Hello,

I have a question about the service indicator that I can't seem to find an answer to in previous threads. Basically, my "Inspection" light hasn't turned on in the year I've owned the car, and I'm worried.

I bought a 2002 MCS one year ago at Carmax with 45,000 miles on it. I don't now the previous owners or the history, except the Owner's Lounge at miniusa.com shows it had an oil change at 10,000 miles.

So I changed the oil when the indicator got close to zero last year. But they didn't reset the counter and I can't do it either (even after following this: http://www.mini2.com/forum/faults-fi...lay-reset.html.)
So now it says -4000 when I start the car, which I'm okay with (I'll just change it again at -10,000, -20,000, etc.).

My question is: Although it only shows the oil indicator upon startup, I never see the 'Inspection' light turn on. But at 55,000 miles currently, and no record of an Inspection I, do you think I need one?

If it is due, I'm way out of warranty, so should I:
a) Take it to a Mini dealership
b) Take it to a 'British Auto Care' shop that is right down the road from me and probably cheaper (what are the odds of having a British-specialized place right down the road?)
c) Save money now and only take it in if/when the inspection light ever turns on?

Thanks! I really want to take care of this car, but with zero help from the manual or miniusa.com (there's no maintenance schedule, just "take it in when you see the light turn on") I need to turn to the experts!

-- Rick

 

if it aint broke dont fix it, but if your that worried about it I say b

 

The inspections are based on mileage. I don't know the intervals off the top of my head but I'm sure someone here does (and I would also assume it's in the owner's manual), but I think at like 5k I had "Service I" (which was basically an oil change). Then at 15k, "Inspection I", and then Inspection II should be at 30k. When the counter gets down to 0, that doesn't just mean it needs an oil change, depending on the interval it may also need an inspection.

 

since yr out of warranty, be prepared: inspections can be pretty pricey.

 

In case anyone else reads this thread, I'll respond to my own post - the service rep I talked to at the dealership said that oil changes and inspections are on separate intervals, so if it doesn't say I need an inspection, I don't need one. Like oil changes, the inspection is also based off driving habits, not just mileage. And if I'm at 55k, I should expect the light to go on soon for Inspection II. Because the inspection light isn't on now, either the owner reset it with a diagnostic tool, or it was inspected at a dealership but was never recorded into the main system ol.miniusa.com uses.