Good idea or bad idea? When installed, does the lever stick up and out of the way or does it hang down where something can hit it and drain your oil?

Edit: I have an '05 Cooper S.

 

If you have 1st gen mini it will fit ok will not hang down so it can be hit. If 2nd gen might hang down and be able to be hit when driving.

 

Thanks, I guess I sould have mentioned that I have an '05 S.

 

the Fumoto is something I highly recommend for a GEN1

and do NOT recommend for a GEN2 for the reason mentioned . . .

 

Assume you mean something like a Fumoto valve, replaces the drain plug and has a lever that's moved to drain.

So on the R56 MINI, some thoughts.

Its drain plug is on the bottom horizontal surface of the oil pan/sump. The one MINI provides is a flat, slim profile head with a recessed socket for the wrench to loosen it.

I bought a Fumoto valve for my MCS and installed it at my just-after-break-in oil change. It makes oil changes go a bit faster, and there's no messy hand/hands, esp. on the MINI with it's bottom plug that begins drooling almost immediately as soon as it's loosened.

The design of the valve is such that it won't be accidentally knocked *open*. The drain lever is flat steel, spring loaded, and has to be forced *down* past a detent and simultaneously turned 90 degrees to open the valve. Nothing kicked up from the road is going to knock it open.

I would say there's a slim chance something might knock it *off*. It's brass and sturdy, but on the R56 it sticks down 3/4" or so and is now the lowest point in the center of the car. So, compared to the slimline / flat head original drain plug, I'll admit it does look a little vulnerable in the event you were driving two-track forest roads with some debris thrown in for good measure. I plan to replace it with a magnetic plug on my next change.

 

Thanks, guys! I just ordered one. Finally, no more stupid drain plugs that I can't get undone.

Oh, by the way, I read at one site that you can buy these little spring clips. They are the type you see on some hoses. You can squeez them with a pair of pliers. You can put one down over the top of the valve to make it a lot harder for the lever to be knocked up. And then the lever would still have to be turned to allow the oil to drain out. It just makes it a little safer. I'm going to use one.

 

once you get the Fumoto in your hands and play with it you'll see you don't need the clip. Heck, I usually need to use a pair of needle nose pliers to grap the metal tab and apply enuf force to turn the thing the way I want it to go! Those clips are for industrial applications where there ARE fair chances for the valve to get hit. Once you get it mounted on your GEN1 you're gonna see it is in a very protected location and if installed properly the 'tab' is going to face UP making it yet MORE protected.

I've had these valves on most of my cars for the last 7 years with never a leak or problem. (but not on my GEN2 MINI cuz it would BEG to get snapped off; and not on my classic cuz it NEEDS a magnetic bung seeing as the motor oil is also the transmission fluid...)

 

Glad I read this thread. I was thinking of getting one on the next oil change. Last time I did change the stock plug for a magnetic one so I guess I'll just stick with the magnetic plug. Plus, I'm interested to see (in about another 2000 miles) how much stuff my magnetic plug grabs.