What has been the experience with the 'no cost maintenance' program?

Was it a hassle to get the car maintained as expected?

What mileage did they allow the oil to be changed and how did they determine it was time?

Did you end up changing you oil in between the 'maintenance' oil changes and how did it effect the next time they would do it under the program?

Any other use of the program for brakes, brake fluid, air filters, etc??

 

I'm retired so my MINI gets very little use (10K in 3 yrs). My dealer gave me 2 free oil changes but wouldn't do the 3rd change because a year hadn't elapsed since the previous free service. If I waited a full year from the previous service the car would be 3 yrs and 14days old and, therefore, no longer eligible for free service.

 

It has been quite a few years now, but those were my cars only two trips to the dealer. Free oil changes, that were determined by milage. It was straight forward, no issues, they also took care of any recalls or warranty issues. Would assume it is still the same.

Nik

 

They will change the oil annually, even if you haven't reached the recommended mileage.

I've had my oil changed, for free twice, by my dealer, NW MINI in Tacoma. The second time they asked if I needed windshield wipers, I told them that it wouldn't hurt, so they gave me new ones! My third free oil change is coming up soon. My dealer wasn't picky about getting the date exactly right, the did the second free oil change a couple of weeks early.

Dave

 

I've had my MINI since March 2012...25k miles so thus far.

The maintenance program is included with the price of the car, so I guess it's actually "no *additional* cost" :-).

There has been no hassle at all getting service performed. Both my MA and SA sent emails encouraging me to make use of it, don't forget, schedule a time, etc.

They used the onboard computer to time the service events...oil changes are timed at one year or 10k miles on the new ones; mine is on the one year or 15,000 mile plan. My understanding is that the computer takes driving style / type / whatever into account, so it could go a bit shorter or longer. My dealer wasn't picky about the mileage; I called them with 400 miles to go on the service counter to make an appointment for 10 days out, and they said, "Bring it on in, how about tomorrow" versus having it go over.

I do change my own oil between scheduled services. There are VOLUMES of posts debating whether or not this is necessary. It's important to NOT reset the computer if you do your own, at least while you're still within the MINI maintenance period. That keeps the official "meter" running and services scheduled accordingly.

MINI explains pretty carefully on their website what they will / will not cover, so you can check that for a list of what you might have done. I'm about to get a set of brake pads; my "Service" counter is counting down (today, at 1300 miles to go) and showing the "brake pad" symbol. It's still counting down for my next oil change at 30k miles.

 

It's been a good experience for me using Schomp MINI in Littleton. They changed my oil based on the annual requirement and then again (just a few months later) when the CBT said it was time. They also replaced my brakes before they were technically due since I was moving to a state with no MINI (but we have one now, woot!). Brake fluid was replaced with Inspection 1 at the 2-year point.

 

I've had no problem with the maintenance plan, and the extended maintenance plan. I take him into the dealer, get a loaner and go get him when they're finished.

They'll do whatever the computer says is needed, but will also do an annual oil change if the computer doesn't think its needed yet. If something's going to be due in the next 2 months (or maybe 4 months) or 2000 miles they'll do that well. The computer starts at 10,000 miles for oil changes and 30,000 for brakes but will count off quicker or slower if you drive easy, or harder.

For me the most valuable thing was the brake jobs. We tend to go through a lot of brake as we take the MINIs to the track. Though with the the last service, they did seem a little reluctant to do it again at such a low mileage.

 

I've only had my car a month and a half and I've already had 2 CBT oil changes (I drive a lot of miles, plus the counter went down dramatically when the jcw kit was installed). Absolutely no issues so far. I will be buying the extended maintenance soon.

There are some stories on here about people having issues with abuse. Therefore I'm trying to enjoy my car without abusing it.

 

Thanks for the responses!

Another question.... I have my car on Priority One order status.... I purchased my car from a dealer that is 75 miles from me.....and my closest Mini dealer for servicing is 10 miles away. I imaging the 10 mile Mini dealer will welcome me with open arms since they have the potential of picking up a customer for repairs way beyond oil changes and maintenance. But....did anyone have any difficulties with bringing their Mini to locations other than where they were purchased?

