MINI Next

Sections: MF Feature | Rumor Mar 3rd, 2005 27 Comments

We’ve got another MotoringFile scoop for you. In the next several months MINIUSA will be announcing a full certified pre-owned program called Next. According to a few reliable sources, the plan will be very similar to what BMW currently offers with its own Certified Pre-Owned program. While we don’t have a definite release date at this time, at least one source seems indicate that the program will launch this fall.

Reportedly Next will feature a comprehensive 2-year/50,000 mile protection plan (starting from the point that the original warranty expires) that will include a limited warranty and roadside assistance. Like the BMW program, Next will feature MINIs that have been thoroughly inspected by a factory-trained MINI technician before sold as certified vehicles. With Next, all scheduled maintenance is brought up to date and if something isn’t working properly or up to MINI standards, it’s repaired or replaced.

The limited warranty should cover most everything the normal factory warranty does. Notable exceptions will most likely include some suspension and electrical components as is the case with BMW Certified Pre-Owned.

We hope you bring you more information on MINI Next (and more on a potentially pretty cool and unique feature of the program) in the weeks and months ahead.

Written By: Gabe

GSKChicago

That’s pretty cool. I’m curious… Not that it matters per se, but do certified pre-owned programs tend to help resale values, hurt them or have no material affect?

I also am thinking MINI will be the first “compact” car to offer a certified pre-owned program… Granted, they are “premium” compact marketplace, but still, another MINI first is cool. :o)
http://telly.bravo5.org/blojsom/blog blalor

[...] do certified pre-owned programs tend to help resale values, hurt them or have no material affect?

My wife and I just recently bought a used car (’01 Hyundai Santa Fe) and wanted to pay cash. When we were looking, we were definitely leaning more toward buying a “certified” car from a dealer and paying a little more, versus buying private-party, which would certainly have been cheaper. At least, it seemed that way. We ended up buying a non-certified car from a dealer; just worked out that way. :-)

Regardless of what “the market” has to say about certified used (neÃƒÂ© “previously loved”) cars, we did assign a certain value to the assertion that the car had been inspected and was warranted.

Now, how this will affect private-party and non-MINI-certified values? No idea. :-)
05DSMCS

Hyundai, huh?
nfo

my question is with mini’s already crazy high resale prices, wouldn’t a “certified” used mini be almost the same price as new? i’ve been keeping my eye on the used mini market, and it’s just not really worth it…you can have new for only a few thousand more….what do you guys think?
GSKChicago

I kind of liken buying a pre-owned car to buying a house… Generally, for the same money one can buy a house that is already built and was lived in, or they can wait, buy new, customize the home the way they want it and take delivery a few months later than if they bought existing construction.

With a pre-owned MINI or other programs, some people may not be able to wait or want to wait the sometimes several months it could take to get their MINI. Some need, want or desire the instant gratification of looking today, paying today and driving home today. Whereas others are more interested in ordering exactly what they want and will wait for as long as they need to get the car.

Additionally, used cars, almost always depreciate slower than a new car (even a MINI). So some people simply buy cars that have already done most of their depreciation because they are already “used”.

That’s my take on why someone might buy a “used” or pre-owned MINI versus a new one.
http://telly.bravo5.org/blojsom/blog blalor

Hyundai, huh?

She gets the Santa Fe, I get the MINI. Seems fair to me. :-) Gotta have something to haul the 3 dogs in. It’s actually a pretty nice car. We were both surprised. Feels way more substantial than the other cars (XL-7, CRV) we seriously considered, and as substantial as an Explorer we not-so-seriously considered.
Purple Haze with LSD

I wonder how they’ll handle clutches. Currently, MINI USA apparently denies claims for the numerous prematurely worn clutch disks that many of us are experiencing. Will they tell the same to certified owners?

