMini]

In my 2005 MCSC, the HK headunit hasn't been taking in CD's very easily. I called my dealer and he assured me they had a replacement and I drove the 80 miles to have a new headunit installed.

After driving 80 miles, waiting 2 hours for the fix, here's what happened: first thing I noticed is they washed my car and dried the convertible top with a towel that COVERED the top in lint.

The second thing I noticed is a new headunit, but not a 2005 model, but an older year. This was immediately apparent because the volume knob on the old models is so much smaller and harder to turn.

The new unit works fine. Should I care that they did not replace it with a 2005 unit?? Trying to figure out how much of a stink to raise...

[GBMINI]

Quote: Originally Posted by MadisonMini

The new unit works fine. Should I care that they did not replace it with a 2005 unit?? Trying to figure out how much of a stink to raise...

Depends if you care about no longer being able to play MP3 encoded CDs (which can have 5-10 hours of music on one CD)

[L13 Cooper]

kick up, they should of washed your car better, and you should have the HU you paied for with the car!!

[lukebuzzy]

I would absolutly care, as Ian said, the 05 head unit plays mp3's. (Mine hasn't seen a regular cd yet)

[flav]

i say just keep the head unit and ask for some $$$ back. or some dealer credit and use it to buy more stuff for your car. they should give you a decent amount of $$$. it will cost them alot to replace it as well as labor time anyway.

[MadisonMini]

Quote: Originally Posted by L13 Cooper

kick up, they should of washed your car better, and you should have the HU you paied for with the car!!

You know, the more I think about it, the more upset I get. I wonder if they thought I wouldn't notice? Now I'm going to have to make ANOTHER trip to get this rectified.

This is also the same dealer who messed up my spec when I picked up my car in September. I've lost all faith in them.

I'm planning on the JCW upgrade in the spring...I will take my business to either Chicago or Minneapolis for that.

[MadisonMini]

Quote: Originally Posted by flav

i say just keep the head unit and ask for some $$$ back. or some dealer credit and use it to buy more stuff for your car. they should give you a decent amount of $$$. it will cost them alot to replace it as well as labor time anyway.

yeah, wonder if I could get them to give me a free Sirius upgrade (when available of course)...you know, something for the effort

[EBMCS03]

Ya you should care... I would...

[MadisonMini]

Below is MiniUSA's response to me:

As for the radio concern that you mentioned, MINI can use remanufactured as a
replacement part during the warranty period. I have not heard of changes to the
2005 radios, but I want to look into this to make sure I am correct. Please
allow me a few days to look into this. If there are further questions I can
assist with, please feel free to drop me an e-mail and I will be happy to lend a
hand.

I was able to get answers faster than I thought. :-) The volume knob on the
2005s is slightly different from the 2004s. The 204 type knob is a tiny bit
smaller than the 2005s, however all of the functions in the radio are the same.
Therefore, the dealer has replaced the radio appropriately. If there are further
questions I can assist with, please feel free to drop me an e-mail and I will be
happy to lend a hand.

--------------------------

Now here is my response back to them:

Amanda,

Your information is not correct. Besides the volume knob, the new 2005 stereo can play .mp3 CD's, where the older versions could not.

I want a *2005* stereo and am very unhappy with an older replacement model that doesn't not have the same functionality as the previous unit.

What is even worse is that your information is not correct.

I want a reply from someone who knows about this stereo and I want a replacement with the SAME unit that I had, not a "re-manufactured" unit.

I expect a prompt reply. I am also going to post your reply on Mini2.com, so you may view how other Mini users view your (MiniUSA's) response to me.
------------------------

[lukebuzzy]

"however all of the functions in the radio are the same." That's BS. Nice reply.

[Eric_Rowland]

FWIW, it's possible (though doubtful this early in the product cycle) to get a remanufactured 2005 unit - it would be the 'same unit'. The issue is not re-man or not, it's the functionality you mention earlier in the note.