MiniSpares Customer Service or Lack Of?

[62Countryman]

I recently purchased some parts from MiniSpares and some of the parts that I received did not fit. I sent an email to their Customer Service Department a couple of days ago indicating that their parts did not fit my mini. As of today, I have not received a reply back from their Customer Service department. Is this MiniSpares' normal business practice to ignore their customers after the money transaction has completed? Maybe I am a bit spoiled living in JAPAN. Japanese customer service is sometimes too much. Maybe I should stop dealing with MiniSpares and find a vendor who cares more about their customers????

[dhenry]

Minispares service has always been excellent as far as I am concerned. I'd pick up the phone before making such postings. Best of luck.

[YMJ]

No problem with Minispares in the UK
The only hint of poor service was when I brought a box load of bits in to be returned and credited and the guy on the counter gave a bit of a sigh - I couldn't blame him for that

[almondgreen]

Had no problems with Minispares, always correct...

[mricsman]

I've dealt with MiniSpares north for years now and never had any problems at all....great service and very knowledgeable.

[mk1coopers]

I can only repeat what has been said above, I've always had great service, especially from Minispares North

[pad4]

Im sure your email in the midst of probably 2-300 other emails will get answered - telephone is still the best way to contact if theres an issue......unless you speak to that Ivan prick guy...

[YMJ]

......unless you speak to that Ivan prick guy...

He's always been pretty OK with me

[62Countryman]

I want to thank everyone for their replies. I use email to communicate verses using the phone. Ivan replied to my email after I posted this question on the forum. Here is a copy of the emails that I sent as well as Ivan's reply:
Hi, Thank you very much for your reply. But maybe if you could accompany your description of the problem with a few pictures, this will certainly help to help you .

Ivan, This is not the problem that your colleague stated. My problem is that the actual cylinder (GWC1102) is too wide (about 1/2mm on each side). My backplate does not have a hole for the pin. No problem, I just removed the pin. The cylinder body rests between 2 raised points on the backplate. The points keep the cylinder from rotating. The cylinder that MiniSpares sent is too wide. The cylinder will not sit flush against the backplate due to the cylinder being too wide (the cylinder is cocked/leaning to one side). My original cylinder fits snug between the 2 raised points. A couple of people on a MINI forum indicated that they had to file 1/2mm off of each side of the cylinder in order for the cylinder to fit on the original backplate. Unfortunately I do not have the place or the tools to perform this type of modification. For the interim, I had to remove the new pistons from the new cylinders and place the pistons in the old cylinders so that I could get my car back on the road. I did not like doing this since the original cylinders are very old and show signs of pitting. I know how to fix the problem. Order new backplates that allow the use of GWC1102 cylinders. The point that I want to make is that MiniSpares should notate their website indicating that GWC1102 will not fit a 1962 or earlier mini. I feel like I wasted my money on the brake cylinders. I want to order additional parts but I am afraid that I am going to get burnt again. The cost for the actual parts isn't too expensive BUT the shipping charges are KILLING ME. The original BMC part # for my cylinder is 17H7767 or 17H7614.

Hi, Thank you very much for your cal. I have consulted my technical colleague , and they have confirm the fitment of the rear cylinder on the back plate problem , is a fairly common . It is normally resolved by re drilling the retaining pin hole on the back plate, and adjust the main hole on the back plate for the rear cylinder. Maybe if yo have the chance you can send a picture to see if this is the same problem?

Ivan, I received my parts last week and I worked on my rear brakes this past Sunday. The rear brake cylinders that MiniSpares sent does not fit! The cylinder is about 1mm too wide. The cylinder will not fit flush against the backplate. The part # is correct according to the size of the brake piston. Why doesn't this part fit?

[Giff]

It is normally resolved by re drilling the retaining pin hole on the back plate, and adjust the main hole on the back plate for the rear cylinder.

To be fair he is telling you how to sort the problem.

[mab01uk]

The cylinder that MiniSpares sent is too wide. The cylinder will not sit flush against the backplate due to the cylinder being too wide (the cylinder is cocked/leaning to one side). My original cylinder fits snug between the 2 raised points. A couple of people on a MINI forum indicated that they had to file 1/2mm off of each side of the cylinder in order for the cylinder to fit on the original backplate. Unfortunately I do not have the place or the tools to perform this type of modification.

But surely filing 1/2mm off each side as stated is not a difficult modification even with very basic tools and skills?

[62Countryman]

Ivan's suggestion will not work due to the backplate design. Sure I can file the body of the master cylinder but I would prefer purchasing a part that would fit. I live in Japan and I do not feel comfortable leaving my car on Jack stands for an extended period of time. I was here when the 9.0 struck Japan. My car moved over a foot during the quake. The point that I want to make is that MiniSpares or other vendors should note on their website indicating the part will not fit unless certain modification are done. If anyone knows where I can purchase 2 NOS original cylinders (rear) for my 62 estate, please send me an email.

[Michael7]

This "complaint" does not sit well with me, but I'm speaking only as a private person.

