Comments on: The $252 Oil Change for the MINI Cooper

By: luis

luis — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 18:57:39 +0000

Hey Everyone
I got My mini in South Florida (Fort Lauderdale) and never had ANY problems with them. warranty or not all good.
Well just at the end of last year move to North Carolina, shop around to get the new Fog light program or (code in) I found a dealer in Greenville, South Carolina ( Century MINI). Who give me a over the phone quote of $65.00 or so. Out of no where, and 4 or 5 hours later and a $450.00 it was my bill. The service guy ask me if it was okay for the mechanic to look for the problem as of why they could not program my light.
I tell you why they could not program the fog light. Because I did the install me self.. Oh but wait I had a copy of HOW From BMW MINI.By the way the mechanic at this Century place told me ” the installation was done correct to the teeth.
But what was the problem you ask the “mother board” is fry. REALLY? wow how come everything else works fine window up n down radio ,door locks,AC…
let see I did the NEW switches by the book, the wiring by the book.Or should I said instruction.
okay how much was the mother board $411.00 or something like that not including installation and reprogram. could can see where this is going. Sure I will be back > in your dreams you%^&.
lets not forget one of the few mechanics hanging around my car open the box where the old switches was and took every one of the inner part the makes the switches work. yeah you know who you are.
Any way I went to the dealer in Charlotte NC. to get oil filter and out side of the shop I got the talking with one of the mechanic who told me, Dude there nothing wrong with it. they do that because they don’t like it when you do your own work.
people please lets stop this from happening to others.
HAPPY MOTORING!!!

By: Keith Hamburger

Keith Hamburger — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 21:27:41 +0000

Well, we ordered our 2003 Cooper S the end of October 2002. The dealer received it in the middle of December but, due to some financial difficulties, we arranged to pick it up in the middle of January. It took us 3 years for the countdown timer to let us know that it was due for the second oil change. Since the computer takes into account the type of driving done I have to assume that was because so much of the mileage was long distance highway miles. So, we took the car in at the end of December 2005.

There’s where the “trick” comes in. Supposedly with 36000 miles the first three oil changes should be covered. Well, because they decide when you get the oil changes based on the service notification countdown, we figured we would get by with just two covered oil changes. But, after the second one was done we were presented with a $250 bill for the oil change. They told us that the coverage started when the dealership took delivery of the car, not when we took delivery of the car. They used the excuse that “we were covered” in case anything happened during the time they had posession but that’s just BS. If they had wrecked the car or anything before we took delivery of the new car they would have been responsible no matter what.

Oh well, I’ve not taken the car to the dealership since. Brakes and rotors can be done for around $150, replacing all wear parts. I’ve done it. Oil changes, very simple. I’m doing one in the driveway right now. Besides, I far prefer to know how to work on my own cars, out here in fly over country it’s often hundreds of miles to the nearest dealership.

By: Brian

Brian — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 16:48:20 +0000

I have a ’06 Cooper S and a ’05 Nissan Frontier. The Cooper just came out of warranty and I’ll be doing my own oil this week. I have a stockpile of 3 OEM filters for the Cooper and can get the rest @ the local auto parts store. My Frontier is still under warranty and I juast has some repairs done at the dealer for free. Then they wanted to do a transmission & driveline fluid change. They wanted…wait for it….$535 to change the ‘oil’ in the gear box and 4×4 differentials. I went to my local shop and had it done for $170 (only cuz it used synthetics) That’s a HUGE mark-up if nearly $400 out the door. It pays to shop around on this stuff.

GREAT article!!!

By: gmfoley

gmfoley — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 14:35:19 +0000

Also you need to check part prices from dealers. Most dealers have no problem marking up part prices above retail (most are making 40 to 45% at retail) another 30%. All the high end dealers do this and think they have a right. I was an insurance adjuster for years and seeing some invoices at 40% above retail just makes me think what do they do to the people off the street. Any repair that the dealer does the service writer makes a piece of it ( commision), the tech makes a piece of it, the service manager same thing and then the dealership wants a piece. A service writer in Scottsdale can make 100,000 with no trouble. Can they make this amount or are there over priced repairs that are unneeded? When you add all the people eating off the pie the customer has to really pay for service. Also a good airplane mechanic will make about 1/2 a car mechanic makes ( no way to cheat like in cars).

By: Justin

Justin — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 03:16:17 +0000

I just bought a 2007 Dodge RAM 1500 here and they gave me a card that gets me $10 oil changes for life! Love it! I can’t buy the oil and filter for that much myself. Good job DishmanDodge in Spokane, WA!

By: Elizabeth Mello

Elizabeth Mello — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 05:22:14 +0000

I agree with you, going to dealerships really cost you. They wanted $350 to do a 4 wheel alighment, Goodyear charged me $79. I went for an oil change and they said I was due for brake and fuel line flushes and would charge $200 & $300. Ala Carte quotes I believe. they quote minimun of 1 hour per service, get you up on the rack and spend maybe a total of 1/2 hour for both jobs. I love my Mini, but good god.

By: Al Shaw

Al Shaw — Wed, 19 May 2010 01:12:37 +0000

Wait until the transmission/CVT goes out anywhere from 50,000 and up-just out of warranty and the dealer tells you they will be able to fix the problem for between $6,000 and $8,000 dollars. Good luck Mini owners

By: Mike

Mike — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 14:50:49 +0000

Dealership=stealership

By: sally

sally — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 15:11:49 +0000

i bought my mini used so the first time my oil change was 470 canadian. This also included getting a full inspection of the car- and two leaks were fixed. I did this for a piece of mind because i bought the car used. After that i take it to a local garage for all my needs. I don’t regret taking it to the dealer initially

By: Jill Mostek

Jill Mostek — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 00:00:41 +0000

They have to charge DOUBLE in order to supply Starbuck’s Coffee in the lobby. I’d rather pay normal mechanic costs and bring my own, though!

One thing I have found it makes sense to go to the Mini dealer for, TIRES.
Other tire places I’ve tried having my run-flat tires changed at, always say they cannot guarantee they won’t ruin the rims. Apparently (??) those type of tires are difficult to change.