Hi,
I have recently purchased a low mileage 2007 Mini Cooper S in Lazer Blue with full JCW kit, looks absolutely wonderful. Two weeks after purchasing the car I was driving down the road and it started making a noise that sounded to me like something was catching the wheel, the sound got louder like a tumble dryer going round with nuts, bolts and spinners inside, it started losing power and then the EML light came on, I was only half a mile from home so I drove it back home and parked up, I spoke to the dealer and told them what happened, they were nice and asked if I could get the car back to their garage, so I used my car insurance breakdown cover and they came out and checked the car, they advised that the car had no oil in the engine...what? The oil light never came on, no signs of a leakage on the drive. They agreed to deliver it back to the garage. The garage have taken the engine apart and said the following.... The timing belt guard has moved and the timing belt has slipped, the valves are bent and the head is damaged and we cannot start the car to determine if the turbo is damaged also. They agreed to do further analysis would call me back. So today 20th August I called them and they gave me the bad news...we have spoken to our workshop and the main Mini dealer and they advised that it is the owners responsibility to check oil levels and not rely on the engine management system to tell you that there is no oil, and because of this we will not be repairing your car...what! So you are telling me that I buy a car and two weeks later the engine fails without warning, the oil has apparently evaporated and you say you checked the levels before delivery and now I'm left without a car that runs, that you have and a very large repair bill? Yes sir. Now surely as a consumer I have some rights and they should repair the car. No oil, no warning, catastrophic failure...I even mentioned to them at the time of purchase about similar issues with Minis that I had read and low and behold it happens to me. Advice from all Mini owners would be greatly received. I also have a 2004 MCS that has nearly killed me and that was after only 3 days after purchase....not a could advertisement for Mini I'm afraid, but I love it as it is fun to drive and looks amazing, I'm just now broke after spending 12k and losing the build quality and reliability of Audi.
I have recently purchased a low mileage 2007 Mini Cooper S in Lazer Blue with full JCW kit, looks absolutely wonderful. Two weeks after purchasing the car I was driving down the road and it started making a noise that sounded to me like something was catching the wheel, the sound got louder like a tumble dryer going round with nuts, bolts and spinners inside, it started losing power and then the EML light came on, I was only half a mile from home so I drove it back home and parked up, I spoke to the dealer and told them what happened, they were nice and asked if I could get the car back to their garage, so I used my car insurance breakdown cover and they came out and checked the car, they advised that the car had no oil in the engine...what? The oil light never came on, no signs of a leakage on the drive. They agreed to deliver it back to the garage. The garage have taken the engine apart and said the following.... The timing belt guard has moved and the timing belt has slipped, the valves are bent and the head is damaged and we cannot start the car to determine if the turbo is damaged also. They agreed to do further analysis would call me back. So today 20th August I called them and they gave me the bad news...we have spoken to our workshop and the main Mini dealer and they advised that it is the owners responsibility to check oil levels and not rely on the engine management system to tell you that there is no oil, and because of this we will not be repairing your car...what! So you are telling me that I buy a car and two weeks later the engine fails without warning, the oil has apparently evaporated and you say you checked the levels before delivery and now I'm left without a car that runs, that you have and a very large repair bill? Yes sir. Now surely as a consumer I have some rights and they should repair the car. No oil, no warning, catastrophic failure...I even mentioned to them at the time of purchase about similar issues with Minis that I had read and low and behold it happens to me. Advice from all Mini owners would be greatly received. I also have a 2004 MCS that has nearly killed me and that was after only 3 days after purchase....not a could advertisement for Mini I'm afraid, but I love it as it is fun to drive and looks amazing, I'm just now broke after spending 12k and losing the build quality and reliability of Audi.