MINI of Portland

$6000 for a service I DID NOT NEED. DO NOT BUY A MINI FROM HERE. DO NOT SERVICE A MINI FROM HERE. BE WARNED. They are so INCOMPETENT that they could not fix a flooded engine and diag DO NOT BUY A MINI FROM HERE. DO NOT SERVICE A MINI FROM HERE. BE WARNED. They are so INCOMPETENT that they could not fix a flooded engine and diagnosed it as catastrophic engine failure in an attempt to get me to pay $6000 for a service I DID NOT NEED. BEWARE. My 2007 Mini Cooper S failed to start after a period of inactivity, a snow storm. My car was running great before the storm. Once it started snowing, I moved my car down the block so it would be out from under some trees with weak branches. Two days later, when there was still snow, I tried to start the car, it turned but failed to start. I did not attempt again till after the snow melted and had the same result. I towed the vehicle to Mini of Portland for diagnosis and service. M. Onuliak was the certified technician and Culver Patterson was the service consultant whom I was in contact with. SLOW SERVICE: I had my service scheduled for 9:00 AM. Tow truck deliver my car at that time. I received a call from Culver stating that they received my vehicle and that they were 30 minutes behind schedule. I did not receive a call any other call that day so I phoned them. They told me that they were unable to work on my car due because they were so backed up due to the “Snowpocalypse”. I scheduled my service 1 week after all the snow melted for a week after that. NO EXCUSE FOR SLOW SERVICE. When they finally got to my car late the next day, their diagnosis: "Attempted to start vehicle with crank no start. connected battery charger and performed vehicle test. fault 2773 stored for misfire cylinder 1. Removed plugs and inspected with all cylinders fuel saturated. Cleaned plugs and added oil to cylinders. No start still present. Monitored coolant temp sensor, found plausible. compression and leak down test. cylinders 1-2 50psi/50% leak-down from 4 40psi with 75% from exhaust. provided quote for removal, inspection and rebuild of cylinder head." They quoted $5,828.59 to send my car to a machine shop to "remove, inspect and rebuild cylinder head" including "cylinder head machining." I spoke to Culver on the phone; they believed I had a catastrophic engine failure most likely caused by some foreign object entering the engine, damaging the pistons and valves. I asked him if such a failure would have warning signs such as an engine light and or loss of performance. He said yes. I told him I didn’t experience any of that. He told me that they wouldn’t know more until they opened up my engine. I was left with 3 options: 1) Spend nearly 6,000 on their service (the price of the car) 2) Sell/Scrap the car for less than $1000 3) get a second opinion. I went with option 3. Mini of Portland charged me for the diagnosis. I paid for another tow to Tom Dwyer Automotive. Tom Dwyer found: "Confirm vehicle cranks but will not start. Scan for errors, none stored or pending. Removed spark plugs and using bore scope look into each cylinder. Found pooling up on each cylinder. Inspect valves and found none burnt and/or bent at this time." They then, "Clean pooled gas from on top of cylinders... Oil each cylinder and perform clear flood. Vehicle starts and runs ok now. Test drive vehicle 2 times and no codes stored or pending after test drive." Concluded problem was caused by a short cold start (the 10 seconds it took me to start my car and move it down the block as I did not allow the engine to warm up properly before shutting it down). I drove my car home the same day; no new parts and Tom Dwyer only charged for labor. Mini of Portland attempted to charge me $6000 for a service I DID NOT need. They FAILED TO FIX A SIMPLE FLOODED ENGINE. Not only did they WASTE MY TIME, had I not been smart, they would have SCREWED ME OUT OF $6000. This isn’t the first bad experience, nor is it the second. TERRIBLE SERVICE. I contacted the BBB with a complaint. I will be contacting them shortly for reimbursement. DO NOT BUY A MINI FROM HERE. DO NOT SERVICE A MINI FROM HERE. BE WARNED. More

First oil change This was my first visit into the service department. I was greeted as I was pulling in, which is helpful. Raychel Gainey, in the service department This was my first visit into the service department. I was greeted as I was pulling in, which is helpful. Raychel Gainey, in the service department took care of me. I found her to be helpful, kind and friendly. After setting up my car, she gave me a tour of the department. I would request Raychel for my next visit. The dealership is lucky to have someone who takes the extra effort to make sure the customers are taken care of and questions answered. More

Ford Escape purchase We had a very positive experience working with Kim Posey, we negotiated the deal online and did not lose any time on that when we came to the dealersh We had a very positive experience working with Kim Posey, we negotiated the deal online and did not lose any time on that when we came to the dealership. Kim was very pleasant and professional. Thank you very much. Victor and Irina Sahakian More

great help in replacing my old Mini Ryan provided excellent guidance. I wanted to trade in my old Mini convertible for a newer one. He found the right car and maximized my trade in value Ryan provided excellent guidance. I wanted to trade in my old Mini convertible for a newer one. He found the right car and maximized my trade in value. I was delighted with the sales service and delighted with my new Mini. More

It was exciting, fun and rewarding! I appreciate the fact that there was no "pushy" salesperson waiting for me in the parking lot or even after I entered the door. After it was clear I I appreciate the fact that there was no "pushy" salesperson waiting for me in the parking lot or even after I entered the door. After it was clear I was interested in buying a Mini, there was no pressure put upon me. It was a comfortable experience. More

