MINI USA Is Tweaking its Free Maintenance Program for 2017
For the first time we can remember MINI is tweaking what its free maintenance program covers. While it’s not quit comparable to the big changes in BMW’s program (which has been shortened to match MINI’s), they are still worth noting. And perhaps being disappointed about.
As before, all new MINI vehicles will come with 3-year, 36,000 mile, free maintenance for 2017. As it is with the current program this coverage is non-transferable. What is changing is what is covered. More specifically the following items have been removed from coverage of the new program:
– Brake pads
– Brake discs
– Wiper baldes
– Engine drive belts
– MT clutches
To coincide with this change, this March 2016 MINI will begin to offer an additional range of fully transferable dealer-sold MPU products that provide an opportunity to further enhance and extend coverage. However the key word there is offer. They will not be free.
<p>Same things were removed from BMW maintenance program as well. Also BMW reduced the maintenance from 4 years to 3. I never got brakes on my 2007 Cooper in the three year period, it needed them in year 4. Fortuneatley my BMW still has the 4 year plan without the new exclusions.</p>
<p>I purchased my MINI in August of 2015. Will my service contract be grandfathered in? It’s in my contract. So basically the service contract covers oil changes only. Which is recommended every 10 – 15K miles. Which means the average driver only receives 2 – 3 free oil changes. Which at any shop, other than MINI, that’s about $150 worth of changes. That makes for a pretty lousy “Free” Maintenance plan. Woo Hoo for that……. (sarcastically). That’s hardly a benefit considering we spend $25 to $40K on our MINIs.
But don’t get me wrong; I LOVE my MINI Countryman S!</p>
<p>Lisa, you have no need to worry. This change will be effective on MY2017 vehicles and up.</p>
<p>Awesome! Thanks Zachary!</p>
<p>Wow that sucks. I just got my front brake pads changed under the warranty last week (One week before the plan expires). Also I’m not the original owner. I saw the maintenance plan as one of the benefits of buying a MINI, new or used.</p>
<p>well, looks like it’ll be a benefit (however small) of buying a new one soon.</p>
<p>I am somewhat disappointed but not sure many customers actually had the benefit of the brakes being done before 36k or 3 years anyhow, so many won’t be affected directly. The clutch shouldn’t wear out anyway and any drive belts should be a warranty issue I would think, but clearly they aren’t… hmm…. Wiper blades, seriously? They are like $2…</p>
<p>+1 on the wiper blades.</p>
<p>Now that you mention it, I am not too disappointed that BMW/MINI are removing these. I had an ’07, and my clutch was never changed after ownership and my sister has ’11 BMW X3 and she is now just replacing her brakes</p>
<p><a href="http://www.minipartsmass.com/parts/2015/Mini/Cooper/index.cfm?action=partDetail&section=BODY%20HARDWARE&group=WINDSHIELD&subgroup=WIPER%20%26%20WASHER%20COMPONENTS&component=Wiper%20blade&partnumber=61610040534&vehicleid=422320&siteid=215989" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.minipartsmass.com/parts/2015/Mini/Cooper/index.cfm?action=partDetail&section=BODY%20HARDWARE&group=WINDSHIELD&subgroup=WIPER%20%26%20WASHER%20COMPONENTS&component=Wiper%20blade&partnumber=61610040534&vehicleid=422320&siteid=215989</a></p>
<p>$30.95 actually but it’s still taking away something we liked.
<a href="http://tinyurl.com/h993sa9" rel="nofollow ugc">http://tinyurl.com/h993sa9</a></p>
<p>Dear MINI,
This is a bad idea.</p>
<p>Thank you.</p>
<p>It’s the wiper blades that really exemplify penny-pinching at its worst. The rubber blade costs, what, maybe a few cents wholesale, and a couple dollars retail. Replacing those is really cheap goodwill for customers, and it’s visible, unlike oil & filters.</p>
<p>Better check on that retail that you’re talking about. I’ll bet it is north of $25. for them. BMW’s are $47. to replace. Of course, aftermarket wipers are CHEAPER, in more ways than one.</p>
<p>Not the full wiper assembly. Just the rubber insert. They retail for about $6 each: <a href="http://www.minipartsmass.com/partlocator/index.cfm?action=MorePartInfo&PartID=876580&siteid=215989&catalogid=7659" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.minipartsmass.com/partlocator/index.cfm?action=MorePartInfo&PartID=876580&siteid=215989&catalogid=7659</a></p>
<p>sure, if you own a 1st generation MINI (which your link is for).
While perhaps just the rubber could be changed on the 3rd gens, MINI is currently replacing the whole assembly.</p>
<p>Is there anything left besides oil & filter now? This must be the new “Minimalism” that MINI keeps talking about.</p>
<p>The maintenance program has always been and currently is fully transferable to the next owner. In fact, the maintenance program was tied to the car – not the owner. Starting with 2017+ model years does it sound like only the first owner can benefit of the maintenance program.</p>