New owner here...I've had the car for 2 months now and just approaching the 1500 mile mark.

I wanted to get your opinion since I'm just about done with the 'break in' period. When did you guys get your first oil change? I know some people prefer to clean out the break in oil and swap it out immediately, and some don't have a preference.

Called the dealership today asking if I could get one now if they could cover that in the maintenance coverage, but they said no. They recommended that I just listen to the car and change it when it tells me to. But I understand their reason for that.

So when did you get your FIRST oil change?

About 10,000 miles.

Same here

1978.

Got mine @ 4400 miles. The service indicator actually asked for it. (I think my MINI was on the dealer's lot for a while before I rescued it.)

1000 miles…next will be at 5000 miles

At 1500 then roughly every 5000. Matter of fact I'm due now thanks for the reminder.

Mine was maybe around '65 or '66, don't exactly remember.

My co-pilot has a CM awaiting shipment. We've already discussed this and we'll change out the engine and gear box oils at 3,000 miles thru an independent shop then follow up with the dealer on schedule.

1,000 Miles....Next one will be when Service Indicator "requests", likely going to be around 9,500 by that time.

flushed at 500 to get the break in wear/metals out, then at 1500. flushed the trans at 1k and 11.5k

I paid for the first one at 5,000. Then had one done covered by maintenance warranty at 10,000. Then every 6-7,000 after that also covered by maintenance. My car "asks" for it about every 8-9,000. You have a 2,000 mile window where the oil change shows as "recommended" but not required. It's covered under the maintenance plan at this point. So always go in 1999 miles before it says it's due.

Have any of you sent an oil sample to a lab for analysis? I'm curious if 10k mile old fully syn oil looks much different from 5k mile old oil from a metals and lubrication properties standpoint.

I recently bought a 2011, and assume the former owner only serviced it when the car called for it, and maybe not even that. Am I at risk due to too long of intervals?

03/2012 all4 ... custom ordered 02/2012

i did my own oil/filter @ 1250 miles
another @ 2500 miles
another @4500 miles ... this one was at 1/2 way to first OBC requested oil/filter change ... mine was factory set for 9000 mile changes
dealer change @ 8000 miles ... countdown hit 0 early and dealer reset next interval to 8000 miles (per a service letter i was told)

now i change @ 4000 miles after the dealer change ... i bought the extended maintenance so will go with the dealer and me alternating changes for 6 years or 100,000 miles

i drive hard, lots of boost time and since i plan on keeping the all4 a long time i am much more comfortable with 4000 mile intervals (my last car purchase was 1996, a 1997 gmc sonoma v6 4x4 5 speed that now has 399,000 miles with 5,000 mile oil/filter changes since new)

edit: the oil @ 1250 and 2500 miles was very dirty and black in color ... could not see through it at all

@ 4000 the oil was darker than new oil but still transparent, same @ 8000 at the dealer and all changes since

For those that are changing their own oil between dealer service visits, what effect is the extra oil change having on the service indictor ?

As i understand it, fresh oil would extend the period to service due to the better condition oil now circulating ?

Dunno whether it is fact or myth, but i was told years ago (ca E46 3 series era) that when the oil level gets to the min mark on the dipstick, topping up to the max can add as much as 1000miles to the indicated period to next service ?

has NO EFFECT ... the mini does not have an oil condition sensor ... it uses a software algorithm based on miles driven, gallons of fuel used, number of cold starts and possibly other factors to count down to a service

it also must be manually reset

As far as I know, Mini does not use break in oil.

15000km .Once a year. Did my first oil change in January 2015

My first service is due in 800miles, and is covered by the TLC service package.

Sadly UK cars seem to be programmed with the algorithm of ca 14-18k mile intervals. Mine will be at 18k miles when it goes into the dealer; i will be changing oil and filter myself in between visits after that.

Do all my new cars at 1200 - 1500 miles in my garage.

I have heard chatter about a special break-in oil and that you shouldn't change it for 10k. I would not take that advice. In these motors, change the oil at least every 5k, or more. You'll thank me later when you don't have an expensive repair bill. Oh, and if you're on the factory service plan, don't reset the oil service indicator, so you get your regularly scheduled free oil service from your friendly dealer.

I did and do mine usually at the 2,000 mile mark, then again at 5,000 miles.
Then every 5 - 6,000 miles after that (which usually ends up being every 6 months using only full synthetic).

Greg

I picked mine up as Cherished Used Mini in December with 13k miles, so according to MINI UK not needing a service. Dealer will service at 18k, 36k miles etc as per the UK regime. I will do a mid term oil change for peace of mind now at 27k miles and 45k miles.

I've changed oil in between services on previous cars (incl after 2k miles on new cars) and never had any issues. But then i dont keep my cars for more than 3 years so I'm probably not going to see any ill effects in my tenure.

Bought used, looks like first owner had dealer do changes about 12K & 24K, don't know if it was done more frequently. I had it changed about 7K after buying and dealer told me it wasn't due yet - thanks for the info! Figure I'll do it yearly, low mileage car so that should suffice.

had my first oil change at 1000miles