Car problem with garage

[Mini05]

hi
Try not to make it to long but need to tell full story

So I have a mini, I had a hot start problem so took it to a diesel specialist who said he would have a look. He first changed the fuel filter and he thought it sorted the problem so rang me to pick it up. 10 mins later he rang back and said he'd tried it again as was still not starting properly. He suggested putting new Bosch injector nozzles in, I said ok.

So go to pick it up on driving it back it had a rattling sound which it never had before, so rang him as soon as I got home and he said bring it back tomorrow. I asked could I have old nozzles back. Yes
He said he'd only took the old nozzles of and put new ones on, I asked for my old ones back went to find them and couldnt( didn't know which were mine) after 20 mins wait I'd had enough and said I'd take it somewhere else he said no leave it I will get it right. I wasn't really happy to after the problem it now had required and he couldn't find my old parts. So in the end I said ok.
So this was Thursday, Thursday afternoon and all day Friday no communication with garage. I tried it was going to voicemail, I left message to say could he tell me what was happening. I got a call at 7pm Friday night to say he'd been on it most of the day and still couldn't get it right, and he was going in on Saturday to put injectors on test again.
Monday afternoon I ring and still get voicemail, let message nothing all day.
Tuesday morning(well peed off) rang again he answered!! Said he'd been in hospital over weekend. Hadn't even looked at it.
So I said I was going for it at 12, he'd left keys with a guy at the garage so couldn't even speak to him. This cost me £520.00

The next day partner takes it out and coming home there was a bang and all smoke coming from engine and sounded like a tractor!
Got the RAC out who said he'd over tightened the injector clamps. He then towed it to a local garage(as I didn't want it to go back to first one)
This costs £185.00 to fix
The car still had a knocking noise so I asked the garage to have a look at it, they fitted it in a week later
(They knew about injector episode) he said he would take the injectors out and send them off to be tested and reset. The report came back and said 2 were rebuilt with tolerance but the other 2 can't be rebuilt and can't be rebuilt. At this point he asked me what do I want to do(haven't a clue it's Thursday evening 4.45pm before Easter) I said I would pick it up and wait till after Easter.i had to get there before closing at 5pm, no taxis avail. So I said leave it in the side street (they had spare key)and I paid over phone the £185.00
I pick it up and it's the worse it's ever ever been like a kangaroo!!! Don't know how I got it home really embarrassed.
Rang them Tuesday after Easter and they can't get it back in till following Monday (today) he rang me today 1pm to say did I want 2 or 4 injectors rebuilding, I asked how much ANOTHER £720.00 for bloke to rebuild them plus there hour£45.00+vat for putting them back!

I tried to explain that the car before the injectors were tested by this guy never had a running problem just a knocking sound, and now it's like a kangaroo and unsafe to drive jumping. He just kept going round in circles saying the injector had been tested failed etc etc , my point it didn't run like that when it went there! I wanted refund
A asked to speak to manager/owner she'd gone 2.45 other guy wasn't there(surely they have mobile contactable)

So no car! Can't drive it,stuck at garage oh and no call from them!!

Am I really being unreasonable. Any help, advice. I'm at the end of my tether.

Where do you live? It sounds a lot of money, maybe I could suggest a good garage if you're local to me (west York's)

Are you taking it to a general garage or a main dealer?

I tend to stick with Japanese cars and whereas main dealers might be more expensive (but not necessarily), I trust them to be experienced at resolving any common issues with the models they sell & service.

Touch wood, I've never had any problems.

Other than that, I have no mechanical knowledge.

clumsyninja I don't agree with that sorry....... Main dealership mechanics have to work to very tight time slots, which is never a good thing and their prices are extortionate. A good local mechanic is worth his weight in gold, try to find one by word of mouth rather than just picking one at random.
There are a few reasons why the OP could have had these problems.

1. Minis are notoriously problematic cars.
2. Mechanics have to diagnose sometimes by trial and error. My OH has been a mechanic for 30 years, he is a very good one but no one can get it right, first time, every time.
3. the OP mentioned it's a diesel model..... Does the car get regular motorway runs of a decent length? If not this can cause problems.

OP I think you need to go to the garage (take your partner or a friend with you for support of you like) and stand your ground. Tell them you want your car fixed NOW and you're not leaving until you have a promise when the car will be fixed.

Are you an aa member? They have a legal team who can advise you

Might be worth asking rac for advice ^ call and see if they have a technical line or legal helpline

I second 19lottie82. My husband has a garage and previously worked for a main dealer. He said jobs in main dealers were rushed (they had time limits per job) whereas his garage take as long as it takes.

It does sound as though you've been treated very badly OP.

lottie minis are not notoriously problematic cars - they are the same as every other car out there, we are on our 5th in 10 yrs and never had an issue with any of them.