Another question....if you do bring you cars in for oil changes between the schedule maintenance....how do you keep the counter going to where you get additional changes? Or do you just get the freebie annual change?

Thanks all....

 

No problem with taking to different dealers. Bought mine in Utah, serviced in Las Vegas, and Southern California with no issues.

Sorry, no idea on the oil change question, I follow the OBC change.

Nik

 

If this is your way and it's something you feel strongly about, don't mod too much.

 

What's abuse? Driving the car like MINI implies you should (aggressively!)? Many many stories of refused clutch replacements because of "abuse", etc etc... I'll take my chances and save my extended warranty $.

 

Me? Too late, well modded and over 300,000 miles, perfect oil analysis reports, so, yes, I feel kinda strong about it. But I understand everyone has an opinion and needs to do what they are comfortable with.

Nik

 

No, not you. Someone above.

 

 

How does it work for brakes within the program? There is a mileage counter for brakes (sorry....car on status one order...new here). So the brakes are typically changed within the maintenance program by the dealer based upon the mileage counter....or do they go by how much meat is left on the pads?

 

Good to read this..........bought mine from Schomp BMW but their Mini dealership did all the service before shipping to me 1202 miles

\m/

 

There's the computer count down where its guessing how many miles are left on the brakes, but there's also the sensor. The sensor signals stage one at 6mm on the pad (inside front left or rear right), and the computer adjusts itself to about 10k miles to go. Then when the pad wears to 3mm, which is the min by spec, it'll go straight to zero miles and turn on the brake warning light.

The computer guesses how many miles to go not just counts off miles. If you use the brakes hard (such as running on track) it'll count down faster. If you're very easy on the brakes like lots of freeway miles it'll count down slower, or even count up. On the Cooper and the S I've found the counter to be pretty accurate, even with track days, of course the sensor will help keep it accurate. With the JCW it was decidedly optimistic, we went through the standard pads and then 3 sets of track pads before it counted down to zero, without seeing the sensor go.

Once it counts down to zero, it just counts miles, no matter how hard your use the brakes, so we took it to the dealer with it saying -290 miles the last time. Most of the those miles were track miles, the count got to zero in the first session.

(They don't have to be track miles, I'm just using that as an extreme usage scenario we're familiar with.)

 

First off WELCOME to Mini land. I hope you enjoy your Mini. The No Cost Maintenance is more like mini-mum Maintenance that gives you a chance to say hi to the dealer a few times before you are on your own. You should learn all about your cool Mini. Nearly everyone at every MINI dealership is friendly. Some dealers are more appreciated than others as far as work done on the cars. I think Mini of San Diego is one of the ones on the good list (check that out). Many of us change our oil at 4,000-5,000 miles so the Mini Maintenance is seen as a supplement to your overall Mini care. Mini Oil changes are not inexpensive even if done at home. It is important to use the proper type of oil and filters. You don't reset the oil mileage when you do the additional oil changes. The Mini or MINI dealers are helpful and they will service recall work and will replace parts that fail do to poor quality when the parts are still covered. On our 2012 we have had the dealer replace two water pumps, two temp sensors and an oil seal in addition to a reset of a faulty brake sensor. Under the maintenance program we have had two oil changes done. We have done five additional oil changes at home. Like most European cars or British cars the MINI demands the attention of the driver, the mechanic and all the folks that enjoy looking at the charming Minis on the road.

This link has nearly everything you may ever want to know about oil on a R56:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...00-post13.html

How the dealer works:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...94-post16.html

Some talk about mileage between changes:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...000-miles.html

 

Thanks all for helping me out with the benefits of the Mini Maintenance program....just so I can figure what is ahead for me.

For the brakes...how do the dealers handle it when there is still brake life left? What percentage or mm will they still do the no cost replacement? Guess it will be at their discretion.

I am aware there will be a tad more maintenance with the Mini...but it will be worth it. Yet I do hear that the brakes cost $1,200 because they do pads and rotors.

Again....thanks for all the help.