Financing for Service Dept Repairs????

[MiniDave]

Our local BMW/MINI dealer now offers financing for your MINI repairs.....this just boggles my mind, for a number of reasons. First that people can't afford how expensive it is to fix their cars today (or buy a new one) and second, that you can borrow money to do car repairs.......from the dealer. :-\

[gr8kornholio]

Not surprised.  All the European makes are going to the Porsche model where you can not under any circumstance service your own vehicle (well unless you rent the software at an annual cost of $18K).  This has improved their reliability scores but I'd expect that, with the cost of the needed maintenance. 

We got the same song and dance from BMW, Mercedes, Audi, Porsche and Land Rover.  Annual oil change was $600-$800 and the 3 and 4 year intervals were in the $1500-$2500 range.  It wouldn't surprise me if MINI is following along.  Also why not finance your repairs like you finance a car... more money for dealership. 

O yea, Volvo was the other, but they have up front maintenance plans you can purchase at the time of buying the car so there you are seriously just financing your maintenance cost.

[BruceK]

I remember taking my '02 MINI to the dealer while it was still under warranty (so circa 2004) and the service manager told me the car needed new brakes.  That was pretty surprising because it only had around 30K miles on it - but the OEM brake pads were typical BMW-spec (super soft and basically just made out of black powder designed to coat the wheels). 

He said a brake job on the MINI would cost about $600 to $700 and I just laughed at him.  I said he must be used dealing with BMW owners who'd just pay that without blinking, and I told him that I suspected that a lot of MINI owners would look at alternatives - such as doing the brakes themselves or looking at having an independent shop to do the work for 1/3 to 1/2 the dealer price.  He looked at me like I farted in church.


Not everyone worries about the cost of keeping a German car running. My sister in law and her husband are Audi nuts - he has a TT and she has an A6 coupe.  Personally, I don't think much of the brand - fancy pants unreliable VWs they are to me.  But they are really sold on the brand and have owned a number of Ingolstat's finest.  However they are not so sold that they actually hold onto their cars once they approach the end of the warranty period.  As the ticking time bomb of having to pay for their own maintenance/repairs looms, they visit their 'friend' the Audi salesman and trade in for new cars.  Like clockwork.  Somehow this makes sense to them.

[MiniDave]

We've looked long and hard at replacing our Audi every time it farts, but I've found most of the time I can do the repairs and they aren't really expensive. Buying a new (or even newer) Audi? Now THAT'S expensive! Currently it beeps a warning light (looks like temp) every time it starts cold, I have a feeling it's just another sensor failure - only the second one I've replaced. However, doing the timing belt on this car is stupid hard, and expensive - I got it done for far less than the $2100 the dealer wanted - but it was still spendy.

I remember when Bruce had to buy an alternator for his wife's Volvo, that pretty much sealed the fate of that car - and they now drive a much more reliable/less expensive to service Japanese built car.

[BruceK]

I remember when Bruce had to buy an alternator for his wife's Volvo, that pretty much sealed the fate of that car - and they now drive a much more reliable/less expensive to service Japanese built car.

Yeah, my wife was 300 miles away on a weekend trip and the Volvo (a entry-level S40 with about 100K miles) just died on the side of the road.  Miraculously, a nearby Volvo dealer's service center was open on a Saturday afternoon, so the car was towed there. The dealer diagnosed a combo alternator/battery failure and only charged like $1400 (!) to put the car back on the road that day (allowing my wife to return home ready for work on Monday).

That next week we began the process to dump that Euro time bomb and look for a Japanese car. It's been 4 years of Infiniti ownership (bought used) and so far $0 spent on repairs or unscheduled maintenance. 

[gr8kornholio]

The brakes on the 07 MINI were in the $1300 range.  Pads-rotors-fluid-sensors.  Most people just put willwood kits on.  The japanese cars are great for reliability, but not sure on some of thier recent styling ideas.  Everything seems to be going civic type R extra body cladding and all kinds of random angles.  I'm really starting to hate modern cars.

[94touring]

I think Jen was quoted 700 to do brakes on the BMW.  I can buy all new rotors and pads for a fraction of that and have them done myself in an afternoon.  It only needs pads done for now regardless.

[jedduh01]

We're very much a Minority here that actually can and tackle our own repairs and maintenance.
    ..   I work in an office and hear the service stories of every ones 'new' cars....

   its going to be the electronics and computer requirements that will keep me OUT of newer vehicles. 2006 is my newest in the fleet, as time goes on more support comes along for the electronics portion but you have to be willing to wait and learn, at this point buy a PC from a forum guy loaded with volvo sofwware.... im sure its on certain cars that brakes must be reset by computer only = along with electronic parking brake systems....

