Hello everyone and Happy Motoring!!

I'm having a discussion with my wife about the recommended oil change intervals for our brand new 2013 MINI Cooper Hardtop.

The service advisor recommends an oil change every 10,000 miles. I say that seems a bit extreme. We live in Florida where today it was 95 degrees out. I travel 65 miles a day (mostly highway) to work, then motor on weekends with my wife. Currently, I have just over 5,000 miles on him.

I'm recommending the following, but request advice from the more seasoned MINI owners here in this regard so I can share your feedback with her. She feels I'm not accustomed to the "new cars" - I feel at 10,000 miles I'm running with water, not oil.

So I suggested the following:

5,000 miles: I pay for the oil change
10,000 miles: MINI free maintenance
15,000 miles: I pay
20,000 miles: MINI ..... etc..

How do you guys feel about this and why (so I can show her)? I'm also concerned they'll actually change the oil if I do the above.

Any thoughts?

Sent from my iPad Air using NAMotoring

 

Yes, do it every 5k miles. Your motor will be happy and in the long run you'll be saving the big bucks for issues(that may occur).

 

+1. I even changes the oil after break-in period at 1,200 miles like some have suggested in this forum.

Sent from my iPhone using NAMotoring

 

Actually when I took my MINI in for repair (around 1,500 miles) they changed the oil then.

Sent from my iPad Air using NAMotoring

 

Yes...good simple, easy to follow plan...
You will be able to sleep at night and not worry....
History shows that mini has been too aggressive with long oil change intervals...heck...15,000 was what the computers were programmed for not too long ago... Most of us have been using 7500 or 5000 miles as an easy number to keep the "recommended " services done at the suggested miles...often Evey other factory suggested"oil change"...
Not sure on the gen2 schedule...but doing an extra midway oil change IMO is the best way to be extra cautious!

 

I'm surprised your wife would give you lip over an oil change!

 

Wow, I was unaware one could go 7,500-10,000 on synthetic oil. I have my kids oil changed every 5,000 and they get regular stuff. Is it possible I could actually go 7,500? Just seems frightening to me, especially since it's so hot in Florida.

Sent from my iPad Air using NAMotoring

 

Dont debate, just do it She might not even know lol

 

I think you should just change the oil every 5,000 and she makes you a sandwich when you're done.

 

:-). Good one. Only sad part is she's reading your replies with me.

Sent from my iPad Air using NAMotoring

 

I can tell you from experience that you NEED to change the oil ever 5k miles. My customers that do that have less problems long term. The oil changes are a small piece of insurance vs replacing a turbo, or worse an engine.

 

This made me laugh out loud literally hahah!

 

Sounds like a solid plan.
If SWMBO disagrees and wants to save money, offer to show her how she can DIY the oil change for you !

a

 

Pour her a glass of wine then and have her supervise while you change the oil!

Remember, Happy Wife, Happy Life.

If you do the 5k intervals, don't let them reset the OBC when you pay. May not give you your free oil changes if it doesn't need em according to the OBC.

 

I change every 5,000 miles here. Another thing I do is switch-out the ignition fob to keep the batteries up.

 

Hi wife!
That's not sad, that's good!
Don't forget that the viscosity in the oil breaks down and can cause more friction on the engine parts. The hotter it gets, the worse it is. You are like we are here in Arizona, it was 110 degrees today. The coolant temp went up to 208 which is ok but then it sits in the garage baking itself as it "cools down". Oil change every 5,000 is well worth the money. Especially if you do it yourself.

 

my dealer sets the next oil change interval to 8,000 miles

i do a change myself at 4,000 in between

if you have a place to work, it is easy to change yourself and will save you money

way motorworks sells a "kit" with an allen wrench for the drain plug and a socket for the oil filter cover

http://www.waymotorworks.com/first-o...t-r60-r61.html

 

Ignition fob?? I received two keys, do you mean switch keys every 5k? Sorry, first MINI here. :(

Sent from my iPad Air using NAMotoring

 

Oil change interval of 5,000 is too aggressive and wasteful. You are not gaining anything by doing it that quickly and by increasing the frequency that you end up with less effective unstressed oil in the engine.

 

That's a lie. Imagine MINIs that eat oil up if you go 7500-10k mile intervals. Mine eats half a quart to a full quart. I know half of the N14s on here burn tons of oil, so to say it's wasteful is absurd with all due respect. I've seen one guy had his eat almost three quarts in 5k miles, so for half of us, we are doing the right thing.

 

I have an R53 and follow the 15K change. No problems to date and the oil was tested in the past with no issues.

That being said, with a turbo I would probably change it every 8K at the latest. I have heard too many horror stories about gunked engines with the turbo models. I think your schedule is okay, but I might go a little longer. If you aren't sure, you can always have the oil tested to see where it sits at various intervals.

 

Some say yes...
But the waste oil is not gone...
Here it the new england area, the oil is burnt for heat as heating oil.....or recycled and redefined....
Only waste is a few $$ at worst.... But if the op can sleep at night and not second guess if his oil changes caused a later issue, it is worth it IMO.
5000 or 7500 miles...is fine....and with the op's car programmed for 10,000, the an extra 5000 mile oil change is simple.... And with a full sysnthic oil change running about $50...pretty $. Heck...getting a person with some mechanical skill looking at the car every 5000 miles might be worthehile......might catch a tranny leak (he already had that)....catch a car low on coolant or oil with the free checks....for some it makes perfect sense.
And if he did diy it...about $25-30 in materials...and 30 minutes.

 

From my various research, 7500 miles is the furthest I would go in a turbo car with synthetic oil. I personally do 5k to keep it simple and if you can DIY the cost is negligible.

 

Which part is a lie? Your ridiculous assertion that you "know" that half the N14's on NAM "burn tons of oil"? Can't wait to see your data on that.

To recommend changing your oil every 5k is what is absurd with all due respect. You are definitely not doing the right thing.

Oh yeah, let me know when you figure out that there is a difference between checking your oil and changing your oil.

Finally, when you decide to back off on your tone, I'll do the same.

 

for the base cooper, i wouldn't worry as much as i would for an S - that said, I'd probably still do it every 5k. The beater corolla I've got I do a once a year (15k-20k mi) change lol. I've got 7k on my MINI and I've changed my oil 4 times, but I'm racing it.

If the oil you've got in there right now is the first factory fill I'd flush it.