Clutch life on a Cooper S?
Discussion
Can anyone give me a bit of advice?
I've just emailed Mini about this and would appreciate any comments.
On 16 December 2009, we purchased this vehicle from (dealer name provided).
The car had about 3,500 miles on the clock and was an ex-demonstrator.
A few weeks back, and still with less than 10,000 miles on the clock, the clutch went and took the flywheel with it.
When I told the dealer that, in our opinion, it should have been a warranty issue they denied this and would not release the car without cleared funds – about £1,820 worth, inclusive of VAT.
We have paid this to get the car back but I am advised by both ATS and others, that a clutch should not go like this and just wonder how it was driven as a demonstrator.
Either way, I still strongly feel that this should have been a warranty claim and would appreciate your comments please.
Surely, the clutch should last longer than this!
I've just emailed Mini about this and would appreciate any comments.
On 16 December 2009, we purchased this vehicle from (dealer name provided).
The car had about 3,500 miles on the clock and was an ex-demonstrator.
A few weeks back, and still with less than 10,000 miles on the clock, the clutch went and took the flywheel with it.
When I told the dealer that, in our opinion, it should have been a warranty issue they denied this and would not release the car without cleared funds – about £1,820 worth, inclusive of VAT.
We have paid this to get the car back but I am advised by both ATS and others, that a clutch should not go like this and just wonder how it was driven as a demonstrator.
Either way, I still strongly feel that this should have been a warranty claim and would appreciate your comments please.
Surely, the clutch should last longer than this!
They have responded....
Thank you for your email dated April 13, 2011, regarding your experiences with your MINI. I appreciate you are disappointed that your vehicle has required a replacement clutch and flywheel, due to its relatively low mileage and it being an ex demonstrator model. I am sorry for the concern this matter is causing you.
I can confirm that MINI ensure all our vehicles are constructed to the highest build quality tolerances, utilising the best quality materials and leading edge technology. Thus being the case, we would like to think our customers experience fewer problems than they might with other brands. However, we are of course realistic and do recognise that there may be occasions when components may fail and need to be replaced earlier than we would like. It is for this reason that we supply all our new vehicles with a comprehensive three year dealer warranty, with the option to extend this before it expires. This policy is in place to protect our customers in the event of a manufacturing related fault.
I acknowledge that you feel the clutch and flywheel on your MINI have required replacement prematurely and I can advise you that MINI collate failure reports, customer feedback and part order information, to determine if a fault is common. The premature failure of the clutch and flywheel is not an inherent fault, therefore, no action has been taken to carry out repairs free of charge.
In order to progress your enquiry, I have been in contact with Mr XXXX, Service Manager at XXXXXXXXX. He has advised that due to the nature of the clutch, it is subject to wear and tear and Mr XXXXXX confirmed that, after inspection, the issue your vehicle has experienced was not due to a manufacturing defect. Whilst I understand that the repair costs have caused concern to you and it is disappointing that this has happened, it is difficult to determine the average lifespan of components that are subject to this kind of wear.
I apologise that you have had cause to write to us under these circumstances and understand that you are concerned about how your MINI has been driven as an ex demonstrator model and I can advise you that, should your vehicle experience any further issues that a MINI Approved Dealership consider to be caused by a manufacturing defect, they are able to raise this matter directly with us.
I have logged your disappointment on our system under case number --------, which will be used as part of our ongoing product auditing programme. If you have any future queries, please do not hesitate to contact me.
b
ks springs to mind!
Thank you for your email dated April 13, 2011, regarding your experiences with your MINI. I appreciate you are disappointed that your vehicle has required a replacement clutch and flywheel, due to its relatively low mileage and it being an ex demonstrator model. I am sorry for the concern this matter is causing you.
I can confirm that MINI ensure all our vehicles are constructed to the highest build quality tolerances, utilising the best quality materials and leading edge technology. Thus being the case, we would like to think our customers experience fewer problems than they might with other brands. However, we are of course realistic and do recognise that there may be occasions when components may fail and need to be replaced earlier than we would like. It is for this reason that we supply all our new vehicles with a comprehensive three year dealer warranty, with the option to extend this before it expires. This policy is in place to protect our customers in the event of a manufacturing related fault.
I acknowledge that you feel the clutch and flywheel on your MINI have required replacement prematurely and I can advise you that MINI collate failure reports, customer feedback and part order information, to determine if a fault is common. The premature failure of the clutch and flywheel is not an inherent fault, therefore, no action has been taken to carry out repairs free of charge.
In order to progress your enquiry, I have been in contact with Mr XXXX, Service Manager at XXXXXXXXX. He has advised that due to the nature of the clutch, it is subject to wear and tear and Mr XXXXXX confirmed that, after inspection, the issue your vehicle has experienced was not due to a manufacturing defect. Whilst I understand that the repair costs have caused concern to you and it is disappointing that this has happened, it is difficult to determine the average lifespan of components that are subject to this kind of wear.
I apologise that you have had cause to write to us under these circumstances and understand that you are concerned about how your MINI has been driven as an ex demonstrator model and I can advise you that, should your vehicle experience any further issues that a MINI Approved Dealership consider to be caused by a manufacturing defect, they are able to raise this matter directly with us.
I have logged your disappointment on our system under case number --------, which will be used as part of our ongoing product auditing programme. If you have any future queries, please do not hesitate to contact me.
b
ks springs to mind!Well they have got away with it.
Mini said the dealer reckoned it was wear and tear and inferred that it was down to the driver. Neither the dealer not Mini were prepared to do anything about it, so that is going to be the last Mini that we buy and we've bought four so far.
As Mini are owned by BMW and based at the same dealership, I doubt we'll be buying any more BMWs either and we've had a few of those too.
Their Customer Service is pathetic......
Mini said the dealer reckoned it was wear and tear and inferred that it was down to the driver. Neither the dealer not Mini were prepared to do anything about it, so that is going to be the last Mini that we buy and we've bought four so far.
As Mini are owned by BMW and based at the same dealership, I doubt we'll be buying any more BMWs either and we've had a few of those too.
Their Customer Service is pathetic......
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