So, I'm old school believing the cheapest form of engine protection is frequent oil changes. Still cannot get my head around 10K recommended by BMW.

Putting that aside, I plan on having oil changed every 5K with full synthetic.

Since I'm done with the DIY oil changes, I wonder if anyone can give me a estimate of what the dealership charges if I bring my car in for a 5K (I'll pay for it myself) oil & filter change between the free (which we all pay for in the price of the car anyway) recommended oil changes?

Thanks. Guessing it's more than the $45 I pay for with my Santa Fe

 

Best bet would just ask the Shop you plan to have do the work...

Parts wise the Oil Change Kit runs about $60 Plus or Minus a bit...

Service time should be about 30 minutes, so depending on shop fees... the local MINI shop near me charges $135.00 an hour ... the local Independent Shop charges $50.00 an hour.

So depending...

PS... I do mine every 6K

Motor on!

 

They say 10,000 miles but at 7,000 my MINI started to tell me it was time for an oil change.

 

I've just gone the diy route (also 5k intervals). Costs me about $40 for the oem filter and 5 quart jug of castrol syntec.

 

Yep, used to do my oil changes on car when I was a bit younger and poorer. Now that I'm older and a having a bit more disposable income, would rather have a cup of coffee and some "Tablet time" in the waiting room while the work is being done.

With no kids to leave anything to, may as well spend some of it.

When we go to the Mini store again, I'll ask. I was more concerned they wouldn't do the work because the car says it doesn't need it.
(inwardly knowing the mercenary nature of car dealerships, they will do anything as long as you are willing to pay for it)

 

how about I change it for you, and you leave your wealth to me since you don't have children! problem solved! realistically I think the dealer charges somewhere between 60-80 out of pocket.

 

69.95 at Portland Mini, free car wash and all the espresso I can drink in 90 minutes! Can't see messing with it myself.

 

Sounds like my kind of dealership. I'd come out wound up like a 24 hour clock.

 

Just had my first free one at one year and 4000 miles. Can't see going beyond a year. My car said it was time and who is to argue.

 

Last time I had a triple & a double, left a bit jittery for sure.

 

Yes agreed with the low mileage. C7 says 7500 or 1 year if less miles. First 4 are changes are included w/ the C7 and at the owners discretion (not the car's ) . Since I don't put many miles on mine, every 6 months regardless of miles for the included changes then every year when I start paying.


Kind of wish Mini would allow the same on the Coopers (I expect as our daily driver car we'll be putting on 10-12K a year so interim oil changes are going to be a necessity for us.

 

MINI states 10,000 miles and it used to be 15,000 miles a little while back.
I would say on average 5-7,000 miles for most people that are oil change people (DIY ) on the forums. And once a year if it sits in a garage and goes 500 miles a year.

The sooner you change the oil , the other things you can check on you MINI so more routine general inspections help you get familiar with your MINI and also keep an eye out for other things like a general tire inspection for nails and such.

We have oil change kits here and the socket tool needed: There is a F56 Cooper Kit and F56 Cooper S kit. Our kits come with window cling sticker also so you can have it written down.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...rocedures.html






MINI also just changed oil suppliers and went from Castrol Synthetic to Shell 5w-30 Euro Synthetic .

 

Does anyone know if it is possible to do a 'top side' oil change with a fluid extractor on this engine? Without a dip stick, how do you get the extractor tube into the oil pan?

 

[EDIT] ..... [/EDIT]
Sorry... I did not read your total question...

As far as a "Top Down" extraction ... even if you could do it, I wouldn't recommend it. You really need to drain all the old oil out and inspect the drain plug magnet for metal filings. Plus it is near impossible to get to the oil filter cartridge without getting under the car.

Motor on!

 

Are you sure there is a drain plug magnet? Perhaps this is an aftermarket thing?

 

I think we all need to gripe at Mini about the lack of a dipstick! I changed my oil this past weekend. The car was nice and hot when I put it on the lift. I let the pan and filter housing drain for about 30 minutes before carefully measuring the oil and putting it in the engine. The electronic check indicated I wasn't up to snuff. It doesn't really indicate how low that is, but I know the indication should NOT being saying it's low due to my accurate measuring. On top of that, by the time it's happy again that the temp is back up to operating and it CAN do the check electronically, if it really was way too low, the damage to the engine would already have been done before you could add more oil. The real kicker is the oil pan has a boss for the dipstick tube. They designed it in then didn't use it -real dumb in my opinion.

OK - I'm off the soapbox!

 

Seems to me BMW used to show 12k or 15k for oil changes. Dealer did my 1st no-charge oil change at 7k.

Our 2014 Mazda CX-5 owner's manual says 7.5k or 6 months -- whichever comes first for the synthetic changes. My wife drives it nearly 7k a year, and that would mean she'd be doing oil changes every 3500 miles -- crazy!

 

I change my Oil ever 12 months/6000 miles.
I think the BMW Oil change intervals are too long.
But hey, each to their own!
By the way, I use fully synthetic Mobil 1 too.
I'm of the opinion that you can't 'over look after your pride and joy'.

 

I have certainly seen the trend with newer cars to lengthen the service intervals (although not to 10K with an oil service).

The radiator flushes and transmission flushes have been moved from 30K to 60 K in many cases (which actually hurts the service departments to some degree) since those expenses are not usually covered unless you buy a maintenance program with the car.

I do understand that full synthetic oil do protect engines better than regular oils (or blended), but10K does still strike me as too long an interval (especially if one plans on keeping a car longer than the 4 year Bumper to bumper to warranty coverage).

As most seem to agree, better to err on the side of safety and change very 5-7.5K as oil is much cheaper than an engine rebuild.

 

changed my oil this week filter was 20 valvoline synpower 5w30 was 30 and i added 1/3 botlle of stp oil treatment to get level full 3 so 53bucks. i lowered my car while oil was draining and the trap door dipped into some oil but i just whiped it off.

 

oh yeah car was at 2000 miles and i will change it every 6 months from here.

 

They still make STP????

 

Not sure I would be using STP on a new engine and synthetic oil. I used to use STP on my old Ford because it was blowing smoke and leaking oil. Worked well for that.

 

ive been using it for over 30 years and never had a problem and ive had a couple record holding rides in the last 5 years. im sure your not the last person to tell me that and i wont listen to them either.

 

thats what your girlfreind said also.