Great way to buy a new car as apin free as possible. We worked with Allen Snyder. Initially, we came in for a repair but knew that our 12 year old car should probably be replaced. Allen was not pushy a We worked with Allen Snyder. Initially, we came in for a repair but knew that our 12 year old car should probably be replaced. Allen was not pushy at all when we initially brought the car in. He looked to see if there was a car available with the features that I wanted, gave us the price and that was all. When we returned two days later, he had the car available for a test drive. He was so personable and professional at the same time. We returned several days later to learn more about the features, he was just as charming as he was the first time we met him and, as we left offered to help with any issues that we might have--and I believed that he really wanted to do that. I would recommend his service to anyone I know. Kathleen Dewhurst Glueckert More

Great customer service and quick turn around. Had a bump on my run flat tire so came in to get it checked. Raychel was quick to find the replacement tire and schedule the replacement on the same d Had a bump on my run flat tire so came in to get it checked. Raychel was quick to find the replacement tire and schedule the replacement on the same day. Truly exceptional service and support from her & rest of the team. More

First Annual Service This has been a great dealership to work with (which is good considering they are the only one around here). It would be five stars except I have had This has been a great dealership to work with (which is good considering they are the only one around here). It would be five stars except I have had n ongoing issue that we have failed to resolve. Nothing major but an annoyance. Worked with the parts department as well, unfortunately I can't remember his name. They were wonderful and dug through a recently arrived shipment to find what I was looking for. More

Great job! Thank You. My only call-out is that I understand going above expectations but sending a Car through those Kaady Car Washes with the brushes it is absolutely craz My only call-out is that I understand going above expectations but sending a Car through those Kaady Car Washes with the brushes it is absolutely crazy, specially in a Black Car like mine. I am glad I asked and Rachel put a big NO for not washing my Car. I still have many swirls from the last time I did service with you. You should always explain the type of wash to Customers and ask them if they want to do it. I was kind of surprise when She told me that due to your machine being down for repair again that you were washing Cars this way. Besides that, amazing job. I love the dealer, sales, service, parts department, etc. Frank Lord also went above expectations trying to find a part that I was looking for. Thank You! More

*Public Interest Disclaimer* *A MATTER OF PUBLIC INTEREST DISCLAIMER* Mini of Portland sells vehicles without disclosing major mechanical defects. Vehicles with major defects t *A MATTER OF PUBLIC INTEREST DISCLAIMER* Mini of Portland sells vehicles without disclosing major mechanical defects. Vehicles with major defects that very well can cause you and your family serious bodily harm. *You have been warned to avoid all Lithia Motors dealerships and especially Mini of Portland.* I will attach in my follow up all relevant hyperlinks to the ORS, OAR, U.C.C and FTC to show our laws and what you can do about untruthful companies who take advantage of consumers. I will also attach NHTSA/car complaint reports on 2015 Ford fusion as they are flat dangerous with whatever issues they have going on with their transmissions and I am not alone with that assessment. Especially after doing research about this car transmission issues and also when the car almost got myself in a few accidents.. Because the vehicle decided to downshift too many gears causing the whole car to shake and lurch to an almost complete stop from around 25 miles per hour. Motorist behind me wasn't to pleased about that and I got the lovely finger:) Thanks Mini of Portland. Or possibly when I was merging on a major highway and I stepped on the gas to get up to highway speed and nothing happened, the car would not downshift and give me any power to the wheels. I will follow up on this review, but I am in the process of filing massive complaints against this company for selling cars under warranty and without disclosing major mechanical defects. They cannot do that under consumer protection laws, as this car was not sold "As-Is" and is covered under warranty of merchantability, along with warranty for fitness of purpose and Magnuson Moss warranty act. I will be attaching my disgruntled emails that I sent Mini of Portland after the car was in and out of the manufacturer service department all of October getting work done that should have been done before the car was ever put on the lot. You're welcome Mr. Ruef that I took the time to do to your job for you and your service department. Mr. Ruef apparently became very defensive about my perception of Mini of Portland selling a car without disclosure of major mechanical defects to the buyer. Or.. Possibly my opinion about his professional certified mechanic's incompetency or that they pencil whipped the used car inspection. Heck, what is one to think when two non mechanics (wife and I) realized immediately after purchase, that this car has some major transmission problems. Yet, professional certified mechanics could not and put a BIG green check mark next to transmission stating that it is good to go. Do not ever be lulled in by warranties etc. I am irritated at myself as well, because I should of done what I usually do. Which is to get a private used car inspection performed and ignore all their promises that the car is good to go. I became complacent and for that I am pissed at myself, lesson learned... This goes to show you that it might look nice on the outside, but can be rotten to the core on the inside. Look at most of the reviews of this company and you will see that their service department gets a lot of negative reviews. I can see why and will promise my fellow Oregonians that I will stay on top of this untruthful company and will counter any responses from them. I will also try and follow up with a FTC and DOJ complaint against Lithia Motors franchise business practices, as Mini of Portland is one of their dealerships. A company which employs defensive unapologetic people like Mr. Ruef should also be looked into, to see if this is the company's M/O. By far, one of the worst General Manager I have ever ran into and what atrocious customer service Mr. Ruef exhibited. I think he forgets who the injured party is here, what a joke. I have asked these review sites to go through all the positive reviews of this company and get rid of any reviews that show the same IP address, as my opinion is that companies like this, tend to have family and employees post fake positive reviews. Stay tuned and look to other review sites along with me drafting an Op-Ed piece for the Oregonian about this company and companies in general that take advantage of trusting consumers, who rely on merchants being truthful and with values. More