I really like the idea of the car telling me when its time for an oil change: I don't like it that it thinks this is every 13,000 miles. Is it possible to change this value to something of my own choosing?

2011 MCS

 

I do not believe it is possible but maybe this will shed some light on it for you.

http://new.minimania.com/article/234...ndicator_Light

 

the mechanics at my dealer use a small handheld device to reset the service interval

i asked the mechanic about it, he told me the tool is only used to reset the service intervals, it is not a "code reader" and that they can reset the interval to any desired value

my 03/2012 build 2012 cms all4 originally had the oil/filter interval set to 9,000 miles, after the dealer change, they reset it to 8,000 miles

my dad bought an ex-demo/loaner 09/2011 build 2012 cms all4 2 weeks after i took delivery of mine, his oil/filter change interval was originally 15,000 miles, after the dealer change, they reset it to 8,000 miles

in both cases, i was told 8,000 miles is the "new official interval"

neither car has had a reflash

scott

 

8000 intervals is still good, those of us cautious enough to have extra changes done, 4000 miles is a great number and halfway between "official" changes. My computer apparently was never changed to the 8000 interval, and displays 15000 upon reset. Ill just stick with my trusted mechanics windshield sticker as reminder when its time for a change. It was very enouraging that my independent mechanic was so vigilant to remind me several times that I need to stay on top of the oil level of the engine and no to follow the manufacturer recommendation. Their shop is well aware of the "common" issues with MINI vehicles.

 

i agree

i changed oil/filter after breakin, then at ~4300, then the dealer did one at ~8000

i will be swapping with the dealer and changing the oil/filter every ~4000

scott

 

4000 miles is ridiculously short. But hey, it's your money.

 

I guess many of us would rather be ridiculous than foot the bill on a failed timing tensioner. Ill take the extra oil change once a year, thanks for worrying about my money thou.

 

i have a friend with an independant repair shop, he works on a lot of out of warranty minis, mostly over 50,000 miles and mostly having nothing but the mini reccomended oil/filter changes

he has done almost 50 timing chains, in almost every case, the small oil galley that feeds the hydraulic chain tensioner was clogged with oil sludge, he then pulls the valve cover and oil pan and finds more sludge ... he has also been replacing vacuum pumps and found their oil galley filled with sludge causing the failure

there is one sure way to avoid oil sludge, change the oil/filter

he will no longer work on minis unless the customer agrees to 5,000 mile oil/filter changes

i am using 4,000 as my interval because the "free" mini oil/filter change interval is 8,000 miles and i bought the extended maintenance for 100,000 miles/6 years

i think even 8,000 miles is too long, so 4,000 evens it out

scott

 

Why do you guys talk about the "free" oil/filter change? Is this part of a scheduled tune-up/inspection?

 

my 2012 cms all4 includes all scheduled maintenance for 3 years or 36,0000 miles, based on what pops up on the OBC display

in addition, i purchased an extended maintenance plan that takes that out to 6 years/100,000 miles

so they are not "free" they are really "prepaid"

scott

 

You get three years of free maintenance, including oil changes with the purchase of a new MINI.

Some people say, "Oh, You pay for it!" Maybe, but you can't opt out of it.

I bring my MINI to the dealer every spring and they don't charge me for new wipers or the oil change. I call that free.

I only drive about 5000 miles a year, so the annual oil change works well for me.

Dave

 

5000 miles a year? Wow, wish I could do that. My car is my sole transportation thus my DD (I just figured out what that means a couple of days ago).

 

You apparently haven't read all the posts from people using these super short OCIs that have had their chain tensioners and/or timing chains fail. The OCI is not going to save you from that repair.

Not sure I've seen a single report yet of a failure that could be attributed to a normal OCI.

 

I'm just saying, when I bought my car I did a 1500 mile oil change, then again at 6500 miles and sent a samples to Blackstone labs for analysis. The oil tested fine with low wear, and the TBN was very good. They recommended a 7500 mile interval next time. So go with 7500 and resample, still good. Death rattle at 22,000 so it had the aux water pump recall and tensioner, gears, rail, and timing chain replaced under warranty. When they did the work another sample was taken and sent. Interval is now at 8500 miles. A 4K mile interval wouldn't have prevented it.

If you go on Bob the Oil Guys web site there is some chatter about a too short interval actually being bad for the engine.

 

Yes, with the latest software updates to the DME & KOMBI you can set the oil change reminder to 7k (I think), 10k or 15k and a one year interval!!

This can be done at the dealer with the retrofit options in ISTA/P or at home with minitechinfo.com and a J2534 interface.

My 2008 non-turbo engine didn't work with these new shorter intervals (sucks!!!) but I know it works with the S model.

This summer I carefully analyzed the effect the BMW ISTA/P retrofit options did to the Vehicle Order string and the DME and KOMBI trace files. I don't have the details with me on this computer, but it appears the DME just ignores setting because it is a non-turbo.

I talked about those options here:

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...and-j2534.html