R56 $283 for a new battery?!?!?
#26
Normal vehicle operation. The parking is just the always on loads seeking ground.
Always disconnect the negative terminal first, and replace it last.
As for having to take it to the dealer when you change the battery, both Mini and BMW cars have battery monitoring programming built into the body and electronics modules. Do you have to? Probably not, but don't blame anyone but yourself if things freak out later....lol
Always disconnect the negative terminal first, and replace it last.
As for having to take it to the dealer when you change the battery, both Mini and BMW cars have battery monitoring programming built into the body and electronics modules. Do you have to? Probably not, but don't blame anyone but yourself if things freak out later....lol
#28
#30
Just for fun reference, while in a MINI showroom recently, I overheard a SA tell a waiting customer that she needed a new battery, and they had to remove part of the cowl to get to it. Battery plus labor was quoted to her as $385.
I spit my complimentary Starbucks coffes back into the cup!
I spit my complimentary Starbucks coffes back into the cup!
#32
Just for fun reference, while in a MINI showroom recently, I overheard a SA tell a waiting customer that she needed a new battery, and they had to remove part of the cowl to get to it. Battery plus labor was quoted to her as $385.
I spit my complimentary Starbucks coffes back into the cup!
I spit my complimentary Starbucks coffes back into the cup!
Yeah, BMW/MINI haven't figured out what many other dealers are starting to understand. If you are competitive with your prices, people will come back. There is no way I would go to MINI for service on my car. However, the Subaru is a whole different story and the prices are just right. I even take the 04 Subaru to the dealer for oil changes as they are fairly priced. MINI and B<W need to get with the program.
#33
Yeah, BMW/MINI haven't figured out what many other dealers are starting to understand. If you are competitive with your prices, people will come back. There is no way I would go to MINI for service on my car. However, the Subaru is a whole different story and the prices are just right. I even take the 04 Subaru to the dealer for oil changes as they are fairly priced. MINI and B<W need to get with the program.
#34
a few years back I was having a real heart to heart talk with the GM of a MINI dealership. We were trying to convince him to support the local MINI club with a tech day in their garage, teaching some basics like fluid level checks, basic oil change, maybe even brake checks and pad/rotor replacement. Some of you may be aware of your local BMW dealer doing this for the BMW clubs.
Said the MINI dealer: NO WAY - I make nothing SELLING cars, I make ALL MY money in the service department.
Reminded me of my younger days working in a movie theater ... wanna know why popcorn costs $15 for 5 cents worth of kernels? Cuz the theater manager gets paid dirt by the hour, BUT the concession profits go into their pocket . . .
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best plan is probably to change your battery near the 5 year point. I've had the original battery fail very close to that point on several cars and the problem is you no longer sense deterioration as you did 20 years ago by 'a slow crank' .... one minute they start and the next turn of the key/ push of the button, they don't (remember you don't really crank a MINI, you ask the computer to do it!)
As far as the MINI battery failing at 2 years, well neither of mine have. 2002, I replaced very close to the 5 year point while it was still going strong, and on my 07 I still have the factory battery, but it IS time. I got into this habit while a Miata owner (NA) - they have a really small battery ... but a GOOD battery - and 5 year life was almost like clockwork
Best bet is probably to replace the battery at 5 years, b4 it fails (which possibly means the computer never had to adjust ). Sometimes this is called preventive maintenance as compared to casualty control.
btw battery will be covered under maint' but not warranty from what I've read here. So if failed at two years has been covered by MINI maint' according to other threads hereon.
Said the MINI dealer: NO WAY - I make nothing SELLING cars, I make ALL MY money in the service department.
Reminded me of my younger days working in a movie theater ... wanna know why popcorn costs $15 for 5 cents worth of kernels? Cuz the theater manager gets paid dirt by the hour, BUT the concession profits go into their pocket . . .
**********
best plan is probably to change your battery near the 5 year point. I've had the original battery fail very close to that point on several cars and the problem is you no longer sense deterioration as you did 20 years ago by 'a slow crank' .... one minute they start and the next turn of the key/ push of the button, they don't (remember you don't really crank a MINI, you ask the computer to do it!)
As far as the MINI battery failing at 2 years, well neither of mine have. 2002, I replaced very close to the 5 year point while it was still going strong, and on my 07 I still have the factory battery, but it IS time. I got into this habit while a Miata owner (NA) - they have a really small battery ... but a GOOD battery - and 5 year life was almost like clockwork
Best bet is probably to replace the battery at 5 years, b4 it fails (which possibly means the computer never had to adjust ). Sometimes this is called preventive maintenance as compared to casualty control.
btw battery will be covered under maint' but not warranty from what I've read here. So if failed at two years has been covered by MINI maint' according to other threads hereon.
#35
#36
That's directly opposite of what I have learned over the years. Not for preventing sparks, but for safety.
If you disconnect the ground first, then you can accidentally bump the chassis of the car with your wrench when disconnecting the positive terminal. And of course, when you're disconnecting the ground it doesn't matter if you bump into a ground.
Always disconnect the ground first, and always reconnect it last. That's what I was taught, and that's what I follow.
If you disconnect the ground first, then you can accidentally bump the chassis of the car with your wrench when disconnecting the positive terminal. And of course, when you're disconnecting the ground it doesn't matter if you bump into a ground.
Always disconnect the ground first, and always reconnect it last. That's what I was taught, and that's what I follow.
#38
#39
I do turn every thing off that can be turned off before disconnecting the cables.
#40
Yeah, BMW/MINI haven't figured out what many other dealers are starting to understand. If you are competitive with your prices, people will come back. There is no way I would go to MINI for service on my car. However, the Subaru is a whole different story and the prices are just right. I even take the 04 Subaru to the dealer for oil changes as they are fairly priced. MINI and B<W need to get with the program.
