Hello ya'll,
I am new to this forum, just wondering is there a good service center in Middle GA to have routine oil and filter changes on the MINI. I just got a 2007 and I have carried it to south Atlanta twice for the service engine light problem. It has 5500 miles on it and both times it was in for service they said that it was not due for oil change. I usually change my oil every 4,000 miles. The CBS reads first service 15,000 miles this sounds like a lot to me.
Would prefer someone in Macon if anyone knows of a specialists.

Thanks, glad to find this forum.

 

There are no "MINI" service dealers here in Middle Georgia. If you are concerned about the oil change interval, I would recommend doing the oil change yourself. By doing so you ensure the job is done right and you are putting in the oil you want, not what the oil change shop has on hand.

There are a few of us in the club who can show you how to do this if you are interested, one nice piece of equipment to install is a "FOMOTO Valve" which replaces the oil drain plug; this eliminates the need to ever replace or remove the drain plug ever again (available through Moss Motors). I am beginning to do some of my own maintenance on my MINI, and there are several competent MINI "Motorheads" in the club who can also show you the ins-and-outs of MINI mechanicing. Contact me via e-mail or private message if you want to get together and discuss MINIs. We also meet the first Saturday of the month at Back Yard Burgers on Watson Blvd in Warner Robins.

 

Don't know much about DYI on MINI yet but I'll get there...I wanted to pass on my experiences with the service interval. Two months ago with mileage at 6000, interval service was showing due at 19000--yikes! I was gonna change oil before then! On a road trip, service light came on and she was running poorly. Long story...but light went out soon but still idled rough. We took her to the doctor's in Atlanta where they did a software update. Service advisor said the engineers changed engine parameters. Computer settings had all been reset--including driver programmable settings. On the way home, service interval was at 10000. Since then it has increased to 11000--still more reasonable than 19000. I drive Baby for handling and economy--not hot rod performance, so I expect my interval to be at maximum duration. If you are at 15000, I would check if you are at latest software revision.

 

Well since my last 2 visits to South Atlanta Mini and they reset all the parameters of the CBS I have accumulated a total of 8100 miles. The CBS did steadly drop from the 15,000 miles recommended down to 12,10, now its saying 8,000. I was really expecting when my odometer rolled over 8,000 that my yellow service light would come back on but it has not yet. The shop either fixed the problem or disconnected the light not sure which

I have scheduled my first oil change for the 19th of this month, I should be between 9,000 and 9,500 miles by then. I too bought the Mini for economy and handling not necessarily high performance. Sure hope we don't regret our decision, so far I'm still in love with her.

 

So how are things so far with the MINI, James? Have you been experiencing MINI-bliss? I think these are really great little cars, I haven't had any issues outside of the thermostat housing leaking (appears to be a design defect easily fixed). Cassie and Candy both are running great as are nearly all of the MINIs in the club (I say nearly because there are a few I don't know how they are doing- haven't seen them in a while).

My 06 MCS is still the best vehicle I have owned to date.

 

Thats what my first service code was a leaking thermostat housing. Well after my last post the CBS was saying service at 8,000. Around 8,500 miles I noticed it had dropped to 7,000, she now has 9,300, by the time I get to then end of my work week and get her back to Atlanta it will be close to 10,000. The yellow service engine light has not come back on yet. So far so good. I am anxious to get that oil changed thou.

 

I think most of us "old school" types are skeptical when it comes to a 12-15k oil change. I was used to doing it every 3500 miles myself on every car I owned before the MINI. I am going to perform my oil changes at 5-7k and I think I will be switching to AmsOil. AmsOil appears to outperform everyone else in the research I have seen (http://www.bestsynthetic.com/comptest.shtml). If you want to talk "oil" at the next meeting on Feb 2nd at BYB, please feel free to bring it up, I'll refer you to our club AmsOil expert, Jamie.

I will be placing an order for AmsOil and doing the change soon, maybe we can get a group together and have a oil change/tech party at my place.