Hey Mini lovers!
I recently took the plunge and bought a gold on gold 2003 Mini & am really enjoying it. It's due for an oil service and when I called Mini of Hawaii for a quote I just about fell off my chair at the prices... Where do you guys go? Is there a knowlegable independent garage that services Minis (I noticed Moterwerkes has been mentioned)? Or do you just grimace and pay the prices at Mini?

 

I don't know if MoH has changed their service (haven't dealt with them in many years), but I can heartily recommend Motorwerks. I dealt with them when I had my Porsche 924S, and now that I know they do MINIs - should I get another one I will most certainly get it serviced there for things I can't do myself.

 

For a simple oil change you can do it yourself to take it to any garage or oil change shop.

Just be sure to use fully synthetic oil like Mobil 1 or similar 5W-30 and a OEM MINI oil filter and O ring and usually a new oil plug just to make sure the seal is good. You can get the parts from MINI of HI parts dept and if you are a member of Hawaii MINI Motoring club you can get a parts discount.

Motorwerks can certainly do the oil change but they are generally very busy and are located in town near ward and Kapiolani.

I don't live near town and usually will use my local Goodyear Gemini shop-
I buy the oil and filter/parts and give them all to the shop and they do the oil change labor with coupon for about $15 to $19. I don't need an appt, I just drop off the car in the morning and they call me (I work nearby) or I drop it off before closing time and they get it done at the end of the day about 430pm while I wait.

Castrol Syntec oil is what the dealership uses. It's not fully synthetic.

I have used-
Redline
Amsoil
Mobil 1
Royal Purple
Castrol Syntec

Take your pick.

The MINI dash light will read about 10,000-15,000 miles between oil changes.

I recommend change oil about every 6 months or every 4000 to 6000 miles which ever comes sooner. Roughly twice as often as the dealership recommends. Always change filter and oil together.

Check oil level every month.

Check tire pressures while you are at it. About 34-37 psi front and rear is fine. Higher is OK.