A Co worker was quoted $1400 for brakes on her Lexus -   Lexus Dealer is also CYA = so they want to do Pads + Rotors + Fluid flush. + 4 -5 hrs labor
    Her car has ~45-50K... 2 years old...  I call it new.. and needs all front brakes.. I don't think so...Pads only please - she picked up new Lexus OEm  pads from another Toyota dealer wholesale online for 75$   and brakes will get done simply and easily.  She took it in for a low tire pressure warning .. took 45 min to get the car back in for 'NITROGEN' check... Oh your brakes are low = then came the brake quote.

[94touring]

We also wanted to get rid of the run flats for normal tires and was told it would damage the drivetrain.   :-[

[gr8kornholio]

And if for some crazy reason you did get drive train damage not using run flats and it was during warranty period they would use that as a way to deny warranty.

[Jims5543]

in a moment of stupidity I took my FJ to Toyota for a diagnosis and quote.

I already knew the rear wheel bearings were bad, since I do not have a hydraulic press I figured I would see what they charge.  I also had some idiot lights on, I suspected a bad sensor, my OBDII reader would not tell me anything.

They came back with a quote to fix "all my problems" at $4,300.  My rear axle bearing alone were going to cost $1800.

My one CV shaft was shot, I knew that, was not worried about it.

Then it turned into a negotiation game like buying a car. WTF!! when did service turn into this?

I asked for my truck to be ready to be picked up and will never go there again.

I have the same laundry list of items fixed at a corner indy whop for $1800 out the door. Including a radiator flush and power steering flush.

That is why Stealerships are offering financing. Service has turned into the new car sales.

[jeff10049]

yep, I am amazed at the cost of dealerships I consider my shop to be a top-notch facility. And charge accordingly yet we are always less than half sometimes only a quarter of the dealer cost.
Just did an alternator in a first gen mini for a customer alterntor was $300 I marked it up to $400 charged an hour labor came to $575 with a new belt. The dealer wanted over 600 just for the alternator total job from dealer was going to be over a grand. Same brand belt and alternator by the way.

[tmsmini]

I guess it is too far to drive for my son's R53 MINI service from the Bay Area...

[jeff10049]

What type of service? You guys should just do it yourselves the cars are pretty easy to work on. Don't forget to change the supercharger oil at some point preferably before it hits 100k miles.
Or if you run a pully to spin the charger faster than change it every 50k or sooner. You might consider a kit from imperial mini that makes future changes easy. http://imperialmini.com/

[MiniDave]

Like my twin turbo Audi  - it is NOT easy to do just about anything on it. I've done most everything up until recently....if it has a major problem like a transmission or turbo go out it will cost 2-3 times what the car is worth to fix it. Still cheaper than buying a new one, but at some point my wife worries that it will break down on her or not start from home and she'll be stranded.

At one point a few weeks ago the only car we had that would start and was drivable was my classic Mini!

[jeff10049]

LOL, I have actually had to depend on a classic mini a few times used an spi mini as a daily driver for a year once put 20k on it in one year. The classics and the 2004 bini have been the ole standby rigs when everything else breaks they will run. Although I wouldn't winter drive the 60 like I did the spi car the floors were already rotten on the spi. 

[Jims5543]

This is why I am a Toyota fanatic.

My 2004 Tacoma has 150K miles on it, needed nothing.

My 2007 FJ Cruiser, 185K miles, rear axle bearings, CV Shaft and alternator. I plan on keeping it forever.

I just picked up another Toyota, see pics thread, that will be abused and will never complain.

FYI - We now have over 60K miles on the BMW i3 and has needed nothing more than tires. - Remarkable car!! Almost as good as my FJ and MUCH cheaper to run, when you do the math it gets 90 MPG and will toast any car on the road from a red light. LOL!!

[MiniDave]

My 2009 MINI (95K now) has needed exactly nothing. I've done routine oil changes, and maint like brakes and a water pump. That's it.

Other MINI owners have not been so lucky tho.....

[Jims5543]

My 2009 MINI (95K now) has needed exactly nothing. I've done routine oil changes, and maint like brakes and a water pump. That's it.

Other MINI owners have not been so lucky tho.....

My FJ and Tacoma have not needed a water pump. Blows my mind how well built they are.