[stevie118]

Hi,

I just want to warn you all about using your "free" Brake Fluid change with 50k miles. Even though the brake fluid needs changing each 2 years regardless of mileage, MINI will not do it under TLC if you are at 50,001+ miles. What a swindle.

[minisoopercooper]

sounds like a bad dealer to me! What would happen if you booked your car in at 49,500 miles to be told they were booked up for 2 weeks. Then in that time you went over 50K.

Paul

[stevie118]

No, it's MINI!

The dealer has been very supportive and has not had the heart to charge me (yet). I am in correspondance with MINI but they won't budge and keep fobbing me off, ending each letter with "We do hope this hasn't spoilt you enjoyment of our brand blah blah".

I think it's specifically MINI UK as they are really BMW UK and I had similar stuff with an old BM in pre-mini days.

[KenL]

B*mmer

I suppose this won't affect many owners so it seems strange that they are refusing to do it.

Have you read the wording in the TLC agreement - what does it say?

[NEMINI]

if it covers you up to 50k why should you be covered at 50k+1? I am

[stevie118]

Because the brake fluid change is due each 2 years, regardless of miles. If you bought a new car, put it in a garage and didn't ever use it, the brake fluid change is at 2 years. If you drove 200k miles, it would still be 2 years. Why does the TLC brake fluid change depend on miles?

Still confused?

[Red Dwarf]

It does seem mean spirited not to do it at 50,001, but to be fair there has to be a cut off point somewhere. If you had a camera that went wrong the day after it's warranty expired then you would feel hard done by, and you might try and get it sorted by using the "valued customer" argument, but there has to be an end. My boss has a BMW 330 CSI sport that had just gone out of warranty and needed a lot of work doing, some of which would have been covered if he'd taken it in a few weeks earlier. He managed to get away with the "valued customer" argument, but surely it should be viewed as a bonus if you do, not an injustice if you don't. (Quite happy for others to disagree..)

[pappillon]

How much does it cost?

[TheBlackKnight]

I took my car in for its second TLC service the other day, and apparently they'll only carry the work out under TLC if the car is 700 miles or under away from its next service interval. Despite the fact that its last service was September 2002 (my MINI is a toy, not a daily driver), I was refused a service "because the computer shows 2250 miles until service". Apparently they will "consider waiving this" if the car goes 2 years or more between services. Bah!

[stevie118]

70 pounds (100 $) !!!! for the brake fluid change.

Halfords brake fluid is about 10 quid, takes about 30 minutes all in.

When you pay for a service, you'll find that they rob you 50 quid !!! for the oil. 50 quid will buy you about 10 gallons of halfords finest synthetic oil, or even mobil-1. It's just over 10 quid per litre. Unbelievable. I rang a couple of other dealers who confirmed the price.

Sadly, after 75,000 miles, mostly happy ones, I've decided to throw in the towel and change the car. It's a real shame because they've lost a customer who will most likely buy about 3 cars in the next 10 years. BMW make fine cars but they need an attitude adjustment, at least here in the UK.

I've had Jag's, Land Rovers and Lexus's before and have always been treated as a valued customer. Probably going back to Jag now.

[mikeythemikey]

Quote: Originally Posted by GMINI03

if it covers you up to 50k why should you be covered at 50k+1? I am

Surely its 50k up to 50,999 then 51k - seems a bit tight of mini to be honest and quite frankly the dealer sounds like they dont care about the customer if they wont absorb the cost as good will.

[stevie118]

Yes, I agree. For 50 quid, they've ed me off. What's more annoying than the actual payment is the crappy response from BMW UK. I guess they rely on the fact that they make nice cars that people buy rather than treating customers as customers.

Oh well, took delivery of the Jag yesterday so waved a fond farewell to the Mini. Whoever buys it will get a great car, as I was very gentle. I bet it's the first Mini to 100,000 miles as well.