I turned 21 recently and decided to celebrate with a new(ish) car. After almost a month of test driving and hunting and crying and fighting with my *very* stubborn boyfriend (he is a car guy, I suppose) who thinks that new cars are crap, if it isn't turbo it is crap, and always had a horror story about every make I looked at. Let's just suffice to say that I considered making him sleep in his car for the entire month I spent car shopping. And then we found a Mini Cooper He had experience with the older supercharged ones, and didn't think much of it *at first* I wish I could have gotten a picture of his face the first time we test drove it. He looked like a little kid on Christmas morning. I actually think he smiled more test driving the Mini than he has since I've known him. So, we bought the car. I was extremely pleased...we took it around to show our friends, went to the casino, cruised around town feeling awesome, etc. The next day I woke up and went out to my beautiful new car and it wouldn't start, started a little bit roughly, and finally smoothed out after I revved the engine a bit. I died a little inside. Then, I found the doggy claw marks on the back of my car, most likely from our friends boxer. Contemplated making their dog disappear...decided against it and died a little more inside. We took my car out to my mechanic (boyfriends dad) and he checked it out. They hooked a computer up to it and I don't know how many engine or bcm codes exist, but it looked like my car was pulling every single one. There was pages of codes. PAGES!! wtf.... A little more than upset, I start the drive home. Traffic was awful and I might have been riding just A LITTLE too close to this dinky Kia rio when they dodged part of a dead animal....then ran over the biggest part of it, and I unfortunately followed their path. Then spent the rest of my drive home with the radio off holding my breath and listening for audible proof of the damage. That was the longest half mile or so of my life. It was awful. So, in less than 24 hours my car broke down, was accosted by a dog, and then decimated a doggy corpse on the highway. Now it's back at the dealership and they'll hopefully fix it. In the meantime I'm in this not so lovely Acura TSX that pulls really hard to the left, and the windows roll down every time I try to lock the doors (with the key, weird right?) I miss my Mini, which I named Mamie btw.
Welcome to M/A Hope your dealer can fix the issues for you. I'm guessing you have some sort of warranty from them. :fingerscrossed:
Welcome to the coolest AWARD winning MINI forum on the net.... Maybe you got all the bad stuff out of the way now..so the rest of your MINI owing experience will be SUPER AWESOME...:cornut:
Yes, I purchased an extended warranty (3 year/36,000 mile) but it doesn't kick in until 30 days from the date of purchase. I had planned on waiting for my warranty to get it fixed, but when I called the dealership they offered to fix my Mini at no charge, so I wasn't going to turn that down I'm hoping they get it sorted out quickly so I can get my car back! After driving a Mini, nothing compares! Thank you for the replies!!!
:cornut: Welcome to MA. You haven't really had a chance yet but when you do, please post pictures of your MINI. Jason
Welcome to m/a. Hope it gets fixed quickly and you get to drive it and get to smiling cause the blues are gone. My wife read your story and said "poor girl"!
Congratulations on the new to you MINI. Once you drive a MINI, nothing else even comes close. You'll get the niggling problems fixed soon, then you'll be much happier. You even got the right color combination!
So, here's an update on the dealership fix: They took my car back in Wednesday (I got the it previous Saturday) and when I called on Thursday to check on their progress they said they had ordered "the part" and would have it in and ready to go Friday. On Friday I went to get my car, and they said they put some "stuff" in it and that I needed to drive it all weekend so the unnamed stuff could get through the fuel system. My boyfriend (the mechanical genius) thinks they just put seafoam(no clue what this is) in it, and it's meant to clean the fuel system. I'm skeptical about whether or not this will fix it, so I asked them if I could bring it back if I have the same problem on Monday. They said sure, but now I'm worried they're not interested in actually fixing it, but are only trying to make it appear fixed until my warranty kicks in. I really think it's the fuel pump, and my boyfriend agrees, and he's always right (when it comes to cars )
If it's the fuel pump..... MINI put out an extended warranty that covers certain year MINI's.... See here....http://www.motoringalliance.com/forums/cooper-s/4059-r56-high-pressure-fuel-pump-warranty-extension.html And since you have a 2008...... You're covered.... (unless you are up in Canada).... Soooo I'm guessing SETX = Southeast Taxas.....
They probably put a detergent fuel injector cleaner in it. Probably Techron, or something like it. Its not a bad preventative, but it is not a fix for dirty injectors, most gas has detergent in it anyway. Dave
When you go back don't ask, nicely demand a write up of the "stuff" they replaced and work they did on your car. Not just part numbers you also need the part names. Be very firm with a smile and say say it's for your (cough) Father who is a Lawyer and he wants to look over everything to protect his daughter from getting possibly ripped off at a dealership. You know he just wants to talk care of Daddy's little girl.
Amen DaveO. The car should be fixed when you picked it up. I'm sure it was Seafome or something like it(I love Seafome).I don't like that they think running fuel additives should fix a problem. I would want a explanation of the work. And does your boyfriend know you said he is always right? :lol: