My Mini, just turned 5,000 miles. Seems to me it's service time, but I have been told to wait; the car will tell me when it's time. I'm not comfortable waiting.

Thoughts?

 

change the oil and filter

scott

 

Agreed. If you wait for the car to tell you when it's time, you'll be at or around 10,000 miles, maybe more. My first service light wouldnt have come on until I hit about 12,000. Of course I had it serviced before then....12,000 miles just seems ridiculous.

 

Wait. Changing your oil now is just a waste.

 

A google of "maintenance schedule" site:www.northamericanmotoring.com returned 471 results just now.

Much discussed, for sure!

Camp A: MINI engineered the car, and says to service it when it tells you to.

Camp B: NFW that any car, MINI included, will be best served with oil changes at the 15k mark, or thereabouts. Use 3k-5k-7.5k intervals etc. instead.

That about covers it...

 

I own a 2011 Cooper Clubman and a 2010 Cooper S Clubman -- I did own a 2004 Cooper S. My own rules are I change the oil & filter every 5 to 6K miles ( or close to that )- going 15K miles between oil changes on a Cooper is just to long and even with with MINI's revised oil changes on the "S" at 10K miles it's still to long. I want my MINI's to last past the warranty so I take care of them.

When you do change your oil ( non-dealer ) do not re-set your oil count down , that way you will still get your "free" oil change on time. ( just FYI )

Like I said - this is just my own opinion and schedule

Good luck and ENJOY YOUR MINI !!!!!!

 

If you plan on owning the car until the wheels fall off, I'd suggest not going by the scheduled service intervals as laid out by MINI. Oil changes every 5k will do just fine.

 

If the car is still under the maintenance plan, the dealership will not perform the service until it is due. If not then I would go with what everyone else suggested.

 

Took my car in for a variation on the 30K service (my dealership does everything the 30K Service calls for as part of an oil change/cabin filter service... for about $120 less than the official 30K Service). The SA asked if I really wanted the oil changed, as it had only been 6000 miles since the last change. When I said "Yes, it's cheap insurance" he responded, "If you intend to own the car for a long time, I 'd change the oil more often than MINI calls for too. But if it's a lease vehicle that you're going to turn in, I'd stay with the MINI plan."