My November 2002 delivery MINI has become good friends with the dealership, having been there 12 times in less than 2 years, during which time it has covered under 45 000 kms. Faults have included the following:
1. Rattle in boot area (as delivered).
2. Speaker cover broken on passenger side door (as delivered).
3. Closer on passenger side door very weak (as delivered).
4. Rattle in steering column (as delivered).
5. Reflector to drivers side door loose.
6. Coating to door handles on passenger and drivers side rubbing off (replaced).
7. Rattle in top of dashboard.
8. Coolant expansion tank leaking.
9. Leather on top of steering wheel blistering and bubbling (replaced).
10. Sunroof squeaking when in the open position and making a ‘clunking’ noise when closing.
11. Sunroof squeaking (2nd occurrence).
12. Airbag warning light on.
13. Faulty horn.
14. Airbag warning light on (2nd occurrence).
15. Rattle in boot area (2nd occurrence).
16. Sunroof squeaking and rattling (3rd occurrence).
17. Driver’s side window intermittently inoperable – No repair was carried out as apparently the vehicle’s ‘log’ had not recorded a fault (even though I myself had experienced the problem several times). Windows stopped working all together one week later (see (19)).
18. Paint on inner door handles on driver and passenger side doors peeling (2nd occurrence).
19. Neither passenger side nor drivers side windows operable (2nd occurrence).
20. Airbag warning light on (3rd occurrence).
21. Rattling at front of sunroof when closed.
22. Window to driver’s side door catching on roof when closing.
23. Rattle in boot area (3rd occurrence).
24. Continuous groaning sound from engine.
25. Low screech audible from clutch when engaging 1st gear in cold/damp weather (not fixed).
26. Steering wheel leather starting to blister and bubble (2nd occurrence).
27. Passenger side door speaker cover broken during repair of (19).
28. Rattle in boot area (4th occurrence).
29. Paint to centre console legs rubbing off at contact point with driver’s leg. No repair was carried out as it was deemed that the driver’s legs had ‘scratched’ the paintwork rather than it ‘rubbed’ it off.
30. Passenger side window inoperable (3rd occurrence).
31. Parcel shelf catching on boot when closing.
32. Airbag Warning Light on (4th occurrence)
33. Driver’s side window inoperable (3rd occurrence).
34. Parcel shelf catching on boot when closing - replaced (2nd occurrence).
35. Sunroof squeaking and rattling (4th occurrence).
The cause of most of these faults is well documented on MINI2.com and other MINI owners websites.
Following one year of ownership I wrote to the Dealership, listing my service history and dissatisfaction with the quality of the vehicle. I proposed an extension of one year to the warranty in consideration of these faults, which the Dealership agreed to. I also expressed the view that many of these faults, in particular the door handle paint rubbing off, the steering wheel leather bubbling, and the many rattles and squeaks, would continue to occur.
Recently I wrote to the Dealership once more, providing my updated service history and requesting that they permanently rectify the re-occurring faults, which would save them cost and myself further inconvenience. I attached supporting research from MINI owners websites demonstrating the commonplace nature of these problems.
After initially trying to ignore me, the Dealership agreed, at my insistence, to replace the steering wheel with the model used in the latter build MINIs (which has a different leather pattern, of hopefully, a more durable leather) and replace the boot catch with the updated type.
They advised that they had no repair available for the peeling paint on the inner door handles and confirmed they would continue to replace them each time the problem occurs, until the items lasts through warranty (as I am already on my third set of handles I would seem they have little prospect of making it through the warranty period). They refuse to replace the centre console legs despite substantial evidence showing that the silver paint finish is clearly unsuitable for this part of the vehicle. They had no advice whatsoever on the recurrence of the airbag warning light issue, other than to confirm that the airbag is deactivated during this time (comforting).
The quantity and frequency of faults I have experienced with this vehicle is laughable. I cannot understand how a company of BMW’s experience cannot get basic things, such as the specification of the steering wheel leather or the door handle paint, right in the first instance, let alone their preference to persist in replacing the parts with identical items rather than finding permanent solutions.
Like many people, I also have a cheaper Japanese car (Toyota Echo, one third of the MINI’s cost) to compare with, and yes it never has anything wrong with it, despite being two years older. It is often asked whether you are less tolerant of problems with a more expensive vehicle, but I don’t believe that 12 visits to the Dealership in less than 24 months is acceptable for any type of car. As much as anyone I would try to ignore these problems if it meant saving another visit to the Dealer, but when they are with you every time you drive, each day, it is just not possible.
After almost 2 years of ownership, I still have passers-by ask about the MINI. I used to tell them how fun it was to drive and that they should buy one. I now tell them it is still fun to drive but I couldn’t possibly recommend buying one, such is its poor quality. What a disappointment.
