Last summer I purchased a new-to-me 2017 JCW Clubman. Shortly after taking the car, to be safe, I decided to change the oil, even though I bought it with a "certified" inspection from a dealer (a Honda dealer though, not a MINI dealer).
I bought a package from ECS - came with a filter, 6 quarts of Liqui Moly oil, and some other bits.

I owned a 32mm socket wrench but when it came time to change the oil - turns out mine was too deep, couldn't get it on to remove the filter housing. I didn't realize the hex on the filter housing was partially behind something structural.
I finished the oil change otherwise, but had to leave the old filter in there.
...I ordered a shallow 32mm socket that I now have in my toolbox ready for this next oil change.

My concern is this-
I did the oil change last time with 5 quarts of oil. Frustratingly, this motor has no dipstick, and it takes several days for the oil level to appear:



The problem / question-
I'm buying new oil to do an oil change soon, now that it's above freezing again. Barely above, but I'll pick a reasonable day.

I can't tell if 5 quarts put me close to "max" because the oil filter [plus any additional oil that would have drained out the filter opening] would have still held some old oil, or if the 5 quarts that I added was truly the right amount, therefore the oil sensor shows near "max", not middle-range?

(frustratingly, having the extra quart from the six-pack last time isn't much help, since the level sensor takes so long to register the new level - adding and checking would be a weeks long process, rather than minutes)

Is 5 quarts the right amount for a full (including filter this time) oil change? Safe to drive on?
Thanks!

 

easy to do a google search and it will come right up

 

5 quarts is safe to drive on, IMHO. MINI capacity for my S is 5.2L (5.5 qt) and I have been putting in 5.25L, with the capacity display shows at the 'max' level with 5.25L. Not sure if the JCW has additional capacity or not. The display will work once you have fully warmed up the vehicle and driven a certain distance. Not sure the distance requirement, but 3-5 miles seems to trigger its requirements for me. I typically buy the 5L jug and have a 1L bottle on hand. The 1L bottle lasts me 4 oil changes and makes things pretty simple. YMMV.

 

What an absolute troll. You must be young, forums are new to you?

Search...
Let's ask the troll - how do you think I got the information to put 5 quarts in, the first time?
Search...
Like you clearly didn't do to find my original post with my concern from that FIRST oil change, and all the details in there?

You didn't even read THIS post to understand what the real question was, what my recent experience-based deviation, and cause for discomfort are.
It's a good thing that I'm not a moderator on THIS forum like I was for years on car audio, electronics and fabrication forums through the '00s and early '10's. You'd be GONE. Donezo.

Trolls do what trolls do.
Let's find a way to demerit-point trolls like this and drive them out.

 

Thanks.

I suppose the oil filter could hold merely a quarter quart - possibly there's nothing being suspended beyond the filter pickup - this is a different style filter than any car that I've had before.

On my car, it could have been a contributing factor that I did that first oil change in December, and most of my working is from my home office. The two days that I do commute, I do go about 10 miles, but everything else is just a few miles. Some combination of "not warm enough" and "not driven far enough" may have played a role, but it was a real bear to get the first oil level to register.

I know from the prior issue (and thread) that there isn't one, but there REALLY should be some way of being able to check at least a basic level...
Imagine you asked your teenager to do it (or the local teenagers at the corner oil change place), and you had no idea if they put in 3 quarts, 5 quarts, 7 quarts... and you had to DRIVE like that until some sensor told you?
It's just a high-risk setup. I wouldn't see how BMW/MINI would like this, given all the vehicles where the B46 is used. It's really as much a risk for them as for the owner.

I'll start with 5 quarts, given that my "without the oil filter" resulted in a "max", it does make sense that 5 quarts done with a proper full oil change (filter included) wouldn't drive it all the way even to "low" -
...but I'd feel better if I could validate that without driving for a week!

For real though, I'll time this oil change for a day before I do have a commute, so that I can have the best shot at having the car's "measure oil level" in a state where it's not greyed out.
Thanks.

 

Ha, ha. Good one.

 

The filter housing on these engines is pretty small compared to older 'can' filters, so capacity is limited. I have thought about pre-filling my housing during oil changes, like I do on my Mustang, but have never tried it to see how much the housing holds, but 0.25L doesn't sound unreasonable. The location of the housing doesn't help either, since you have to fish it up in there. My Mustang's filter is a straight vertical path up and that filter holds just proud of 1/2 quart. I agree with the virtually dangerous situation of a quick lube place if they get distracted or don't reset the volume odo on the dispensing nozzle...no quick way to verify where you are. Who is even to say that the 'max' reading on the display doesn't have a fairly large window as well??