So I have a 04 Mini Cooper non s. And winter here in Michigan gets mean. So does anyone have advice on different oils to use in the winter and any other major things to watch?

 

5w30 synthetic will be fine.

The car is low, so don't try to punch through snowbanks. Good winter tires are your friend. Traction with winter tires is no problem as long as you don't get hung up on piles of snow.

 

Good advice above, though I'd add that 0w40 is probably the best bet for winter, as its light 'zero' weight (when cold) lends to less stress on the starter on those extremely cold mornings. As long as it has BMW's LL-01 spec, such as Mobil-1 0w40 European Formula, it's OK for your MINI.

5w30 full synthetic, as long as it has BMW's LL-01 spec, is fine for the rest of the year.

 

I have been wanting to use "winter is coming" but you beat me to it.

I second 5w30 synthetic. Let the engine run for a few minutes during the extreme cold and start off easy.

My "winter is coming" is to try get another HPDE day in to close the season. No snow tire or chain for my soggy PNW Mini.

 

As a fellow winter MINI driver in Minnesota, I got a second set of rims and mounted Blizzaks. Deep snow is still a challenge due to ground clearance, but the packed roadways and ice are much more secure with snow tires. My all seasons work great until the first 4 inches or so. The it's time to swap out the wheels and go have some fun!

 

Getting ready for my sixth winter with the Mini. I have a set of winter wheels and tires that I swap out when the snow flies. My biggest concern is running into "ice boogers" that fall off cars. Also, try to regularly knock the boogers off your car and give it a spray on those rare days when the temperature's above 32. Finally, watch out for crazy drivers and take it slow and easy on lousy days.

 

Move south.


Or keep running 5W30, it'll be fine.

 

I second that. Just don't move west here. We have nothing but rain, rain, and more rain, forest infernos, volcanoes, earth quark and tsunami.

 

other than that... It's freaking great out here!

 

You guys had grunge. And heroin before it was cool, so there is that.


We have terrible roads. And Jersey and New York transplants. And Yuppies taking over. And cold winters. And Pittsburgh.

We do have the Amish, though.

 

I should add a few items to the list. We have vandals. Homeless drunks want to wash your tires for free. Arsonist that set half of Oregon forest on fire. Texting and phone yapping distracted drivers that want to T-bone you, and last and not least crazies shooting drivers in Canby, OR.

I like Amish, but last I heard they are now texting and facebooking on their horse drawn buggies too.

 

The Amish are not simple, if you know what I mean. They maintain their lifestyle, but they are shrewd businessmen.

 

Stick with 5W-30 like others have stated, but there is no better recommendation than a good set of snow tires, even a cheap set of snow tires is better than a set of all seasons in the midwest.

We usually start stocking up on snow tires in late October/ early November, and recommend to get them on as the weather starts to stay consistently at or below 45* until the Spring thaw.

 

Here is proof Amish are not simple. Evidently they love their rides as much as we.

 

I use Mobile1 synthetic 5w30 and despite the extreme cold we had after Christmas my r50 ‘04 did just fine.