9,195 miles - Pothole's Revenge
I took the MINI to Prestige on Thursday (04/20) so they can give it a 'once over' just before the Dragon. This is what I get:
A busted engine fan, 2 punctured run-flats, 3 bent rims and damaged strut mounts. What the...
Obviously the strut mounts and engine fan needed to be fixed. I was happy to learn that the fan was covered under warranty. As for the tires? Well, after some discussion with my technical advisor (TA), he conceded that the rims were not that bad. I still needed new run-flats, but the technicians can mount them onto my existing rims. Over the next few weeks, I need to monitor the tire pressure to see if any air is leaking and to gauge ride quality. If all goes well, then my rims can stay.
So I decided to have the new run-flats mounted onto my existing rims. The new tires cost roughly $600 (installation and balance included). The strut mount repair came in at around $900.00, so my total bill was just over $1,500.00.
Out of all the damage reported, the tire damage was the worst as I was planning to swap out my run-flats for non-runflats and to trade up my rims for something with more -- OK, I'll say it -- bling. Looks like this mod won't be happening anytime soon. By the way, a good set of non-runflats/rims would have cost a grand... and depending on how b*tchin' I want my rims to be, the price for Leroy's new shoes can only go up... and I want rims approaching super-b*tchin' status. Check out tirerack.com.
My TA mentioned that the damage could have occurred driving over a deep pothole without caution... guilty as charged! Sometimes I forget my MINI does not handle like my Sonoma.
So what was to be a simple one hour 'look-over' turned out to be a two day $1,500.00 visit. I'm happy though, I have good shoes for the Dragon and nothing else came back needing repairs. Upon my return from the Dragon, I will need to schedule an appointment to have the TAs at Prestige perform Leroy's first scheduled maintenance. Lord knows what they will unearth!
On a positive note, Prestige MINI did give me a loaner, a beautiful 2006 Chili Red Cooper-S 6-spd. I have always wanted to drive the hatchback... and now that wish has been fulfilled :)
I liked the loaner a lot. Not sure of the exact specs, but the ride was tight and the view out the back was beautiful. This view really accented the smallness of the MINI and further gave the car its go-kart feel. I could really dart through traffic with confidence... something I really can't do with my convertible thanks to its blind spots. Unfortunately, it did not have cruise-control, the multi-function steering wheel or the OBC... all things I have grown accustomed to. In addition, the stereo system was not Harmon Kardon. I have the Harmon Kardon system in my MINI and the difference in sound quality is minimal at best.
T - 10 days...
Motor on everybody!
I took the MINI to Prestige on Thursday (04/20) so they can give it a 'once over' just before the Dragon. This is what I get:
A busted engine fan, 2 punctured run-flats, 3 bent rims and damaged strut mounts. What the...
Obviously the strut mounts and engine fan needed to be fixed. I was happy to learn that the fan was covered under warranty. As for the tires? Well, after some discussion with my technical advisor (TA), he conceded that the rims were not that bad. I still needed new run-flats, but the technicians can mount them onto my existing rims. Over the next few weeks, I need to monitor the tire pressure to see if any air is leaking and to gauge ride quality. If all goes well, then my rims can stay.
So I decided to have the new run-flats mounted onto my existing rims. The new tires cost roughly $600 (installation and balance included). The strut mount repair came in at around $900.00, so my total bill was just over $1,500.00.
Out of all the damage reported, the tire damage was the worst as I was planning to swap out my run-flats for non-runflats and to trade up my rims for something with more -- OK, I'll say it -- bling. Looks like this mod won't be happening anytime soon. By the way, a good set of non-runflats/rims would have cost a grand... and depending on how b*tchin' I want my rims to be, the price for Leroy's new shoes can only go up... and I want rims approaching super-b*tchin' status. Check out tirerack.com.
My TA mentioned that the damage could have occurred driving over a deep pothole without caution... guilty as charged! Sometimes I forget my MINI does not handle like my Sonoma.
So what was to be a simple one hour 'look-over' turned out to be a two day $1,500.00 visit. I'm happy though, I have good shoes for the Dragon and nothing else came back needing repairs. Upon my return from the Dragon, I will need to schedule an appointment to have the TAs at Prestige perform Leroy's first scheduled maintenance. Lord knows what they will unearth!
On a positive note, Prestige MINI did give me a loaner, a beautiful 2006 Chili Red Cooper-S 6-spd. I have always wanted to drive the hatchback... and now that wish has been fulfilled :)
I liked the loaner a lot. Not sure of the exact specs, but the ride was tight and the view out the back was beautiful. This view really accented the smallness of the MINI and further gave the car its go-kart feel. I could really dart through traffic with confidence... something I really can't do with my convertible thanks to its blind spots. Unfortunately, it did not have cruise-control, the multi-function steering wheel or the OBC... all things I have grown accustomed to. In addition, the stereo system was not Harmon Kardon. I have the Harmon Kardon system in my MINI and the difference in sound quality is minimal at best.
T - 10 days...
Motor on everybody!
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