1. Rattle in boot area (as delivered).
2. Speaker cover broken on passenger side door (as delivered).
3. Closer on passenger side door very weak (as delivered).
4. Rattle in steering column (as delivered).
5. Reflector to drivers side door loose.
6. Coating to door handles on passenger and drivers side rubbing off (replaced).
7. Rattle in top of dashboard.
8. Coolant expansion tank leaking.
9. Leather on top of steering wheel blistering and bubbling (replaced).
10. Sunroof squeaking when in the open position and making a ‘clunking’ noise when closing.
11. Sunroof squeaking (2nd occurrence).
12. Airbag warning light on.
13. Faulty horn.
14. Airbag warning light on (2nd occurrence).
15. Rattle in boot area (2nd occurrence).
16. Sunroof squeaking and rattling (3rd occurrence).
17. Driver’s side window intermittently inoperable – No repair was carried out as apparently the vehicle’s ‘log’ had not recorded a fault (even though I myself had experienced the problem several times). Windows stopped working all together one week later (see (19)).
18. Paint on inner door handles on driver and passenger side doors peeling (2nd occurrence).
19. Neither passenger side nor drivers side windows operable (2nd occurrence).
20. Airbag warning light on (3rd occurrence).
21. Rattling at front of sunroof when closed.
22. Window to driver’s side door catching on roof when closing.
23. Rattle in boot area (3rd occurrence).
24. Continuous groaning sound from engine.
25. Low screech audible from clutch when engaging 1st gear in cold/damp weather (not fixed).
26. Steering wheel leather starting to blister and bubble (2nd occurrence).
27. Passenger side door speaker cover broken during repair of (19).
28. Rattle in boot area (4th occurrence).
29. Paint to centre console legs rubbing off at contact point with driver’s leg. No repair was carried out as it was deemed that the driver’s legs had ‘scratched’ the paintwork rather than it ‘rubbed’ it off.
30. Passenger side window inoperable (3rd occurrence).
31. Parcel shelf catching on boot when closing.
32. Airbag Warning Light on (4th occurrence)
33. Driver’s side window inoperable (3rd occurrence).
34. Parcel shelf catching on boot when closing - replaced (2nd occurrence).
35. Sunroof squeaking and rattling (4th occurrence).
The cause of most of these faults is well documented on MINI2.com and other MINI owners websites.
Following one year of ownership I wrote to the Dealership, listing my service history and dissatisfaction with the quality of the vehicle. I proposed an extension of one year to the warranty in consideration of these faults, which the Dealership agreed to. I also expressed the view that many of these faults, in particular the door handle paint rubbing off, the steering wheel leather bubbling, and the many rattles and squeaks, would continue to occur.
Recently I wrote to the Dealership once more, providing my updated service history and requesting that they permanently rectify the re-occurring faults, which would save them cost and myself further inconvenience. I attached supporting research from MINI owners websites demonstrating the commonplace nature of these problems.
After initially trying to ignore me, the Dealership agreed, at my insistence, to replace the steering wheel with the model used in the latter build MINIs (which has a different leather pattern, of hopefully, a more durable leather) and replace the boot catch with the updated type.
They advised that they had no repair available for the peeling paint on the inner door handles and confirmed they would continue to replace them each time the problem occurs, until the items lasts through warranty (as I am already on my third set of handles I would seem they have little prospect of making it through the warranty period). They refuse to replace the centre console legs despite substantial evidence showing that the silver paint finish is clearly unsuitable for this part of the vehicle. They had no advice whatsoever on the recurrence of the airbag warning light issue, other than to confirm that the airbag is deactivated during this time (comforting).
The quantity and frequency of faults I have experienced with this vehicle is laughable. I cannot understand how a company of BMW’s experience cannot get basic things, such as the specification of the steering wheel leather or the door handle paint, right in the first instance, let alone their preference to persist in replacing the parts with identical items rather than finding permanent solutions.
Like many people, I also have a cheaper Japanese car (Toyota Echo, one third of the MINI’s cost) to compare with, and yes it never has anything wrong with it, despite being two years older. It is often asked whether you are less tolerant of problems with a more expensive vehicle, but I don’t believe that 12 visits to the Dealership in less than 24 months is acceptable for any type of car. As much as anyone I would try to ignore these problems if it meant saving another visit to the Dealer, but when they are with you every time you drive, each day, it is just not possible.
After almost 2 years of ownership, I still have passers-by ask about the MINI. I used to tell them how fun it was to drive and that they should buy one. I now tell them it is still fun to drive but I couldn’t possibly recommend buying one, such is its poor quality. What a disappointment.
