I've had my MC for only a couple weeks. Excuse my n00b-dom. I did a search of the forums and couldn't find the answer to this question.

I need an oil change pretty soon. For those of you who don't do it yourself, how much do you pay for your MC's oil change?

Someone at my closest MINI dealership told me it would be about $200. I wasn't shocked, but my regular mechanic said he does a MINI oil change for about $65 (with synthetic). This mechanic is one I've used and trusted for years, who works on MINIs, but not exclusively.

Is my mechanic's price normal, or too good to be true? Is it worth it to just go with the dealership?

 

I pay $11 for a filter cartridge (at the dealership) and $26 for 5 qts. of synthetic oil (not at the dealership). So nearly $40 with tax. Your mechanic can probably get it all for less, but throw in a 1/2 hour of labor, and $65 is probably not out of the ballpark.

 

$51.59 for parts, OEM filter and OEM Synthetic

sorry but I do not know the labor charge (DIY).

it takes me about 45 minutes, so a proper shop should definitely be under an hour of labor...

 

I bring the OEM MINI filter and 5 quarts of MINI oil to my mechanic. He charges $25 and tops off the fluids.

 

My dealer right now in Warwick RI it's $79.00 bucks for last 2 months.




My friend's shop using an OEM filter and Amsoil is about same price....My MCS loves the Amsoil....

$200.00 seems a tad high IMO.

 

Thanks so much for the information, gents.

 

I pay $93 (CDN) and I get a loaner car for the day

 

My dealer (Ralph Schomp in Littleton, Colorado) charges $75 for an oil change.

 

I paid about $70 at Fat City German Car here in Seattle the one time I did not do it myself. I couldn't get the drain plug out as the previous owner probably let somebody use an impact wrench on it. For that $70 they also did an inspection and pointed out things that needed to be done, so I felt like I got great value for the money.

IMHO $200 is too much; I agree with the others.

Val

 

Just got an e-mail from Northwest Mini in Tacoma, WA -- $68.95 for an "Annual Oil Service". "Mini Oil Service (includes Standard Scope)" is $118.95... plus about 8.2% sales tax of course. At their Seattle Mini dealership I paid nearly $80 a couple of weeks ago... ouch! They were kind enough to listen to my criticism of their high price but claimed that was the going rate in Seattle even at the Jiffy Lube. In Anacortes, my home town, we don't have a Jiffy Lube but the equivalent type business charges $39.95 (no, I haven't taken my Mini there and won't but that's another topic). My "local guy" charges $29.95 up to 5 quarts. I'm looking for a specialty foreign mechanic around my home town I can trust.

 

Changing the oil is a very easy job, if it takes me 35-40 minutes then a shop can do it faster. $100.00 is high, $200.00 is flat out rip-off in my opinion.

 

I usually buy Royal Purple oil change kit from detroit tuned for $53.

http://www.detroittuned.com/shop/?productID=473

Then i have a local garage do the oil change for me for another $15 or $20.

 

Haven't had to do an oil change yet but my mechanic quoted me $50-$60, using synthetic.

 

I've seen different dealers charge $75-$125. I do it for $52, $12 for the filter from the dealer, and $40 for Motul from a mechanic friend. I'm sure if he were to do it for someone else it would be around $75

 

I paid $72 (inc. tax) about a month ago at the dealer. I have no desire to do it myself.

 

I paid $79 two weeks ago at the dealer. No more free oil changes at one year in fact they discouraged us from getting the oil changed. My wife actually got pissed off because they insisted that Mini changed their policy Sept 1 and there is no need to change it just wait for the light. I had 10,500 miles at the one year mark. So much for the owners manual, I guess we can throw it outsince they can overide it.

 

Um about $60 and I have mine done every 6 months