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I generally to not repost messages that I've posted to other forums, but I'm really adamant about getting the word out here, so I'm making an exception.
I recently filed this complaint with consumer affairs:
Clutch problems seem to be a recurring theme on this page. So I thought I would add my experience to the mix.
At about 19,000 miles, the clutch on my 2005 Mini Cooper S convertible began groaning during takeoff (ie, while moving from a full stop into first gear). I mentioned this to the dealer in San Francisco during an appointment to fix a non-related issue, and she later informed me that the clutch was in fact wearing and would soon need to be replaced. She added, much to my surprise, that my warranty would not cover it. Terms of the warranty cover clutch replacement only after 30,000 miles.
I took issue with this and, after posting to an online forum, was contacted my a Mini National Customer Service rep, who agreed to look into getting me full coverage.
Several months later, and after much back and forth with the rep (who for the record was very patient and courteous) the end result was this: Mini agreed to cover 50% of the cost, but only on condition that I agreed up front to shoulder the other 50%.
Though I'm paraphrasing, their reasoning was this: if a clutch needs replacement within 30,000 miles, it must be due to driver abuse.
This really blew me over. What a blatant leap in logic. From my standpoint, if a clutch needs to be replaced within 30K (or just 19K in this case), it's a pretty clear indication that the clutch itself is deficient or defective in some way. To provide some background here, I am 37 years old and have owned stick vehicles exclusively since I first got my license 21 years ago. I have never, ever, ever gone through a clutch in less than 70K, and have seen them last well beyond 100K on vehicles that I've owned. There is no way that the problem I'm experiencing is due to abuse on my part, and the mere suggestion is just absurd and proof of this company's refusal to stand behind its product.
Other postings here on Consumer Affairs prove clearly that I am not alone on this issue.
Furthermore, I have spoken to various mechanics (from BMW) who have confirmed that these cars have clutch issues. My service adviser at Mini in San Francisco even admitted as much, but kept insisting her hands were tied by corporate policy. So, in the end, the dealer is bound by corporate, and corporate passes the blame right back to the consumer. What a fantastic business model!!!
Needless to say, I will not be purchasing or recommending any other Mini's. I've also decided against taking the company up on their 50% offer. Though that may sound absurd, my local mechanic wants $1200 to do the whole job. Mini quoted me $1800 for the work, $900 of which I would owe. I will gladly pay $300 extra to see an honest man perform an honest day's work before I'll see another nickel of my hard-earned pay in the hands of these clowns.
You can find this complaint, along with many others, on the consumer affairs website here (just do a text search on "clutch" and you'll see what I mean).
This company is behaving just shamefully, and consumers need to know. Knowledge is power!
I went ahead and fixed my transmission through an independent as well. I found a person who is trying to get signatures together for a class action suit. If you are interested, here is her email address: [email protected]
I believe she is in San Francisco as well. There is strength in numbers.
How is your Mini driving now or did you get rid of it?
I'm seriously thinking about getting rid of it, but can only get 7000 from a dealer. My sunroof (moonroof) has leaked since day 1, fixed it once, but didn't last. My air conditioning has never worked. I have owned it for 2 years.
The dealer is about 2 hrs away so I have been taking it to private mechanics. The tires cost me almost 1000. and a new muffler cost me about 1000. From the sound of it I'll be lucky if I don't have more transmission problems even after puchasing a new one.
Thanks
Later I did my own investigation and found that the computer would shut down (car unlocked) in two modes: Proper shut down would be with a draw of 15 milli amps. on the battery. Occasionally the computer would not shut the system down properly and a draw of 90 milliamps draw was left on the battery. This is what killed the battery when not driven for two days. So armed with my test information off to the dealer I went.
The dealer could not verify the problem and said that I should lock the car and it should be OK. Locking cures the problem.
Second problem is a groaning clutch at start–off and what may be gear chatter or clutch noise when car is driven or in neutral with clutch out. Push clutch in an all chattering goes away. I have replaced two clutches and one flywheel, as well as having the transmission torn down by two independent service organizations and the noises are still there. So after spending a bunch of money, I went to the dealer. Paid a $ 127.00 diagnostic fee to be told by the Tech, “They all do that no matter what clutch or flywheel that is installed BMW or After Market they all do it”. He continued to say, “They could replace the clutch for $ 27,000 but the noise will come back”. He explained that there is an unbalance in the Transmission and Clutch assembly that they are looking into with balancers but no solution has been found.
