Hey Guys,
I'm approaching MINI Inspection II for my '05 MCS (TL15360) and I'm going to do the work myself as there's no way I'm going to pay $500 or $600 or $700+ that the dealer wants. So looking at other posts, I see the only real replacement parts are:

* Oil - Since this is my first out of dealer service, what do you guys recommend? Preferably something Canadian Tire sells?
* Oil Filter - 11-42-7-512-446
* Cabin Filter - 64-31-1-496-711
* Air Filter - What's the OEM part number for this?
* Poly V-belt - is this the supercharger belt? What's the OEM part number for this? Any links on how to change this?

Other than that, the rest looks to be inspections and/or checks that I'm not to worried about.

What about coolant and/or thermostat? Any links on how to change those?? Should I even bother?

Anything else you guys recommend and/or I'm missing?

Thanks in advance

 

Considering the amount of abuse MINIs can take travelling up and down the roads, I would suggest conducting the full inspection. You should probably get a Bentley Manual to assist with identifying the parts the list mentions. Key points would be brakes, motor mounts (look for leaks or whether it is bottomed out), casters in lower control arms (they are hunks of rubber inside a pot metal casting that's pressed into place), and suspension linkage (i.e. struts, end links to sway bars, etc.).

I believe the stock belt size is 1388mm. You will need a tensioner tool to change it. Here's a link to Turner Motorsports: http://www.turnermotorsport.com/html...ID=90880118410. You might be able to get it cheaper if you shop around. The OEM number for the belt is: 11 28 7 520 199.

I recommend sticking with the charcoal filter. You can find it here: http://www.outmotoring.com/mini-coop...in_filter.html. You should be able to shop around and get it for less. The OEM part number is 64 31 1 496 711.

You can find more OEM numbers by going to: http://www.realoem.com/bmw/select.do.

Here's a link on how to reset the oil service light: http://new.minimania.com/web/SCatago...0/ArticleV.cfm. You can also opt to get the Peake diagnostic tool. It's $140 and comes in a convenient case for transport. I keep mine in my MINI all the time.

 

[SIZE=3][FONT=Calibri]Thanks for the reply JumpingJackFlash, I’m definitely going to inspect everything recommended in the Inspection II list. I’m pretty mechanically inclined – probably more than the average DIYer as I’ve taken on huge projects in the past (most recent was an AWD conversion). Full brakes and fluid were done about 10K ago, so no worries there.[/FONT][/SIZE]
[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3] [/SIZE][/FONT]
[SIZE=3][FONT=Calibri]I’m familiar with realoem and now Penske Parts, thanks for the links to the other items though.

Question on the v-belt. Penske Parts has two belts listed:[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3][FONT=Calibri]11287520199 - RIBBED V-BELT - 6PK X 1388 [/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3][FONT=Calibri]11287545120 - RIBBED V-BELT - 6PK X 1374[/FONT][/SIZE]
[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3] [/SIZE][/FONT]
[SIZE=3][FONT=Calibri]Can anyone confirm the stock OEM belt I need is indeed 1388mm thus part# 11287520199[/FONT][/SIZE]
[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3] [/SIZE][/FONT]
[SIZE=3][FONT=Calibri]I found the OEM part number for the air filter, it’s 13721491749 - AIR FILTER ELEMENT[/FONT][/SIZE]
[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3] [/SIZE][/FONT]
[SIZE=3][FONT=Calibri]So if some can confirm the v-belt size, I’m all set to order my parts[/FONT][/SIZE]
[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3] [/SIZE][/FONT]
[SIZE=3][FONT=Calibri]Thanks again[/FONT][/SIZE]

 

Be sure to check the area around the crank sensor for any oil blow-by (not explicitly listed on MINI's Inspection II checklist). Your MINI is just about at the age where the crank sensor 0-ring tends to fail and start leaking. Check for oily dirt/residue collecting around the sensor and on the front of the block above the oil pan.

Make sure you give your LCA bushings a critical examination too.

 

Hmm... I have a small oil leak now. I bet that's what it is. My old '02 MCS actually had a leaky oil pan gasket, but it was very minor. I did not replace it until last Spring.