OP sounds like your getting the runaround. hot start issues aren't that common on minis but sounds like they have done all the usual things. I think the first garage is pulling you leg - if he couldn't produce the old parts chances are they haven't been changed and all they have done is clean the injectors up.

as for the 2nd garage = I don't know if what your being charged is over the top but diesel parts can be expensive - if they change the injectors they should change the rail too but that is an expensive part - is that included in the £720 they want to charge you?

fwiw - I think you should have went back to first garage after your issue with overtightening - they should have resolved that issue for you FOC.

Peggy I'm afraid they are, ask any mechanic. If you're on your fifth in ten years, I take it you're buying new / newish ones and replacing them at a couple of years old? I don't know a single person who's persevered with a mini that's over 8 years old.....

this is the second thread I've seen in as many days about minis.

The older diesel minis had really good Toyota engine, new is a Peugeot which is not as good.

Legally you need to give the first garage a chance to rectify the fault, you've failed to do that. I appreciate the trust issue and lack of contact though but it may cause you problems.

I'm not a fan of main dealers as the mechanics don't tend to be as good at diagnosing faults as an independent.

I live Manchester area,
1.garage was a diesel specialist not main dealer

1. Garage family run buisness (not my family)

The car doesn't often get motorway run! I know now that they should be!!!
To late I've had it 8 years. It's always been serviced at main dealer. I did take it to main dealer when it only had hunting problem they put it on diagnostics any nothing showed up!!! Said next stage was process of elimination how longs a piece of string! It was £87 for diagnostics

I am with the RAC as car was taken to garage by them when the injector clamps blue off and snapped. Will give them ring

Garage is trying to say it's because 2 of the four injectors are not working!!
That's why it's kangarooing. But it wasn't doing it before he tested/reset them!!!!

Do I let them them get me 4 reconditioned injectors at £150 each +vat ?
Do I let them just do the 2 that are not working, ie just pay for 2
Then demand I'm not paying till I have been for test drive and satisfied everything ok?

What would you do, they are going to be ringing tomorrow early I imagine and it will be the manager

Thanks x

This is why modern diesels can be false economy, when they break they can be expensive to fix. My advise would be to find a good local MINI specialist that knows them inside out.

OP - can you find any mini forums online? I'm sure someone there might be able to help you find a good local specialist.

Definitely ask the RAC for help. They should be able to do an independent report on the car which should advise if the original garage was at fault.

Where abouts in manchester are you?

Rang the RAC we have them through our Aviva car insurance so not all RAC things are included! Will ring Aviva tomorrow not much hope though!

Finding another diesel/mini specialist that's the 3rd garage now! Could end up maybe costing more? Fault finding etc

I'm in Denton Manchester

This is becoming one big headache. Thanks all

Minis are very much problematic, between power steering problems and gear boxes the earlier ones get quite poor reviews indeed. I did a lot of research last year as is hoped to buy an older clubman, what I read put me off.

Just to echo what others have said, main dealer is only really viable to keep a warranty running and even then you can get your book stamped in many other garages.
Word of mouth it's the best way to find a mechanic I find. Ask your friends and family, especially older ones who have probably used the same garage for years.

Good luck, hope you sort it.

lottie my friend is a mini tech at our local BMW main dealer so no I know they aren't that bad, DH used to be a mechanic and is fine with most things car wise. our first 2 minis were a bit older hence the reason we change them but no we didn't have any issues. none of that can help OP though.

OP I would pay for 2 injectors and see how it goes from there.

my friend is a mini tech at our local BMW main dealer

Then he should know how crap they are!

Mini

You seem to be blaming the second garage for the first garage's mistake of over tightening the clamps.

We've had 2 minis, we had all sorts of problems with both. The second newer one was worse. I wouldn't have one again. My friend got one when they first brought the news ones out and still has it now. Its great. But the newer ones seem a pita.

Agree absolutely that modern minis are really problematic. I work in a local garage and talk to the local mini dealership frequently -from the stories the mechanics tell me there I wouldn't touch one with a barge pole. Seriously. Also had two friends who owned minis -one brand new returned after two weeks and one sold after a month as it was awful and a bloody shed.
I really sympathise op. I agree with going on a proper mini forum for advice and perhaps seeking out a mini expert locally (NOT a dealership, the bill will be extortionate).

Hi
Went to collect car today from the 2nd garage, they now basically don't want to be third party(well should of said that in first place before taking job on) between me,recondition injector guy and them in so not many words.
Gave me no of diesel specialist!

After running it for 25 mins the kangarooing stopped!!!
I have now taken it to 3rd garage just dealing in BMW/MINI they put it on diagnostics and found 2 fault codes and cleared them(charge me nothing)
Seems to run much better, will see how it goes next couple days

Thanks all x