Third problem is a rough idle that develops that goes away when the AC is shut off or the engine is revved. Don’t know what it is and don’t want to take it to the dealer.
I think the only thing I can do is to sell the car to a person that is hard of hearing.
Extremely Disappointed.
The closest Mini service is over a 100 miles. Does anyone know what this could be, I have no clue?
Thanks
As Charleton Heston said " They will have to pry my rifle from my cold dead hands."
Seriously, unless you have money to throw away do it. I'am not a Grinch, she has a BMW 530i . I think a Mini is a girl thing. :shades:
Also, alot here have posted 1- 800 #'s to call.
I guess if you can afford it. You should own it for 50k and sell it and buy another.
I don't just go by Edmunds any more as they rate cars for example a 7.4and the owners rate them a 9.3 Also, dealers quote Edmunds alot.There are alot of options out there especially Consumer Reports data where you can track inherit problems over 4 years or so.
A few days ago i noticed my mini had a lot less power than i was used to.
At first i thought it was the air conditioning sapping a bit of the power, but even then it seemed like quite a drop in power. The car is making a strange whiney revving noise, (like a scooter or something). I tried to get up a bigish hill, which i would usually be able to easily speed up at 80kmph, but i was struggling to get it up at 50kmph! As this is happening, the air con would come on or go off randomly, regardless of whether its turned on or off. It has been very hot here (43 degrees celsius) but would the heat really effect the power of the car?
I took it into BMW, the guy thought nothing much of the loud revving noise (i might be a young woman, but im not a fool and i know when my car isn''t driving the way it should be) and asked me if i was using premium petrol (i am).
My car is an automatic, but I have been reading lots about transmission problems with the mini, mine was in the shop a few months ago with the power steering failure, luckily its still under warranty so it didn''t cost me anything to fix. Its still under warranty.
Does this sound like a common problem?
any tips on what i can ask them to look into when it goes into the shop next week?
I really dont want to think i have bought a lemon, my dad tried to talk me into getting a Hyundai Getz (also sold as the Hyundai Click or Hyundai TB).
was he right?
Thanks!
Take your car and have a diagnostic test done. Dealer will charge $100.00 or so. Some people go to VIP and have it hooked to their computer to find problems. (could be free too) It could be something simple like an oxygen sensor.
However, the loss of power sound like your tranny. I have a post on
here. My wife has a BMW 530 and was having it serviced and her mechanic said to stay away from the Mini.She wanted a drive around town car and thought it was cute. It is a head turner but every time you turn around you're out a few thousand.
Hey, good luck. :shades:
.
My car suddenly died a few days ago, and when I took it to the dealership they told me I had burned my clutch out, and that I needed to replace it for $2250. Now, my car is a year old, still under the 3 year warranty, and only has 14k miles on it. Is it really possible for me to burn out the clutch THAT quickly? I mean, yeah I did burn it out on accident once on a hill, but that was months ago and the clutch wasn't slipping immediately prior to break down. What can I do?
I have a manual '03 Cooper S with under 50k and I've recently had problems with the shifter not going into gear, any of the gears. The clutch doesn't feel any differently than before, so I don't think the problem is there, but the shifter acts as if it is frozen or stuck in neutral. It does this when the car is running and when it sits parked. It then un-sticks itself and drives like normal, either minutes or a day or so later. The weather has been a bit colder, under 25, but we experienced below 0 temps this winter and it didn't act up then. Has this happened to anyone else? I'd appreciate your thoughts.
a bunch
I had planned to pay it down for another year and then use it as a trade in or sell it to CarMax.
Unfortunately, my automatic transmission has died on me abruptly, to the estimate of $7500 from a local mechanic to replace. (It's out of warranty)
I called MINI customer service, who suggested I tow it out to their dealership so they could take a look. I am hoping for either a goodwill repair, or having them give me a good deal on a trade in for the broken MINI.
Anybody have any other options or ideas?
I tried taking it to Toyota for a trade in estimate, which is putting $2500 on it. Which still leaves me $6500 in upside down loans.
My only saving grace is that I live in the city and could make do without a car for a while. Thoughts? Suggestions?
It sounds like, even though I have been frustrated by what is obviously a known clutch issue with the Mini Coopers from 2005, I am at least fortunate to be working with a dealership who stands behind their products. I enjoy the car very much, but knowing what I know today, not sure I would purchase another one.
I want to know what has been done as far a maintenance on that car to date and, hopefully, that would give me some idea as to what I will be facing in maintenance costs.
Any ideas would be helpful!