The clutch on my current MINI is likely glazed. I’ve never killed a clutch in less than 60K in the past, this one has 30K. It still works fine, but every once in a while it makes an unpleasant groaning noise. I’m hoping that when I trade it in for a new MINI (in the next couple of months), this won’t cause significant devaluation for my trade in (retail for a new clutch is around $1500), but I also hope that the next owner of my current car doesn’t get it in the shorts…
http://www.jwardell.com/mini/ Josh Wardell

That’s great. I think MINIs have a higher turnover late than other brands lately…just on personal experience, seeing so many of you trading in for newer MINIs. Not to mention the excellent resale value that makes that a practical decision. The warranty extension is excellent.
Evan

This is great news. Everyone else has this from parent BMW to other makers such as Toyota and Honda. It makes me feel better about finding a 2005 or 2006 MCS in a few years and getting it with a bit of a warranty. I really like that supercharger but can’t upgrade my MC for a few more years…

Thanks for the news!

Plus, I saw in the January issue of CAR (a UK only mag) a close up spy shot of the next MINI that appears to have the new hood and front bumper where the headlights are no longer integrated onto the bonnet. Hopefully it will come out alright…
http://motoringfile.com Gabe

Evan – we’ve got a ton of info on the next MINI throughout this site. In fact we just added a direct link to it all in the featured articles section at the top right.
Big Jimmy

This should be great for when I trade in mine for an ’07 with the new motor next summer… What I would like to see is what other brands are calling loyality incentives… something for returning MINI customers…
ChrisW

$1500 for a new clutch??? What am I getting myself into? (’05 MCSC on the way)
mapleleaf

If the private party resale values are already near the retail of a brand new MINI I can’t see the certified pre-owned resale price being much higher. Playing devil’s advocate here, but if the MINI Next certified cars are not much higher than private party values are now will this hurt the value of a private party sale in the long run?
Eric

BMW/MINI doesn’t need silly gimmicks like loyalty incentives to keep their customers, IMHO. Their “loyalty incentive” is making the best car out on the street. Period.
http://motoringfile.com Gabe

Eric – just curious, what do you mean by loyalty incentives? I may have missed it in the comments but I didn’t see any mentioned.
meanboy

I guess the inspection and warranty thing might be a good selling point for some people but buying it from the original owner, having a proper pre purchase inspection, and purchasing a 3rd party extended warranty will accomplish the same thing…at a lower price then the cpo program.
meanboy

Gabe,

He’s probably referring to a post by Big Jimmy that stated loyalty incentives…not the article itself.
http://motoringfile.com Gabe

Oh yeah – totally missed that comment. Now Eric makes sense :)

I concur!
todd

If anyone’s looking for an exceptional ’03 JCW (electric blue/white)with 12K miles, please contact me privately. Car is located in the Midwest. New ’05 on the way forces sale.

If Mini offered certification now, this one would be the poster child for it. Totally stock, near perfect.
Siddhartha

Ditto for an ’04 JCW Chili Red/4White.
Chris

I just remember my buddy had so many electrical problems with his New Beetle in the first year that he gave up and took it back to the dealer under the Florida Lemon Law. The next day his 1 year old bug was for sale on the lot with the big “Certified Pre-Owned” sticker on the front window.
John

BMW Group is doing all the right moves to prepare for the fast-approaching MINI used car market. I maintain that we just don’t have one that means anything, yet.

The new ’07 platform will precipitate one, and I think we’re seeing careful preparation of the dealer structure and experiences to leverage it.

Credit to them for a good marketing and sales move. This will be valuable (to BMW, to the dealers) when we have $12,000 MINI Cooper S’ available, maybe VERY valuable.
Eric

Yep Gabe, meanboy got it! ;-)

John, I think it’ll be a while before we see a dealer-sold $12k S. Were you able to check out the April Motortrend? In its final comments on its long-term 2003 S, it states that they paid for it new $25k and it is now worth this month $25,500! Hahahaha!!! I wonder how many readers will be sending them mail saying that they made a typo! Hee-hee!!! ;-)
John

For the moment that is a MINI statistic, Eric. The pattern won’t last, these are cars after all, so BMW Group is facing the situation head on with a platform to profitably manage a different scene.

They need a couple of years to get it refined before we start buying the new cars that create the shift.
Dave

Is there anyone out there that only buys certified pre-owned cars. I’m looking for one of those Suze Orman followers who simply refuses to buy a new MINI out of priciple….and has been waiting for a CPO program to open up.

I’m doing some work for the MINI NEXT ad campaign and I really need the help.

Thanks!!!!
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