[lorlux]

Unfortunately I have two issues I'm headed to the dealer for.

One is the paint and body work on my roof is dented. It's hard to see from the side, but looking from the back across the top forward or the other way you can clearly see a lumpy surface on the roof, on both sides of the sunroof. Once seen (and felt when running a cloth under your hand over the top of it) you can not unsee that it is lumpy. :/

Second issue is that my A/C has stopped putting out cold air entirely. The other day as I backed out of my parking spot, I noticed a long trail of fluid, didn't think much of it at the time other than wow that was a lot of condensation from the A/C... now I'm thinking that was the freon or something else. Yikes.

I've had the car for less than 4 weeks. Wish me luck.

 

[Hat]

be interested to hear how you get on. there was a report from someone else losing their air con recently as well

i'm going to look at my roof now!

 

[TheScotsman]

With all of these worrying issues surfacing I am seriously considering cancelling my order.

 

[baldyspoon]

I've held back on ordering until all these problems get sorted. Looks like they didn't road test properly or for long enough before putting the car on sale. Looks like early buyers are doing the testing and finding the problems, so bmw/mini can sort them out for later built cars.

 

[GoKart7]

Good luck lorlux

I'm hoping, praying my car is fine I don't think I could go through it again like I did with my Audi A5 - that was insane - two years later could do with some luck...

 

[Hat]

I've held back on ordering until all these problems get sorted. Looks like they didn't road test properly or for long enough before putting the car on sale. Looks like early buyers are doing the testing and finding the problems, so bmw/mini can sort them out for later built cars.

sadly that's pretty much the norm these days, and not just for cars. shortened development time to meet demand to market coupled with ever increasing technical content means things don't always get tested as thoroughly as they used to. it's fairly typical these days to take a risk-based approach & dedicate resources into testing those things that are more likely to cause harm

my sunroof-equipped roof looks ok

 

[Steve07]

Hi lorlux,
I have my fingers crossed that you get a satisfactory resolution.

The air con issue should be at worst a part replacement but the roof is a worry, I always cringe when dealers start to repair and paint panels.

What are you car rejection laws like in the USA?

 

[lorlux]

The AirCon they say they're fixing no problem... I don't know what the problem was, but whatever it's in their hands.

The roof is another story... I know that's going to end bad. I can't take a clear enough picture to accurately convey but the roof is seriously dented but you don't notice it right away. Once you do, you will never NOT notice it.

The service guy initially said it looked like something fell on it but I stood my ground and said there's no way, I park in an underground garage, there are probably 6-8 dents on the roof work and they're all under the paint. nothing it hit it and caused the dent, it happened before the paint was applied. The paint and finish is smooth as silk over the dents... yet they'll probably stick to their story that there's nothing they can do for me because dents aren't covered. I've yet to be told that for final though, but we all know where this is going. I'll have to put my charm on and see what we can do. All you have to do is rub your hand across the top to know it was hit after the paint was applied. It was painted over.

 

[GoKart7]

lorlux

Just hang onto something and stand your ground - unfortunately you'll have to dig in, but you're in the zone so fingers crossed you'll make it out with something

 

[Lawnmower3000]

Hmmmm..... I dunno about how common it is to have initial quality faults. The last three vehicles I bought have required no warranty activity at all. And in the two where the warranty has expired, they've required only routine maintenance.

Your roof situation sounds a LOT like the guy with the self-crunching hood in another thread. Kind of makes you wonder, doesn't it. Panels too thin? Steel out of spec or improper heat treating? Something like that.

This sort of thing, if it's rework that you weren't told about, got BMW into a pantload of trouble back in the late 80's early 90's where they were doing body repairs (sometimes extensive) on cars damaged in shipment prior to delivery to the customer, and not fessing up to it. IIRC, there were some significant settlements paid to customers (I was one of them, but wasn't aware of it until after the settlement closed) because of the reduced value of their cars.

 

[TheScotsman]

Your roof situation sounds a LOT like the guy with the self-crunching hood in another thread. Kind of makes you wonder, doesn't it. Panels too thin? Steel out of spec or improper heat treating? Something like that.

I agree that this sounds like the bonnet issues on another thread. I wonder how many more will find issues like this now.

 

[Derrymilk]

I was thinking you had a black roof, but had to check your garage to see!
The black roofs absorb so much heat on a sunny day, and I'm sure in your part of the world there are plenty of them.
The black roofs have been know to pop and distort slightly and usually temporarily on previous models.
I would hazard a guess that this is the case here, but that the expansion has happened around some of the stiffening cross members, and the lack of flexibility has lead to permanent distortion.

My tuppence worth
Barry

 

[lorlux]

Update!

Ok, first the AC. The compressor is kaputt. They had to order a new one from Germany, it's slated to be here Monday if it passes customs in a timely manner, otherwise it'll be later next week, so I have the loaner until then. The loaner is a non-S version, automatic. (booo).

Nothing yet from them on the roof, the sales manager is supposed to check it out and get some feedback to me. I'm open to hearing what they say. I just know for sure it wasn't something like I parked under a tree with falling pine cones. Could be the heat issue as someone just mentioned, California sun + black roof + thin material = permanent warping or that it was messed up all along.

 

[lorlux]

*8/10 Update -- Dealer still has my MCS. They've had it for nearly 3 weeks now. They haven't been able to fix the AC yet. It's had two new compressors installed. No luck. Latest I've heard is that they've been in touch with BMW to go over wiring/electrical.

 

[TheScotsman]

Sorry to hear things are still awry with your car. Three weeks is a long time to be without your new toy. I hope there is a resolution in sight.

 

[kenl]

I would be giving them a deadline and a letter telling them you are rejecting the car.

 

[Hat]

i think i'd be going down a similar route if they haven't been able to resolve or even sucessfully diagnose the fault yet

 

[lorlux]

According to my homework on "Lemon Laws" in California they have 30-days. I will have to do some more research on this.

 

[lorlux]

Digging up this thread. I just got my Mini back. It took 7-weeks. Yikes. The dealer fixed the A/C issue and took care of the roof dents. Also, they're throwing in some extras as a make-good. First step was painting black some of the silver/chrome trim pieces.

 

[MadMim]

Looks good! I want to do the same for the chrome pieces. What dealer did that for you?