Servicing sharp practice

[Padron]

My wife phoned me in a panic saying her 2019 Mini was showing a powertrain alert message.

It sounded pretty serious and was offering to call the dealer.

I checked it out when I got home.

The oil level is fine and there are no fault codes, it’s just a week overdue its annual service, which for a car that gets its oil changed every 2 years is trivial. It’s only done 5,000 miles in that time.

I was actually planning to book it in for its service and rang them up, the had availability the day after tomorrow.

Talk about the hard sell and borderline deceptive practice!

[ChocolateFrog]

The real sharp practice is when they realise its only done £5k, check the dipstick to see if the oil still looks relatively clean and then just tell you it's been changed without doing anything.

Happens way more often than people think.

[GeniusOfLove]

ChocolateFrog said:

The real sharp practice is when they realise its only done £5k, check the dipstick to see if the oil still looks relatively clean and then just tell you it's been changed without doing anything.

Happens way more often than people think.

I have lost count of the number of times I've had a middle aged car wtih full history, often full dealer service history, and taken out cabin and even air filters with dates on them that suggest they've not been replaced since the car left the factory. Taken out a few totally blocked and collapsed oil filter elements from cars with a claimed service a few months ago too.

The techs in main dealers particularly are under enormous pressure on time.

OP is right about Minis in particular liking to go full Defcon 1 "The Russians are Coming!" alert on the dash over service reminders though. That powertrain alert is a particular winner for me because they often have it on auction cars and people assume it's something terrible (it's a BMW, it easily could be something terrible) so they sell for buttons.

[venster70]

Going over the interval is not wise, because they can use that to avoid any warranty claims.

Another sharp practice!

(assuming you have any tangible warranty)

[Padron]

GeniusOfLove said:

OP is right about Minis in particular liking to go full Defcon 1 "The Russians are Coming!" alert on the dash over service reminders though.

[mmm-five]

So was it showing a 'powertrain warning' message after all, or was it just your wife misinterpreting an amber/red service symbol that came up?

[Padron]

I’m not sure but certainly today the warning looked pretty scary even to me with a bit of knowledge unless you actually realise that

Lots of red text and exclamation points and you can’t clear the screen without a lot of effort.

It looks like a ‘serious fault do not drive’ type of thing even technically doesn’t say so.

It’s pretty clearly intended to panic the uninformed user (as it did)

Bad form Mini I say.

[GeniusOfLove]

Padron said:

I m not sure but certainly today the warning looked pretty scary even to me with a bit of knowledge unless you actually realise that

Lots of red text and exclamation points and you can t clear the screen without a lot of effort.

It looks like a serious fault do not drive type of thing even technically doesn t say so.

It s pretty clearly intended to panic the uninformed user (as it did)

Bad form Mini I say.

When the brake pads are getting a bit low they illuminate the brake warning light and show you a red "vehicle on a lift" icon every time you start it up too so you think there is a really serious brake system issue unless you know better, rather than "I'll need pads in the next 500 to 1000 miles".

It might be deliberate because they know the sort of people who buy Minis are reasonably likely not to pay much attention to maintenance, funny noises, smoke, flames etc.

[otolith]

GeniusOfLove said:

When the brake pads are getting a bit low they illuminate the brake warning light and show you a red "vehicle on a lift" icon every time you start it up too so you think there is a really serious brake system issue unless you know better, rather than "I'll need pads in the next 500 to 1000 miles".

If Mini dealerships are anything like BMW dealerships, I'm surprised that anyone have ever managed to get their pads past half worn without being persuaded that they need replacing...

[James_N]

GeniusOfLove said:

I have lost count of the number of times I've had a middle aged car wtih full history, often full dealer service history, and taken out cabin and even air filters with dates on them that suggest they've not been replaced since the car left the factory. Taken out a few totally blocked and collapsed oil filter elements from cars with a claimed service a few months ago too.

All the more reasons to do the basics yourself.

I had my car a year now, purchased from a small independent. No service history with it, but it was a Peugeot 107 with 43k on, so simple enough to work on myself (even with my VERY small amount of experience, plenty of youtube videos out there).

I made the mistake of not asking about the service history, but did the spark plugs and air filter the other day. Air filter was from 11/2023 and i assume the spark plugs the same.

[Sheepshanks]

Padron said:

The oil level is fine and there are no fault codes, it s just a week overdue its annual service, which for a car that gets its oil changed every 2 years is trivial. It s only done 5,000 miles in that time.

I was actually planning to book it in for its service and rang them up, the had availability the day after tomorrow.

Amazing they can do it that quickly - all the dealers we use are on multi-week leadtimes. Daughter rang up about her Skoda when the service light came on the other day and they (pretty big dealer) can't do it for 6 weeks, and that's just taking it and dropping it off.

On the Mini, if it's just doing very short journeys and you're going to keep it for some years, I'd be minded to change the oil annually. It gets condensation it it and turns acidic.

[Padron]

James_N said:

GeniusOfLove said:

I have lost count of the number of times I've had a middle aged car wtih full history, often full dealer service history, and taken out cabin and even air filters with dates on them that suggest they've not been replaced since the car left the factory. Taken out a few totally blocked and collapsed oil filter elements from cars with a claimed service a few months ago too.

