2006 MINI COOPER S Suspensionfront Problems

DURING A SERVICE CALL ON OUR 2006 MINI COOPER, WE WERE INFORMED THAT BOTH FRONT STRUT MOUNTS WERE BENT AND DAMAGED. THESE ARE NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY AND IN ONE CASE HAS ALREADY BEEN REPLACED ONCE AT 20000+ MILES AFTER HITTING A BAD POTHOLE. THE CAR NOW HAS 34000 MILES AND HAD TO HAVE BOTH MOUNTS REPLACED. APPARENTLY THERE IS A DESIGN DEFECT THAT MINI/BMW IS NOT WILLING TO CORRECT ALTHOUGH THERE ARE AFTERMARKET REINFORCEMENTS AVAILABLE. A FURTHER SEARCH OF THE INTERNET REVEALS THAT A LOT OF MINI & BMW OWNERS ARE HAVING THIS ISSUE, IN PARTICULAR THOSE WITH RUN-FLAT TIRES INSTALLED. *TR

BACK IN LATE SEPTEMBER 2006 I PURCHASED A 06 MINI COOPER S (DEALERS DEMO WITH 380 MILES). THE WEEK AFTER I GOT IT, I NOTICED THAT IT PULLED HARD TO THE RIGHT WHEN BRAKING. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THE FIRST TIME THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS NORMAL BECAUSE OF THE ROAD'S PITCH. AFTER THAT I NOTICED THAT THE WHEEL ALIGNMENT STARTED TO GET BAD. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER TO CHECK A COUPLE OF THINGS INCLUDING THIS ONE AND THEY IGNORED IT A COUPLE OF TIMES SAYING IT WAS OK. MY BIG SURPRISE WAS YESTERDAY WHEN AFTER HAVING TO LEAVE THE CAR THE WHOLE DAY, THEY TOLD ME THAT THE CAR HAS ANOTHER ISSUE NAMED "MUSHROOMING". THIS IS WHEN THE CAR GOT A HARD HIT AND THE STRUT TOWER PUSHES UP THE METAL WHERE IS ATTACHED TO CREATING A BUBBLE AND DAMAGING THE...