Bought this like new stock 2012 Cooper Hardtop for my wife from a lady that won it in a Heart Foundation charity event.
It had only 25,700 miles on the clock.

I intend doing all the maintenance myself and have searched the forums for the answer to my questions but didn't always get answers that are specific to my model, and don't have enough experience to know which models share the same service items.

I plan to do the oil and oil filter changes every 5k miles, air filter every 10k miles, spark plugs every 50k miles.

I have read advisories and procedures to change the auto trans fluid anywhere between 50k and 100k miles - what do you suggest.



Spark plugs.
- what brand and and number for stock application
- I have standard plug sockets for the two common sizes - do I need something specifically suited for the Mini

Oil Filter
- I bought a pack of 5 OEM BMW / Mini filters for $50

Air Filter
- Bought an OEM BMW / Mini filter

Cabin Filter
- Bought the charcoal type

Oil
- Bought Mobil 1 5W-30 gallon from Walmart

Auto Transmission
- What oil should I use
- Do I need to get any filters, strainers or seals
- What oil change interval

Engine Coolant
- When should I change it and what fluid

Brakes
- I'm thinking about EBC Green - I like soft pads even if that means frequent replacement.
- What fluid should I use

OBDII Diagnostics
- I have an eBay WiFi dongle - if this is not suited, what should I get
- I have Dash Command - do I need something else

Aux Serpentine Belt
- I prefer Gates - what is the Gates equivilent

Engine oil extractor
- I have a BMW extractor - anyone else using an extractor?

 

ODBII:

I would go for the bluetooth dongle personally, it has a higher communication rate.

and for the ODBII app, if you have android, I would get Torque Pro, its $5, and totally worth it.

 

Spark plugs and tool - http://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog/..._pg1.htm#item0
Automatic transmission fluid - http://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog/..._pg1.htm#item0
Automatic transmission filter - http://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog/..._pg1.htm#item3
MINI blue coolant mixed with 50/50 distilled water - http://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog/..._pg1.htm#item0
A great upgrade for brake fluid would be ATE Typ200 - http://www.pelicanparts.com/cgi-bin/...er=706232-GOLD
Drive belt - http://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog/..._pg1.htm#item2

Let me know if you have any questions or need anything else.

 

Most of your Q & A isn't model specific, I'd rely on your search results as not many people are going to want to answer that long list of things.

 

Thanks, that's a great help and good pricing.

It sounds simple, but when you as new to the brand as me, there's no way of telling for sure which parts are shared across the models.

 

A number of the codes are not going to be readable with the generic readers you get off evil-bay. Some are BMW- or MINI-specific. There are special-purpose readers that will read those.

That said, any code reader is better than no code reader. I have a ScanGauge I use in my car, and it has been OK.

 

You might want to return that oil to Wally World. Get Mobil 1 0w40 European formula.

 

I cant find that on the US Mobil web site, and neither in my local and online stores.
Edit: I see it on Wally World's site: http://www.walmart.com/ip/Mobil-1-0W...5-qt./23636902

Mobil 1 5-Quart Synthetic Motor Oil $13.47AR

https://mobiloil.com/en/promotion/mo...nd-mobil-super

The sticker on the engine specifies 5W-30 - what's behind the suggestion to go with a different weight oil?

 

It's what I use & works well. It meets the MINI spec's. There is more to the spec's than the weight. You should be able to find the spec in your manual.

There are lots of differing opinions on the subject of oils. 72,000 miles on my wife's clubman & 126,000 on my sold off MCS using that oil.

 

I found some good videos on Youtube on changing spark plugs, oil etc. in a Mini. It helps a lot to watch the video and get the correct size sockets, the tips, the Mini Cooper quirks (of which there are many....)