I purchased a used '08 S about 16 months ago. I've taken the car to Momentum Mini in Houston, determined they totally and utterly SUCK, and have been looking for a decent mechanic to service my car ever since.
Well, my brake light came on and I took it to a garage that has done work for me in the past on other vehicles. They performed a front brake job, but still couldnt get the break light to clear.
This prompted me to take my Mini to Motorcars Ltd., also in Houston, that claim to be Mini specialists. They found I needed a rear break job. Unfortunately they couldnt get the alarm to clear either and needed to use some gizmo.
Well, their gizmo was in the shop for repairs and they had a loaner. With their loaner they cleared the brake alarm. Yay! We're all happy now, right?
When I get my car back, neither of my key fobs will lock/unlock my doors.
So I take the car back to them and they say that BOTH of my keys have mysteriously "stopped transmitting" and that for them to figure what the problem is I'll need to take the car back to them and pay to have the "diagnos the problem."

1. Has anyone had a similar issue happen after service?
2. Does anyone have any experience dealing with Motorcars Ltd. in Houston? (Do they have an effin clue?)
3. Is there ANY shop or dealer in the Houston area competant enough to service the vehicle without putting me in the poor house?

I'm close to putting a for sale sign on my car.

Any thoughts or advice are appreciated.

Thanks,

Mojo

 

Also, I've tried to reset the key fobs by inserting into the dock, pressing and holding the unlock button and pressing the lock button 3 times with absolutely no luck.

 

I'd guess that they reset the brake codes and might have "accidentally" reset the computer and lost the codes for the keyless

 

After my first out of warranty brake job, I called the dealership to find out how to reset the brake warning light. They said I'd have to bring it in and it'd be $60-120 (after giving me a scolding about having work done at an independent shop).

I searched the forums and found the procedure to reset the brake warning light: Turn the key to the ON position and wait about 30 seconds.

Needless to say, I don't go back to that dealership.

You have my sympathies on the key issue. Sounds like they screwed up the settings in the BC1.