MINI engine failure at 40K miles: $10,200 to fix

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Tegger

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Link to story:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/bmw-s-mini...pairs-1.2948855

Synopsis:
-- Woman buys 2010 MINI Cooper in 2013 with 38,000 miles, for $21,000. Car is purchased from a VW dealer's "Used" lot, not from a MINI dealer.

-- One year and 2,000 miles later, engine seizes and is destroyed. Culprit is named as being a "vacuum pump" (what?), the failure of which wrecks the timing chain and other parts. Bill to repair is $10,200.

-- MINI Canada offers to pay 60% of repair. Woman refuses. Standoff ensues.

Something smelly about this report. Any opinions from the BMW cognoscenti here?
 
Don't know these cars at all, but quick web search... sounds like the vacuum pump is driven off one of the cams. When the pump seizes, the timing chain breaks.

I assume the reason for the vacuum pump is that the car is a turbo, so pressurized intake... won't always have vacuum for power brakes (I guess for people who do the two-foot driving, with the left foot on the brake). My Supra turbo has an electric vacuum pump to supplement the vacuum for the power brakes.
 
Originally Posted By: Tegger
vacuum pump" (what?)

http://www.northamericanmotoring.com/for...-reasons-s.html


Originally Posted By: Tegger
-- MINI Canada offers to pay 60% of repair. Woman refuses. Standoff ensues.

Something smelly about this report. Any opinions from the BMW cognoscenti here?

The car is MY2010, and it's 2015 now, so the car was out of warranty. From a customer service angle, it seems nice of them to offer to chip in on the repairs.

From a mechanical angle, it's hard to say; this might turn out to be a design flaw, but we have no idea how the car was maintained. This is why most vaguely modern cars should never be bought used, EXCEPT if they're certified pre-owned.

As for Minis in general, I think it's pretty clear that they have quality issues all over the place. Given that they also offer nothing unique in terms of driving dynamics, I feel like they're pretty terrible cars, honestly.
 
That's almost half the price of a new car. Is this a message from BMW. Don't play unless you can afford the tab. Go away if you're squeamish about repair bills. Or you should be impressed with how important BMW is.
 
The biggest [censored] is that BMW Canada can't do anything for the
owner of the car....nonsense they CAN DO ANYTHING they want, if they want to. I would suggest what another poster mentioned on the CBC site comments, wrap the car with a lemon banner which briefly explains what the problem is and how BMW/Mini will not step up and take responsibility for design defects, manufacturers hate
bad publicity and will pony up. Especially if this story ends up airing on CBC's "The National", and local stations there as well.
 
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Mini is not a reliable brand with especially outrageous parts, maintenance, and repair costs. I would almost expect a major repair if I owned one....but not 2000 miles into the drubbing. For all I know, Mini might be looking for ways to incorporate that antifreeze bag suspension they used to have back in the day.
 
First of all, who in their right mind would pay $21,000 for a Mini Cooper?

Second of all, who in their right mind would pay $21,000 for a Mini Cooper AND only drive it 2,000 miles in a year?

People are ridiculous sometimes.
 
That's the risk you take buying an out of warranty car.

OTOH Mini seems to have a very poor drive train warranty, I'd expect it to be 4 or 5 years.
 
English car with a French engine run by a German company.

The English are the cooks, the French are the mechanics and the Germans are the Police....sounds like [heck] to me.
 
I'll stick with my trusty Subaru, thanks. I'd get a Mazda 3 before I'd get a MINI.... not as quirky and cutesie (puke...) but head and shoulders a better car.
 
she bought a USED car. with an unknown service history. certainly one does not expect complete engine failure at such a low mileage, but it happens. if you want the peace of mind and financial insurance that comes with a warranty, purchase a new car or an extended warranty. the remaining balance on her loan is irrelevant. "unsafe" and "dangerous"? ANY car can stall in traffic.
 
Originally Posted By: Nick1994
First of all, who in their right mind would pay $21,000 for a Mini Cooper?

Second of all, who in their right mind would pay $21,000 for a Mini Cooper AND only drive it 2,000 miles in a year?

People are ridiculous sometimes.


Not just $21,000 for a Mini but $21,000 for a 3 year old Mini!!!! That dealer spotted her from a mile away!
 
Originally Posted By: 04SE
Originally Posted By: Nick1994
First of all, who in their right mind would pay $21,000 for a Mini Cooper?

Second of all, who in their right mind would pay $21,000 for a Mini Cooper AND only drive it 2,000 miles in a year?

People are ridiculous sometimes.


Not just $21,000 for a Mini but $21,000 for a 3 year old Mini!!!! That dealer spotted her from a mile away!


Six miles away!!
 
Originally Posted By: hattaresguy
OTOH Mini seems to have a very poor drive train warranty, I'd expect it to be 4 or 5 years.

It does have a 4 years drive train warranty. But how does that help her when the car is 5 years old?

For all we know, the car may have been originally purchased in 2009 as a 2010 model. 2009+4=2013.
 
Originally Posted By: 04SE


Not just $21,000 for a Mini but $21,000 for a 3 year old Mini!!!! That $TEALER spotted her from a mile away!


Fixed it !
smirk.gif
 
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She still has $19,000 in payments. Was it a zero down? Maybe went upside down to buy it at $21k.
 
Originally Posted By: spackard
She still has $19,000 in payments. Was it a zero down? Maybe went upside down to buy it at $21k.
Probably $21k sticker price plus dealer fees, taxes, and insurance.
 
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