This morning, I stopped by the Mini of Baltimore County, (I was in the area and wanted to check and see if the IPhone 4 cradle was available yet), and asked the service guy about the yearly oil change requirement that's clearly outlined in the maintenance manual. My car has 10,200 miles and was delivered in Nov '09

Yep, they pulled it right in and changed the oil for n/c... Nice wash job too...

 

Nice. In the old days, they wouldn't change the oil until the onboard computer said it was necessary. That was determined by mileage and driving style/conditions, not by time.

 

Yep, even when you make an Appt. for an LOF and expect to pay for it yourself the Dealer says, "oh, your car is in need of an Oil Change"...that'll be on us!!

 

mmm yeah got to love mini.. i have 44k miles on my r56 last oil change was 12k miles ago done in June 10' and went to the dealership today and asked when i could get my oil changed, they said in 15k more miles which would put me at 22k miles for a oil change.. so i did it myself the old oil was black, and i don't mean a tint of black but "SOLID" black.. from here on out i will start changing it every 5k miles

 

5-6K miles is best, like many will say in the countless oil change threads.

Props to the OPs dealer for not being neglegent and adhering to the OBC

 

According to the Manual that was in my 07 and 09 oil changes should be done when the OBC says so OR every 12 months whichever happens first.

 

Yes, but the sick-sad truth is that sometimes the OBC will say 20K miles plus.

And thus someone may take that as alright, and drive thier 20K miles within the one year (say they do 20K in 11 months). I (and many others) dont care what oil it is...20K is rediculous.

Yeah itll last 50K miles, but after that it's not BMWs problem anymore

 

I was just saying what the manual says. I do oil changes every 6500 miles or 6 months. So Mini pays for one oil change and then i do one my self.

 

Thanks for calling me negligent.

 

Don't see where anyone was called negligent. Some good advice was given, take it or leave it. Everyone makes their own choices.

This is true ^.... As we all know oil changes are cheaper than engines.

 

Next time ask them to replace the wipers too. Those are covered as well

 

From an earlier post:
Logically, the opposite (adhering to the OBC) would be negligent.

Combined with the most recent post:
I would fit that definition of "someone" who drives their MINI 20k within one year and thinks it is alright to go that long between oil changes.

Putting those together, I can only conclude the OP would classify me as someone who is negligent.

I would disagree that it was good advice. Take it or leave it.

Everyone is free to make their own choices. It would be nice if they did so without denigrating others who have different opinions.

 

+1 It's what I do as well and will continue when the Free Maintenance is up in April '11, can't believe my Baby is almost 3yrs. Old!!

 

I had said props to the Original Poster's DEALER for NOT being neglegent, and thus changing the oil. Some dealers have turned people away if the OBC doesnt say its time for the change...is what I was referring to.


BMW has thier regulations and suggestions to go by, sure, but all I was saying is the majority of people on here disagree with them.

I apologize for in some round-the-bush way of calling you neglegent, and if you want to run 20K between thats fine too. Im just giving opinions, which hopefully might help someone. Take them or leave them.

If your car isnt a lease, maybe this thread will inspire you to search on the topic, and whoknows you could easily prove my little opinion wrong... Thats the beauty of the internet lol.

 

Except for a small period of time when MINI tried to change the policy, I'm not aware of MINI turning away people due to the OBC mileage when they were due for their yearly oil change. Which is what happened in this case. Dealer or not, your opinion is clear that you think going 20k between oil changes is negligent.

Yeah, the beauty of this Internet thing is people can make statements suggesting other folks do research without knowing whether that person has done any research or not. So now I'm not only negligent, apparently I'm not smart enough to do my own research without your inspiration.

 

They better not replace my PIAA curved blades with the OEM junk.

I do appreciate the service dept of NW MINI in Tacoma. Recent visit to get bubbled chrome scoop replaced and newly designed heat shield added under warranty was very pleasant. Our MA saw us there and sat and talked to us about all kinds of things from our kids to food for a good half hour.


Love their large funky waiting room with coffee, tea, juice, pop and snacks - all free. And the care they take on your car. They went over it, added 1/2 qrt oil, wiper fluid and air pressure. All documented on receipt, 5 printed pages in color.

Feelin' the MINI love......... Oh and the 2011 updates look sweet......... He said they will have a Countryman on the lot in a week.




Funny how all the oil threads end up a huge flame war.

Fact is - I have seen MINI oil analysis reports at 10K and the oil was fine. Would love to see one at 20K! At any rate our MINI hits 5K very soon at 5 months and I will be changing the oil myself. That's my comfort zone for the first batch. I would have to run it out 10K and have an analysis done on our own MINI to trust it to 10K. Doubt I will do that, for the money I will just change the oil every 6 months which will be around 6K-7K miles.