I really want to change my oil... and not wait for the dealer specified intervals. Does anyone know the weight and amount of oil needed? It is nuts there is no dipstick. :(

 

well I think you may have the same 2.0 engine in your 18 as my 17 (S), just set at a little hotter setting, ( JCW).
It calls for the Mini engine oil in the SAE 0w-20 BMW longlife -14 FE+ gasoline, its in the owners manual also, but they don't put oil capacity in the manual !
The Mini Oil black bottle with the red stripe. You need a little over 5 liters of oil. Its like 5.25 liters.
I noticed in the Mini Parts department, last time I was at the dealership, the oil weights are color coded.
Mini Countryman is easy to change oil in. Some use the electric oil extractor, out up the top of the motor. I use the drain plug on the bottom of the oil pan, 17 mm socket, but don't crank on that drain plug when tightening it back on.
Use the copper crush washer that comes with the oil filter. Oh yeah, the oil filter is canister. Its inside that little flap on the bottom cover of the engine. it slide out of the way when you move the plastic tabs. The oil filter canister will be looking at you. There is a small nut head on the canister to drain it, if you want( 13mm socket). To remove the canister use the 32mm socket to loosen the canister. Lisle corp makes one that is 3/8 drive, is good quality. Don't over tighten that canister when you put the filter canister back on the engine. you don't want to crack it. Just snug it to the end of its threads.
Genuine BMW oil filter 11 428570590. made in Austria.
Its a easy car to change the oil. The higher you get it in the air the easier it is and you can see everything well. I use 8 ft long 2x10's flat on the floor as ramps and roll mini up on those as small steps. very stable.
Its a good car.
You will do a good job on the oil change. Just take your time, look everything over while you are underneath there. Its a very well built car.
Have a good one !

 

 

The link above is a good one. I found my engine oil capacity there after MUCH searching, kinda like they don't want owners changing their own oil.

My B38 engine (2018 Countryman SE All4), 3 cyl 1.5L turbo, requires BMW LL-17 FE+ 0W20 oil. 4.25L with oil filter change. Note the oil capacity and oil type were in two different sections. Now where to find the oil outside of a BMW/MINI shop? Researching for future, still under warranty.

 

I buy mine at https://www.getbmwparts.com/c-oil-change-kits-174. I just bought some B58 kits last month and they shipped them with the latest 0w-20 LL-17 FE+ BMW branded bottles. Shoot them an email for a B38 kit with your VIN since they don't have one listed and they'll respond back the same day with what you need.

 

Thank you for the link, ND40oz....

OK, so there is truly no oil dipstick on the '18 B38? I want to 'see' my oil level, not rely on an electronic sensor to tell me its OK. Is there one hidden under the engine cover?

 

Nope, no dipstick.

 

As I recall from long ago research, you could probably retrofit a dipstick if you really had the mind to do so. Check out the diesel versions of the engine and you should find a dipstick.

 

Just a comment from a grumpy old man. I don't think there is anything shown or said in the world could convince me to buy a motor vehicle without a dip stick. There is way too much reliance on indicators now and all tragedy requires is for a fuse to blow or a wire/connector to fail.

 

Then the oil sensor would not work, which should clue in most people that a fix is due.

 

Don't try to make grumpy old men feel better. Grumpy is SOP... "And we LIKE it."

 

Yes. Real-OEM shows a dipstick tube and port on the oil pan for the D version. The SE version shows a port, no tube. Most likely plugged, hopefully not sealed by stamped/cast metal. If plugged, I may try to pull the plug. Otherwise, I'm not going to drill out because of the shavings that will fall into the pan. If I ever have that pan off for some reason, I'm putting in a tube/dipstick for sure.

This goes against the philosophy for most Mini drivers. Hobbyists, tinkerers, 'make it mine' mentality. Why so many love their Mini.

I think I should make my signature: "What's up with that no dipstick bull?"

 

So what's the deal when we change our own oil? We're just going to pour 4 1/2 quarts in of say Mobil 1 0w-20 synthetic oil and call it good?

-=>Raja.

 

I just changed again this morning. I purchased an 'assemble your own' kit from ECSTuning with free shipping. ECS is good stuff! My car called for 0-20LL, but the first time I changed oil and purchased the kit from the dealer they didn't have the 0-20 and sold me 0-30 instead, said it would be OK. There is a sticker near the front at the radiator that says 0-20 and the manual says 0-20, so I'm sticking with that from now on. I included the magnetic oil drain plug in the ECS order, but the plug was too long and was obstructed by about 1/4" when screwing in finger tight. Used the orig plug instead.

A couple of notes..the oil filter housing has a center plug you remove with a T55 driver. Make sure you have one before you drain the oil. It isn't one normally in the all-in-one kit from Harbor Freight. You'll receive a new plug with the oil filter kit, along with a copper crush washer for the drain plug and O-ring for the filter housing. I used a medium binder clip on the under body flaps for filter and plug access to hold them full open while I worked under there as they kept getting in the way, obstructing view, and I didn't want oil draining on them. As to how much, I put the full 5L in, drove to warm up, and performed an oil check. It was perfect.

Finally, if you can use a lift, ramps, or just even drive up on short lengths of 2x4 to give yourself an extra inch or two under there, you'll be glad you did. You *can* change the oil without anything to lift (like I did today), but its tough.

 

Has anyone looked further into this?