I just bought a 2012 R60 S with the 6spd manual, and love it. I have put about 1,000 miles on it since purchase from a private seller, and I'm thinking I better get the oil changed to be safe. I live in the Dallas, TX area. My questions are:

1. Can I take it to a regular oil change place (Kwik Kar, Take 5, etc.) or does a Mini require oil changes by a proper Mini/BMW mechanic?
2. I read people mention these engines drinking oil. Do I need to check oil level weekly and top off?? Gauge cluster doesn't exactly give any info on oil level and dipstick is a bit wierd.
3. Should I have the plugs replaced when I get the oil changed?

Car is running great, but this is my first Mini and after reading up in the forums I still have these questions. Any help you all can provide is appreciated. Thanks!

 

1. I’m sure anywhere can do it, but it really is something you can do and isn’t that hard at all to do, just stuff in the way. I change the oil on my R55s and wife’s bf R60s All4. You can pm me your email address and I’ll send you an free invite back to our online manuals. https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...nge-oil-431461

2. I check my oil at least once a week, rule of thumb I gave wife’s bf, just check it every time you get gas. That should typically be around 300-400 miles. If you find that you aren’t having to add an oil then try every 2 tanks, if really low after 300 then I would start hunting leaks and would check more often. Now if I’m down on the Dragon I check everything over before I head that way and top off if needed.

3. If you don’t know when they have been changed, just change them, again this isn’t a hard job to do at all should take maybe 10 minutes at most and I would say that would be on the high end. The socket is a thin wall 14 mm 12 point and can be found on Amazon.
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...k-plugs-431623

 

The car is coming up on being 10 years old. You really should at least learn how to perform your own maintenance, or you’ll lose your mind taking it to the mechanic all the time. Oil change and spark plugs are probably the easiest maintenance tasks to learn. Get some basic tools, if you don’t have any yet, and have fun!

 

Thank for the thorough response! I am used to changing the oil in pickup trucks, but never done a compact vehicle like this. Do you guys just use regular auto ramps to get it up so you can get under it? I'm a big guy (6'6", 280 lbs) so my main concern is getting under it to drain the pan.

 

I don't trust the quick change places, because in this car you have to move the expansion tank out of the way, and if you aren't careful you can break the plastic coolant T.

You'll be more careful. It isn't hard, just weird.

 

You can use ramps, me personally I Jack the car up and put it on jack stands, and if I’m being real lazy I will just do the driver side.

 

I use ramps. The front of the car is so short that you don’t really have to get underneath to reach the drain plug.

 

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-purflux-...27622446kt9kt/ This is the oem filter without the mini logo.