Sorry if this has been covered before, I searched but came up with nothing...

I went to a Jiffy Lube today to get my oil changed (I'd do it myself but can't right now) and they told me that MINIs have two different types of oil filters, and they only stock one. The guy said that there wasn't any way to tell what type my car would have, not by year, VIN, anything. The only way to tell, he said, was for me to wait in line and have them take a look at the thing, which would have taken about 45 minutes (there was a long line). Not wanting to wait I drove off and thought I'd ask you guys if this is true or if there's any way to tell if this two-oil-filter thing is for real. So, any idea?

I imagine I could just look in the owner's manual, but thats kind of inaccessable. Also, I'd have the oil changed at the dealer (still under warranty) but they only do service on weekdays and I never get days off besides weekends right now.

 

What year and model do you have? I know for a fact that the '02 MCS has a different filter than the Cooper. I'm not sure if they changed that in later models. The correct filter number for the '02 MCS is 11 42 7 512 446.

 

I have a 2004 MCS. I took delivery in April, so I guess it would be a March build.

 

I have a 2004 MCS. When I went looking for the correct filter _no one_ had it. I checked several quick lube places, and every auto shop (4 of them) in my town. They pretty much told me that no one made the filter and you had to get it direct from MINI.

I eventually ended up ordering the filter from RSpeed in Atlanta, and they told me that you could either get the MINI filter or a duplicate filter made in Germany, and only specially imported. I got the MINI filter and changed the oil (and filter) without incident.

Hope this helps.

 

Did you do it yourself or did you take it to the oil change place?

Actually, I might be able to solve this problem after all. I looked online again at my dealer's website. Apparently the service department is open on saturdays. Hopefully they do oil changes on saturdays.

 

Yes, this has been mentioned before recently. Read to the bottom of this thread.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=28996

 

I did it myself. I followed Randy Webb's DIY directions (off his web site) and it went very easily (and I've _never_ changed the oil in a car before). I must say that Randy's done so much putting those "how to's" out there, that when I start modding the car (once the warranty is done) I'll buy parts from him, even if they cost a bit more.

 

I've changed oil on cars a lot before, including a 90 honda civic which took me about an hour because we had no jack and they HIDE the damned oil filter. Anyway, I'd change it myself but I'm currently in a situation where I live in a BOQ on a Marine Corps base and don't really have any space to change oil.

 

I have my oil changed at a Jifffy Lube and I ALWAYS bring my own filter for All my cars. i think they give you $2 off if you bring your own, so you can see how much they spend on theirs!

The "two different oil filters" is just that the original oil filter fitting on the Mini had a center cage builkt in, so the filter has no plastic cage inside the element. Later models had no center tube, and the filter has a plastic cage inside the paper ring to support the paper when it is soaked in oil.

If you look inside a Purolator filter - no cage. Look inside a Mini brand filter - cage is there. Just make sure whatever element you use has that plastic support cage and you should be fine.