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 Worst experience with Mini Dealership

 Created by: JJ1010
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 Posted: Sep 5, 2019 01:22PM
Total posts: 62
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Member since:Nov 13, 2015
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I have to agree - some MINI dealers should not be in business, or need to make some radical changes in the people who interact on their behalf with the public.

I've been very happy with our dealer here in KC, they have gone above and beyond to help their customers and always provide loaner cars, even if your car will be down for weeks at a time. I've bought two cars from them and would buy another....they recently intervened on a friends behalf and replaced the engine and turbo in his 2011 Countryman with just over 50K on it - they did not have to do this, it's wildly out of warranty - but they did it because my friend has bought 4 cars from them over the years.

Likewise, both of my MINIs have been very reliable.

The OP's problem is not that his car is unreliable, like kenatminimania says, there is a recall on some of these belts. The problem is with a supplier, not MINI. However, I'm pretty sure that had this occurred at my dealership they would have either provided a car or pulled a good belt off another car so that I could take my trip.....that's the difference in dealerships. I would encourage the OP to take his car to another dealer and see if his experience isn't more to his liking, and never darken the doors at the other place again.


 Posted: Aug 26, 2019 05:20AM
 Edited:  Aug 28, 2019 03:27AM
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Unfortunately, some MINI dealerships are better with customer service than others...  The same is true here in the US, with any car dealership service departments.

I have read about some horror stories from MINI owners, but I have also seen many positive stories. My personal experience with NIELLO MINI in Sacramento has always been very positive.

If you had a bad experience, I would encourage you to contact MINI corporate in Canada and let them know. They may not do much in the short term, but nothing will ever change if they don't hear from their customers...

 Posted: Aug 25, 2019 06:17AM
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Aldrick?  Didn't you mean "Baldrick"??  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsXKS8Nyu8Q

If it's not Scottish....it's crap! (Cry of the Mini Tartan Owners' Clan)

 Posted: Aug 22, 2019 12:52PM
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well.. JJ1010  what do you expect.  it is BMW owned?? You can file a complaint with NHTSA.but.my guess the seatbelt was under a RECALL..  ( which is under the DOT/NHTSA)   later bc..

 Posted: Aug 22, 2019 12:02PM
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CA
Ditto on the "ouch"!
Canada does not have an automotive lemon law per se.  But this link to a CBC article may be a start to getting satisfaction.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/lemon-laws-7-questions-about-a-consumer-protection-law-canada-doesn-t-have-1.2951106

.

"Hang on a minute lads....I've got a great idea."

 Posted: Aug 22, 2019 08:14AM
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Ouch!! So what your saying is getting a new car is no better than buying a used car, except the price.

 Posted: Aug 22, 2019 07:38AM
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ATTN: ANYONE THINKING OF GETTING A MINI

I need to get this out to anyone thinking of getting a Mini. I am so disappointed. Please read and feel free to message me personally if you have had similar experiences. My specific experiences have happened at the downtown Toronto Mini dealership.

  1. Every single time I have had to get my car serviced there is an issue. Within LESS than 4 months and LESS than 4000 kms my car needed a new part for the driver’s seatbelt. How can a brand new car be missing such a crucial element?
  2. When I brought my car in, the service people were incredibly rude and did not want to help me. They do not even acknowledge the fact that my brand new car was missing a really important part. They could not have cared less that my new car was unsafe or that I had take time  off work to bring my car into the dealership. I was not even offered a ride or rental car while they serviced my car. There was NO apology for the inconvenience, but rather made me feel as though I had burdened them with my malfunctioning, unsafe car.
  3. I told the serviceman, Aldrick, that I desperately needed my car for a roadtrip I have planned. He dismissed this and gave me a vague response as to when my car would be ready. It is the next day (just about closing time) and still I have NOT heard from Aldrick. Completely unacceptable and has ruined the trip.
  4. It took Mini TWO DAYS to get back to me about my car. They had no explanation as to why my brand new car needed a new part. Aldrick was not the one to call me - another equally rude and dismissive man called me.
  5. Unfortunately, this is not the first time I have had an issue with Mini. My last car, also a Mini, had a new problem every month. Again, every time I brought my car in I was met with the same rude, unwilling staff at the service desks.

Enough is enough. I think it is time to sell my Mini. It is not worth having a car that constantly has issues and dealing with some of the worst customer service peopleI have ever dealt with in my life.  Please reach out/comment if you have had similar experiences with Mini.