It's a shame that there seems to be a trend among us Crossfire owners and previous owners in that, Once we have to see a dealer (five-star ) we fall out of favor with our own decision to buy this car in the first place. Then the fact that, there is virtually NO aftermarket for this automobile is disheartening. I see a trend here. As soon as a lease is up or the Sh*tty service dept. gets to you, the Crossfire looses it's sheen. Don't get me wrong, I loved this car...Still do. But my reasoning for trading it in, was...

"It's The Service Stupid!" My dealer would return my car with dirt and grease around the A pillar and on the console, among other things and a general "I don't care about your "$40,000 dollar NOW $24,000 car" I was lucky, this was just regular service.

Still love the look of the Crossfire and loved the way it drove, But I think next time I'll just buy the 3 pointed star. In the mean time, I digging the h*ll out of my Mini Cooper S and got my wife a drop top also, she loves it to death.

Chrysler, really screwed up on this one. I never bought a Chrysler product new before. Traditionally bad resale & poor body design in my opinion,,,I thought that changed with the advent of the 300C and the Crossfire.
Now there's a HEMI in everything, what's next a hemi powered lawn mower?

I'll let you know about the BMW service...

PS, I took a ton of Pictures before I traded it in...still love this car, just to much baggage and not enough at the same time. Don't be to hard on us "traders" or is that traitors? LOL.

Carl

 

what bimmer did you get?

 

He got a MINI. Owned and serviced by BMW.

 

I agree; however, my path of escape is a 350Z instead of a Mini.

 

Service on the car is a drag I know but anyone who bought this car not knowing how bad Chrysler service can be should have done a bit more research. Thankfully the XFire is for the most part a mechanically sound car (knock on wood). However I admit to gearing up for battle before taking my car to the "Five Star service center" can be quite a drag... researching and gathering data from other owners with the same problem just so you can justify yourself when the dealer makes up some BS excuse. Love my car though... and isn't bad service just a great part of the Crossfire experience guys?

 

The market trend is obvious.
More Crossfire buyers than ever.

 

Service Departments are always a crap shoot, regardless of manufacturer, it seems. From the extras they want to perform outside of the maintenance schedule to the high cost of parts and "consumables" (Think a rag). Dealer in Prescott, Az. epitomized the adage "take a call - make a call" for me. Went in to have a rear tire rebalanced after a flat fix and they appeared to break the windshield washer fluid container...How does that figure? They said they would order a new container, but after six weeks still no part. Actually, I think they overfilled the container in their zealousness to please and all it really did was overflow. Since I can't see the container inside the front fender, who knows?

But, after 12K (S)miles we still enjoy this red gem.

convertforever

 

Luckily my family owns a Chrysler Dodge Jeep dealership, so if I have a problem I know who to take it to. I usually don't have a problem with service.

 

Your windshield washer reservoir is not broken. It is designed to overflow when too much fluid is put in.
I believe there's something in the owner's manual about it too...

 

You and the Mini service department will get VERY well acquainted. I few of my coworkers have Mini S's and they spend a ton of time in the shop, mostly, they won't start. Wait until the measly warranty expires and you will be spending BMW dollars on parts.

 

And that differs how from the MB parts ?

 

I bought the car because of the look and feel while driving. I didn't buy the car because I was worried about how it was going to be serviced. Not to get into a pi$$ing match with anyone here but it's a car... a car, that over time, is going to get a dent or two, a nick, a scratch, a smudge and a dealer experience or 2 or 3. It's also (for a few) going loose its appeal for a newer, sleeker, faster, prettier new toy. Because in reality that's what it is...a toy. I didn't buy it to take the kids to school or go grocery shopping. I bought it to drive it

I love my Crossfire. I also realize I can take some of the maintenance issues into my own hands. I also realize there are many I can't. So over time, the dealer (or someone else) will screw something up, scratch, mare, dent, smudge, spindle and mutilate some aspect of my car. In the mean time I'm going to enjoy every minute I can driving mine. That's why I bought it... to drive it, and wash it, and wax it and touch it, and smell it and enjoy all of the perplexed and admiring looks I get when I am driving it.

