I've had my '13 MCS since March of this year and I'm about to reach 2900 miles. I obviously do not drive the car that much so I'm wondering about the need to change the oil. Some people say time is just as bad as mileage and some say it isn't. The dealership tells me not to worry about it until 10K miles but yet the car is telling me it's time for an oil change.

Obviously the car's system is going by time because I certainly don't have the mileage. So I'm wondering what I should do? Change the oil or wait until 10K miles which could easily take almost two years. There's no way I would ever use a single dose of oil that long.

By the way, what can I expect to pay for an oil change at the dealership? I usually change my own but I don't want to go through the hassle of taking off the belly pan and whatever else that comes along in doing this.

 

I assume you are in the US? You get free oil/filter changes after either a year, or when the computer says it's time (for 3 years or 36k miles). Looks like the computer is telling you it's time for a change, I would by all means take into the dealer and get it done. You'll be getting a lot of responses on your question (ie I change mine every 5k miles, etc).

BTW, my mini dealer charges $120 for the change. A local independent charges me $80. You can do it for a lot less if you're willing to DIY.

 

The filter location really turns me off in to doing it myself.

 

I hear you, I use an independent for the oil changes, I just recently finished get the free ones for the dealer.

 

You'll be fine keeping it there for two years, the bigger deal is making sure it stays full. That said, I wouldn't run the factory fill longer than 4k. Change it at 3k, then 2 years/10k after that if your driving pattern stays the same.

 

Another data point.


I've been sending samples to Blackstone labs for analysis since I got the car in 2009.


I first changed the oil at 1500 miles, then 5000 later, and about 6000 intervals since. The reports say the oil is fine, wear is minimal, and I could easily extend the interval to 8500 and see what happens.


While the car was getting free maintenance it got the yearly oil change and other required stuff at the dealer. (plus extras like Diff fluid. brake fluid, coolant change by me) Samples of the engine oil were taken by the tech, and sent. And yes, I changed the dealer oil 5000 miles later.


I've been using either MINI oil, or Mobil1 0-40 Euro blend, along with MINI/BMW filters.


Changing the oil is actually pretty easy. You just have to loosen the filter cap to allow the oil to drain back first. I also place a rag under the cap/housing to catch anything that may drip. It's not bad at all. There are no belly pans or covers in the way.

 

My dealer gave me one free oil change per year regardless of miles...did this two times with them since the first few years I owned my car it was a low mile car....
That was years ago....but logic seemed sound to me....

 

i go by 6mo if i don't hit the mileage interval i'm using by then.

 

I had typed up a really long post, but decided against it since it would only generate more questions. So here is the TL;DR.

A lot of short drives, change your oil based on time. Many long road trips, change it based on mileage. A blend of the two, use your discretion within the time/distance model.

I change my oil based on a mix of the two. Once every 6 months or if I surpass 5500 miles before the 6 months is up. I run Royal Purple 5w30. However my filter is changed every 3000 miles and oil topped off.

 

With my 2006 MCSa, I drove only 8,000 miles per year. I had the oil and filter changed just once a year... yup, only 8 oil changes in 8 years of ownership. I had the 12-month-old oil tested by Blackstone and it still had much of its "life" left, it was still doing its job protecting the engine.

 

I would suggest doing the annual oil change regardless of mileage. Daily temperature cycles will tend to pull some humidity out of the air and into the oil no matter if you're driving or not, and you want to get that water out. If you're not driving the car (and getting the oil up to operating temp) you get it out by changing the oil.

Additionally, as was already pointed out, you get one prepaid oil change per year. (Baked into the purchase price, so it's not exactly free.) Use it, no point in not doing so.

I personally do six-month changes. Every other one, I pay for. The dealer is covering the others.

 

I live in a warm climate and drive my MCS moderately hard most of the time, so I change my oil every 5K miles, these 10K intervals are insane to me for the way I drive plus as your oil burns off (oil vapors) what's left behind is much thicker and can gum up your engines oil channels. I do my own oil changes and it only cost me $25 for a 5 quart container of Mobil 1 0W-40 and $15 for the filter, $40 compared to my local Mini dealers $200 for a oil change! My dealer charges $165 for an hours labor, but as long as I use my third party 6-year extended warranty who cares. Although I love to stop by my dealer often to eat and drink the pastries and coffee after buying the oil filter.

