As far as my first round of maintenance goes... I'm planning on changing the oil and filter element, as well as just about all the fluids.

Does anyone have recommendations for the fluids, and can you give me an idea of how hard it is to change out things like the manual transmission fluid and steering fluid? I'm pretty sure I can change the oil.

And are there any manuals out there for this car? I could only find the factory manual, and I've always had a good book for every car I had. I think it's made by Haynes or Hayes or something like that?

 

Look for the manual published by Bentley Publishers. All your questions are addressed in that.

Transmission Fluid: Easy
Steering Fluid: Not Sure
Oil: Easy (Aside from some difficulty with filter reinstall)

- Matt

 

which car are you driving, cooper or S? how many miles?

mini states that their manual transmission fluid is lifetime fluid. i have 130K something miles on my car on the original tranny fluid. all the fluids are easy to change, but make sure you know what you're doing before you start, or you'll wind up needing something you dont have or wont be able to finish the job, and your car will be un-drivable.

 

No need to change all of the fluids. How many miles and what year MINI do you have?

 

I am of the belief (I think justifiably so) that no fluid is a lifetime fluid. Then again, my intended lifetime is 200k+ miles.

Your mileage may vary.

- Matt

 

yea, i hear ya matt, but still have to disagree.

your manual fluid is in a totally closed system, so unless you grind your gears, there should be no introduction of foreign material in the lube.

my 95 3 series went easily to 200K on the original tranny fluid, that said, i did change it out to amsoil at the 200K mark, no tranny issues thus far.

 

Foreign material contamination is minor, agreed, but understand that the shear forces presented on transmission fluid are immense...a gradual breakdown of the fluid (and the protection is provides) is simply unavoidable.

See bobistheoilguy.com for some reference.

- Matt

 

Wow, there's some good information here. I need to put my car in my sig. It's an '03 MCS w/54k miles. The oil was changed regularly, and the cooling system and windows have been serviced (seems to be par for the course). Everything else in it seems good aside from one of the tires needing to be replaced.