I just bought a brand new MCSa and when i asked the dealer about the break-in period, she said that there really isn't one and that it lasts only about 100 miles.
However, i read here that break-in lasts 1200 miles and that i shouldn't exceed 4500 rpm and that i should vary my rpms.

Also, i read here that right after the 1200 mile break-in, i should get an oil change, but the dealer said that i should get an oil change after the first 15k miles.

I need some clarification here please


Also.. i did exceed 4500 a couple times, should i be worried about anything?

 

The oil change is up to you, but if you want one you are either paying for it or doing it yourself. Some people swear by it, others don't see the point. There will likely be some metal shavings in the oil that was worn from the engine as it is being broken in.

Exceeding 4500 isn't a big deal now and then. It's just not advised to keep it up there too long or too often.

 

I went with the 1200 miles below 4500 rpm as it said in my owner's manual. I've found MINI sales people (Motoring Advisors, or MA in this forum) to be unreliable on some information.

This is a topic of much debate. You can read numerous oil change threads here to learn more.

I changed the oil and filter at around 1500 miles, and again at about 7K miles. I believe it is best to get the early wear metals, etc. out of the oil.

I had the oil analyzed by Blackstone Labs on the second change. The results indicated that about 8K miles would be a good interval for my MCSm.

I believe that the 15,000 to 22,000 mile (depending on what the onboard computer says) interval that MINI uses is determined by marketing people, rather than engineers.

I did as well. I wouldn't worry about it.

 

Hi, I'm new here. MCSa and MCSm refer to automatic/manual?

 

Hi and welcome to NAM. You are correct. There's a sticky thread here in the First Gear Forum that gives all sorts of abbreviations.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...eat-sheet.html

Have fun!!!

 

I'd take it a little easy for the first 1000 miles, although my MA said drive it like you stole it. I don't think there's any reason to change the oil then. The old "breakin oil" thing isn't happening anymore. People have had their first oil analyzed and there wasn't any metal fragments in it or anything like that.

 

I think the early oil change is just for peace of mind for some people. I did mine after 1500 miles, just because of the latent fear of metal particulates. I didn't rev very high early on, but I wasn't babying it either. After about 600 miles, I started to drive normally.

Since you have no clutch, I wouldn't worry about revving it too much while new, I'd probably just vary the rpms as advised, but try to do some engine braking (downshift coming to a stop) early on which should help seat your piston rings faster I believe.

 

For all of you 1500 mile initial oil change people: you know there's an oil filter in this engine that effectively catches metal particals? I understand frequent oil changes in VW aircooled engines without a filter, or older cars with really rough filters. But on the Mini with full synthetic oil and a good filter? Yeah, it gives you peace of mind, but you're throwing away good oil.

Mind you, I have noticed that in the MINI.UK website, the recommended initial oil change is 6000 to 9000 miles, which I can accept. But 4000 mile oil changes over the life of the car is a waste of oil.

 

I don't recall seeing those reports. Can you point me to the thread?

I only had my second change analyzed. It still showed some break-in byproducts, as was expected at 8K miles.

 

Always trust your manual over your service advisor

 

I can't remember it but it was a guy who sent his original oil off at about 8k miles, maybe before he even changed it the first time. His point was that there weren't any metallic elements in it to indicate what was once feared to come off of new engines. I'm sorry if I can't be more specific but I do remember the takehome message.

 

Well said. Unless one races regularly, changes of syn every 3-4K are a huge waste.

re breakin: just vary your rpms and speed and dont use the cruise.

 

3-4K oil changes were for dino oil. Can't use dino oil in MINIs. Carrying that practice over to synthetics is a waste of oil. However, the 15-22K intervals of the countdown odometer in the MINI seem way too long to me. I'm going with 8K, based on oil analysis.

 

Robin, what was the oil analysis data that told you that 8,000 miles is the proper oil change interval?

 

http://www.blackstone-labs.com/standard_analysis.html

I had one or two extra things tested, so it cost about $30.

 

I had Blackstone do an analysis on my last change after 8,636 and the TBN was still at 2.9 ( 1.0 is low ). They said there was enough active additive to run the oil longer and recommended that I try going to 10,000 the next time. I do lots of highway driving though.

 

Yea, it is going to vary a lot with the kind of driving one does, and the length of trips. Short trips in stop and go traffic would probably be the hardest (not counting racing). Highway driving with long trips is the easiest on the engine.

Sometime ago I read that starting the engine from cold is about equal to driving 500 miles. Not sure if that is still true for contemporary engines with synthetic oil.

 

In that case I'm a little over 187,500 miles overdue for an oil change.

 

I think a certain number of starts are figured into oil change interval recommendations.