Hope i'm posting in the right section...

Can I take my 05 S into a normal shop to get the oil change done? Or do I need to take it to the BMW / german repair shop. I am fine with either, but if I can save some money than why not. Also it says 7500 until next service but the oil is looking a little dirty and under the halfway mark.

 

You can probally take it to a lube shop.
Not sure if they will have 36mm socket for removing oil filter.
Not really sure if I would trust my car to a drive through shop.
If you have German car shop it would probally be the best.

 

Yes, you can take it to a 'normal' shop, but I'd avoid 'quicklube' type places. A local independent who does BMWs shouldn't charge much more than any other place. It's best if they're familiar with the canister type system the MINI uses.
As for change interval, I usually change it at 5-7K, regardless of what the computer says.

 

Another suggestion, buy a mityvac and do it yourself

Since everything is accessible up top, you don't even have to jack up the car (while in good practice to check everything under the car out) not needed everytime.

I've been changing my own oil w/o jacking up the car in other bmw's and this one (in another 7k miles) and the mityvac has paid itself off.

 

I've read elsewhere on this forum that the mityvac leaves about a quart of oil behind. Just a heads up...

 

Mightyvac is a gimmick.
Make sure you get all the oil out when changeing it.
If you don't have the right equipment better to let a trained tech do the job.

 

First thing to do is add oil if you are low.

If you don't want or can't do it yourself take it to a place that knows their stuff. That leaves out every kind of Quicky Lube place. The BMW guys will understand how it should be done.

 

Just got my first oil change since buying my MINI. I didn't go with a quickie lube place, but also didn't go as far as to take it to the dealership (last time I was there they told me to be prepared to pay $120 for an oil change). I got 5 qts of OEM MINI oil for about $37 and took it to a local garage that I have been going to for a while. They charged me an additional $30 for labor and a new oil filter and used my oil. This place doesn't specializes in BMW or MINI but assured me they work on these cars with the same standards as the dealership.

I would also suggest avoiding a quickie lube shop and find a local garage. Some place where you can shake some hands, and form a relationship with the employees. Whether it specializes in BMW or not.

 

It is very good advice to get to know the guys who work on your car, MINI or not. I still change my own oil, but I think those days are somewhat numbered for me. I have a friend that has a shop & he will get the job once I retire from doing car chores.

 

FWIW, if you're going to the trouble of getting OEM oil, get the OEM filter as well.

 

Yes there is constant debate over oil vacuums and the sort. I don't see how removing oil via the dipstick tube or the drain plug will make a difference.

I've read all sorts of arguments pro / con. It was a heated debate on the z3 forums.

They claim it doesn't remove all the oil. On a Mini I don't know but on the z3 and various other cars people have tried it on, they used the mityvac and then tried to drain the oil via drain plug. A few dribbles at best.

The only real valid argument against the mityvac, as I have pointed out, is the fact it's good practice to get under the car to give a quick visual inspection of everything (cv boots, other leaks, etc).

If using the mityvac on the Mini engine and it leaves 1 quart of oil, then the dipstick is useless in our cars because normal dipsticks almost always hit the bottom of the oil pan.

 

If you decide to get your oil changed at an indedpendent shop, here in the California section is a list of about 15 shops in the San Diego area to choose from. Good luck. PS-I only trust shops with advertised Mini experience-FWIW.

 

meh do it yourself. It is not that hard and takes like 20 to 30 minutes.

 

Another vote for DIY oil changes. I can examine what comes out, I know it's done right and another reason to get under my car