Just got a 2013 MCS and wanted to know if I should change my own oil or have the dealership do it since I have the free 3 years of service included?

 

Depends on how far it is to the dealer...however, you paid for the oil changes when you bought the car, might as well take advantage of the freebie. The dealer will probably also throw in some free wiper blades.

 

Personally I let the dealer change it once for free but then I pay for one additional oil change as well. Once per year oil change isn't good for me. Some folks go strictly by the car's computer. But you could change it yourself on the time you would pay just to save the dollars. My dealer is very reasonable on the oil change charge and is very close to me so it's the best of both worlds.

 

What he said.

My dealer is charging $60 for an oil/filter change. As long as they keep doing that, I'll make the 50 mile drive every 6K (at least until the factory warranty expires next March).

If possible, during your warranty period, I really would recommend you have the dealer change the oil at least at the 12K factory schedule (every other oil change). That way, they've got a record of the scheduled maintenance. Might come in handy, you never know.

 

I'd say change it yourself halfway between each free dealer oil change.

 

Bringing it in to the dealer also allows them to check for any recalls, put it on the computer to check and see that everything is in spec and get the car up on the lift and check out everything underneath.

 

Just be sure you use a MINI filter, and preferably MINI oil, just to be on the warranty-safe side.

When my warranty expires, I'll shift to Mobil 1 Euro. Until then, I'm taking no chances.

 

I would use the dealer freebies for sure. In between you should change it yourself though. I personally change at 6-7k religiously.

 

They ( MINI ) sorta repealed the 15K mile freebee to a 12K mile one.

I personally think that's still 5K miles too far.


And it won't void a new car warranty if you do the change yourself between the "freebie interval".


Just purchase the correct tools, set of Rhino Ramps, a chock block for the back tire and buy a case of oil to do that extra one in between. Your MINI will love ya for it, and the rewards will be great.

 

Please forgive me for dumb questions but have never owed an import and everything I read about MINIS is so different than our other cars. IWth that said, is there any tricks or tips I should know about if I opt to change it myself? Anything different than an American car?

Any assistance would be appreciated.

 

that's my plan

 

Changing your own oil is like giving yourself a physical, chances are very good that you may miss something important. Fine if you want to do them between trips to the dealer, but the annual checkup for your car is as important as the one you get for yourself.

 

What a deal! That's about the cost of oil and a filter if you did it yourself.

 

No kidding, my dealer charges $160.

 

I've done mine twice so far (2012 MCS), it's not manifestly different than other cars. I can't remember an American engine recently with a canister filter, but it's not hard to deal with.

There are one or more illustrated how-to's for oil changes on here, take a look and it should give you a real feel for how it goes. I can do mine in 20-30 mins, not that difficult compared to most others I've done.

 

I had a AllTrac Toyota Celica where you needed to maneuver around the turbo to get to the oil filter. My local dealer charges $69 and that's less than my ER copay.

 

Yep, the MINI filters are very fairly priced and always work and are recommended regardless of warranty concerns.
The oil should be LL-01 and A3/B3 certified if you're still under warranty,
which narrows it down to less than a half a dozen specific products.
Mobil 1 0W40 (Euro formula) is one of them. Castrol (euro) Syntec 0W30 is the
next most popular choice apart from the MINI brand oil which is also good and fairly priced.

 

Yep, and I don't have to mess (literally) with oil disposal.

Oddly enough, I purchased oil and a filter at the dealership last week (for a future oil change), and the parts guy tried to charge me $17.50 a quart for the oil!!! When I told him to put the case back on the shelf and forget it, he lowered the price to $8.75 a quart. That's still $2 more a quart than what the service department charged me when they did the oil change.

 

It's kinda funny how designs go 'round... It used to be that all vehicles had canister type filters, then everything went to the "spin on" type. Now, they're back to canisters. Sheesh!

 

Yeah, no kidding. Mine charges $100...and I have to drive an hour away to get there.

 

What about after break in? I'm approaching 1,000 miles and feel like an oil change now is a good idea. Thoughts?

 

Last one I saw was a John Deere.

 

As I understand it, the current thought/practice is "no." Older engines were built with looser tolerances, and "breaking in" an engine was literally true (you "broke off" microscopic little bits so that everything meshed smoothly). The oil and filter were full of metal particles after 1000 miles.

Tolerances are MUCH tighter now, and the need to remove "waste metal" is almost nonexistent.

On the other hand... we are talking about a French engine.

;-)