The "SERVICE" indicator come on, so I brought my mini in for its 1yr service. I have 17k mi on my CooperS. The dealer just change the inspection sticker and give me back the car, telling me the computer said there is another 2700mi before a oil change is needed. I was like "what??? 1st oil change not unitl 20k!!! I thought it was 1yr or 15k miles!!!" Then he goes, "It is changed now. An oil change indicator will come on when it is time to do oil change. We can't do it now, Mini won't cover it!" Are Mini cutting corners to save a few bucks? And how does the Mini measure the oil life span?

 

My first oil change was at 18K. After that, I had it done on my own dime. I won't wait that long ever again.

Funny thing - the second time the car needed service, all they did was inspect the car - NOTHING changed, just inspected. Then all of a sudden, once I was out of the 36K bumper-to-bumper, the oil needs changed AND the brake lines need flushed AND the cabin microfilter needs swapped AND... yeah, right. Pretty coincidental / convenient. I guess those items don't get inspected at the 30K service?

The air filter takes 2-5 minutes to inspect/swap, but the dealer's book says to charge 15 minutes. Oil changes are cheaper at an independent shop ($95 vs $250 at my dealer, YMMV). I keep all service documents, and if the computer needs to be reset, I get that done.

 

yea, mini is nuts.
changes how ya look at the "free service" thing.
a lot of people end up changing their own oil because of this. i let mini be mini and will just hold them accountable when/if things get ugly down the road

 

Once again as long as the oil is still full of additives your engine will be ok. Go and do a Blackstone Labs test and see if it really warranted a change or if it is still good. When you do the oil change. You will be suprised at how well newer oils are holding up.

 

i've also hear and experienced of running low. i've taken it in with the oil lamp on and they said it was normal and just topped me off. dunno exactly what the reason is but FYI.

 

(issues with posting..)

 

wow... they just topped it off and said it is normal?!?!? It seems it is NOT normal to me if it is burning oil that quickly when other mini don't have this problem.... this is insane... anyone did the blackstone lab test? if their result is good, then i am fine with mine.... this make me rethink about the extended warrenty.... or just get rid of it before 36k hit....

 

yea, it seemed a bit odd to me but i keep an eye on it. when the sensor triggers that the oil is low it's not at a dangerous level. just needs a bit more to be happy.
i also did the extendend service (for 1599$ when i did it) between brakes and the oil plus loaner cars it will probably make sense to do.

 

Wow! Do not drive your car with the oil light on. It is an indicator of low oil pressure & not an indicator for low oil level. When you drive with that oil light on you are damaging your engine. If it comes on STOP the engine, check the oil & add what is missing. If it is full of oil there is another problem so have the car towed to the shop.

 

Oil pressure not level...

 

I would suggest reading your owner's manual as the answer to most of your questions (or misunderstandings) are contained in it.

 

This! ^^^
The "oil" warning light is an emergency indicator of low oil pressure. If your oil level in the pan has gotten so low that this emergency light comes on, then your oil is dangerously low, and you may have already caused engine and/or turbo damage.

Modern synthetic oils may be able to operate semi-effectively at 15,000mi+, but I would be just as concerned, if not more so, about trying to use the same oil FILTER for that long. When does it stop capturing suspended particles effectively? When does it become so clogged up with gunk that oil does not pass through it effectively? I would hate to see what is inside the filter or how well oil can flow through it at 15,000mi +.

Oil and filter changes are a very routine, easy, and inexpensive maintenance task. And the downside of not performing them regularly will range from decreased performance, to unseen permanent engine damage, to catastrophic engine failure. To me it seems incredibly short-sighted for an automaker or an auto owner to try to economize on oil changes, of all things...

 

Wow. 15k is way too long to go. I take mine to an independent shop. I buy at Walmart 5 quarts of mobile 1 synthetic for 23.00 as they use valvoline only plus supply an oil filter and they charge me 18.00 in labor for the privilege. I wound not dream of going beyond 10k oil change intervals. Also, why would you want to get brakes done at the dealer. They charge twice as much as an independent shop!

 

Wow. 15k is way too long to go. I take mine to an independent shop. I buy at Walmart 5 quarts of mobile 1 synthetic for 23.00 as they use valvoline only plus supply an oil filter and they charge me 18.00 in labor for the privilege. I wound not dream of going beyond 10k oil change intervals. Also, why would you want to get brakes done at the dealer. They charge twice as much as an independent shop!

 

Should be 1 year (under mileage) or based on the computer if you put on a lot of miles.

I had my first oil change in February of 2010. My mileage was 4,199 miles. If they went just by the computer, I would never get an oil change within the 3 year free maintenance agreement.

 

Effective 9/1/2010 annual oil changes every 365 days ONLY if your MINI has under 6,000 miles annually otherwise wait for the counter to tell you when due. No grace period - must be a minimum of 365 days between changes.
Mileage will vary between cars depending on fuel consumption - highway miles vs in town driving - long trips vs stop and go. If in doubt call your MINI Service Advisor.

 

Page 5 of my Service & Warranty Information manual states, in bold text, "Note: Change oil at least once a year."

 

As far as warning lamps go.....if they're red, I quit driving immediately, If they're yellow or amber I keep driving and get it checked out ASAP.

 

Well we took the Mini in because we kept getting emails and notices in the mail to bring it in for the "free mantenance" service. Sent an email to set up and appointment. Took time off from work to take the car in.

They tell us, "we don't do the free maintenace anymore for about 2-3 months now".... Wait, what?!?!? They sure were pushing the fact that they would do all the free mantenance when we bought the car..... Shoulda known.... Dealers and their false promises....

They had been bugging us to bring it in...... So, why couldn't they respond when we set up the appointment let us know????? (That is rhetorical, I don't expect and answer.... LOL!) Then we get an email after the fact telling us that they were sorry that WE were unable to keep our appointment. Say what?!?!? There "service advisors" couldn't even put into the computer that we were there and very upset......

If you won't even grandfather us in for the free services, then quit bugging us.....

We sent a heated response regarding our visit and of course there has not been word-one from them about it.... Now that is customer service for you. What is this world coming to???? (Again, rhetorical....)

Anywho, this is very disappointing to say the least....... We have already change the oil and now are going to do it for the second time on our own. All I can think is that if something bad happens to the engine (god forbid) they are going to try and blame it on us for not bringing it in to change the oil.... LOL!!!

 

Wait... Are you 2-3 months over the 3 years of your free maintenance period? Because otherwise that's a outright lie and you should contact MINI USA first, and another dealer for maintenance second.

 

It is not a lie if they were referring to the annual oil change. They don't do it anymore unless the car has been driven less than 6,000 miles. But it has only been true since September 1st, not 2-3 months.

 

How can MINI retroactively change the terms of the service agreement that I purchased with my car? Can I retroactively change the terms of the agreement too? I think I'll lower my payment.

 

My 2007 has only 12,000 miles total. Mini dealer changes the oil once a year free.

 

"How can MINI retroactively change the terms of the service agreement that I purchased with my car?"

You do not have a written agreement that provides annual oil changes. You do have a written obligation to change your oil every year and a misleading promise of free maintenance for 36 months. And you may well have had a false promise of annual changes from your dealer like I did.

Jim, the policy changed on September 1st. It still covers people who drive less than 6,000 miles per year but no one else.

 

Go to another dealer.