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Hi everyone, As name suggests I was a keen MINI fan for years until I couldn't buy a car with a spare wheel and tyre, folding mirrors and heated seats. Simplest thing to do was move on. This is my 3rd new A1 so obviously I like the model. My problem is that this car is only 6 days old with 174 miles on the clock but when I checked the engine oil yesterday, as the car engine felt a bit rough, there was only a drop of oil on the end of the dipstick, not at the minimum level. Speaking to the sales guys at the dealership, apparently the 'Technician' told him that the level varies due to the temperature but if the oil light didn't come on I was perfectly safe. Now as someone who has worked in the motor trade all my working life, I advised the salesman that he'd been told BS and 9 times out of 10 if the oil light comes on, the engine is already cooked as the light is a pressure light, not an oil level light. I'm concerned that the car has not had a proper pre-delivery inspection as the tyre pressures were low and the water bottle wasn't full either. If this is happening to me, who else is having the same luck? My vigilance has saved the dealership the cost of a new engine but no apology, just arrogance. I'm annoyed and really disappointed. Your comments would be appreciated. morrisminiminor

Hello Samantha, You are welcome to advertise it on here under ‘Cars for sale’. Include full details, a couple of photos and the price you want for it. Regards, Gareth.

Hi yes the fault will develop gradually especially if the discs have not been replaced recently, I have owned cabs now for over twenty years and regardless of make/model the braking systems are virtually the same just different size components , I can tell you one thing when a bearing is on its way out even spinning the wheel slowly you can feel the drag of the dried ball races before you hear it, discs on the other hand have on occasions plagued me sometimes especially when you get a local garage to supply and fit because I was recovering from an operation these particular gems known as NAPA, the rears were ok but the pads wore in record time as did the fronts with the added bonus of the front discs warping after 20k just enough to make noises no judder, this also manifested itself on occasions with better quality discs/pads but the underlying factor was they had done 40k hard miles, regardless of milage age is also a factor. Steve.

No. I only put in enough oil to raise the level from the tip of the dipstick to the full mark, about 300ml of oil. I only check the oil level when the engine is cold, in the same place, usually on a Friday before dearly beloved visits to her mother. I keep a record of all fuel and oil added with the date, mileage and cost in a book. 2nd and 3rd entries - oil added, first to fill it to the half way mark then to fill just below the full mark. The point is that the oil level should never have been this low on a brand new car, only six days old with 174 miles on the clock. No evidence of any water in the water bottle either. Would have thought that there would have been minimal anti-freeze in the bottle seeing as winter starts in December. Tyre pressures were also down so what else wasn't checked? Who checks their oil the same week as they take delivery of their car? Had I taken this car on a long motorway run, this engine would have required replacing. morrisminiminor

Your description certainly sounds like an ignition switch fault, but don't entirely disregard the battery. The cold weather always reveals weaknesses in batteries.

It will depend on what you pay for electricity and petrol which varies across the country, and also changes with time. I did the calculation a year ago when motorway electricity prices were an extraordinary 83 pence per kWh, which made the electric fuel cost equivalent to petrol. Given that I run an electric car solely for economic reasons I refuse to pay those prices and only charge at home with electricity costing 16 pence per kWh, a fifth of the motorway cost.

I knew cost cutting at Audi was extensive, but did not realise oil, air, and water were now extras in new cars.

Just be careful - they can be slippery in the wet, but handy to put under a wheel if you get caught in the snow!