Well MiamiMini is now out of warranty and I have to pay for the oil changes. I called my local dealer and was quoted a price of $260.
A couple of questions:
1. Is this out of line? Seems like it's very high. I'm not sure what all they do with this, but if I ask for an oil change that's what I expect. Do they also change the air filter? Other items not stated?
2. Should I go the local auto place that's closer? (My dealer is about 1 hr. away). They are more in line with most car, oil change prices.
3. Should I invest in the things to do it myself. I used to do all my oil changes but when I retired and moved to FL I got rid of everything. Not much room to store extra items, and then getting rid of the used oil. I recently (with the help of this forum) changed my front brakes and am ready to do my rears.
4. What do you pay for oil changes?

Thanks ahead of time.

 

I paid $75 for an oil change at Mini of St. Louis while I was traveling thru there. I haven't checked with my dealer yet on their price but a BMW dealer gave me a price of $70 for an oil change.

 

$260? Is that for changing every fluid in the MINI?
Here is a good write-up http://www.lonestarminiclub.com/foru...read.php?t=411

 

Do it yourself

Oil drain pan: about $15 for a nice one that won't leak oil all over the place
Oil filter: $8 at moss mini. I think you can get them cheaper elsewhere
Oil: I use mobil 1 which is $6 a quart, so $30 for 5
Fumoto Valve: $20. I highly recommend them. Just put it in when you change the oil then it's just a flip of a switch to change later so there's no risk of stripping the oil pan http://www.mossmini.com/Shop/ViewPro...33&SortOrder=1
You need a 36mm socket and can get that at sears or whatever, say $10 and I'll assume you have a 1/2 ratchet.

So, $83 on your inital oil change for everything you need, and will need in the future. And then about $35 for each oil change to do it yourself, depending on oil.

You can take the oil drain pan to autozone or whatever and have them dispose of it.

 

I wonder if that was not a price for one of the more involved service intervals. Fo instance my Volvo V40 got a $600 service every 30,000 moles.

 

Is Mobil-One the recommended oil for the Mini? I bought mine used, and haven't changed the oil yet., as it had been changed at the dealer before I purchased it.

 

Castrol oil Syn.

 

Castrol is what Mini recommends, but I prefer Mobil 1. Your engine isn't going to seize just because you used a different synthetic oil.

 

+1 on that!

I haven't tried the Fumoto, but I think I'll take a look at it. I hadn't changed oil on my car since I was a teenager (a few decades ago), but I am now. Not a big deal, and it's almost easier to get rid of old oil these days as all the auto stores take them.

Here's the kit I started with:
http://new.minimania.com/web/Item/NM.../InvDetail.cfm

 

mobile 1 is what I use all the time. even know castrol is recommend

 

Royal Purple is good also.

 

It's cheap insurance. My drain plug was overtorqued (either by my or the dealer) which eventually lead to the stripping the pan. That was a $350 repair. The valve won't open on it's own, and it's easy to flip it open when you're ready. It just makes the whole process easier with no risk of damage.

 

As mentioned above, I'd do it myself. I've changed the oil on my MINI a bunch and it's simple. Here is the how to from Webb

 

 

$260 sounds like Service 1 and not just an oil change.
My service adviser told me just two weeks ago that an oil change was $65, and Service 1 was $280. Service 2 was $400 ~ (4something, can't remember)
He also said that Mini was very good about helping people that were just out of warranty if they kept coming in for services such as oil changes. Take that comment with a grain of salt, but for $65 compared to trying to fiddle with that filter myself I think I might do a couple with them. Besides the cookies in the lounge are pretty good!
I would think your local lube place would be pretty baffled by the filter on the Mini. Not that it's complicated or different, since some Fords and BMWs have similar setups. My concern is that it doesn't exactly slide together easily, so some ham fisted high school dropout is probably going to ape it on at some point and then you're really going to have issues.
Just my $.02.

 

Castrol Full Synthetic - about $6 a quart
NAPA oil filter (way better than OEM) - about $7
Oil drain pan - about $10 to $15
36mm socket (oil filter housing) - $10 or less
13mm socket (drain plug) - $4
1/2 drive ratchet - $25 or less
1/2 drive torque wrench for drain plug - $70 or so

After you buy the tools, then only count the price of the oil and filter.

 

What is the recommended weight?

 

5w-30

 

Done mine yesterday 24.99 castrol 12.99 oil filter 10.00 36mm soket
an 30 minute of fun .. i heven buff the oil filter canister to full crome..

 

Thanks everyone. I might call and ask, just what does that cover. I can do a lot of oil changes myself for $260.

 

I prefer Royal Purple. I use that in all my cars and fixing to switch to that in my MC as soon as the oil change rolls around. That stuff works wonders.

 

My MC "feels" a little quicker since I switched to Royal Purple.

 

Yeah man, I used to swear Mobil 1 was the best out there until I tried Royal Purple.

 

My dealership quoted me around $700 for Service 2

Oh yeah, the cookies are good and you can't beat free drinks

 

So is Castrol Syntec really a full synthetic? The Mobil One site says that it is not.