Mini service - sydney the oz

Accompanied my daughter into a Mini (official dealer) today for an aircon check. 'Pick it up at 5,30' said the Service Adviser. Daughter's a nurse, and because of shifts asked any earlier please? Reply: waiting is priority in the morning, it won't even go in til the afternoon'. Then silence.

No 'when would you like it back if we can do it', or even a softer response.

Don't think they realise who the customer is. Same dealer wanted £50 to charge a battery overnight to check a start/stop fault when we ran one. Not going into a Mini dealer was the best part of selling ours ;-)

If the SA wanted service from my daughter's profession and got the same attitude I'm sure it wouldn't be so acceptable.

Mini service - RT
If the SA wanted service from my daughter's profession and got the same attitude I'm sure it wouldn't be so acceptable.

Of course the NHS has to prioritize - that's why some A&E patients don't get seen for more than 4 hours and some patients don't start their treatment within 18 weeks.

Did your daughter book it on a waiting basis - or just assume they'd do it quickly?

Mini service - galileo

MINI is owned by BMW, so expect to be treated in the way BMW dealers are trained to handle customers. They are doing you a favour, not the other way round.

Edited by galileo on 24/07/2019 at 12:14

Mini service - SLO76
In most cases dealers are not owned by the manufacturer or importer so standards vary between them. Our nearest Mini dealer is owned by a huge national chain but generally has a good reputation plus there are several good nearby specialists. While I’d tend to be wary of Minis I can understand the appeal and after a recent shot in a current model with the excellent 3cyl PSA 1.2 turbo petrol motor I might just put one on the shopping list to replace our Polo. I know it won’t be trouble free but it was great fun.
Mini service - Miniman777

Like all franchised dealers, standards vary. We have had 3 Minis over a period of time and also have a 2-year old BMW, and my dealer in Leicester has been very fair.

The current Mini has a warranty and not long ago had a replacement seat occupancy mat (air bag light on) as well as a seat belt that was not recoiling properly. Sorted very quickly and efficiently under Mini warranty. Also had a major fault with the X3 (differential whine) diagnosed on a Thursday, out of the workshops with a new diff the following Tuesday.

For anyone with a Mini without a manufacturer normal warranty or extended, find a specialist and give them a try rather than pay the three-figure per hour labour charge at franchises.

In the case of zircon or electrics, again find a local specialist so you won't pay through the nose at a dealer.

Edited by Miniman777 on 24/07/2019 at 14:52