I have never seen a dipstick more difficult to read than my R57's. I don't know whether this is the same dipstick in all the other Minis or not but I find it hard to believe a company would put this is an engine. Then again I know Mini does not want us to change our own oil...maybe they don't want us to check it either.

I know the ECM calls for an oil change at some nebulous time, 15 or 20,000 miles in the future. But at 2,500 miles, I couldn't take it any longer - I HAD to change oil. I can probably go 12-15,000 miles for the next change but not the first. I just don't have that in me. I am just too "old school."

Using instructions I found on this forum, I put in 5 qts. Later, reading even more strings, I found that 4.4 was the amount I wanted, so I drained about 16 oz.

Now, with nice clean oil, I couldn't tell where it was on the dipstick. My instructions said to lay the dipstick on a clean paper towel to see the level. Sounds good but it really doesn't work too well. So I decided to modify the tip so I could read it better. I just hope it doesn't void my warranty.

I filed the side flat, drilled a couple holes, then filed a few grooves. Now it is very easy to tell the oil level. You might want to do the same. If not, don't tell me about it as I am not looking for criticism.

 

Great idea, ..I may copy you.

 

MINI will VOID your warrantee for sure! A graduated dipstick...who heard of such a thing?!

Nice Guards Red Porsche...how does it compare against the MINI?