Help Needed...bmw Mini Rip-off

thehunt

Hello people, im new to this but i thought this would be the best place to come and get some advice. Recently i was driving my mini when the power steering failed at a roundabout causing me to have a very close call with another car. I took my mini to bmw/mini for them to look at, the moment i walked through the door the gentlemen who was dealing with me (who was not a mechanic) told me my power steering pump had failed and they had 1 in stock even before they had looked at it and that it was a "common" problem. Some hours later i got a call from them telling me the power steering pump had broken as well as the pipe and to replace it would cost £600. As you can imagine i was furious because my car has only done 19,000 miles and the warrenty is out of date by 2weeks - when my warranty ran out (i called to re-new it) bmw told me i need to get a warranty but said i could not get 1 through them nor could they recomend who i could get 1 through which they would accept which really left me confused?!?!! I was told by a member of staff "off the record" that as a good will gesture they should make a substantial contribution towards my bill seen as the warranty had just ran out - he also said they had done it many times before but have started to "clamp" down on contributions.

Now i dont know what legal rights i have if any but if any1 has any tips/advice on what i could say or do to get this ridiculous price reduced id be most grateful!! PLEASE PLEASE HELP!!

WARNING TO BMW/MINI DRIVERS, get a warranty (although theyll tell u on the phone to "shop around" but cant tell you what warrantys are valid with them)

THANK YOU

Butlers1982

in my opinion, legally you dont have any rights.

Markyt

BMW have been good for me - they've done stuff at cost when its been just out of warranty. Ask them nicely if they'll make some sort of contribution, as a failure like this isn't what you'd expect from a prestige dealer etc etc.

ImADeity

Yes you do have rights!!!! Depending how long you have had the car - if it is up to 6 months, any fault is deemed to have been there at the time of sale under the consumer protection act, and therefore the responsibility of the dealer. Do NOT be fobbed off with talk of warranties - they are not a magic solution for the dealer to duck out of their responsibility. See my posting under vent titled "second hand car - help urgently needed" for load of information on this.

dmg24

How long was the warranty for?

pkbibby

Hi, this IS a very common and dangerous fault with BMW Mini's. My Cooper S 2002 has just had the same happen and currently waiting on dealer to respond. Take a look at Mini2.com and take part in the survey which is being collated and will be given to VOSA, you will see that it is very common.

Best of luck
Keith

RadoJo

How long have you had the car?

louidog

Steering pump failure on Minis is a common problem. In fact it happened to be when my car was about 3 months old. I am pretty sure that the fact that your car is out of warranty by just 2 weeks may not make any difference to Mini/BMW. However, I would write and appeal to their better nature and be polite and perhaps, just maybe......

pkbibby

My car is 4 1/2 years old and well maintained by the main dealer. For a major part to fail so early in the cars life and in a total manner as it did minutes after coming out of the Mersey Tunnel with its 360 degree exit ramp, is simply scary. Ive been driving power assisted cars since 1978 but never ever had such a failure!

As an update, car is now being repaired by Williams Mini, Liverpool and will keep you posted on how I get on.

Keith

vikingaero

Early BMW MINIs have always been sheds - I know because I used to own one! But too many owners get blinkered by the cars looks/handling and other virtues and seem to put up with it.

codger

OP: What Car? used to have a "fair play" section where owners with a legitimate greivance got the magazine's backing in service & repair disputes with dealers / manufacturers. I don't know whether it still does because I haven't seen a copy for a while, but it's worth checking out -- and especially if you believe your experience isn't an isolated one.