From MINI UK Press:
>MINI UK’s unique money-saving tlc servicing option continues to bowl customers over by offering unrivalled value-for-money motoring and peace of mind for the first five years of MINI ownership as well as a welcome financial boost when owners come to part with their cars. Since its launch in 2001, according to Glass’s Guide* estimates, tlc has already saved UK MINI drivers in excess of £30 million, when compared to servicing costs incurred by similar small car owners, and has boosted the sales price of used MINIs by the same amount again.
>MINI tlc, available to all UK retail and fleet customers when purchased with a new MINI, covers scheduled servicing on the car for 5 years/50,000 miles, including parts and labour, for just £150 (including VAT).
>The benefits of the tlc package are not only limited to running costs, but also contribute to MINI’s rock solid residual values as any remaining tlc years pass on to the second or third owners. Consequently, when owners come to part with their MINI, Glass’s has estimated that the penalty for a seller with no tlc can be as high as £800 on a 6-12 month old car and £500 on a three year old car. Such is the value of not incurring unforeseen servicing costs to a MINI buyer. Based on SMMT Used MINI sales figures since launch, total revenue from used MINI sales has been boosted by more than £30 million as a result of tlc.
>Richard Crosthwaite, prestige car editor at Glass’s Guide, and author of the tlc savings estimates, said: “MINI is one of the slowest depreciating cars on the market, with an average three year residual value of 55 per cent; the tlc has been a major factor behind this success.â€ÂÂ
>Andy Hearn, General Manager for MINI UK, adds: “Cost of ownership has always been a MINI strength. Tlc has blazed a trail for customer value in the car industry since its launch in 2001, and at just £150 our dealers still have a job convincing some new owners there are no hidden catches!
>Next year many MINI drivers will be reaching the end of the tlc package and we fully expect the new MINI tlc XL package to take over the reins, providing continued peace of mind for up to another three years / 30,000 miles.â€ÂÂ
>MINI tlc comes on top of MINI’s standard package of class-leading aftersales packages. These include a three year/unlimited mileage warranty, six year/unlimited mileage corrosion guarantee and a three year roadside assistance programme that includes bespoke MINI service engineers, replacement loan car, full European cover and accident management.
MF Analysis:
While many in the US are not quite familiar with the term “TLC” this is really a slightly modified version of the servicing package that comes standard on our Minis sold in the US. While it is thought of as a cost saving feature in the US, saving us from unneeded maintenance repairs, it holds a much more dominant position for those in the UK. Much of this has too do with automobile reselling culture. In the US the type of service that a car has undergone, and where that service has been performed, while important is not always a leading decision maker in purchasing a used automobile. The culture in the UK drives resale values based not only on condition, but also service records. An automobile that has a completely stamped service book and full service records from a dealership or a main garage, holds a significant premium. It can mean the difference between an automobile selling quickly at a good price, or not selling at all.
In the United State, Mini is the only automobile manufacturer that currently throws in servicing for free. Mercedes was providing the same service, but discontinued the service last year. In the US the servicing is free and comes with the purchase of the vehicle. While, in the UK the servicing has to be purchased, it also comes with a much greater time length. With the UK culture this adds a significant value not only in decreased maintenance costs, but also an increase in the resale value.
>Notes:
>Richard Crosthwaite, prestige car editor at Glass’s Guide, has estimated that the MINI tlc option offered savings of £500 to new MINI owners over five years/50,000 miles when compared to a similar small car, based upon drivers covering an average of 12,000 miles per year.
>MINI tlc covers the cost of parts, lubricants and labour involved in all MINI servicing up to five years/50,000 miles, whichever comes first. The five years start from the date of first vehicle registration. Upon sale of the vehicle MINI tlc can be transferred to the new owner at no additional cost.
>MINI tlc XL adds a further three years or 30,000 miles to MINI tlc. The cost of MINI tlc XL is £300 (inc. VAT), if bought separately from MINI tlc. MINI tlc XL can only be bought for cars that have had MINI tlc when the car was first registered.
Gabe,
Many of your £ signs are followed with a “3”, making the figures shockingly high! 🙂
Fixed. But just so you know this isn’t my post. David S. wrote it. As soon as we get authors names working again it’ll be a little more obvious.
<b>I’d also like to take a minute to welcome David Szweda to MotoringFile. He brings an enthusiasm that will be a welcome addition to the site.</b>
To bad that MINI Canada hasn’t caught on to this aftersales value added program. North of the border there are no servicing packages available at all. Each owner is responsible to fork over every penny for scheduled services including oil changes at about $120 a pop.
Cheers,
Jason.
<a href="http://www.coopersport.ca" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.coopersport.ca</a>
When the original owner of my 2002 MCS purchased the car he was offered the option of extending the 36,000 mile free maintenance to 50,000 miles for a few hundred dollars. Sounds exactly like the TLC package. Unless, of course, in England if you don’t pay you don’t get any free scheduled maintenance.
The extension was nice ,in that it transferred to me when I got the car, but I would consider it a complete rip off in this case. The last scheduled service was at about 35,000 miles (covered by the basic plan) and the next scheduled service, according to the computer won’t be due until about 53,000 miles. So the extension bought absolutely no coverage.
Umm… forgive my ignorance… what’s “TLC” stand for?
<blockquote>The extension was nice ,in that it transferred to me when I got the car, but I would consider it a complete rip off in this case. The last scheduled service was at about 35,000 miles (covered by the basic plan) and the next scheduled service, according to the computer won’t be due until about 53,000 miles. So the extension bought absolutely no coverage.</blockquote>
A brake job typically occurs in that time period. If that’s the case, extended maintenance pays for itself.
Marc B.
In England if you don’t pay for the TLC package you don’t get service. You can pay for extended service packages in the US as well, but the initial intervals are not that great. The basic TLC package goes all the way to 50,000 miles. Ours only goes to 36,000 miles (granted ours is still free though).
IanF,
I have never heard the real definition, but I am supposing that it stands for “Tender Loving Care”. This is normally what TLC stands for and it makes sense in this situation.
I agree with Jason, why is this option not available in the Great White North? My local dealer doesn’t have the best reputation and this just makes matters worse.
Get with it Mini Canada!!
Audi provides free maintenance in the US as well.
Audi Advantage
4 years or 50,000 miles, whichever comes first, no-charge scheduled maintenance
As does BMW:
4 years / 50,000 miles.
The MINI’s 3 years 36,000 miles is impressive for a car that starts out of around $17,000 though.
Minihaha,
In Canada we may not get a free service plan, but our basic warranty goes a year is 4 yrs & 80,000Km, longer than the US. If someone did the math I wonder what the dollar difference would be – would free service for three years cost less or more than repairs in the fourth year?
<blockquote>In Canada we may not get a free service plan, but our basic warranty goes a year is 4 yrs & 80,000Km, longer than the US.</blockquote>
In the US all MINIs hae a 4 year/ 50,000 miles warranty. Those 50,000 miles equal about 80,500 kilometers. So technically the US warranty is longer by a smidge.
Hearing about this sort of service just makes me unhappy when comparing to the “service” we get in Australia:
2 year/60,000km warranty. That’s it.
If you want to extend it, you have to pay $$$
and you get an extra year and all servicing up to 60,000km (ie. 2 services).
Thanks alot BMW Australia! >:(
The MINI warranty is perhaps the lamest new car warranty in the country. Even hyundais are getting 5 year warranties!