Simple question. How much does this typically cost? I looked into doing it myself but it's just complicated enough that I'll pass. A mistake here and I'll need a new head gasket...

Thanks,

Ian

 

Around $150 I think -

 

Sounds reasonable.

 

Had my '04 R53 m/c/s done about three weeks ago at the dealer. Cost was $190.

 

Earlier in the year, for a Countryman was about $110 at Mini Portland. Doing it yourself always poses the problem of how do you capture and dispose of the old fluid.

 

Had mine done in April (along with several other timely items) by a superior independent, charged $96.18, $24.98 for BMW antifreeze and the rest labor. It'd be worth 50 or so bucks to do a little shopping around maybe.

 

iclancy82:

I see that you're in RI, so the dealer you'd likely be visiting would be MINI of Warwick. That's where I brought mine for the radiator flush.

For those who have had this service done much cheaper than the $190 I shelled out:

Do you have later model MINIs that perhaps have radiator drains - making the job easier? Looking for a reason why my dealer quoted the $190, but others got out of it for much less. Is the task less work for later vintage MINIs than my 2004 R53?

I have a R53, which does not have a radiator drain, so the process is less than glamorous for the DIY types... It doesn't seem difficult, but I wanted to spare my garage floor the mess of spent coolant all over the place, so I opted for the dealer to do it. Still worth what I paid in my eyes...

 

Most of the MINI people who've been on the forum for a number of years went to the trouble of building a signature describing what they drive including a little info on mods and such. On mine it shows '06 PS/B MCSc which stands for 2006 Pure Silver body/black top - MINI Cooper S convertible making it a Gen 1 motor. So, when a question comes up from one of us, the sig lets others know what we're dealing with. I just wish more new guys/gals would notice this and do likewise. You'd be surprised how many folks join up and immediately have questions about their cars and forget to share model and year. The first post to follow has to ask before getting started. Always saves time a trouble.

 

Surely useful info for identifying individual forum member's vehicles, but it doesn't answer my question as to whether the later model MINIs, such as 'Moocher's 2011 Countryman (post #5), have radiator drains, which would make for an easier/cheaper service at a dealer, which was the OP's question.

 

High volume shop probably uses a machine to drain, doubt that they use the drain valves.

 

Also, Look at some MINI dealership for the service coupons on there sites. Sometimes they have specials or a coupon you can bring in to reduce cost.

 

So what is the the change interval for a 2012 Cooper S?

 

Most cars should have it done every 3-4 years. More Is better but not necessarily needed. Check the owners manual

 

BMW/MINI recommends a change interval of 36,000 miles max...

 

I wouldn't go by mileage...but point taken - check your manual. My car only gets driven 3500 miles a year - I'm not waiting 10 years to change it. 3-4 years for the average American is about 36,000 miles.

I had the MINI dealer after flushing my car recommend I come back in about 2-3 years.

 

I usually change my coolant every 2 years but I'm sure doing it every 3 yrs won't do any harm.

 

Guess I should change the coolant in my '05 Corolla.
Still has the original with 185K miles!

 

I've done a few coolant flushes on my MCS and Volkswagen... Not that hard at all... And all it costs you is a jug of coolant: about $20.

 

wow! the dealer here in MD quoted me, if i remember correctly, 250+.
I just did mine this pass weekend, and changed my expansion tank.
So far, all is well...

 

Sorry maybe this is late, but I still want to answer here.

I just got a 855$ bills in the dealership after “maintaining” my 2016 5 dr S.
the breakdown of the cost is 98.58 is the oil change I original requested. 203.55 is the brake flush the system said it needs. 485.90 is the coolant flush that I didn’t see it coming but they claimed it’s needed. My car is only 4 years old with 25000 miles. And they wanted to do the PCV (they claimed it fails) and change my both engine mounts for extra 3000$ I was about to let them and I really don’t have that money so I stopped them after like 15 mins of googling. Don’t tell me that it’s not a complete rip off. Also, at my mileage what do I actually need to do on my car? Many thanks in advance and happy new year!

martin

 

that is Fing insane.

Last oil change...70 bucks did it myself 1 hour time
Liqui Moly engine flushed, Liqui Moly 5w-40, Liqui Moly oil saver, OEM oil filter
Brake Flush - 70 bucks 1 hour time
I had to buy motive pressure bleeder, going to flush once a year since it’s just the cost of fluid and takes no time to do
Coolant flush/New Coolant tank - 215 done by my mechanic
I had a leak in the system that turned out to be the tank, my mechanic had the car for a few days. After watching a few YouTube videos and getting a manual will be attempting this every other year.
BSH Lower engine mount - 90 bucks took 20 minutes
Hunt for the mounts and try to do it yourself. For me simplest mod to do and biggest gain.

 

Yikes, those prices.

 

Daughter mentioned something about becoming a mechanic, I know she will change her mind 100 times before she graduates, but I told her be coming a bmw/mini mechanic wouldn’t be a bad ideal. Those prices are why, just insane. Hell Ford wanted 1200 to do a tune up, brakes, tires, and coolant flush on the wife’s 2018 escape at 50,000. I did the tune up and brakes for 300 using all OEM parts, replacing all filters. And for another 500 we had our mechanic do tires, coolant flush, and transmission fluid drain and fill. It blows my mind the money they want to charge. They only charge 50 for her oil changes so the can have that one, the 10 bucks I would save isn’t worth the time.

 

"I just got a 855$ bills in the dealership after “maintaining” my 2016 5 dr S.
the breakdown of the cost is 98.58 is the oil change I originally requested. 203.55 is the brake flush the system said it needs. 485.90 is the coolant flush "

Surely that's a mistake. I'd ask for/demand $350 back.

 

What MINI dealership was ???