Hello Everyone,

I am posting here hoping that someone can tell me the correct answer.

I noticed on the MINIUSA.COM web page that the rust warranty for 2004 and newer models is 12 years.

http://www.miniusa.com/faq.jsp?categ...q/warranties-m

So I called my local dealership in Columbus, Ohio and was told that according to the manufacturer’s representative that the rust warranty is only 6 years.

I have read on this site and others that other owners of 2004 and later models received a letter stating that the rust warranty was extended from 6 years to 12 years. Does anyone recall seeing such a letter and if you still have it, could I possibly get a copy?

Your help, as always, is greatly appreciated.

Jim Chilenski

 

There should be a warranty guide along with your owners manual. It should say 12 years in there.

However they void the warranty if there has been an accident or body work done on the car by anyone other than BMW. They could also say the car was kept clean, or the paint waxed and protected properly.

I had rust on my hatch, above the handle. They told me it was because the handle was holding water and I never got that fixed, and it wasn't covered under warranty.

A week later I was rear ended, and the body shop sanded out the rust for me and repainted. I was grateful for that, but he couldn't match the BMW paint perfectly, and it was bugging me, so I wrapped the hatch in carbon fibre vinyl.

 

It is 12 years and on the 25th I am meeting with a MINI rep about some rust on my hatch in the same spot as you. I hope things go well. They can chose not to fix it now but that means there is 3 years for mine to go, so one way or another I think it will get fixed. I did let Prestige MINI know about it 2 years ago and they would not fix it as it did not go thru. Well now it has. So my fingers are crossed.

 

The fine print on the warranty also say it is only covered if the rust creates a hole in the body work. Which, for a German car, is as likely as winning the lottery.

 

That's exactly how mine looked.

 

Well look close and you will see it has started to eat thru on the bottom edge.

 

Do your license plate lights work? The way the water soaked into mine it shorted out and corroded the lights, and messed up the hatch release button in the handle.

And if they do agree to honour the warranty on your rust, are you going to expect them to replace the hatch, or cut out the rust, patch and weld it, and repaint?

When I got rear ended, my body shop did the cut and patch, and 8 months later the rust was already coming back on the inside, so i sprayed it with that rust converter stuff, and that seems to have slowed it down.

 

Lights and hatch releaase do work. No issues except for the rust. Like I said my fingers are crossed for the 25th.

 

Keep us posted.

 

I will do that.

 

Braminator,

I will be curious to hear how you make out as well. I was told by both the dealer and MiniUSA that my 2004 Cooper S built in January of 2004 was NOT covered by the 12 year warranty, only 6 years.

Was there a mid model year change that occurred that would make a difference? Does the 12 year warranty only apply to the July 2004 "Facelift"?

As always, thanks.

Jim Chilenski

 

Another issue...
car must be "inspected" yearly (pretty darn close any way) for the warrenty to be in effect...many/most mini's have not returned to the dealership that often.....
And all "facelift" cars (in the us) are 2005+ cars....

 

http://www.miniusa.com/faq.jsp?categ...q/warranties-m

 

Braminator,

Yes, I tried to point out that the warranty information on MiniUSA's web page said that the 2004 model year is covered by a 12 year rust through warranty. But the person that I spoke to at MiniUSA said that the Mini Regional Representative's determination is what matters and he had already been contacted by my local dealership and said that the warranty is only 6 years.

That is why I am interested to find out what they tell you. I'm hoping that you fare better than I did.

Thanks again,

Jim Chilenski

 

I will keep you posted. I would ask to speak to the rep and ask him why his decision is not what is stated in writing on MINIs website. I am sure they will find some excuse why they won't cover it mine.

 

I had the whole back end replaced on my 2005 R53 due to rust late last year (Oct 2012 I think). Completely new panels for both sides and boot. Rust formed and spread out from both tail lights and also the hatch release trim. Dealer took some pictures, sent them to mini. Approval for the repair took a few days.

The body shop did a great job matching the paint, blending the body PW with the bumper PW. But the drivers side panel was mounted just a hair too far back. Non MINI folks probably would never notice, but I did and also the additional wind noise coming in from the window and b pillar seal.

In the end I decided it was time to trade and with 85k miles on the odometer got a better than fantastic trade deal on it! IMHO get the repair done then trade/sell Good luck!

 

I hope mine goes this smooth.

 

Yeah, the dealer was super helpful! I had originally just asked if they could tell me an estimate on how much it would cost to sand, prime, paint the bad spots. My SA was the one who suggested warranty repair

Apparently at the time of my repair, there were several other MINIs of similar vintage at the body shop for rust work.

Total cost for the repair was in the $5k-$10k range, can't recall exactly.

 

Well tomorrow I will see if they are going to cover mine. I was supposed to go next week but the MINI rep is coming sooner so I am going Saturday. My fingers are crossed. I will keep you all posted.

 

Good luck..!

Jim Chilenski

 

Great news!!!!!! Well I just got home form Tom Bush MINI. I met with the MINI Rep his name was Mike. With talking to him for less then a minute he agreed to fix it. He did not even blink when he said they will repair or replace the hatch and he told the MA the same thing. My MINI will now go into the shop on Thursday so she can be fixed. YIPPPIEEE. So MINI did stand behind the warranty on mine. Keeep in mind this is a 2004 with a build date of 12/03.

 

Very great news !. Glad to hear that MINI did something right for once. ;-)

What's the eta on the repair plus paint? You get it back the following Monday? Hopefully the rest of the paint hasn't faded and the OEM paint isn't a quality match....

I had great luck with a local body shop here in the Bay Area who matched the paint flawlessly on my new hood and bumper after someone backed into me.

Also an 04 with 03 build.

 

They will get it on Thursday and I don't know how long it will take. They are giving a loaner, so I don't care how long it takes as long as it is done correctly. The paint is in good shape but once the new paint is on I will know for sure.

 

Best of luck to you!

 

Thx