Feb. 11, 2014

I am trying to figure out why Mini says change the oil every 15,000 miles instead of every 5,000 miles which most other car manufacturers recommend ? I don't believe the engine in the Mini's is that much different then other cars, or is it ? I did notice that when you go into the dealer for the oil change it runs around $80 compared to maybe $30 or so at other car places. The dealer did say to me when I bought the car that if you changed the oil every 5000 miles you would pay around $30 each time. (3x 30= $90). Why do BMW/Mini suggest longer intervals ? I did notice that they dropped the 15k down to 10k in the last month or so. So what is the deal with that ?

Gordon

 

They suggest longer intervals because supposedly the synthetic oil they recommend for the engine can support longer intervals. When they told you it would be $30 each time if you change your oil every 5k miles they were wrong. The oil changes cost the same every time. It just depends on how often you do them. There are a million opinions on the topic. I suggest you do some research and form your own.

FWIW I have multiple used oil analyses suggesting that 7500 miles is no problem for the OEM mini oil and filter.

 

Kinda close...

European car companies are being driven to a much longer interval due to green movements and frankly cost. I changed my oil in Germany when I lived there (off post) and it cost close to $300 USD. A liter of oil cost almost 20 euro, so many people want longer changes. Yes, a lot of that is tax, but it still taps their pockets pretty hard. Oil is cheap here in the US, so change it as you see fit, but many places it isn't that cheap due to taxes and import fees.

Now, there are many that have and do go the distance and I am one of them. I do 15K changes running Amsoil and have had my car tested in the past with results showing that the oil was okay but showing some wear at 15K. Bottom line is that quality synthetic oil can go the distance but I would recommend using a quality oil. My car now has 110,000 miles on it and the engine is strong.

 

Yes MINI has changed the recommended change intervals to 10,000 down from 15,000. Why would they do that you ask, well my guess is that they were seeing engines with oiling caused problems during the warranty period. Remember MINI/BMW does not care about your car once you roll of of warranty. As the car owner I'm sure you do.

Yes synthetic oil will last longer, but in a turbocharged engine it is being worked very hard. My advice would be to change the oil every 7,500 miles at the longest. I use a 5,000 mile change schedule myself. Oil changes are cheap insurance.

Now it is time for someone to post how great 15,000 changes are.....

 

+1

I just do in between oil changes , not the filter, I just suck the oil out with my vacuum pump designed for oil and replace oil. So it get's filter replaced by dealer ( still get free oil changes 3/36K ) every other and the oil stays alot cleaner. BTW with my short drives my car tells me every 8K for oil changes so I do mine at 4K

 

I am one of those that follow the "OBC" interval guys, so intervals range from 9K-15K.

 

I should mention that I have an R53. On the turbo, I would probably do it every 8K. That engine is just too easily prone to oil starvation.

 

the mini oil change interval has been reduced to 7,000 miles as of nov 2012

 

I suspect MINI lowered the oil change interval because a) all the posters on the Internet who claim the long intervals were causing problems was starting to create a marketing/selling problem for them and it was more cost effective to spring for an extra oil change as part the included maintenance plan instead of trying to counter an Internet meme or b) they realized they had a bunch of consumers who were ready to buy in to shorter oil change intervals whether needed or not so why not capitalize on a market opportunity and help those consumer part with their money or c) some combination of these two. I lean toward option c being the most likely reason.

 

Follow OBC here, change every 15-24,000 miles. Currently just over 324,000.

Nik

 

Ouch, I feel bad for your motor.


I do my oil changes every 5K and I've noticed that my car eats half a quart every time. Exciting right? haha