Hello,

I have become a MINI owner recently, but I don't know where I should take it for oil change. Could anyone recommend me a good place?

I live in Jersey City but work in Somerset.

Thanks in advance.

Atsushi

 

What year MINI do you have? It really isn't too hard to do it yourself and it will save a lot of money.

 

People who have some experience, it may not be a hard thing to do, but I know nothing about cars in general. I don't have thetools or a place to do it. So I am willing to pay to have a dealer do it, but places that I looked up, seem to have terrible reviews.

Someone must have had a decent experiences with some dealer somewhere. Where should I go?

 

MINI of Morristown could do it.

 

Johns right its a lot easier to do yourself and dont need many tools at all to do it ... Way motor works sells a "first oil change" kit for $40 bucks comes with everything you need minus the oil ...

if you dont want to do it yourself then take it to prestige up rt 17. in ramsey, nj best dealership in nj but they charge i think like 150 for an oil change ..

 

Thanks for the info. For the first time, I am going to suck it up and pay the premium, but if it's as easy as you say, I will look into doing it myself. Don't I need to go under the car? Or don't I need to raise the car?

 

Whoa, I don't miss North Jersey prices. Down here at Mini of Mt. Laurel an R56 oil change is $89.99 and that includes a vacuum and car wash!

 

Yeah, things are expensive in New Jersey. But it does have a lot to offer.

I've made an appointment with Prestige in Ramsey, and while I have to wait and see, the person on the phone sounded very professional. I have a good feeling about this place.

 

You'll need a set of ramps to drive the car up on. Don't have to drive all the way up, just enough to get a drain pan under and room to remove the T-50 torque screw (oil drain plug).

There are threads out here somewhere with pictures and procedures. Very easy to do and yes, will cost you about 45 min. and about $50 for oil and filter.

 

If you have a 1st gen, it's quite easy. You need a 36mm socket for the oil filter cap (this part is kind of hard to source last minute, I got mine from Sears locally), and a 13mm socket/wrench for the drain plug. Strauss sells a Purolator filter, NAPA carries a couple (Napa Gold 7303, Napa ProSelect 27303). Walmart sells 5qt containers of oil, you should be able to get one for ~30.00 (you only need 4.5qt). Should take you about 45 minutes, less as you get more experienced with it.

I personally can't justify spending $60.00+ on an oil change (places like JiffyLube don't always stock our filters), especially when they don't rotate your tires for you.

 

Thanks. I'm sure for people who do or have done this kind of thing, it's easy. But I'm a kind of guy who knows NOTHING about cars. I don't even think I can identify an engine even if I opened the hood. As stupid as it may sound, I'm sure there are many MINI owners like me, and I would love to learn where they get it done.

Atsushi
PS. I've made an appointment with Prestige in Ramsey, NJ. I know it's going to cost me a lot, but I have no choice. And I would rather have someone do it--IF they can do it right.

 

I live in Jersey City and take my R52 to the following:

ECP AUTO SERVICE
12 SOMME ST • NEWARK • NJ • 973-589-5871

Frank DaSilva is the owner and he is a MINI owner also.

Frank specializes in European cars. He uses the European Spec Synthetic Oil and MINI OEM filters (He gets them from Morristown MINI).

Where in JC are you going to change your own oil and dump it? Frank is fair and it's no hassle.

The dealership will charge you an arm and leg.

 

P.S. If you look couple threads down, you will notice the "DINER-TO-DINER RUN" DRIVE-N-EAT for Sunday, 19 NOV 12.

You are more than welcome to come.