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I'm at 5,500 miles on my new MCSC and want to do an oil change. I plan on using Redline 5w30. Should I also do the filter? And do I need to use a jack or can I just squeeze under to get to the plug? Also, I thought I saw in the manual that the convert has a 4.5 liter capacity? Why would the convert be different than an MCS?
Thanks in advance for the help,
Mike
__________________ I've spent more money than I can remember on wine, my woman & song; all the rest I've wasted!
"Hot Sauce" - 2005 Pure Silver/Black MCS Drop Top, Sport (17" Bullets), Premium & Cold
Allways change the filter. It's cheap insurance and much cheaper than the oil. I think with the true synthetic oil, the filter should be changed more than the oil. 5,500 miles is overkill for a synthetic oil change. I had a hard time believing the oil will last but true synthetic does. I change out my oil every 10K and the filter every 5K and check the level every 1K or before I race.
You will need to lift the car. MINI's are LOW to the ground. Also the filter cartrige was a bugger to get it reinstalled. I installed the cartrige on the block boss first then spun on the canister cover. It was the only way to get the threads to catch. Be careful you get the threads right. You don't want to mess them up or your in big trouble. Just be patient and do it right. And use the right tools. It's a snap when you get used to it. There is plenty of good how-to threads on this website to help you. Check the Beneath The Bonnet section
Good Luck.
__________________ Mark #59 2003 MINI Cooper S 2007 G-Stock(where I belong) 2006 STX Region Champ (not worthy IMHO) 2005 STX Region Champ
South Bend Region, SCCA Great Lakes DIV http://www.sbrscca.org/
My Mini 2004S has had the change, but we cannot figure out how to reset the computer code that thinks the car is still in need (and now thinks the engine is past due) of an oil change. HELP!
My Mini 2004S has had the change, but we cannot figure out how to reset the computer code that thinks the car is still in need (and now thinks the engine is past due) of an oil change. HELP!
1)Push-hold Trip Button (TB)
2)Turn key to position 1
3)Continue to hold (TB), the number 15A will show to the teft of the milage
4)Release (TB) for 3 sec and then hold (TB) again
5)In about 5-8 sec RST will show in the left corner
6)Release and then press again "15000" will show, press and release
7)Car is now reset to the 15,000 service
I don't need the information today because by the time I purchased the correct oil (for me 0-40 Mobil 1) and got my work space ready and my tools gathered it was time to start the barbeque. Next weekend will be it for me.
I did come across a thread tonight where some poor newbie asked the same question as Lil Ma and was toasted for not using the search tool. After a month he still has only one post . . . .
Well, next weekend I'll benefit from your information. Thanks!
Why would you want to change your oil on your own if you have the 36k maintenance from MINI?
Why does anyone think that they know better when to change oil than manufacturer that did extensive research on this before they let the car roll off the production line.
If MINI wants to do oil changes on my car every 15k miles because they have calculated that it's safe do to so, than let them do it. They will use correct oil and filter that will allow the car to run safely for another 15k miles. If they screw something up, you're clean and covered. I will probably change oil myself once the maintenance plan is up, but will still continue to follow the interval shown by the OBC. I will also do UOA to make sure that the engine is safe with this type of interval.
Oil changes are the cheapest insurance you can buy for your engine. Oil is your motors lifeblood and changing more often than the mandated interval won't hurt anything, and certainly will probably help in the long run. The dealer has no problem with you changing oil once or twice in between mandated changes (use OEM filter and correct oil). It's a thirty minute job and well worth the effort. IMO.
__________________
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47°13'29.45"N - 122°10'28.83W
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Engine wear actually decreases as oil ages. This has also been substantiated in testing conducted by Ford Motor Co. and ConocoPhillips, and reported in SAE Technical Paper 2003-01-3119. What this means is that compulsive oil changers are actually causing more engine wear than the people who let their engine's oil get some age on it.
Quote:
Based on the results we've got here, we'd recommend 8,000 miles between oil changes on an engine that uses no oil at all, perhaps 10,000 miles on an engine that uses some oil, and 15,000 miles or beyond with a filter change every 5,000 miles. This, of course, isn't any kind of guarantee, and you must evaluate for yourself what your engine requires. One thing we're pretty sure about though: 3,000-mile intervals is a huge waste of resources
here is another good link about "cheap insurance" http://www.nordicgroup.us/oil.htm#Oi...ge%20Intervals
but hey, it's your money. I wouldn't change oil on regular Cooper more often than the manual and OBC suggests, on Cooper S, I would probably do it every 10k, depending on the driving characteristics.
And of course Dealer has no problem with you doing a "quick" change in between the interval, after all he sells you the parts for the oil change
[quote=rallymaniac;2197158]Why would you want to change your oil on your own if you have the 36k maintenance from MINI?
