[brandonbardsley]

I think it's about time I booked my car in for its first dealer visit since delivery on 23rd December 2015 with the following issues:

- Steering wheel grinds and makes noise
- Passenger door mirror motor very noisy
- You can see the impression of 'Cooper SD' on the rear hatch where they debadged it when the light hits it straight on

I was really reluctant to book it in for the steering and door mirror cause I told myself I could put up with it but the fact my dad was like Bran you can see the 'Cooper SD' badge imprint on the boot lid when I'm stopped behind you at lights, that's made me book it in.

Was hoping to have got a factory ordered MINI that didn't have any issues, looks like that was virtually nigh on impossible.

 

[02fanatic]

So you didn't notice the badging issue? That's strange...I'd definitely want an answer on that issue! I hope things work out for you.

John

 

[bjblyth]

Odd for lightning to strike twice. Sorry for your bad luck. Did you have any issues with your R56?

 

[mikeswagon]

Brandon,

get on to the dealer asap, it will just bug you otherwise.

Did you order is as debadged? It seems a bit of a waste if they deliver them badged then the dealers remove it. Can you get a picture of it to illustrate?

I debadged my last car, a mk4 golf and it took a few attempts with a mild polish to lose the outline, then again that had been on for 10yrs.

 

[donnaj1dlh]

Badges are easy enough to remove - sounds like the dealer didn't spend any time removing the residue.


A bit of elbow grease and polish and it'll come off...... I wouldn't be bothered traipsing to the dealer for that but since you've a few other things to see to aswell.......

 

[Blat7Chris]

Hold on why is the de-bagging a factor order issue?

I suspect you have a small inflection from the badge, best way to remove that would be with a hair dryer, heat the affected area and the paint will refloat, This also works on bird lime damage. Its much less damaging than a machine polish, and will happen by itself when the panel gets hot from the sun on a summers day.

 

[mikeswagon]

Hold on why is the de-bagging a factor order issue?
.

I asked since you can order the car as de-badged, seems a waste of a badge if they were to fit it regardless then get it removed at the dealer, but maybe that's what BMW do.

 

[jeremybingham]

As you say this seems a terrible waste to me and not how mini operate at all; my suspicious mind says the dealer got the order wrong/ forgot the debadge and took it off at the pdi, without proper consideration to a polish! only my thoughts of course!

 

[daydotz]

If you spec debadging then it would be done at the factory/never fitted sounds like a error but for it to leave a noticeable outline in such a small time frame is a concern

 

[callumgott]

The de-badge issue is strange. I de-badged mine the other day - also Midnight Black - and after a quick polish and wax you'd never know there was a badge there in the first place.

I'd definitely recommend polishing it before taking it in just to see if that helps at all

 

[brandonbardsley]

Ben, yeah my starter motor failed after two days of picking it up... Flooded the engine and had to be towed back to HJ in Wilmslow - no curtesy car for a week.

I booked my car in today at William's as appose to Halliwell Jones in the hope they'll do a better job, plus its closer to work!

In regards to the debadging I forgot to add it to the order so they did it at the dealership, William's said they'll be able to polish it out - goes in on the 11th.

 

[02fanatic]

That's crazy Brandon....if that's easy to see in a pic it has to be very obvious in person. Doesn't anyone do things right anymore? And people wonder why some owners don't want anyone near their cars! Very sad state of affairs....just insist they make things right!

Cheers,

John

 

[brandonbardsley]

That's crazy Brandon....if that's easy to see in a pic it has to be very obvious in person. Doesn't anyone do things right anymore? And people wonder why some owners don't want anyone near their cars! Very sad state of affairs....just insist they make things right!

Cheers,

John

This is the thing, the angle and light has to be right cause I hadn't noticed it at all whilst cleaning it or anything! Just so happened my dad noticed when he pulled up behind me and his lights were on the area in question, just driving round during the day I don't think its that visible but I'm sure at night people can definitely see it.

 

[Blat7Chris]

Wash it and try the hair dryer, get the panel warm for but keep moving the heat around, and the mark should all but disappear. Then a quick polish.

Obviously when I say wash, it's a black car, so that needs to be a swirl safe 2BM wash.

 

[brandonbardsley]

I've sent Halliwell Jones an email expressing my disappointment cause this car has 3 issues already, 2 potentially mechanical this just begs the question why did I give MINI another chance?! This is the third MINI I've had, my R56 starter motor went after two days of owning it and had to be towed away, my previous Cooper D was handed back due to all its issues, my replacement and current vehicle is just as ***ked up as the other two.

I can't believe I'm saying this but I genuinely wish I'd never bought another MINI and I will be starting the hand back process again, I'm not having it!

 

[Jonathan]

Out of interest how much did they charge you for factory de-badge because that work was definitely NOT done. It's clear to see that this was missed out on your order and the dealer had it de-badged themselves once it arrived.

If you order a de-badge from factory, it means the badge is never applied to your vehicle.

I would be demanding a refund if it cost you extra, you could have done a better job with mum's hairdryer and some fishing line for free.

 

[kenl]

De-badge is a no cost option in the UK.

 

[opal]

As others have pointed out its not difficult to debadge your car yourself and do a perfect job, so for it to leave the dealership like that is very poor attention to detail by the dealership.

I had an extremely poor experience from the same company that Brandon bought his car with the first Mini I bought. (not the same dealership though) I vowed never to go back and have had my next four Minis serviced at Bowker Preston who have been fantastic to deal with.

 

[brandonbardsley]

As others have pointed out its not difficult to debadge your car yourself and do a perfect job, so for it to leave the dealership like that is very poor attention to detail by the dealership.

I had an extremely poor experience from the same company that Brandon bought his car with the first Mini I bought. (not the same dealership though) I vowed never to go back and have had my next four Minis serviced at Bowker Preston who have been fantastic to deal with.

I'm sad to say it but I will not be a MINI owner for very much longer, the ball has started rolling.

 

[02fanatic]

I'm sad to say it but I will not be a MINI owner for very much longer, the ball has started rolling.

Brandon,

Maybe it's just bad karma! Bide your time without a MINI, then after making sure your mum's JCW is solid, you need to bite the bullet and just get a JCW man! Screw the diesel!

John