Performed first oil change today @1800 miles, very easy to do. Oil was very dirty, I'll do it every 3500-4000 miles.

No real surprises

 

If you are using an LL-01 approved or ACEA A3 oil, you could most likely double that interval. If you have doubts, next oil change, spend $30 and have your oil analyzed. I did Blackstone's standard analysis + TBN. Results showed I could easily go 8,000 miles between changes. This is not your father's dino oil.

 

It's funny how these threads are pretty consistent across different owner boards in regard to types of oils and change frequency.

Prior to my MCS, I had a Honda Element. I traded this in with 75k on it. I changed the oil religiously every 3500-4000 miles. The same debate was on the Element board.

My opinion is this...when the oild is drained, it is dirty after 4000 miles, this cannot be as good aclean lubricant. I understand the synthetic blends are designed for extended milage between changes, but for the $40, I'd rather keep changing it and keep the motor purring.

This same debate focussing around my BMW motorcycle. If you want an example of some fanatic oil change opinions, check out some BMW motorcycle websites. BMW motorad did not recommend synthetic oil until just 2 years ago! That was the same time they introdcued thier own synthetic oil. In my manual (2007 r1200s not an old bike) it recommends regular grade oil. I change that every 2500 to 3000 miles even though BMW recommends ever 6000.

Just my pennies worth...probably not even worth that much :)

 

Just make sure you use a BMW/MINI approved oil for your chagnes or you may void the engine warranty.

 

I changed my first oil at 2000 miles and will do it again at the 6 month or 7000 mile marker. My plan is to do one oil change myself and let mini do the other ever year. Seems like the best compromise.

 

what if the black color of the oil is just from the color change? what if the color change does not affect the performance of the oil? If the additives are there, the viscosity is intact, and it still lubricates as good as new as guaranteed by the oil manufacturer, then it could be like washing the pillow case everyday instead of every week.

 

Makes sense to me... dirty oil regardless of milage can't be good.

 

What he said.

 

My understanding is that color is not really a good indicator. How often you need to change the oil depends on how you drive, and how long the trips are. If you track your car, you may need to change often. If you make short trips in stop-and-go traffic, you would need to change more often than someone who mostly drives freeways. That is why I think an oil analysis is a good idea.

With synthetics, some people like to change the filter more often than the oil. With a new engine, you can get higher levels of metals, tapering off over the first 10K miles. So, after the first change at 1,500-2,000 mile change, 5,000-6,000 intervals are probably a good idea until metal quantities stabilize. For the average driver, this means one oil change between the MINI provided annual changes.

Aside from metals, the things to watch for are viscosity at temp, flash point, fuel contamination (an issue with direct injection engines), antifreeze, water, insolubles, and remaining additive levels (TBN). My test (about 5,000 miles after the first oil change) high levels of metals (as expected), but all the other parameters well within acceptable levels.

 

I found it to be a really easy process too.

 

These are all valid arguments. I'm an Engineer by degree (but not by profession any longer) this means a couple of things:
- I'm stubborn
- I agree with logic
- I think my thought process is logical and valid

In regard to oil changes...just way too many valid and logical arguments out there...therefore...have to go with my thought process.

In regard to only using branded oils...I think this has been discussed on this board and I know it has on other vehicle boards, not using branded oil and filters does not void warranties. It is recommended to use these products, not required.

The only 100% true statement...the oil has to be changed. It's just when, and with what.... that is the debate

Thanks for the continued help

 

To keep you warranty valid with BMW/MINI you MUST use one of their approved oils. I.E. it MUST meet specific tested requirements. They have and will continue to deny warranty claims if they find the wrong oil type in your engine and it is damaged. They are in their perfect legal right to do this as they state in writing what must be used to for oil in the engine they produce. They however can NOT tell you who can change the oil that is against the law.

 

I going to have to respectfully disagree.

Unfortunately, I have not had first hand contact with any person have an engine go bad and manufacturers not respecting the warranty because they did not use the recommended oil.

I have had vehicles in the past that I had extendded warranties on that I did not use branded liquids on and the warranties were respected.

 

The never ending debate. I recently took a cycling vacation to Colorado and drove up with my friend who is one of the engineers in charge of the entire fleet of motor vehicles for the Frito-Lay Corporation (that's a lot of vehicles.) Part of his ongoing job is to cost-analyze maintenance versus replacement costs on their varying fleet, everything from electric company cars to semi haulers. He mentioned that they had run some test semi's as long as 150,000 miles on synthetic oil between changes with no engine failures. He laughed that people in their cars are concerned with suggested intervals like ours, saying that the 15K or so recommended by MINI/BMW is pretty conservative with modern technology. He also mentioned that his education, background, current and future employment deal with cold hard facts and research, not conjecture. Just sayin...

 

Now thats some valid input...but, not hard facts that warranties will be voided if not using branded liquids.

Thanks

 

Let's see, he deals with cold hard facts, but thinks that what happens with a diesel engine in a semi can be applied to a MINI Cooper?

Some things to ponder:
The quantity of oil in the engine can affect its useful life. How does the semi compare to a MINI in oil capacity? A MINI holds 4.5-5 qts. Porsche engines carry 7 to over 12 qts (depending on model). I'd be more comfortable following Porsche's extended interval recommendations than MINI's.

A MINI has a high compression, high revving engine that runs coolant at 220-225F. How does that compare to a semi?

What is the expected life of a semi engine? Aren't they designed to last a lot longer than 150,000 miles?

Did they tear the engine apart and analyze whether there was increased wear on the one oil change in 150,000 miles engine compared to an engine with more frequent changes?

Just sayin'...

I'm not sure what people mean by "branded" liquids. If you mean oils that bear the MINI or BMW brand, might not be legal to require that for warranty coverage. I suspect it would be legal to require a certain specification. BMW uses its LL- spec. to identify acceptable oils. MINIUSA.com mentions LL-01, and list four non-MINI brand oils that are acceptable in MINIs. Seems to me that any oil that meets the LL-01 spec--whether BMW actually approved it or not--should be acceptable in a legal sense. However, I'm not a lawyer...