Bubbles has 1 or 2 issues like that. My fuse box panel popped off every time I turned a corner, and all I had to do was tuck a wire harness in that was putting pressure on the panel. And the gas cap cover popped right off when I was cleaning the car, but I just slide it right back in. I'm still getting the retro gas cap put on, so not too worried about it.

Up here, we Canucks need a block heater installed for our winters, so I'm going to get that done before winter actually comes. For you southerners, the block heater is a small device that warms the antifreeze to keep the motor warm when you park it; mainly overnight...you plug your car in when it gets really really (really) cold!

 

Well, I am referring to things like MAs having no idea when fixes are available. MINI not having ordinary things like alarms, stereo upgrades, available for eons. No touch up paint available. MAs not knowing there is voice activation on the car, not knowing where to put the nav dvd. MINI gluing shut a storage door, rather than fixing it (come on, is the fix THAT hard???).... And while you are correct about some flamers, I have read ongoing threads where MINI and the dealers have been less than interested in helping. When I personally contacted MINI about my dealer claiming the mudflaps require removal of the rear bumper (false) a clear techinical yes or no, they simply responded they can't get involved! Involved??? They build the damn car!

To me, things falling off, squeaking, rattling ARE problems, even if the dealer does fix them. That MINI expects us to tolerate them for the privelege of driving a MINI is what concerns me.

 

Yeah, I know about the block heater. Down here we air condition the garages to keep the cars from melting when they are parked.

Nothing worse than melted black rubber from the tires all over the garage floor, well,..except for lint in the cup holders.
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LynnEl, ok,..I have not had any issues with my dealership like you mention. My sales person did not know some things about the R56 that I did know, but I expect that. I did my home work before I ever went to the dealer. I find most sales folks are missing something when it comes to new car models. You should have heard my Lexus sales guy about the new IS. He was clueless. I never depend on any sales person to actually know anything about the car I am buying.

After sales support has been wonderful so far. I am a bit disappointed Mini does not have a 'servce manual' anyone could buy. The BMW attitude does shine through on that one. The parts guys looked at me like I was from Mars when I asked about it. They could not understand why anyone would want one and were pretty dang snotty about it.

I have no rattles, or squeaks, and, as far as I can tell, everything is functioning as advertised. I would not have noticed the wheel well liner if I was not such a cleaning nut. It's about an 1/8" out of alignment. If I had a service manual, I would fix it myself.

 

All good points Lynnel. My only opinion is I have relatively low expectations from an MA. But any issues or knowledge questions should have a means for resolution...that's the problem.

No issues or idiosyncracies for me so far, except I am a little concerned about how often the engine fan keeps running after a drive. It seems that about 25%-50% of the time after a 45 min. mixed highway and city traffic drive the fan runs. All in moderate weather, scarcely with the AC. And it's not like I'm racing the engine the whole time.
Anybody elses ever run?

 

Oh yeah, the fan runs on Romi after any highway driving at all for a short bit. It also runs when I do any city driving for a longer period.

I would be more concerned if it did not run. But I run the A/C all the time and it is getting over 90F ambient here now.

 

OK, that's a good anecdotal start, thanks! I guess it's MINI thing, and/or I'm just used to 1-cylinder engines

 

Even up here, the fan will run for about 5 minutes after stopping. And we're not hot yet...nowhere near Texas hot anyway!

My MA knows a lot about the cars..he's German, firstly, and knows the european market veeery well! Service so far has been very good, and even tho there are some disgruntled customers...I realized that more gruntled customers were coming forward with praise...you don't hear that very often.

I did a ton of research on the MINI before the purchase and told the MA which options were available in Canada and which were not..so we're both learning as we go along! As long as we're on the same path, we're doing ok!

 

Our Lexus does it too, if that is any comfort. Every car I know which has a thermally controlled electric fan does it. I often get caught off gaurd by a fan going off in parking lots as I walk by.

 

Skuzz...I love how your sig by-lines keep changing...cracking me up!

 

My fan runs almost every time I stop the car, sometimes for just a minute or so. I would much rather hear that than not hear it running.

I don't want to give the impression that I am not enjoying MINI ownership, but I do in deed have concerns. Perhaps I am spoiled by 10+ years of Benz ownership through one of their highest rated dealerships. Those cars did have their problems, but the service people and M-B bent over backwards to get it right. MINI's position often seems to be "that's how it is; deal with it." I also agree that sales people are useless when it comes to technical knowledge of the car (I usually make them disappear by asking a technical question), but you would think MINI might tell them where the nav cd goes before they shove it into the cd slot and have no idea why the nav isn't responding.

 

I understand what ya mean LynnEl. The Mini owner and, indeed the entire system, seems to be one based in eccentricity. Everyone accepts they are quirky,..no,..they expect it to be quirky. I think that mentality purveys the entire Mini experience.

Me, I am going to be changing things in Romi, not only to make her more *mine*, but also to improve things for me. The discussion about the mirror is classic. I am going to design a mirror mount which will allow the mirroe to move up and down at the pivot point to better accomodate my height. I already have some other things in the works for Romi as well.

Hehe. Hey! Sigs are people too!

 

My mirror moves up and down... Yours doesn't????

 

Up and down at the pivot point. In other words, being able to move the entire mirror up or down without tilting it. Make it move closer to the roof or farther from the roof.

It may be some type of articulating arm which the mirror pivot/mounting point would mount to.

 

The last few days I've had the seat lowered way down. It improves visability from the mirrow a good deal, but I lose it elsewhere!

The fan is probably one of those things, that now I notice it, every time I am in a parking lot I'll probably notice it a lots of other cars.

 

Oh, I see Skuzzy. Any plans to make an ejector seat?.... I'm really getting tired of hearing one of my sons tell me to slow down....

 

Hmmmm

 

See you shoulda' gotten the sunroof. Ejector seat will be a tricky mod now for you.

 

I do have the sunroof (part of the premium package, i think).

 

Ya mon, I had meant Skuzzy. I think more practical than a traditional jet ejector would be something that pops open the passenger side door and has the seat tilt to the side out of the door. It would be trivial except for the seatbelt My system is very low tech...no one gets in the car that I would ever want to eject.

 

You think the lack of a hole in the roof would slow me down? Hehe. LOL! ROFL! ROFLMBO!!!!!

Lint could be a problem, but sheet metal? Nah!

 

I just pull over, open the passenger door and drag the person out into the ditch! There...ejector seat!

 

Yeah, well, I got a few kids and inheritted a few more......

 

Just tell them that one of those mystery buttons by the stick is the ejector!

 

I told them that about the glove box button. But I think they are beginning to suspect it isn't true, since I keep making the threat.

 

Ok folks...I've added a few extra pics into my gallery for your viewing pleasure....I'll be at a fund raising cruise in a few weeks and will get more. I think there are a few mini's enrolled..so Bubbles can catch up with his homies!