Are Mini's low Priority at BMW dealers?

3322 Views 27 Replies 21 Participants Last post by Damo, Apr 10, 2002

Andypayne

Discussion Starter · Mar 29, 2002

Are Mini's low piority at BMW dealers?

Is it me or does anyone else have trouble booking their car in for service.

Had my car since November 14th, reported a few minor niggles/faults at the begining of December, was told cannot be done until Jan 2nd.Jan the 2nd arrives and as we all know the cure for the left hand pull has not been found, so I said will wait and have all jobs done in one go, me thinking cannot be too long a wait.Now I have a possible problem with the ABS not working ( car skidded into next lane under heavy breaking), been told to wait 2 1/2 weeks and then it is only booked in for an hour, so all jobs may not be done.

Call me cynical but if I had a new 7 series all these will have been sorted without any problems and the car would probaly have had a wash!!!!!

1 - 20 of 28 Posts

Redhotmini

· #2 · Mar 29, 2002

sounds more like a problem with your dealer mr payne

sorry to say m8- my dealers (specialist cars luton) were quite sound and washed my car as well, quite a few times actually as it went in about 10 times to get problems fixed

have u tried any other local dealers? cos u can still get it done in other places as its under warranty

Dogger

· #3 · Mar 29, 2002

Have to agree there - it sounds like you have a crap dealer..

Despite many problems with my car and many communication breakdowns relating to it's repair, they've always endeavoured to get it repaired asap and to make sure that everything is repaired in one go where possible to prevent any repeat trips.

I think it helps that despite the fact I've bought a car that is half the price of their usual 7 series etc..I still deal with them as though I expect the same level of service..

..and when I don't get it a subtle name drop of MINI Customer Services seems to work wonders..

Give 'em hell!..

Basil

· #4 · Mar 29, 2002

Hmmm. At the MINI launch in Brisbane, I was assured that "even though you are only spending around $30,000AU on your cars, you will not be treated like second class citizens". That made me feel so much better.

Having said that, things are improving at my Dealer, my salesman is now calling me "mate", so I think he's finally lightening up a bit.

RickB

· #5 · Mar 29, 2002

BMW dealers will service MINI's? I had hoped that the separation of the brands would give MINI's dealers a sense that they had a committment to the that brand, rather than the "poor relation" atmosphere that might exist at a bimmer dealer..

Basil

· #6 · Mar 29, 2002

RickB said:
BMW dealers will service MINI's? I had hoped that the separation of the brands would give MINI's dealers a sense that they had a committment to the that brand, rather than the "poor relation" atmosphere that might exist at a bimmer dealer..

The engine management systems employed on the MINI are the same or at least similar to the 3 series BMW. It plugs into their current gear. Having said that. In Australia at least dealerships can no longer force owners of their vehicles to get their car serviced at a BMW dealer to maintain warranty. It is restrictive trade practice. Personaly, at least for a while, I would be happy getting it serviced at a BMW dealership. I think in time, most BMW dealerships will be happy to have a different kind of crowd running around their establishments.

BruceK

· #7 · Mar 29, 2002

RickB said:
BMW dealers will service MINI's? ....

As for as the US is concerned, the answer is no, BMW dealers will not provide service for MINIs. Only MINI dealers will do that.

(Of course, many MINI dealers are collocated at BMW dealers and their service technicians may work on either brand, but for the 280 or so BMW dealers in the US that do not have MINI franchises, they will do no work on MINIs)

David Scott

· #8 · Mar 29, 2002

BruceK,

Thanks for a "new word for the day" (collocated)

I actually had to go to dictionary.com to check the definition and your spelling

(Though I guess the meaning was clear from the context

)

David Scott

Sejanus

· #9 · Mar 30, 2002

BruceK said:
(Of course, many MINI dealers are collocated at BMW dealers and their service technicians may work on either brand, but for the 280 or so BMW dealers in the US that do not have MINI franchises, they will do no work on MINIs)

Very true. I saw a couple of BMW's collocated next to MINIs in the service area of the local dealer.