Do yourself a huge favor and check your oil at least every other gas up, I know the N14 engine I have burns through 1 quart every 2000 miles and the fact that the N18 (you have) aren't know for burning much oil if any, check anyway and because it doesn't cost you anything to check you oil. Some N18 engine do burn a little oil, just be on the safe side.

 

I do between 8,000 - 10,000, but prefer more closer to 8,000. I run Amsoil oils with a stock filter. Did one leakdown test at 50,000 miles and about to do another now that I hit 60,000 miles; however, I am sure it will be like 50,000, no leaks and all good.

Honestly, it is just good, cheap insurance for your engine. If you're going to dyno or drive it hard, e.g track time, I would run a race oil if you're going to race it but you'll want to drain afterwards and replace with multi-viscosity for the street.

 

Like other people said take advantage of the free oil changes. I change it myself but I'm out of warranty and always have been since purchasing the car used. Takes me an hour and $40 --$25 for the oil and $15 for the filter.
I've been religious about changing the oil every 5k and will check on it often because my commute is 6 miles each way, not particularly long.

I think if the MINI dealer does the oil change it should be around $100. I once had them do an oil change where I supply the oil and it was around $60.

The oil filter location is tricky to get to, but it's easy to move the coolant tank out of the way. You just have to have a 12-24" extension to reach the top of the filter. And yep, no belly pan to remove, just the oil pan drain screw.

 

My dealership is $69.95 , your getting raped

 

The manual that came with my 2010 says oil change interval should be no longer than 1 year, regardless of how low the mileage is during that time.

My dealer is one of the more reasonably priced: $70 for an oil change. DIY is ~ $40-50, so the dealer price is not completely unreasonable.

 

No longer than 5K. Usually around 4.5K

 

Everybody has opinions but blackstone labs has hard data. If their analysis shows "minimal" degradation after 5k or 6k or 10k or whatever for your particular style of driving, go with it. That said, 1 year sounds like a reasonable interval (makes the driver feel good even if the engine doesn't care!)

 

This. +1

 

If the car says change the oil than by all means change your oil. The oil industry loves the old school 3k-5k oil changes applied to synthetic oil since they are getting twice, if not thrice the business for absolutely no reason. Read the manual and go by what MIN recommends (I believe it's 10K or 1 year at the moment (I have a 13 MCS too with 16k miles and my readout says 220 miles until next service, my second oil change).


The only thing new synthetic oils have in common with the oil of our youth is the bottle.


http://www.edmunds.com/car-care/stop...-your-oil.html

 

My wifes 2011 is still programmed for 15-16K between changes and oil analysis from blackstone says 8-8.5K is all the oil will last , so do as you wish.

I know I won't have any failures for lack of oil changes doing mine more often. Change you oil too often only cost's a few dollars, not changing it
often enough may cost you thousands down the road, your call.

 

My 13 MCS originally was 12k between oil changes, but after the first change the dealer reprogrammed the interval to 10k. Have you taken your wife's car to a dealership to have the oil changed recently or do you do your own/independent mechanic?


As far as Blackstone is concerned - what oil are they testing? Is it the full synthetic 5w30 used by MINI/BMW or another type? If it's the BMW brand, I find it very odd for them to use an oil that will not last between the service intervals on their own cars.


While I agree with you on the too often/not often enough oil change debate, it really is a waste to change a synthetic oil every 3k-5k miles.


Heck, some of the newer synthetic oils will last up to 25k miles.


But as you said, do as you wish.

 

Yes the car has been in to dealer for oil changes, will have to ask them to change it next time, if it's free.

MINI full synth oil 5/30 from dealership

yes they were insane to expect oil in a turbo car to last 15K , I'm going with 8K

 

8k sounds like a plan


Although, even the '14 BMW M6 V8/turbo has an oil service every 10k.
If a M6 engine failed it would cost more than my MCS to replace

 

My manual says every 15K miles to change the oil, but my Mini Dealer reprogrammed my MCS for every 10K miles. If all I had was a Toyota Camry or other similar car I would only go 7500 miles before changing my oil. Since I have a turbocharged engine 6000 miles is the limit for me. What most aren't accounting for is for those N14 users is we add fresh oil every 1000-2000 miles prolonging the life of the oil.