Hi, all. This is my first post. I've had a 2002 MCS since late winter this year (sold a del Sol to get a car that could accommodate a child's seat) and I've really enjoyed it. I spent a lot of time and money on my Sol getting it to where it was, and the mini was at least as much fun right out of the shoot.

Couple questions about maintenance:

1) It has 63k on it. Whenever I start the car, I get a message saying that approx. 7k miles more and I will need to bring it in for a service. I assume this is roughly the equivalent of a 60k service on a car that doesn't monitor service needs for you. My question: what is involved in this service, and what can I do myself? I've never worked on a mini before, but did almost everything on my Sol, except things like wheel alignments and new tires.

2) I'm currently calling around to get prices on an oil change. What do you pay and where do you go? If you do it yourself, what oil do you favor and where do you get your filters? Specifically, does AMSOIL make one that would work?

3) I have a belt that gets mighty squeaky after a rain. It's located on the passenger side of the engine compartment, buried a little so not easily visible. I only hear it at idle. When I first got the car inspected I asked the shop to look at it and make sure it didn't need to be replaced. They said it was fine, but I want to be sure. Anyone got any ideas what this is and what I can/should do about it?

I think that's it. Thanks very much in advance for your time and advice.

 

I ignore the service indicator and I do all the maintenance myself.

If there are no maintenance records for the car, change all of the fluids now and start a history. That belt is probably past due, as are many other things on the car.

Here is my schedule, based on the factory intervals. Some may argue that these intervals are too low, but I plan on keeping my car for at least 50 years so preventative maintenance is vital.

Oil and filter - 7,000 miles - Amsoil 0W30 with OEM filter
Transmission fluid - 20,000 miles - Redline MTL
Serpentine Belt - 20,000 miles - Gates belt
Coolant - 2 years - BMW coolant
Radiator Hoses/heater hoses (all rubber hoses coolant touches) - 4 years
Brake fluid - 2 years - Motul RBF 600
Spark plugs - 25,000 miles - NGK something or other
Grease door hinges - annually
Inspect Hoses - monthly
Fuel filter - 40,000 miles - OEM filter
Cabin filter - annually - charcoal infused
Inspect struts, ball joints, bushings, tie rods - annual
Tires - Inspect weekly
Replace wipers - 3 to 6 months - OEM blade refiles, original arms
Power steering - said to be lifetime, monitor condition and level - Pentosin CHF 11S

I picked my oil interval based on samples that I sent away to Blackstone Labs. The transmission fluid interval is my own idea and I'm thinking of making it 10,000 miles based on the condition of the fluid. The coolant's inhibitor package does not last forever, and I don't trust the "extended life" properties. Brake fluid is hygroscopic and needs to be changed 2 years religiously.

 

Wow, thanks for that detailed reply.

My only trouble with that right now is that I don't have a convenient place to work on the car (well, that and the cost of preventative maintenance, but I can make do). Plus I need a new jack. But that is making excuses.

I almost want to take it to a mini dealer and get a quote on everything, but I'm sure it would be much more than the cost of buying a new jack and a few tools and learning the ropes, which would mean taking time away from other things.

Right now the oil needs to be changed, so I guess I will deal with that. And in a few thousand miles I think I'll just start checking things off your list. Hopefully by mid-winter I can have everything brand spanking new.

 

The message that pops up IS for your oil, minis are full synthetic, 15K btwn changes (approx); the computer tells you when it's due, you have 7k miles to go.

 

The aluminium jack from Harbor Freight works great and it is inexpensive.
The posted list is good. Personally I would go with 5000 mi. for oil changes with a Mini filter. Castrol is good too. 5-30 is recommended.

There is a lot discussion on NAM and in BMW car club magazine about going with the computer estimates for oil change distance and the general consensus is that in the long haul it does damage. You have an older car and I would go with the 5000-7500 mile oil change.

 

50 years, wow that will be impressive

 

"If you do it yourself, what oil do you favor and where do you get your filters? Specifically, does AMSOIL make one that would work?"

I favor the Castrol SYNTEC 0W-30 European Formula (aka German Castrol or GC) available only at AutoZone. Of course, there are other great full synthetic group 4/5 oils out there. It really is a price/availability/preference sort of issue. If you want specs or to rant about your favorite go to http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/.

As for filters, I use MANN filters; which you can find on many MINI supply sites. I had previously purchased them from http://www.germanfilters.com/ as I could get bulk deals and filters for all my European cars in one site shopping. The site/operation now notes it is under new management; So I do not have any history with purchasing from the new management.

 

My Austin Mini is at 30 years! I think another 20 is possible

One of the most important tools you need to change your oil is a 36mm socket for a socket wrench. Many websites (I am at school so do not have the link bookmarked) sell a package deal so you can buy the socket and filter for a discounted price. A filter at the dealership costs me $8 and I bought the socket online for $20.

There are many good DIY articles on how to change the oil. It really is not that hard, the first time may be tricky but you will save a lot of money if you do most of the maintenance yourself. $25 for oil, $8 for a filter and 30 minutes of my time is a lot better than $75 for an oil change.

Even the other filters and other things you can do yourself. You just need to have patience, be able to read instructions on DIY articles or in a service manual, be ready to learn, and want to spend a lot less money than bringing it so some person to fix.