My Mini had only done 48,000 miles when it developed a cracked cylinder head. BMW/Mini wanted £1200 to do an initial diagnosis and considerable charges would have been incurred on top of that if I would have gone ahead with the work through them.

In the end I took it to another garage and the total invoice was £3178 (total labour charge for the entire job £570). I asked Mini HO to take some responsibility for this after so little mileage, but they refused as they insist I should have left it with the main dealer, no matter the cost. Is this right?