This seems to be the one of 62 Countryman's first posts and it starts out slagging a well-respected Mini parts supplier, but then it turns out the parts supplier has indeed communicated and has offered suggestions to fix the problem, and subsequently merely asked for more detail to confirm the complaint. Which they wisely should do since there are safety liability issues concerning providing brake repair instructions.

Then the essence of the complaint seems to be that the wheel cylinders offered in 2011 do not precisely fit the poster's 50 year old car! The poster seems out of touch to not understand that over the 50 year period, specifications and replacement parts change, and minor modification may be necessary. In my observation, Mini owners are lucky to have a plethora of parts available to suit nearly every problem and situation, and at modest cost.

The nature of the required modifications are so minimal as to be laughable that they can not be performed without this drama. I'd be embarrassed posting that using a file to effect a simple repair was too much trouble.

If this sort of problem solving is too much, then it would seem the choice of a early Mini whilst living in Japan is very questionable.

I have no doubt that after the poster chases down some original wheel cylinders that fit with no filing, his complaint will shift from this challenging repair task to the cost of buying 50 year old NOS wheel cylinders. Even if he is so lucky to find that after opening the boxes, the wheel cylinders are not pitted from age and the rubber seals dried out.

[62Countryman]

It seems that I stirred up a hornets nest. My initial post was to ask a question about customer service for a particular company. Maybe I made some of you upset with my initial post. My bad as the younger generation says. Maybe I am a too much of a perfectionist (I would rather purchase a part verses having to modify it especially when it comes to stopping my car.

[SMOKE GREY]

And some folk wonder why genuine NOS parts BMC/LOCKHEED bring good money

[Vegard]

It is normally resolved by re drilling the retaining pin hole on the back plate, and adjust the main hole on the back plate for the rear cylinder.

To be fair he is telling you how to sort the problem.

Well, to be even fairer, if I bought a part with the correct part number I'd expect it to fit.

[999 ORX]

Good grief, I logged on and read this post and thought I was on the wrong site! Is this the Minispares appreciation society or something???

This chap is perfectly entitled to say what he likes, if he wants a part that says it will fit then it should.. Its false advertising otherwise, it should say modifications may be required if not. We live in a society of covering ones arse nowadays!!!

Everybody is entitled to there own opinion, I've taken in it my stride that some stuff doesn't fit but others may not be capable to do the modifications nor feel they want to! What happens after fitting the product that it turns out to be a faulty part and you have filed it down and its not as it was dispatched! Where do you stand then?

Calm down! any one would think you lot have shares in Minispares!!!! And don't have a go at me for saying something as it takes two to tango! The chap was only after advise not a slating, I didn't think this site was like this!!!

[guru_1071]

ive spoken to Ivan, and as he pointed out, on a monday morning he is normally faced with between 100-150 emails that will have been sent to the info@ & sales@ minispares email addresses over the weekend, all of which need printing off and answers finding out - the answer given to him, and passed on (within 48 hours) was believed to be correct. ivan is not a technical guy, so had to ask. dont forget he is also sorting all the internet orders out as well.

the gwc1102 / gwc1102 as sold (by any of the specalists, not just minispares) is fit for purpose as its designed/made to fit the modern 21a1058/21a1068 style of backplate which doesnt have the bumps that the very early ones do. only a minor adjustment is required to make a cheap modern part fit a 50 year old, obsolete brake backplate. i honestly dont know where it would be possible to buy a pair of nos superceeded back plates


at the weekend im going to have a look at my proper bmc parts book to see if its lists a chassis number change point, but it must be very early!

i dont think the op's post is really a fair assesment of any parts specalist though, i dont think anyone in the mini game would be aware that a modern gwc1102 will not fit onto a backplate that was made 50 odd years ago, i certainly wasnt.

i think we should all be happy that the parts that are avalible for our hobby are easy to get, fairly cheap, a good back up and plenty of forums, etc.

try getting bits for a 50 year old bentley, there are no parts books, no forums, no cheap parts and every modern repro part is both eye wateringly expensive and will probably need work to make it fit - 1 x oil seal for the pinion -£52!!!!!

[guru_1071]

Is this the Minispares appreciation society

if you can whistle the theme music you can come on the bus.....

[Michael7]

Guru_1071 diplomatically overlooks one point. Since 62Countryman knew the original BMC part numbers for the cylinders he really wanted, why did he order GWC1102s without first clarifying the installation differences? I agree 100% with Rich that few parts suppliers would know the minor detail difference about the back plate. Have a look at Somerford Mini's site. It is one of the best in the business and they don't mention all of the obsolete prior versions of the back plates and wheel cylinders. It is totally unrealistic to think a parts supplier could do so.

Owners of the earliest cars need to do their homework and find out what are the detail differences that are characteristics of their car. Early cars have front wheel cylinders with varied bore diameters, some were 7/8" before they became 15/16". The CV joints and drive flanges have different spline counts, incompatible with replacment parts made in the last 40 years. The early radius arms have 2 bushes per arm and no bearings. The early front wheel bearings in these cars were 30mm and are a challenge to find anywhere. It's the owner's responsibility to learn these nuances.