Back to the Dealer

roadtrip: Knoxville to Atlanta
odometer reading: 14,000 n holding

After spending way too much time in airports these past two days, it came time to call MINI roadside assistance and have Mr. Q transported back to the dealer. The original agreement was that I would call the service advisor after the car was picked up, give him the name of the nearest Enterprise car rental, and he would arrange for a rental. I would then pick my car up in Atlanta on the 31st.

The tow truck came, and Mr Q left strapped down to the flat bed. I called the service advisor and got nothing but attitude. Apparently he remembered nothing ouf our conversations so I had to run through the whole thing again until the lightbulbs came on. Rental had been arranged and off I went to get the substitute car. I tell the gal it's a one way rental since I'll need to drive to Atlanta to pick up my car at the dealer. This becomes a huge problem. Enterprise doesn't do one way rentals. The service advisors asks to speak to me, and he is quite pissed off. Oh well, it's his fault. How did he expect me to get my car if it's in their shop? He says MINI will not pick up the $200 cost for doing this. He then tries to make it my problem. I have to have someone drive down with me to return the car. I have to have someone from the dealer follow me home. How long will I be in town, what will I be doing. Well, you know what? That's none of his damn business, and no I am not going to put upon someone to drive down to Atlanta with me on a holiday weekend. The service advisor admitted he just didn't think things through. Hmmm, ya think?

I took the rental while he is figuring out exactly how I will get the car back. I did call and leave a message for him, I offered to use my corporate account for rate at Hertz , told him the price for a one day rental, and said I would not have a problkem dropping it at Hartsfield since I can get to where I am staying via Marta. I did also offer to split the cost, but added I do not feel I should. I figure I have to be somewhat nice about it sine I gave him in no uncertain terms what I expect to be done with my car should they continue to claim there is nothing wrong with it.

I am quite certain MINI/BMW will say nothing is wrong with the car. The problem does not show up in diagnostics, and is sporadic. However, I did place a BMW service bulletin on my front seat that outlines the same problem in BMW's and the solution, with a note saying perhaps this might be something to investigate. I was clear if I get that car back and it's not running right, they will downgrade the computer system. (an upgrade started this whole mess). The service advisor is telling me they can't do that, even the factory couldn't do that. As a former software developer I know no one likes to downgrade, I know the risks involved, but I also know it is possible. Can't isn't an option here. I also talked with BMW North America and got confirmation from them that the computer can be downgraded, they just don't like to do it. There's a lot of things I don't like to do. Tough tacks. This car needs to be running right again.