Greetings! Love my 2011 Countryman (except for the lack of a decent driver's side sun visor) -- and the dealer has been great. But should I really be going 20,000 miles between oil changes?? Last oil change at approx. 15,000 miles. Took the car in for 30,000 mile service. Oil change wasn't done because "computer says that I don't need it for another 4000-5000 miles." Sounds bizarre but dealer said that it's due to the way the car senses I drive (which in actuality, is some highway - but mostly stop-and-start around town). Puzzled here... Your thoughts appreciated.

 

IMO, 20K between changes in these cars with paper oil filter cartridges is WAY TOO LONG. You can better quanitify when to change oil by periodically utilizing an oil analysis (such as Blackstone Labs).

 

my 03/2012 build cms all4 has a software upgrade from earlier model cm

my oil change interval started at 9,000 miles

that said, i think even that is too long

i changed the oil after breakin (at ~1,500 miles) and again at 4,500 miles

based on the countdown, mini will be changing the oil at ~8,200 miles

i will continue to change oil/filter at 4,500 miles between the free mini changes

my dad bought a 09/2011 build 2012 cms all4 used demo after he drove my cms all4

his interval is 15,000 miles, i changed his oil right after he bought it, at 2,500 miles, then at 5,000 miles and will be changing his at 5,000 mile intervals with the mini free changes

scott

 

How does system actually work? Does it monitor engine hours/revolutions, oil viscosity, pressure changes, or other? I work with heavy equipment, bulldozers and such, we change engine oils at 250 hours engine time as miles are meaningless on a machine traveling at 3mph, we take oil samples and have labs analyze that oil for engine component materials like iron, alum, zinc , or things like coolant and silicon(dirt) etc.. I would have a hard time trusting 20k miles with no oil change.

 

i asked at the dealer ... the minis do not have any system to measure the viscosity or any other oil parameter (except pressure/temp)

the computer uses an algorithym of cold starts, trip duration and engine load to calculate oil change frequency

in other words, bs

i change my own oil/filters, the mini oem filters cost $8.33 with o-ring and drain plug gasket at my local dealer if i buy 4 or more at a time

i buy mini brand oil by the case from the dealer at $7.25/qt or mobil1 0W40 european blend (LL-01 rated) by the case on sale for $6.80/qt after rebates and sale discounts

based on that, paying for an oil analysis is not cost effective to me, i just change at 4,500 miles (half of the 9,000 mile OBC change interval) for less than $40

the OBC change interval was lowered from 15,000 miles to 9,000 miles as of 03/2012 build date

scott

 

I think you will be fine to follow the OBC as long as you maintain the proper oil level.

 

because it's not sensing oil quality, changing it more frequently does nothing the the service indicator, correct? i can still get my free oil changes at 9k?

 

correct

the service indicator must be manually reset

 

15k is way too long for an oil change. I just changed mine at 7,500 miles and did not reset the oil service reminder so I can get a free one from the dealers soon.

 

Break-in oil change @ 2000 miles. I don't put many miles on our MINIs so once a year/every 3000 miles is my schedule.

 

changing synthetic oil every 3000 miles, in my opinion. is waste of time and money, unless you are really hard on the vehicle I did my first oil change at 7600,the dealer did the next at 15200 and the indicator said next service was due in 12000. Oil will be changed when I hit about 23000. I do agree that 20000 is way too long between changes. The question is what is the best oil to use.

 

This reminds me of a story a buddy (Army helicopter pilot) once told me. The aircraft he flew (CH-47 Chinooks) had a couple of turbine engines lubricated with synthetic oil. Their oil change interval was . . . never. Just kept them topped off. By the time the oil was breaking down, it would be time to remove and rebuild the engine.

 

most turbines act like 2-stroke piston engines, that is they burn a controlled amount of oil as they run, hence no oil chhange is performed, only topping up

scott

 

I do at least 1 in between the dealer changes. 20k is just silly,IMO.

 

my dad's 09/2011 build cms all4 just had it's first dealer done oil/filter change by time (1 year old)

the OBC display now shows the next oil/filter chabge is due after 8000 miles

the SA pointed the change out when i picked the car up

so the lastest/greatest mini oil/filter change interval has now been reduced to 8000 miles

scott

 

that sounds much more reasonable for a normal driver in one of our vehicles. My 2012 says its 7K to next change and I've got 2200 or so miles on it so far... I probably will do an in between around 5K as i've become much more aware of how I drive this thing after all this chatter around oil change intervals and watching my RPMs which defintely run higher/longer than any previous vehicles I've driven.

 

Interesting article

http://www.edmunds.com/car-care/stop...762858&msite=w

 

let's see ... i can save a couple of $50 do-it-myself oil changes and then pay the dealer big $$$$$ to change my timing chain or turbo

our minis, in particular the s models, are not "average" cars, the turbo puts a lot of stress on the oil and we all know the timing chain is a weak spot

i have a friend with an independant repair shop, he services over 100 out of warranty minis, he divides his mini customers into 2 groups, those that change the oil at the extended change interval and change timing chains well under 100k miles and those that change oil every 5,000 miles (his recommended interval for minis) and never change the timing chain

of the minis that he has changed timing chains on (the long change interval cars) EVERY ONE has had oil sludge build up in the oil pan, under the valve cover and in the small oil passage that feeds the timing chain and tensioner

he is also starting to see turbo failures

he resently started a new policy, he will no longer service minis unless the customer agrees to 5,000 mile oil changes

i will stick with 4,000 mile changes, alternating me doing an oil/filter change and the dealer doing an oil/filter change since the newest mini oil/filter change interval is 8,000 miles and i have the extended 6 year/ 100k mile maintenance plan

scott

 

I wish I could get my dealer to belive this!! They still swear it is 15K!!

 

Great read! I wish a lot of people would think of the environment when they do these 3000-4000 mile oil changes

 

From what I have seen on this forum and other BMW related ones, a lot of people here - including me - are doing oil changes every 7,500 miles, not 3,000 - 4,000. 7,500 is about halfway through the old MINI oil change interval, and it seems like we were on to something since MINI has decreased the oil change interval to 9,000.

 

Good to hear! Hopefully not just mini drivers read that article

 

Took mine in for its first service yesterday and it's currently reading 13,000 miles until the next oil service. I'll continue to change it halfway through, but it's weird that it's not lower. The service advisor said it would be lowered to 10k when I asked about it.

 

There are MINI owners that still believe in changing the oil on their Cooper S at 4000 mile intervals. It makes no sense to me when Mobil puts out Mobil 1 that is guaranteed for 15000 miles. Geez my parents had a motor home where the oil change intervals were 25000 miles.

 

My change oil light came on at 7500 miles and is set for 8000 miles for the next service.