Just bought a 2002 Mini with 73K mils on it in pristine condition.

What do miost people use for oil.Synthetic? Brand?

Also can you buy filters at the supply houses (Napa?) or do you need to go to dealer. What brand of oil filter is the best?
Also air filter?

Oh, and how can you tell which model it is?
Thanks

Fred

 

I ONLY recommend using factory MINI filters. Aftermarkets are close but not the same
https://www.waymotorworks.com/oem-mi...r-r50-r53.html

As for oil everyone has their favorite flavor. I would just say make sure whatever you use make sure it's 5W30 full synthetic.

We are currently using Liquid Moly in our shop.

 

http://bimmer.work for model and other helpful info!

 

If you have a hole in the bonnet and two exhaust pipes in the center of your rear bumper you have a Cooper S (R53).


If there is no hole in the bonnet and only one exhaust pipe (singular) to right side of your bumper you have a Cooper or sometimes called Just-a-Cooper or Justa (R50).


Factory oil filters are only a few dollars more than the after market ones - money well spent in my opinion.

 

Sorry to be ignorant. Aren't after market filters made to the same micron filtration ratings?

 

They can be, depends on the company and the filter in question.

It isn't like MINI makes the "OEM" oil filter; one of the major filtration companies makes it I am sure. Anyone know who makes the OEM filter?

 

Was it Mann who makes the oem filter?

 

Lots of opinions on type of filters. I have used Mann in both of my Gen1s and never had any issues.

 

I HIGHLY recommend you do some research right here about the 'curiosities' of oil changes on a GEN1 MINI and especially the 2002 Cooper (Justa)

to name a few

you need a shallow 36mm socket

the drain is notorious for getting stuck - using a FUMOTO valve is highly recommended

threading the can/cover back on WRONG is EASY ....

The Cooper in 2002 has some 'special' features wrt the filter insert .....

In the early years the aftermarket filters caused many problems and the OE ONLY theory was a very good plan. More recently I've had folks bring MANN and some others and I've put them on with no problems. Personally I don't trust FRAM but MANN or OE is what I use myself, buying 3 or 6 at a time and choosing by price for the bundle.

For air filters ... plain paper is fine .... I use a K&N that's cleanable but that's not a recommendation, just sayin' I've had no problems with.

Don't forget the cabin air filter . . . .

5-30 FULL SYNTHETIC <altho the full syn' has more to do with the recommended interval than anything else. If you are gonna insist on changing every 3000 miles ala Jiffy Lube you could probably run dino ..... NOT a recommendation, just sayin>

If near Space Coast FL contact me and I'll be happy to provide a MINI 101 class free of charge

 

A 2002 model in pristine condition? If you can ask the previous owner what oil/filter he used then continue to use same oil and filter.

If you can't ask the previous owner my advice is to use the oil the factory recommends and to use the Mini filter. While I haven't owned my Mini that long or driven that many miles -- but have had the oil/filter service done now twice with just under 3K miles on the car -- I have driven hundreds of thousands of miles in a number of different cars and I just used the factory recommended oil and filter. I might have changed had the oil changed more often than the factory called for -- one car the factory change interval was 15K miles oil and 30K miles filter but I just opted to change both every 5K miles -- but that is all I've done differently.

 

It never made any sense to me to have different intervals for the oil and the filter. Always change both together! I use 5W30 full synthetic, usually Valvoline, Castrol or Mobil 1. Never had any issues with using the Mann filters. I change oil and filter every 5k miles.