GvilleGuy
Well-Known Member
To cut right to it: my first use of the Mini roadside service was great! I'm just sorry I had to use them. Flatbed tow to my Mini dealer successful. And I wish the SE had a small spare tire and jack so that I could have simply handled it myself.
The Scene: New Years Eve, heavy rain, and I was not with my Mini SE. It was being driven by someone else. My wife and I were driving in a separate car to the same location - a live theater show (80s rock songs) for New Years Eve. The unnamed driver of my SE curbed the Mini in the heavy downpour in the dark right near the theater. They drove it slowly into a nearby parking space as the low tire pressure warning popped up after the impact.
I arrived at the theater lobby a short while later to find the upset and shaking driver, who was very nervous about how I would react. I smiled and told them three times in five minutes that stuff happens, and NOT to worry about the accident. I didn't even go and look at the Mini before the show started.
We had a great time at the show and rung in 2022 with live music and friends and family (and masks)! Then I went and checked on the car. No visible rim damage in the darkness (whew!), but I could not find where the hole was. Since it was 12:30 AM, and the Mini was parked in a VERY safe area, I left it and went home.
First thing the next morning I went back to the Mini. The wheel was perfect - no curb rash. There was a half inch hole in the tire sidewall right next to the wheel rim. I started the Mini and it immediately prompted me with the critical flat warning and a prompt to call roadside. My experience with the operator was great - they contacted the towing service (I verified twice that the service would send a flatbed).
The roadside operator said that my Mini dealer was closed for New Years, but that I could have the Mini towed to my house, and then get it towed a second time to the Mini dealer at no charge. I said that would be great.
Within 30 minutes the flatbed arrived. The driver told me that he just finished towing a BMW to my Mini/BMW dealer and that service was open for a few more hours - so we agreed he would just transport it straight to the dealer. He evaluated the flat tire and showed me how the collapsed tire was still in place and had a protective rim of rubber preventing the wheel from touching the pavement. He told me this to reassure me as he proceeded to slowly drive the Mini the short distance to the ramp of the flatbed.
So my Mini was towed to the dealer, and today I wait for them to call me about getting a new tire or two. My tires have 6,500 miles on them, so I'm not sure if I will be buying one new tire or two.
The Scene: New Years Eve, heavy rain, and I was not with my Mini SE. It was being driven by someone else. My wife and I were driving in a separate car to the same location - a live theater show (80s rock songs) for New Years Eve. The unnamed driver of my SE curbed the Mini in the heavy downpour in the dark right near the theater. They drove it slowly into a nearby parking space as the low tire pressure warning popped up after the impact.
I arrived at the theater lobby a short while later to find the upset and shaking driver, who was very nervous about how I would react. I smiled and told them three times in five minutes that stuff happens, and NOT to worry about the accident. I didn't even go and look at the Mini before the show started.
We had a great time at the show and rung in 2022 with live music and friends and family (and masks)! Then I went and checked on the car. No visible rim damage in the darkness (whew!), but I could not find where the hole was. Since it was 12:30 AM, and the Mini was parked in a VERY safe area, I left it and went home.
First thing the next morning I went back to the Mini. The wheel was perfect - no curb rash. There was a half inch hole in the tire sidewall right next to the wheel rim. I started the Mini and it immediately prompted me with the critical flat warning and a prompt to call roadside. My experience with the operator was great - they contacted the towing service (I verified twice that the service would send a flatbed).
The roadside operator said that my Mini dealer was closed for New Years, but that I could have the Mini towed to my house, and then get it towed a second time to the Mini dealer at no charge. I said that would be great.
Within 30 minutes the flatbed arrived. The driver told me that he just finished towing a BMW to my Mini/BMW dealer and that service was open for a few more hours - so we agreed he would just transport it straight to the dealer. He evaluated the flat tire and showed me how the collapsed tire was still in place and had a protective rim of rubber preventing the wheel from touching the pavement. He told me this to reassure me as he proceeded to slowly drive the Mini the short distance to the ramp of the flatbed.
So my Mini was towed to the dealer, and today I wait for them to call me about getting a new tire or two. My tires have 6,500 miles on them, so I'm not sure if I will be buying one new tire or two.
Hope concern about your car didn’t put too much of a damper on your night out.
