Just had my first oil change in my mini since I got and the service reading says 15000 miles. Do I trust BMW or what I have been doing for years(3000).
Please let me know.

 

i personally do it every 5000, but this is a sore subject on nam

 

Some say 15000, some say 5000....... I wouldnt go over 300o unless you use a synthetic oil. I personnally run the Royal Purple Majestic oil, but it will be changed at 10000. This is a very sore subject. With that in mind, do what your gut feeling tells you.

 

Do a little search here and you'll find more opinions than paint colors. I'd just take a read through the forum tonight and make a call fro yourself. As everyone has said, a very sore subject with many many opinions.

 

I've had three oil analyses done on our two 2006 MSCSs so far. Here's the gist of it:

Hers: Factory-fill oil analyzed at 11,500 miles (when the OBC recommended changing it) - oil was just about at the end of its service life.

Mine: Factory-fill oil analyzed at 12,500 miles (OBC recommended change) - oil was just about at the end of its life.

Mine: Checked the oil after 9,000 miles (OBC still said that there was 8,000 miles to go on this oil). Again, pretty much at end-of-life. I'll be changing it later this week (see below).

In all three cases, the additive package in the oil was still going strong, but there was a little bit of fuel dilution, which was likely throwing the acid/base ratio out-of-whack, messing with the viscosity and lowering the flashpoint below the desired level.

I'm still trying to find oil analyses from other MINI 'S' owners to find out if the amount of fuel dilution I'm seeing (1.2-1.5%) is typical for these engines or not. Both of our cars are pretty much stock. Hers has a 15% pulley that was added at about the 6,000 mile mark, and mine has a cold-air intake that was added about the same time as the first oil change.

I'm switching to a different oil that was recommended by the guy that does my oil analysis (Terry Dyson, (www.dysonanalysis.com), as well as using a fuel additive that he recommends. I'll be changing my oil this week as soon as the new stuff arrives, and I should have 5,000 miles on it by late January, at which time I'll pull a sample for analysis and post the results.

 

I've recently switched to 7,500 miles vs 4,000 or so on Mobil 1 0W-40. Certainly a hot-topic, but just remember whos name is on the title! Do whatever you feel most comfortable with.

 

BMW only has to warrant the engine to 48,000 miles or 4 years time then all bets are off unless you buy an extended warranty.

15,000 miles is on the long side but workable as far as the dealer is concerned. If it was longer than 12 months between changes then you could have your dealer change the oil once yearly.

Better quality oil than Castrol might help while performance driving might require more frequent changes.

I'm using Royal Purple right now but Redline, Amsoil and Mobil 1 I've also used. I've done oil changes about every 5000-6000 miles.

(Full) Synthetic oil should always be used for the MINI (all models).

 

Castrol 0W-40 or Redline 5W-30 every 7,500 miles (12,000 Km).