Mini News Most liked posts in thread: Recall for Power Steering for First-Generation MINIs

Here is the recall:
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchResults?searchType=ID&targetCategory=R&searchCriteria.nhtsa_ids=15V660000#

On that page, click on 6 Associated Documents to see the related documents. The bottom line is that to be included in the recall, your car must have a production build date of 2/2005 or earlier (i.e. same criteria as the extended warranty). Much of the 2005 model year doesn't qualify. My 2006 R52 had the supposedly "fixed" unit and it failed 2 years ago.

 

I have a 2003 R50 (late Feb build).
The Q&A on the previous recall link's associated documents has
a link that lets you check. You put in your VIN (or last 7 of your
VIN if you prefer), and it looks it up.
According to this link, my car is not affected:
Find Open Recalls

That said, I hope I don't develop a problem.

 

Got a letter today telling me my car is affected by the recall. Apparently Mini not ready to do the fix yet, and will send an actual recall letter later, but they want owners to know that this stuff is bad juju:


- an increase in steering effort may be needed at low vehicle speeds

- an increase in steering effort may be noticed at the start of the driving cycle

- a decrease in power assist steering may be noticed during driving

- a low battery warning message may illuminate in the instrument cluster at engine start

 

I got my letter concerning the recall over the weekend. As luck would have it, my '03 R50 is on the list. I guess that's good news, but then, both of my '06 MCSes just went thru that passenger airbag/seatbelt thing and I had to bring each in to the dealer for a fix. That's 75 miles each way for each car and NOW I have to bring the R50 in, too? OMG...WHY can't BMW at least throw in a gasoline voucher? All told, I will have run up 450 miles in recall travels.:incazzato:

 

75 miles, is that all...? :lol: I'll be making my trek to East Bay MINI the first week after New Years for my new passenger a$$ pad. If memory serves me correctly, it's about 120 miles from here. They did say they'll shuttle us to lunch!

 

Got my "pre-recall" letter.
The link also shows the recall for my VIN now.

 

Got my letter as well.

I just don't understand why MINI doesn't open more dealers if they want to go mainstream with their cars.

 

I think these recalls of older cars are part of BMW's "Get to know your Mini Dealer" program.

I've never been to the local Mini dealership, ever (12 miles)

 

Today there are still places in the west where you are at least that far away from the nearest Mini dealer.

If you are e.g. in Montana, there's none, not in North Dakota, not in Wyoming, not in Idaho. Closest dealer is Seattle, 395 miles, Salt Lake City area, 444 miles, or Reno, almost 600 miles

Find A Dealer

 

Regardless of what brand I've owned, I've never wanted to "Get to Know" my dealer that well... Fortunately, I've been pretty lucky that way.

 

Got my official recall notice, saying call your dealer to schedule asap.
I waited a couple weeks, then called, and they just said to call back
in a few more weeks because they're waiting on parts availability and
not even scheduling anything at this point.

Fortunately, not in a hurry as no glitches with the P/S so far, except for the
clamps/hoses that have been slowly oozing (several ounces per year) for the
past several years.

 

I was at my dealer yesterday and asked about this...they STILL do not have the parts yet, AND it is a 2-visit fix. First, they check the power steering to see if it needs fixing or not. If it does, then, and only then, they order the needed parts [takes about 2 days to get there] and you will need to go back for the fix. What a load of CRAP!

 

Put yourself in the dealer's shoes.

Likely, there's a part shortage, and all dealers don't have enough parts on hand to do every job that comes in.

And, they're probably short on loaners.

Nobody wins.

 

I understand the plight of the dealer, but BMW should not start advertising fixes until all the replacement parts are available. In my case, it's a 140 mile roundtrip. And, to have to return again to get the actual fix? Sorry, that's just bullcrap. I guess all I can hope for is that my R50's power steering is okay and I won't have to return a second time.

 

Yeah in your case, that just sucks.

Sorry man. [emoji53]

 

It's ok...at least my other 2 Gen 1's are not affected.:lol:

 

A dealer knows there are going to be some cars that need it. It would make sense to order some kits and they reorder as needed. But maybe it's just our dealer that thinks that way.

 

These days all dealers keep a pretty lean inventory. With overnight shipping available not having the part in stock at the dealer is not as big of a deal as it once was.

For F56 parts our local dealer can pull the part needed from the huge inventory of unsold cars.

 

I was specifically told that any ordered parts for this recall would take 2 days and that I'd have to return for the repair to be finalized. BMW is a huge company and I can just see some of their elite owners making 2 trips for a recall fix like that...imagine all the time they might miss on the golf course or playing bridge at the Club...GASP! :devil:

 

I believe you. Once I was told that the new starter would take a week to come in for my dead 4Runner. I questioned as to why they use horseback deliver & ended up with my truckster fixed in a day. Remind them that 1 day shipping is available these days.