All the more reasons to do the basics yourself.

I had my car a year now, purchased from a small independent. No service history with it, but it was a Peugeot 107 with 43k on, so simple enough to work on myself (even with my VERY small amount of experience, plenty of youtube videos out there).

I made the mistake of not asking about the service history, but did the spark plugs and air filter the other day. Air filter was from 11/2023 and i assume the spark plugs the same.

Definitely, I used to get the oil changed on my BMW because I was being glassy, but guy the air filter from the parts desk on the way out and fit it in the car park.

I don't mind them reminding about servicing, and my wife likes that it has a full main dealer history but I wish they'd just be a bit more open and instead of saying 'warning, your Mini is about to self-destruct;' they just said 'Look, it's been over 2 years since you crossed our palms with silver, Christmas is coming and Tiny Tim, the dealers invalid child is so looking forward to his presents, so could you please book an overpriced service at the next opportunity?'

[Spare tyre]

ChocolateFrog said:

The real sharp practice is when they realise its only done £5k, check the dipstick to see if the oil still looks relatively clean and then just tell you it's been changed without doing anything.

Happens way more often than people think.

My Hyundai had a service without moving or starting, remarkably all the contents of the glovebox (lots of crap) was in exactly the same position - you have to tip the glovebox to change a filter

The oil filter had mud spray on it (mid August) and the locking wheel nut key was still balanced on the steering wheel where I’m left it

As a gesture of good will, they did look into in and service it a”second time”

[bobtail4x4]

dropped my wifes Mii in this morning, for service and a battery check

"its a big service this time, we need to change sparkplugs as well as oil and all filters, and brakefluid"

er its ELECTRIC,

shuffle of feet "er oh,"

now half the price he was asking,

[Sheepshanks]

bobtail4x4 said:

dropped my wifes Mii in this morning, for service and a battery check

"its a big service this time, we need to change sparkplugs as well as oil and all filters, and brakefluid"

er its ELECTRIC,

shuffle of feet "er oh,"

now half the price he was asking,

Took wife's Karoq for service. It has a service plan. Advisor told me it's due a spark plug change - cost £172!! I said "no problem, it's got a service plan". "Oh no", they said almost before I'd finished as this is obviously a well practiced routine, "they're not included in the service plan". WTF?

I still refused them, the car has only done 12K and the mileage interval for plugs is 40K.

[Tango13]

You lot moaning about main dealers ripping you off should try using a back street garage if you want something to moan about.

Every time I take mine for a service it always seems to be my bloody turn to buy the sausage rolls from the bakery, if i want coffee from from a clean mug not only do I have to wash the mug first but I somehow end up making the coffee for everyone else too...

'We ate the last biscuits yesterday and haven't got round to buying some more' is a conversation that seems happen all to frequently as well

[Auto810graphy]

Padron said:

My wife phoned me in a panic saying her 2019 Mini was showing a powertrain alert message.

It sounded pretty serious and was offering to call the dealer.

I checked it out when I got home.

The oil level is fine and there are no fault codes, it s just a week overdue its annual service, which for a car that gets its oil changed every 2 years is trivial. It s only done 5,000 miles in that time.

I was actually planning to book it in for its service and rang them up, the had availability the day after tomorrow.

Talk about the hard sell and borderline deceptive practice!

Well done on getting a Sunday booking!

In future it may be worth looking out for the service countdown that comes on for about a year 12,000 miles before it’s due.

[Robster]

It will be for a transmission service , due approx every 6 years , no warning of it the car has a sensor that determines when needed , will show drivetrain error and /or transmission service on the I drive , very important to get it done asap , seen loads of issues where it's not been done in time

[mmm-five]

Tango13 said:

You lot moaning about main dealers ripping you off should try using a back street garage if you want something to moan about.

Every time I take mine for a service it always seems to be my bloody turn to buy the sausage rolls from the bakery, if i want coffee from from a clean mug not only do I have to wash the mug first but I somehow end up making the coffee for everyone else too...

'We ate the last biscuits yesterday and haven't got round to buying some more' is a conversation that seems happen all to frequently as well

If I want my specialist to actually start working on mine I have to provide the breakfast butties, KrispyKremes, Greggs, tea/coffee, etc. Otherwise they'll only get round to it once they feel like it.

[Sir Keith Stormer]

mmm-five said:

If I want my specialist to actually start working on mine I have to provide the breakfast butties, KrispyKremes, Greggs, tea/coffee, etc. Otherwise they'll only get round to it once they feel like it.

Same here, my local Mercedes specialist (me) refuses to turn a spanner until he s loaded up with chocolate digestives and tea, the lazy b@stard, but on the upside his hourly rate is low (£0 per hour) and he pays for and supplies all of the parts.
What’s even worse is that he’ll only work on weekends, he says that Monday to Friday he has something called “a job” as if, these specialists will tell you anything.

Edited by Sir Keith Stormer on Friday 3rd October 20:02