I dated a lady a few years back that had a new Honda SUV. She had the oil change done at a Jiffy Lube type place, and hit the road to come back to Ohio. Oil started coming from beneath the hood and was getting all over the windsheild. She pulled over at a Plaza which had a gas station, and looked under the hood. The guy had not put the oil fill cap back on after the oil change, and fortunately, it was still laying on the engine where he set it down. So she added back around 1 1/2 quarts of oil and went on her way.
They did pay for steam cleaning the engine bay but only after I went with back with her and raised h*ll.
So that is just one example! She was lucky that the oil came up on the windsheild or she may have ran it out of oil!

 

Those ham-fists like to use impact wrenches whenever they can. Not the best idea on an oil drain plug!! (Especially when they leave it on there long enough that you can time your watch to the noise it makes.)

Not having a garage, I was outsourcing my oil changes as well, but the MINI I do myself. Contrary to what (I suspect) many people think, it isn't any more difficult than the "typical" car...and, in fact, it's actually easier than most. I may never understand why they chose a cartridge-type filter over a simple spin-on, but it doesn't really matter because it's still reasonably easy to deal with.

Another tip not yet mentioned (in this thread, at least) is to inspect and spin the power steering fan while you're under there. If it doesn't feel right, or if it's loaded with junk, consider yourself lucky that you caught it in time (and enjoy even more satisfaction of DIY)!

 

Power steering fan? I've only owned my Mini for a week, but I didn't know it had a power steering fan. Does it change directions when you take corners Only kidding Buddy! I assume it cools the power steering pump....right?

Now, if I can only figure out how to prefill that funny little oil filter

 

Yes it's for the electric pump, and it's a known failure-item...and it's expensive to fix (pump failure), and there's a big fiasco with BMW right now for not issuing a formal recall...

No need to prefill the filter housing, but before removing the old one, it is a good idea to crack the housing loose and just let it sit for a few minutes for the residual oil to drain back into the engine. It avoids the inevitable mess and stinky manifold.

 

i use a extractor on mine all the time. 5in and 5out. no issues for me i use a liquivac.

 

Thanks Ellcapitan, I will check that fan often! Is this also a problem on the 2010 model Camrio steering pumps?
By the way, I was only kidding on the filter prefil

 

Quick Change Horror Stories, ValVashon Edition:

1) Driving up to the Quaker State Quick Lube (or whatever it was called) in my 1967 AMC Marlin, and was asked by the front of house person "what year Mustang is that?" I decided to wait until the weekend when I could get to a friend's house with a driveway so I could DIY. Granted, a Marlin isn't a common car, but it is easily recognizable as NOT a Mustang.

2) Victim: 1984 Renault Encore; Perp: Pennzoil Quick Lube. Renault took approximately 4 quarts of oil to fill it; Pennzoil Quick Lube put in between 7 and 8. Didn't notice anything wrong until I started going up one of the Downtown Tacoma hills (very steep) and clouds of blue smoke were billowing out of my tailpipe. Stopping and checking the dipstick revealed that it was overfull. Quick Lube happened to be at the top of the hill and a spirited discussion with the manager got them to drain and refill with the correct amount. Manager actually tried to get out of it, saying that my car would burn up that much oil before my next change anyway (not true, Renault engines were assembled by robots and extremely tight according to my regular mechanic) and then he explained that he didn't want to do it because "once we pull the plug we'll have to drain all of the oil..." meaning basically he didn't want my oil change to cost him 12 quarts of oil. Too bad for you.

3) Victim: 1984 Renault Encore; Perp: New (now closed) independent oil change place in Tacoma. Oil change was successful, but they managed to roll my car off of the lift while the door was open, putting a big wrinkle it in and making that door never close correctly again. Filled out some paperwork and waited to hear from their insurance company, but they closed after about 4 months and I never heard from them.

4) Victim: 1984 Renault Encore; Perp: Jiffy Lube on Sprague Avenue in Tacoma. You'd think I would have learned my lesson by now, but no. Renault/AMC were real parts bin ******, and so the oil filter (and the threaded stud it screws on to) changed mid-year. This means that there were two for that year, and they put on the wrong one. It stayed on for my drive up to Seattle for work, then popped off as I was backing out of the driveway at work leaving 4 quarts on the asphalt. I had to go to an auto parts store on a Sunday morning after working a graveyard shift and get oil and the correct filter to put in/on the car. Granted a Renault Encore isn't a common car, but when the incorrect filter is put on it just doesn't "feel" right. Monday morning I went to the Jiffy Lube and set the filter on the counter and said "Since this popped off, I'd like my $21.50 back please." The manager handed me back the money without a word, and that's the last time I have ever been in a quicky oil change place.

5) Victim: 2002 MINI; Perp: unknown primate with a breaker bar. First oil change I tried on my used '02 resulted in a broken socket when I tried to loosen the drain plug. I can't say for sure that this was done at a quick change place, but I get the feeling my car didn't often see the dealer before I got it. Thanks to Fat City in Seattle for doing my first oil change on short notice and for only $77!

So there you have it. Examples that aren't urban legends. Doing your own oil changes will put a smile on your face when you are done.

Val

 

Man that's some scary stuff Valvashon! That is the very reason that I have always performed my own oil changes!

 

Does anyone know what size the oil drain plug is for an 07 Cabrio S? I want to order a Fumoto plug and am getting conflicting info on size from differant web sites. One says 14MMX1.5 and another says 16MMx1.5. I dont want to order a 16MM and then it not fit and have to put the old plug back in while I try to exchange it. I am a Fumoto fan and have used them for years and with the possibility if cross threading upon replacement one time would be good for me.

 

you want an F-106 - you have a GEN1 engine and it uses the F-106

I've installed these for a number of folks and is the one I order

I'd even say to use the F-106N which makes it easy to attach a length of tubing to direct the stream where you want it to go...... {no snickers .....}

http://www.qwikvalve.com/

The F-108 is the right size for the GEN2 engine but because the drain puts the plug hanging down below the engine I can not recommend using it.

(you are getting conflicting info probably because the hard top went to GEN2 in 07 BUT the rag top was not until a couple of years later...... many part sites are not attentive to that point.)

 

Capt bj, Thanks for the clarification. I suspected that but wanted some clarification from a user before i order. I will order the F106

 

So I ordered a F106 14mm Fumoto plug and when I pulled the drain plug yesterday and compared it to the drain plug I had just pulled out and it was notibally larger. Im sure it is a 16mm so I have ordered a 16mm F108 for the next time I change the oil. It must have to do with Mfg date. My R52 is a July 07 build.

 

You are right to want to change your own oil. Get the correct spanners and your parts from the dealer if it is convenient. Use oil with the "BMW LL-01" designation and you can go the in-dash countdown intervals. Not all synthetic oils meet this specification! MINI branded oil does, and it is what I use exclusively.

Val

 

The one I removed out of my 02 justa looks exactly like the one on the right even has the yellow blob on it, F106 14mm. The one out of my 07 R52 S is the same length but is slightly larger along with the plastic collar thing. I did not have a chance to pick up a 16mm nut to verify but Im confident it is a 16mm plug.