Just curious... i haven't reached my oil change/first service on my car yet. (about 5k currently).. if i bought the correct castrol syntec synthetic oil do you guys see any problems with having walmart or someone like that do the oil change? i know it's under warranty, but i am a little bit concerned about letting my oil go to the service point because it's so many miles and it's my first oil change... if you don't think it's a good idea are there any places you would recommend? (outside of the dealer obviously)... i have a 2007 MCS by the way... my computer says 15000 miles to the first service... (also i live in oklahoma city to give you an idea of the climate)

 

Your oil filter is not the spin-off type that the oil change guys are accustomed to, and it's a little harder to get at. If you buy the correct filter and read the instructions here on NAM, you could do it yourself or have a reliable shop do it for you.

 

I'd be a little concerned taking it to Wal*Mart.
They probably don't see a lot of MINIs and I wouldn't want them learning on my car.

 

Wal-Mart?! Are you kidding?
You don't take a MINI to a Wal-Mart store for an oil change.... What would your friends say if they saw your MINI in one of the bays having its oil changed?
The only thing that Wally world should be working on is old Fords and Chryslers.

 

Seriously, if you can make 30 minutes (first time only, from start to clean-up) oil changes are quite simple. The hardest parts are:

1. Getting a 36mm (shallow) socket.
2. Re-starting the canister without cross-threading it.
3. Getting the drip-basin located in the right spot to avoid unnecessary spills.

Really. It's that easy.

After the first time, you should be able to complete a change within 20 minutes. I would suggest that the time it takes for you to take it elsewhere is more than it takes to do it yourself.

However, if you only have on-street parking and not a garage or driveway, that might be a little touchy. You could do this in the street if necessary, but spilling/dripping used oil in the street might not go over very well.

In that case, I would go to a trusted/referred local mechanic rather than any quick-lube joint. They generally charge similar rates anyhow.

 

Ah...I wouldn't. As the others have said, it's pretty easy to do yourself and not a bad idea to get to know your car. Besides, most shops won't allow you to bring them parts to install.

 

ummmm...NO!

 

If the oil tech has more than 10 teeth, you should be safe.

 

Don't do it. I took a **** car to walmart years ago, I had to get other repairs done after the oil change. I believe the 'mechanic' purposely caused problems with the car to get return business.
I did not return.

 

OK, I'm confused (as usual)

You say a 36mm socket. I just purchased an oil change kit for 07+ Cooper and S from minimainia.com which included.... Quote: "the required but hard to find 27mm socket". So which is it?? I suppose I have paid for something I don't need now.

 

Mini2Go is wrong on two counts. It is 27mm on the R56, and it doesn't need to be shallow. I have the MiniMania.com kit and a standard 27mm socket. Last oil change I used the standard socket. Worked fine.

An extension will make it easier.

It is an easy oil change. I've never used Wally World, but had a horrible experience at Jiffy Lube. I'd never go to a low-priced oil change place again. They employ minimally trained people who probably do not know anything about the particularities of a MINI, nor care.

 

great, thanks Robin.

 

Very easy do it your self. You will be proud when you are finished.

 

The first issue of the NAM Alliance Magazine has a complete Oil Change How To for all models written by Chad of Detroit Tuned. Includes step by step directions with pictures. See https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/alliance and look on the right side to download the magazine. I'm working on an index to make the individual articles available to Alliance Members on demand.

 

I did mine last weekend and it was very easy. The drain plug is close to the front of the car (passenger side) so you don't have to lift the car that high or crawl that far under the car; maybe just drive up on a 2X4. With the filter up on top all you have to do is take one 8mm screw off the radiator reservoir and move it off to side and the filter is right there. Really easy, fun and you get the satisfaction of knowing it was done right!

 

I did mine last weekend and it was very easy. The drain plug is close to the front of the car (passenger side) so you don't have to lift the car that high or crawl that far under the car; maybe just drive up on a 2X4. With the filter up on top all you have to do is take one 8mm screw off the radiator reservoir and move it off to side and the filter is right there. Really easy, fun and you get the satisfaction of knowing it was done right!

 

Personally I don't see the need to deviate from what MINI/BMW states for oil changes. People in the US seem to be obsessed with changing oil every 3000 miles when good synthetic oils don't need it. If oil was as expensive here as it is in Europe people will probably be less keen.

I've owned two BMWs and only had the car serviced (inc. oil change) when the mile counter told me to with absolutely no ill-effects.

 

Have your oil analyzed just before you take it in, or better yet, half to 2/3 through the cycle. I had mine analyzed at 5,200 miles and the oil additives that keep your injectors clean, etc. were about gone. I probably could have gone 8,000 miles on that oil, but not the 17,000 that my OBC is recommending.

Most here are going with at least 5,000 miles, not 3,000. That was for dino oil (or plankton oil to be more accurate ).

I would bet that if you could be a fly on the wall to overhear the process in MINI/BMW, as to how long oil change intervals would be, you would find that it was the marketing and accounting depts. that drove the decision. Porsche, and Mercedes have long intervals. That puts enormous marketing pressure on BMW to extend interval times. Marketing would also want long service warranties for marketing purposes. The longer the intervals, the less costly to BMW. These kind of decisions are not dictated by the engineering dept. As owners, our cost/benefit analysis would be quite different from a car mfg.

If you just turn over a car every three years, then you don't care about the long-term life of the engine. That is someone else's problem. From an ecological perspective, saving oil is a nice goal, but if it shortens the life of the engine it increases the energy consumed to smelt or recycle the metals for the engine and possibly the car and its plastics, etc. That would be a much bigger hit than the recycling of a few gallons of oil.

In California you can go to most auto supply stores and pick up a free container for used oil. Leave it out with the recycling for the trash men to pick up and it gets recycled. Or, take to a variety of gas stations, garages, auto suppy stores, or quick oil change places for recycling.
How long did you keep them? How many miles? Did you have them dyno tested before you sold them? If not, how do you know how efficiently the engine was performing?

 

I have a Porsche and the interval is 20,000 but I believe 911's are actually alot less.

I never Dyno'd them - maybe if I was racing them on the track I would change the oil more frequently. That said, I never noticed any difference in performance. I also believe BMW, Mini, whoever don't want a reputation of the cars going to pot after 40,000 -50,000 miles.

I knew I shouldn't have really posted and this would prove controversial - but I have always just followed whatever the manufacturer of my cars tell me to do and never had a problem

You are, without any doubt, 100% correct on at least one thing - I do switch my cars out every three years - so if my Boxster blows up when I have my new Porsche next year I won't really give a hoot!

But whatever, I don't think I would ever have my oil changed at Wal-Mart

 

When changing your oil, just remember that there is a copper crush washer on the oil drain plug that has to be replaced.

 

How do I get under the car? I'm not too skinny! Do I need to buy ramps? If so, how much will that cost me? Thanks.

 

Some people like ramps. I use a couple of jack stands. You can get a pair of 2 ton jack stands for $20 at Auto Zone and use the jack that came with your car. Or get a hydraulic floor jack. You just need to get it up far enough to reach under with the pan/collector below the drain plug.

Pick up one of the plastic drain containers. It is a combination pan and container that catches the oil and holds it in what looks like a flattened gas can. That reduces the chance for spills and makes for less clean-up.

 

Oops. Wasn't paying attention that we were talking R56. Thanks for catching that. (And even on an R53, a shallow socket isn't necessary but it makes life a little bit easier. )

 

I suggest you can lose weight first

 

oh yikes, I thought you people would love me the way I am!