New 2014 Mini Diesel Hatchback Recall

[Rubinski]

This wasn't supposed to be a Mini bashing session, just after info and advice.

Will this be a case in a few years time where the 'Whatcar' buyers guide say avoid early production diesels due to engine issues?

New cars are never cost effective, but new cars with known issues are a depreciation nightmare to sell on!

[Rubinski]

I didn't mean for this to be a Mini brand bashing, just trying to get more information on what is happening and gauge opinion on buying.

I don't want the 'What Car' buyers guide in the future to read 'great car but avoid early 2014 Diesels due to known engine issues', so i'm not sure if going ahead is the best option until we know more.

[mike9009]

To be fair to MINI they have identified a problem and are not just releasing suspect product into the market. I would prefer the option they are taking at the moment rather than denying there is an issue.

Brand new models/ engines are always susceptible to issues as various tooling/ jigs/ fixtures bed into the manufacturing processes. Many people recommend buying a new launch once it has been on the market for at least one year so the bedding in processes at the manufacturer and suppliers are more secure.

Having said all this, I have an early build R56 MINI clubman, had the 80th VX220 off the production line, Smart roadster within first year of production and not suffered many issues.....

I would not be particularly worried over buying any other new car.

[Rubinski]

To be fair they are looking after me, have a lone car being delivered tomorrow until my diesel is fixed/ready for collection. Free car, free insurance, just got to put in the go go juice. Must be quite an expense for Mini but fair play :-)

[AndrewIC]

Rubinski said:

To be fair they are looking after me, have a lone car being delivered tomorrow until my diesel is fixed/ready for collection. Free car, free insurance, just got to put in the go go juice. Must be quite an expense for Mini but fair play :-)

Wow, you're lucky, we have been told to just wait.

[Rubinski]

you should threaten to cancel and see what they do, this was another option they gave me with a full refund of deposit.

[Mollsmini]

Hi, I'm a customer in Ireland who's been caught in this situation it sucks! I'm just wandering what are mini doing for various people to compensate for the delay? I currently have a 2011 highly speced cooper diesel and am waiting another ever higher speced new model due for arrival last wed, only to b told on Monday that it was not happening. I'm now being told I have to give them my car and take a loan of a 2014 country and basic model til whenever my car comes in.....I rather keep my own cause as a countryman is no benefit to (I'm a true mini lover just can't understand the countryman). I feel mini are looking after the garage here and not me.

Edited by Mollsmini on Friday 4th April 14:16

[AndrewIC]

Rubinski said:

you should threaten to cancel and see what they do, this was another option they gave me with a full refund of deposit.

Trouble is that we are in Central London on 7 day residents parking, so a loan car wouldn't work. Any ideas what else we could try to get out of them?

[drummerboy7219]

I have just been informed that my new Mini Cooper D which I ordered in February is due in Week 19, around May 8th. Has anyone else had news re their new Mini? Also has anyone got any idea what Mini UK has actually done to resolve the engine noise problem in the new engine? I must admit to having lost a bit of confidence in the car. Should I change for an A1?

[Rubinski]

I was told June/July and that they were changing engines.

Sounds expensive, but surely if they have a fix already they must have been aware of the issue before to have redesigned engines in production?

[AndrewIC]

Thought I would give you guys an update, we have been given £300 off, covers an option, not much, but better than nothing. I would like to point out that I had to push to get anything out of them, pretty poor behaviour from Mini, but hey the car industry is going down the pan even though they claim to be customer relation focused.

[Steve996]

Hi there, our pre-launch order cooper d is now being quoted as last week in June delivery. In fairness to our local dealer though they've given my wife a nice loan car until it's delivered and a £300 accessory voucher. I'd rather just have had the car delivered but in all honesty I cannot complain about the service we've had from our dealer.

[Rubinski]

My Per-Launch order is now at the dealership ready for collection after a full engine change.

Hope you all get yours soon and that we don't have any issues resulting from this emergency engineering design change....

fingers crossed!

[nottyash]

What happened to developing and testing a car prior to launch?
Mini can't seem to get this right.
The previous timing chain issue was bad enough on both R53 and R56 especially.