Andypayne

Discussion Starter · #10 · Mar 30, 2002

I have allready started buying my accesories and spare parts from another dealer, but thought you could only go to another dealer for a service or new problem etc not something that should have been delt with on the PDI.

MINZRED

· #11 · Apr 9, 2002

low priority ?? I think so.

Good point, are MINIs low priority at BMW dealers, it would appear so, I have recommended two people to my local dealer unfortunately the MINI sales person wasnt in on either occassion and none of the BMW sales staff would deal with them, they where told to come back at another time, suffice to say one went next door to a Honda dealer and purchased a Type R the other just didnt bother to go back and is still looking. If a possible £30,000 worth of business is low priority what chance have we got of getting our cars serviced under the £100 servicing deal.

Johnboy

· #12 · Apr 9, 2002

Well, the first dealer I tried to place an order with, halfway through the order told me to go away and call him on Monday because he was closing... Tried on multiple occasions to finalise the order and could not get through.

The next dealer, I had a similar experience with, but they eventually took my order over the phone... Booked a time to look at the car, but when I turned up they were busy and could not unlock a car for me to view....

Car was delivered with faults.
Changed dealers, and have been waiting since September for a replacement fuel gauge. Called them last week, and they had deleted all records of my car and I.

Could write a lot more, but better not!
Can anyone recommend a good dealer in Surrey?

Varse

· #13 · Apr 9, 2002

Can people please name their dealers that they have had problems with, so we can all know to steer clear.

G8BAD_COOPER

· #14 · Apr 9, 2002

i got my mini through Lind BMW in Alysford Kent, had a few problems at the start in making them keep to the delivery date they told me, but now i cant fault them at all, i get all my retro fit parts at trade price, so i dont pay VAT or fitting..... how good is that!!!

and i could be looking at a free set of 17" wheels aswell, but only if i persuade my girlfriend to order a Mini One from Lind.

AidenL

· #15 · Apr 9, 2002

Ive had good service from my MINI dealer - however, I had been a long term BMW customer of theirs before, so I cant say whether that influences their thinking.....

Here in Ireland, only approximately 1/3rd of BMW dealers are selling MINIS - is it the same worldwide? They are being sold from the same showrooms here, even though I see in other threads that model specific delaers are being built in the US ??

mr.bill

· #16 · Apr 9, 2002

I was told that in the States, the MINI dealers must either build a separate building or dedicate a separate (partitioned off) section of the showroom for the MINI. They must use a separate service bay for the MINI, and the MINI cannot be serviced at a BMW dealer, only a MINI dealer. Right now there are around 50 MINI dealers open and there will be a total of about 70. Only about 20,000 MINIs will be sold each year. This will keep the supply of cars low and the demand high, along with the prices, I suspect. This policy gives BMW the opportunity to say "It's a BMW" until there are problems, then they can say "What did you expect? It's not a BMW."

monsta

· #17 · Apr 9, 2002

mr.bill said:
until there are problems, then they can say "What did you expect? It's not a BMW."

I like the way you said until there are and not if there are. You are always so optimistic mr bill, it's great!

not

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simonb

· #18 · Apr 10, 2002

Mr Bill,
I bought my MINI from Motorwerks MINI in Minneapolis. The showroom is separate, (in a shopping mall actually), but the car is serviced in, (and delivered from), the BMW dealership.

Cheers,
Simon

Damo

· #19 · Apr 10, 2002

Varse said:
Can people please name their dealers that they have had problems with, so we can all know to steer clear.

Got to watch it with doing that. Slander and all that

Don't want Mini2 getting into trouble!

Skinnyrunt

· #20 · Apr 10, 2002

Damo said:
Got to watch it with doing that. Slander and all that Don't want Mini2 getting into trouble!

Couldn't we just add a star rating scheme to the dealer list on this site and have this split into the service and sales depts. This way you could tell if a dealer had good salespeople but rubbish service guys and vice versa.

1 - 20 of 28 Posts

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