Samuel

Very bad experience

I purchased a used Mini from Autostrada, and within a day of owning the car the RDC failure light came on and I could hear loud ticking noises from under the vehicle after driving. I returned the car twice, and while the TPMS sensors were changed, the ticking noises were not investigated. Concerned, I took the car for a health check at MINI Bridgwater. Their report highlighted serious issues including a leaking differential, charge pipe leak, corroded front brake discs, and a rear tyre cut to the cords, faults described as urgent and safety critical. I sent this investigation to Autostrada and requested a refund, as I had only owned the vehicle for seven days. Autostrada dismissed the findings as a “slight weeping” on the rear differential, thereby acknowledging an issue but downplaying it. They arranged their own inspection at MINI Bristol, described the problems as “light misting” or “expected wear” for a car with 91,000 miles, and never provided me with the health check information from Bristol. They refused my request to reject the vehicle or provide a refund, instead recommending reassessment after 500 miles and placing the burden back on me. I found this process stressful and concerning. The advertised 125‑point inspection was also not provided with the car, which added further concern about the level of checks carried out before sale. Based on my experience, I cannot recommend this dealer. My advice is to arrange an independent RAC or AA inspection before purchasing a used car, and to read all reviews carefully before proceeding with Autostrada.