Anyone have issues with warranty work when the oil is changed "too frequently" for MINI's taste?

 

Never had a problem.
BMW first implemented free (included really...) maintenance on 97 models which is when oil changes started to get less frequent. That year I bought a 97 328is and kept doing the oil changes at the same interval as my older 3 series. Since then I have bought three new BMW's and one MINI (CM will be 2nd). I have never had any warranty issues due to more frequent maintenance. That being said, I have never had a major warranty claim and I typically use BMW / MINI fluids and filters while under warranty. Once expired I use Liqui Moly.

 

I did my first change at 7500, and it turned out that was the practice among the SAs at my dealership - all of whom have MINIs.

 

canged my oil and filter today at just over 2500 miles. it went well with little mess. i used a paint strainer to screen the oil coming out of the pan to see if there was any metal. once drained i found only one piece around the size of a grain of sand. i did not examine the filter, but i do feel better now that the motor is past the reccomended break-in and the oil and filter is replaced.

 

Not really an issue - if you're paying the dealer to do the "extra" oil changes and they're willing to do them, then they're not going to be able to turn around and deny a warranty claim saying that you "changed the oil too often". And if you're doing the "extra" oil changes yourself, how would they know? You shouldn't be resetting the service interval counter when you do additional oil changes.

 

Does anyone knows why Mini recommends Castrol brand of oil? At least for my 12 CM that's what it recommends...


CP

 

MINI recommends their own MINI branded oil, though I understand that it is Castrol, European formula. My dealer sells MINI brand oil for about the same price that Castrol synthetic sells for at my local auto parts store, so I buy it at the dealer. I also get a 10% discount at the dealer for being a member of the local MINI club.

Is your CM a Clubman or a Countryman?

Dave

 

I don't know what the engineering/marketing reasons were that went into the decision, but that's what MINI has used/recommended since 2001. The MINI-branded oil is a repackaged Euro-spec version of Castrol Syntec.

 

Dave,

I have a Countryman. I love the space in that thing. Also, I wonder if anyone on this thread knows if there are any difference between European formula vs the Castrol marketed in the US...

 

Just a marketing deal, that is all. There are plenty of quality oils out there that you can use that either meet or exceed what they are recommending. Change frequency is your choice but I have been following the dealer recommended from the beginning and I am running strong.

 

This was covered in another thread but yes, there are differences. LL-01 to LL-04... LL-01 is used for higher surfer fuels like we have here in the USA. When I was in Germany I used some of their Castrol oil and it was designated for LL-04. The formulas and most likely the additives are different.

 

DaFlake, thank you for that info. I never knew that. I know for sure I will be doing oil changes in between MFR recommendation. I just cannot see going 15k and have a piece of mind, you know...

 

No problem... There is nothing wrong with changing it early. On my 06 (SC, not turbo) I don't mind going the distance and I have had my oil tested in Germany and it was fine at 15K. On the Suby we still change at 5K even though the oil can "go the distance" because every manufacturer is different.

These threads come up a lot and one thing to remember is that we (the US market) are not driving the long oil changes. In Germany an oil change is 200 Euro and a liter of oil is 25 Euro. It costs a lot of money, most of which is taxed, that is driving the long intervals. We have it very cheap here in the USA so if you can swap it then go for it.

Either way just make sure you pick a good oil to run in your baby.

 

Good point about how expensive it is in Germany. For sure, we have it cheap it here. At any rate, I will be buying my oil at the dealer and perhaps perform the in between oil changes myself. Unless the dealer gives me a deal that's worthwhile...

 

[I drove my 2012 Countryman S ALL4 off the dealership lot on Oct 8th, with my SA telling me I would most likely want to change the oil myself halfway between the 15k/1ry mark depending on how I drove. Sure enough, I watched the speedometer reading (when I first start the car) go from 15K to 12K to 10K, now saying 9K for next service. I am at 4500 total miles now, and about to make a weekend trip of at least 500 total miles, so I am going to change the oil myself this afternoon before the drive this weekend. Just got to figure out which brand oil to use and I am glad I read this thread

In addition to the brand of oil recommended in the owners manual, it also recommends BP Gas, which living close to the Deep Water Horizon catastrophe, I find amusing ….

 

I've not heard of Mini recommending BP but my SA and mech. says to use Shell or Chevron.
Here in lower Ala. there are lots of them.

 

No doubt TransOcean and Haliburton do too.

BP Ultimate is one of the highest-quality fuels available in Europe so I can understand the recommendation.

I changed oil at 5000 miles.

 

They will tell you to use whoever is lining their pockets.

 

what if i do only 5,000 miles a year...would i wait a full year or just change it in 6 months...i have a CMs

 

1 year synthetic oil changes, unless the service computer says otherwise. That is how I have done my low-mileage 05 MCS; no problems.

 

First oil change done at one year and 13,400 miles. I have had no problems with the car but the engine is not as loud as it was before the change. Will do the next change after 7500 miles.

 

It says it in my Owners Manual

 

Wonder if that is new to the manuals on newers models. My 07 manual only says the octane # (91% or higher). My bad.
I got the brands from the dealership guys.
I guess in the UK BP is the best you can get as well.

 

No, it isn't and BP PAID to have that put in, you can bet on that. It is called an advertisement, nothing more.

Just because MINI "recommends" it doesn't mean it is the best.

 

Time has passed and now I have 6,500+ miles on my CM and the car is saying 8,000 miles for the oil change.

Is it telling me to change the oil at 8,000 miles or in an additional 8,000 miles (6,500 + 8,000 = 14,500)?

I'm assuming 14,500 is the answer but wanted to check.

Thanks,
Chris