I am sorry to hear there is not a better resolution. I know this is no consolation But the longer I have had my Mini the less I want to get rid of it. I use to go through cars, get one I like and move on to something els I wanted a couple of years or less later. Now I have Moded my Mini so much that I just don't see me ever getting rid of it. I look at first Gen GP's all the time and would like to get one but I know I will have to part with my Mini and I don't think I can. Its like an old friend. I guess my wife knows this better than me because the other night at dinner I was talking about a GP and she said just keep your Mini when you get a GP. She is a very good wife! So all I am saying is if your stuck with a car you are stuck with the best. A MINI! So let the Moding begin! Make it a car you don't want to get rid of. I don't blame you for having the dealer do it, $1000 is a lot of coin. But it would have been nice if Helix could do it, they are a great bunch of guys that really support us. Good luck I hope it works out well!
I'm sorry you didn't like my post, even tho it turned out to be dead nuts accurate...we all try to help when we can, some of us are able to say things in a more palatable way, but the bottom line is still the same. you blew up your motor, and now you need a new one or a used one - your choice. That was my advice - also that of a couple others. All I said was I don't like trolls, didn't even say you were one....and we get our share of them. Pretty thin skinned for a Jersey Boi......:biggrin5:
I'd still press both the dealer and Helix for a firm quote, along with the added costs of "what if" depending on what they find once it's torn apart. In my experience, quotes from independent shops are usually pretty accurate, and often they will honor the quote even if their cost comes out higher, up to a point. My MINI dealer has a history of quoting x and billing 1.5x That $1000 gap may not really be what you think it is.
And even if it is, I'd pay a little extra to have Eric and his crew do the work rather than the dealer. Those guys love what they do and do it well. Dealers tech skill and attitude can be a crap shoot.
I think he means he's getting $1000 from MINI to help with the cost of the repair - if he goes to an independent he loses that. I actually think he may have had a cause against the dealer - until he ignored the warning light, after that all bets were off. If he'd shut it down the instant the red light came on for temp - like the owner's manual says to - and had it towed back to the dealer, I think he might have had a case for something they did or didn't do in the previous repair. But it's all moot now.....
Both estimated $8k before good will. I'd still pay an extra $1k to have helix do the work instead of the dealer.
It's too bad you don't have a buddy who is handy enough for an engine swap. Because the most cost effective way to address this would probably be to buy a wrecked salvage car with a good motor and do a swap, then part out the rest of that car. BY FAR. As long as you could find a suitable car. Even with shipping across the US, you'd come out ahead. I can swap an engine in a day now, in my garage... It's a weekend project for someone who's capable.
Of course some people buy a totaled GP make a cool GPR, first ever. Take it flying do some rolls. gets up the next day, buys another totaled convertible starts over undaunted by his set back. Crazy? Genius? You decide. :lol::lol: To bad that guy does not live near you he would have the swap done before lunch.