This is my local dealers price......has been on their web site for almost a year....
You guys need to get out more
#41
That being said, I am glad MINI has pulled their head out and are getting with the times.
#42
My dealer, MINI of Austin, has been running a similar "special" for $69.95. The fine print says it's for R50s and R53s only, but my dealer applied the same price for my R55's oil/filter service.
The invoice showed a unit price of $5.75 for the MINI oil. But when I went to the parts counter to buy some for my next oil change (50 mile drive to the dealer), they (dealership) went back to their old/bad ways, and wanted $17.75 a quart. Because I was there, and expressed displeasure, they reduced the over-the-counter price to the "jobber's rate" of $8.65 a quart (or $3 more a quart than the Euro Mobil 1 at Wally World).
So, the left hand isn't necessarily telling the right hand what it's doing.
The invoice showed a unit price of $5.75 for the MINI oil. But when I went to the parts counter to buy some for my next oil change (50 mile drive to the dealer), they (dealership) went back to their old/bad ways, and wanted $17.75 a quart. Because I was there, and expressed displeasure, they reduced the over-the-counter price to the "jobber's rate" of $8.65 a quart (or $3 more a quart than the Euro Mobil 1 at Wally World).
So, the left hand isn't necessarily telling the right hand what it's doing.
#43
My dealer, MINI of Austin, has been running a similar "special" for $69.95. The fine print says it's for R50s and R53s only, but my dealer applied the same price for my R55's oil/filter service.
The invoice showed a unit price of $5.75 for the MINI oil. But when I went to the parts counter to buy some for my next oil change (50 mile drive to the dealer), they (dealership) went back to their old/bad ways, and wanted $17.75 a quart. Because I was there, and expressed displeasure, they reduced the over-the-counter price to the "jobber's rate" of $8.65 a quart (or $3 more a quart than the Euro Mobil 1 at Wally World).
So, the left hand isn't necessarily telling the right hand what it's doing.
The invoice showed a unit price of $5.75 for the MINI oil. But when I went to the parts counter to buy some for my next oil change (50 mile drive to the dealer), they (dealership) went back to their old/bad ways, and wanted $17.75 a quart. Because I was there, and expressed displeasure, they reduced the over-the-counter price to the "jobber's rate" of $8.65 a quart (or $3 more a quart than the Euro Mobil 1 at Wally World).
So, the left hand isn't necessarily telling the right hand what it's doing.
$ 7.75 maybe and that price has stood still for last 2 yrs while every other full synthetic has gone up
Parts dept and service departments are two different entities entirely. The promo is for service on 1st Gen. and is nice to hear they afforded you the same deal. You have a good MINI dealer there !
.
#44
Glad to know that they are finally doing it. However, it isn't just oil changes that I was talking about, it is all maintenance. Subaru charges a more competitive fee for any maintenance and it is to the point that taking the car to anyone else is pointless.
That being said, I am glad MINI has pulled their head out and are getting with the times.
That being said, I am glad MINI has pulled their head out and are getting with the times.
Matter of economics, and no way around it when there are local/state and federal mandates for the various insurance costs, licensing, HAZ MAT training ect......
IMO there is enough to go around for everybody and both can benefit from individual successes and failures.
#45
It's NEVER been $17.75 a quart
$ 7.75 maybe and that price has stood still for last 2 yrs while every other full synthetic has gone up
Parts dept and service departments are two different entities entirely. The promo is for service on 1st Gen. and is nice to hear they afforded you the same deal. You have a good MINI dealer there !
.
$ 7.75 maybe and that price has stood still for last 2 yrs while every other full synthetic has gone up
Parts dept and service departments are two different entities entirely. The promo is for service on 1st Gen. and is nice to hear they afforded you the same deal. You have a good MINI dealer there !
.
#46
My dealer has a great service department. Their parts department is another matter. They wanted $19.50 for the plastic dummy-plug that covers the 12V outlet in the Clubman's way-back, even though online dealers listings show it as a $5 part. Yes, I confirmed the part #.
COVERING CAP - PANTHER BLACK - 51437034489 = $7.28
part no. 20. But in most cases when replacing #20, #21 is also needed and is the actual part
which holds #20 into the panel.
#48
I use a battery tender on all of my cars. It's a great way to keep the charge up if you don't put on a lot of miles. It is perfectly safe for MINIs, in fact the dealer even sells one (same as the BMW unit). It is recommended that you connect it directly to the battery terminals on the MINI for best results.
#49
Back to the original issue --- the Bentley manual for this model describes an "Intelligent Battery Sensor", available on SOME models. This is probably the only option that requires dealer support when replacing a battery. As indicated by others on this thread, they have had no problems when replacing their battery, BUT, they probably don't have the IBS option either. IBS is identified by the neg battery terminal connector - it has integrated electronics.
Bentley manual also indicates 3 different sizes of battery are available, depending on supplied equipment. Those with short battery lives may have the wrong size battery installed.
I bought my '07 two years ago with 37K on it. Currently has 56K and no battery issues - yet! It may have been replaced by previous owner. It's been removed and / or disconnected several times (always neg terminal 1st) for some of my upgrades --- never had it reprogrammed and it's running great.
Bentley manual also indicates 3 different sizes of battery are available, depending on supplied equipment. Those with short battery lives may have the wrong size battery installed.
I bought my '07 two years ago with 37K on it. Currently has 56K and no battery issues - yet! It may have been replaced by previous owner. It's been removed and / or disconnected several times (always neg terminal 1st) for some of my upgrades --- never had it reprogrammed and it's running great.
#50