Help needed urgently =(
Discussion
Hello,
I'm new and hoping you lovely people could offer me some advice on a recent Mini Cooper 54 I've just purchased, costing £6,299:
I bought the car on finance from a small dealer on Saturday. It went for a service on the Monday-was taken by the dealer to Mini, and they discovered a slight leak of gearbox oil coming from passenger side driveshaft. They thought it would just be the seal, so the dealer booked it into the gargage-at no cost to me because the car has 3 months warranty. I was updated then on the fact that the garage would replace both d/shaft seals-this confused me because it was orginally passenger and then drivers..But I left it up to the experts. Anyway they had the car for 3 days and in that time they fitted the seals to it-which they then said would only last around 6 months as they didn't fit correctly, so the dealer asked for them to fit correct seals. They ordered the seals from BMW, and they fitted them, and then again, they said they weren't correct. They called BMW and they sent a BMW specialist(apparently) and he said the gearbox is BMW and not Rover-which is seen in most Mini Coopers. So, once again they fit the 'correct' seals and send it back to me. I get it to work, parked up for 3 hours and there is a big puddle of oil under the car. My dad checks it over once I get it home (around 3 miles from work) and he said it's leaking from the gearbox AGAIN! So the car has been picked up this morning and taken back to garage (My dad said the gearbox could knacker up with anymore driving) but they've driven it to the garage (around another 3 miles down the road) and they are looking at the car.
My concern is that in a years time, or once my warranty has expired, I'm going to have to fork out for new gearbox as it's most probably knackered if it's had a leak for sometime now. What do you all suggest or could you offer reassurance that the car would last after this?
Many thanks, Kelly
I'm new and hoping you lovely people could offer me some advice on a recent Mini Cooper 54 I've just purchased, costing £6,299:
I bought the car on finance from a small dealer on Saturday. It went for a service on the Monday-was taken by the dealer to Mini, and they discovered a slight leak of gearbox oil coming from passenger side driveshaft. They thought it would just be the seal, so the dealer booked it into the gargage-at no cost to me because the car has 3 months warranty. I was updated then on the fact that the garage would replace both d/shaft seals-this confused me because it was orginally passenger and then drivers..But I left it up to the experts. Anyway they had the car for 3 days and in that time they fitted the seals to it-which they then said would only last around 6 months as they didn't fit correctly, so the dealer asked for them to fit correct seals. They ordered the seals from BMW, and they fitted them, and then again, they said they weren't correct. They called BMW and they sent a BMW specialist(apparently) and he said the gearbox is BMW and not Rover-which is seen in most Mini Coopers. So, once again they fit the 'correct' seals and send it back to me. I get it to work, parked up for 3 hours and there is a big puddle of oil under the car. My dad checks it over once I get it home (around 3 miles from work) and he said it's leaking from the gearbox AGAIN! So the car has been picked up this morning and taken back to garage (My dad said the gearbox could knacker up with anymore driving) but they've driven it to the garage (around another 3 miles down the road) and they are looking at the car.
My concern is that in a years time, or once my warranty has expired, I'm going to have to fork out for new gearbox as it's most probably knackered if it's had a leak for sometime now. What do you all suggest or could you offer reassurance that the car would last after this?
Many thanks, Kelly
Edited by MissKelly on Friday 10th September 13:37
Kelly if it was me I would be asking BMW about the likelihood of the gearbox suffering excessive wear and tear due to the oil leak and then put it to the dealer that you bought the car off that you either want some money back to cover the fault or they replace the gearbox. What it boils down to is they have sold you a car that is faulty, fair enough they are trying to fix the fault but until it is fixed there is a chance that the car will suffer. I would be asking some tough questions of the dealer. I think you have to give them a chance to fix before you go after them for costs or returning the car. But I am no expert in this area, maybe try SP&L instead?!?!
Thank you for your reply =)
I had a phonecall from the dealer Friday and they've said there is a problem inside the gearbox and because they have to get inside it, they might aswell refurbish it. So it was sent away on Friday to be refurbished. Is this as good as a new one? Or is there chance of this failing in the next few years?
I had a phonecall from the dealer Friday and they've said there is a problem inside the gearbox and because they have to get inside it, they might aswell refurbish it. So it was sent away on Friday to be refurbished. Is this as good as a new one? Or is there chance of this failing in the next few years?
Just for your info
The first MINI Coopers and MINI ones has gearboxes made by a company called Midland - they are made of cheese and there were problems.
The Cooper S had from launch had a gearbox made by Getrag which is stronger. When the MINI was facelifted in July / August 2004 the Coopers and Ones swapped over and had Getrag boxes as well - this might be causing them the confusion with the seals as midland made rover boxes and Getrag make BMW boxes. There was also a recall on the very early getrag boxes in coopers for some linkage adjustment as they were a bugger to get into reverse.......
I know all this because I had a 54 cooper from new - if its black and white in 17" S lites and the plate starts BV then I want it back!!
The first MINI Coopers and MINI ones has gearboxes made by a company called Midland - they are made of cheese and there were problems.
The Cooper S had from launch had a gearbox made by Getrag which is stronger. When the MINI was facelifted in July / August 2004 the Coopers and Ones swapped over and had Getrag boxes as well - this might be causing them the confusion with the seals as midland made rover boxes and Getrag make BMW boxes. There was also a recall on the very early getrag boxes in coopers for some linkage adjustment as they were a bugger to get into reverse.......
I know all this because I had a 54 cooper from new - if its black and white in 17" S lites and the plate starts BV then I want it back!!
Haha, I'm afraid it starts with DY54. How do I go about finding out whether the previous owner took the Mini in when it was recalled? Does this matter now it's having a refurbished gearbox on? Also, I've asked the dealer to get the garage to check the clutch too-as I've read the oil leakage can cause damage to clutch and when I drove it it was kangarooing in 1st gear when I was in traffic. Is it just a clunk noise I should look out for if the clutch is going?
If you take your car to a MINI dealer they can stick the key in their machine and it tells them all about the car - should be able to tell if the recall was done, as I said it was just an adjustment as they were a pain to get into reverse - no massive deal.
I see no reason why a recon box shouldn't be absoutely fine.
You can tell the clutch is going when it starts to slip - if you drive up a steep hill you can feel it, also it shouldn't bite very high up the pedal travel.
If they are taking the gearbox out anyway then any decent mechanic should check the wear on the clutch.
I see no reason why a recon box shouldn't be absoutely fine.
You can tell the clutch is going when it starts to slip - if you drive up a steep hill you can feel it, also it shouldn't bite very high up the pedal travel.
If they are taking the gearbox out anyway then any decent mechanic should check the wear on the clutch.
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