Because the closest damn dealer is an hour and a quarter away in Philadelphia = four hours to get the oil changed counting travel time!
Sorry, but having been a mechanic my whole life, I'll continue with shorter intervals. Maybe not every 3k, but certainly less than 15k. My wife's '08 Clubman S went through about 1 1/2 Qts before it told us to bring it in for a change at about 18k plus . Glad I checked it. She commutes 100 miles daily, and drives hard. The oil on the dipstick was definitely real dirty.
Why would you want to change your oil on your own if you have the 36k maintenance from MINI?
Because the closest damn dealer is an hour and a quarter away in Philadelphia = four hours to get the oil changed counting travel time!
Sorry, but having been a mechanic my whole life, I'll continue with shorter intervals. Maybe not every 3k, but certainly less than 15k. My wife's '08 Clubman S went through about 1 1/2 Qts before it told us to bring it in for a change at about 18k plus . Glad I checked it. She commutes 100 miles daily, and drives hard. The oil on the dipstick was definitely real dirty.
It also need the timing belt tensioner work.
I agree that waiting 15K to change oil is nuts but if you use a good quality syn. oil you can go 8-10K miles with out worries. I use Redline 5w30 and change every 7.5K miles which, I feel is on the conservative side. I'd do one and have dealer do the other using the oil I provided. Don't know of anything you can do to the tensioner other than to replace it... should be under warranty if under 36K miles.
Yeah, about 7500 sounds good. I have decided to have my local BMW shop that also works on MINIs do this change when it's due, and watch them so I'm familar the next time. I was real surprised when I opened the filter box and found a cartridge! Is this a step backwards, or what?
Here's a photo of my garage this afternoon. It's amazing how BIG the new MINI is compared to the old ones. That's my 1275 Austin Cooper S in back.
you mean oil filter not air filter right?
Yes you can pick up oem oil filter (much cheaper than at dealer) and redline at either MINICorsa or Steve's Auto Clinic.
__________________ 2006 MINI Cooper JCW GP0019
RMW tune & cams*17% pulley*ITG filter*Brisk plugs*H-Sport Comp RSB*KMac camber plates*resonator delete*TSW studs/jack pads*H&R 5mm spacer*CT AX6 pads*Motul RBF600*RedLine*15x7 Motegi TrakLites2*Nitto NT01 205/50-15 BRG/W 2003 MINI Cooper S R.I.P. Sheila
I got the filter and oil at NAPA. I've always found thier stuff to be good quality at decent prices. If she was racing it, I'd probably go for Redline. I've never used their engine oil, but I've had good results with their gearbox oil in my MGB-GT with overdrive.
M
No way, Im gonna wait 2 years plus to change the oil. Especially when you factor in, that the majority of my driving is short, stop and go trips...
I change my oil and filter once a year.
I've always been a "oil is cheap insurance guy," and yet to have a car die due to anything oil related...
Not to mention...
I change my oil, cause I enjoy it!
For the record: I use OEM filter and Redline 5w30, and Rhino Ramps to rasie er up. Very easy car for oil changes.
Thats the best bet for low mileage use. Once a year. BTW: If short trips less that 5 miles, at least once per week you may want to consider just driving around a little bit to get 5+ miles logged to get oil up to good operating temp.
Is this "section" ("Beneath the Bonnet") still here please? Also, are there kits to purchase which include filter, washer/gasket and an appropriate-sized socket? I'm not sure if I need the 27mm or 36mm...though I believe an `03 MINI would need the 36mm?
I don't need a drain pan - though I suppose I could use another one if it comes as a part of a kit...
I'm not going to spend money on the paper, but reading the title and abstract indicates to me that this is hardly a general test to indicate that running old oil in an engine improves wear characteristics.
I'll also note that the very first paragraph in the quoted web site states, "Mobil 1 currently enjoys the distinction of being the only readily available true PAO synthetic motor oil." which is simply not true.
I'm not a believer that changing oil more frequently than the mfg recommends is necessarily a good idea, but frankly this 8K-15K change interval with filter changes every 5K recommendation is pretty wacky. A 5K filter change interval makes about as much sense as a 3K oil change interval, which is not much. And the mfgs who recommend different filter vs. oil change intervals generally recommend that filters be changed less often rather than more. It's pretty hard to come up with any rationale explanation why an oil filter on an average car needs to be changed at 5K intervals.
So all in all, a pretty silly technical article, even by the low standards of oil articles in general. I don't think you can go too horribly wrong my simply following the mfg's recommended change intervals, or since Mini's tend to have somewhat uncomfortably long recommendations, maybe halve them, which on my car means I change oil/filter every 8K or so.
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2003 R50