I love my Crossfire. I'm going to spend my time driving my car and not worrying about all the stuff that may, can and will happen over time. I'm going to spend my time having fun with the car while it looks, feels and responds like it does now. The car is a solid build and I'm pretty sure it will perform for many years to come since it's not my daily use vehicle.

We can all read till were blue in face about the reliability of every car on the planet today and the service issues with every one of them. I'm going to drive my car because I didn't buy it for the 5 star service or the warranty or the reliability. I bought it because I thought is was the coolest piece of metal and plastic on 4 wheels under $25,000.00. I bought it because it has a little Mercedes under the skin, I bought it because it makes me feel GREAT when I'm behind the wheel driving, I bought it because it's a anomaly.

I've owned a good number of sports cars in my life and all I can say is I love my Crossfire. I may trade it, sell it, wreck it or give it to my kids but what I know I will be doing with it now is driving it! As with the other great cars I've owned this one will leave me with memories and thrills that no other car will be able to replicate and thats what makes it so fun for me to own a Crossfire.

GassGhost

 

I too have owned a few cars that i loved and drove. I love making the car personal, which was difficult with the Crossfire... But I did drive it. It's a great handling car. I wasn't trying to **** on anyone here, Remember I owned one TOO! But lack of aftermarket, truly sad service dept. and I did have some issues with drivability, I had a 6 speed and I could never really get used to the gearing, first gear being to short and not quite linear in speed. Where as the Mini S 6 speed is perfect for me, the gearing just feels natural and a lot of aftermarket performance mods, and it handles great. But as I said before I will miss my Crossfire and drove it like i owned it.

Carl

 

Hey Carl:
What is most important is we're all happy with the automotive decisions we make. My comment were not aimed at your initial post. They were more of a personal general observation, nothing personal. If we're lucky enough to be able to have these kind of toys it's important to be able to fine tune the experience for maximum enjoyment. I was only trying to make the point that so much energy is spent on all of the detractors that the real reasons we buy these toys is obscured. I'm not a racer or an automotive engineer, I'm a driver and I enjoy the driving experience. Your Mini is also a cool car which I'm sure will bring a completely new driving experience into your life. Have a great time with the car enjoy the ride and have fun with all the cool stuff you can add to make it all yours!

 

There is so much negative information here I don't know where to start. I bought a Mini in 2004, it is an MC40..."One of a thousand" to celebrate the Monte Carlo rally win in 1964. I have had no problems at all. My Crossfire will perhaps never see a dealers shop. I bought the manuals and the OBD3 system. I'll do my own work unless I have a significant failure under warranty. I do not expect problems for it is a Mercedes Benz drive train and a Karmann build. My suggestion to other owners is to find a good private shop/mechanic specializing in import/German cars and stay away from dealers and general repair shops.

Regards,
Gary

 

Glad you found something you really like.
I can't knock you for getting a Mini S vert - I looked at them too (and still like them).

Enjoy.

 

Hi, I am a new member. I just purchased a '05 auto/ Roadster/Lim/900 mile care. I have looked at thief brand for 2 months. I have owned several German sports cars and like different autos. I have a tricked Lincoln/LS sport and enjoy different autos. I guess I take up for the under guy. The LS and Crossfire are alike in the same way because their marketing fat cats did not tell anyone they were for sale. What great cars... The Lincoln is a Hot rod on the road/280 horse and corners like a paint roller. The Cross is a great short trip/fun 3d car. I plan on keeping it for a long while. I have seen German aftermarket interior dial bezels and such last month. Please email this nube what is out there. Yours in speeding points.

Rig

 

I truly think this forum is one of the best out there. it speaks "its" mind, all to the advance of the Crossfire Experience. Which, in the end is what anybody can expect from such a forum.

Carl

 

nrawe@fuse.net

I completely agree with you about the LS. I helped my mom look for a car and ended up getting and LS. Although my mom's is not tricked out or as sporty looking as some of the ones I have seen the car is a remarkable value, sporty, quality, reliable, and comfortable. I have always been pissed that one, ford/lincoln never updated the sporty model to keep it up to date with competitors, and two that they discontinued the model. Its funny how history repeats itself... the LS and then the XFire. Its a shame some car companies don't know what to do with a good thing.

 

i agree, chrysler service is the worst. everytime i come out, i think about selling my car.