I just was off the phone w/my (very nice) MINI service rep. I'm at 10k miles and ready for an oil change, but they want me to wait until the service indicator says it's time.

Now. I don't abuse my car but in the grand scheme of things I'm an agressive driver. I've taken the car autocrossing twice and driven about 100 miles of sliding-sideways mountain driving.

While I don't take it to redline often I do have my foot in it all the time (luv that S/C whine), and every freeway on- and off-ramp is taken at the limit! The only thing stopping me from rally driving each day are traffic and just simply boring roads. (And I really do motor slowly in the right circumstances. Don't want MINIs to get the reputation as pedestrian hunters, nor punt some little kid's dog over a hedge.)

There is **NO** way in hell this service indicator can be anything close to what's reasonable. So a sedate driver would achieve something like 12k miles? And someone commuting on the freeway every day something like 14k??

More to the point, they're on the hook for something like a measly three oil changes whilest under warranty. Who gives a flip when they do them? (I.e. whether I want all three this week or over three years matters not.)

There. I feel better.

Jeff

 

you should nsist that they give it to you!
they gave me mine early because i asked for it!
you may just have talked to the wrong person!

 

Are there people that are really waiting for the service indicator
or MiniUSA to tell them when to do the first oil change/service??

 

Check this thread too, it might give you a little more insight as to what others are experiencing.

 

>>I just was off the phone w/my (very nice) MINI service rep. I'm at 10k miles and ready for an oil change, but they want me to wait until the service indicator says it's time.
>>
>>Now. I don't abuse my car but in the grand scheme of things I'm an agressive driver. I've taken the car autocrossing twice and driven about 100 miles of sliding-sideways mountain driving.
>>
>>While I don't take it to redline often I do have my foot in it all the time (luv that S/C whine), and every freeway on- and off-ramp is taken at the limit! The only thing stopping me from rally driving each day are traffic and just simply boring roads. (And I really do motor slowly in the right circumstances. Don't want MINIs to get the reputation as pedestrian hunters, nor punt some little kid's dog over a hedge.)
>>
>>There is **NO** way in hell this service indicator can be anything close to what's reasonable. So a sedate driver would achieve something like 12k miles? And someone commuting on the freeway every day something like 14k??
>>
>>More to the point, they're on the hook for something like a measly three oil changes whilest under warranty. Who gives a flip when they do them? (I.e. whether I want all three this week or over three years matters not.)
>>
>>There. I feel better.
>>
>>Jeff
>>
>>

I'm not sure how the MINI computer determines oil change intervals. However, I remember reading that it takes into account a number of variables, one of the most important ones being number of engine starts and in particular cold starts, and also how fast the engine warms up. I think rpms are far less important, in fact, I'm not sure the computer takes rpm into account, it may be as simple as some function combining running time and engine temperature.
So, you could rev your engine a lot and still have very extended service intervals. If you have a lot of cold starts, or e.g. let your enigne idle after a cold start and before driving off (BTW, one of the worst things you can do to your engine, the infamous 'idle warmup'), then you will have short service intervals.
As stated above, my indicator was pointing at about 10.5 k, with lots of short drives and startups, but fairly warm temps and thus quick warmups, until I went on a long cross-country drive, and then it gradually extended the service interval to now beyond 12k.

 

Wanda's odometer is at about 12,300 now (since April 4th!!!

Of course, the majority of my motoring was on the highways of America...not in stop and go traffic! I'll be taking her in sometime this or next week for her first check-up!

 

Did two changes so far and only have a little over 7000 miles. First one was at 3000 miles. Second was at 6000 and the next will be by the service department at 10000. Did the first two myself and will continue to do them. No way will I EVER go 10000 miles before changing the oil. And if you do your not helping the life of the engine no matter what anyone says.

 

I'm with you. I did a change at 3300, 6600 and I'm going to let them do the 10k change. It's just stupid to bicker with a customer about when you give him the free oil change you promised!

(Oh, and judging by how the oil looked after the first change, it was money well spent.)

More than that though, is this stupid computer. It's supposed to be calibrated so that an average car gets a change at 10k, right?

But as I said at the beginning, I just had to rant about it. I'm picking up more filters while I'm there & continue to change it myself.

Jeff

ps: 2minis, the angry little kid pic cracks me up!

 

OMG here we go again, the oil thread. What we need to be talking about here are sophisticated synthetic lubricants, not oil. Oil comes out of the ground and lubricates because it happens to be somewhat slick. Synthetic lubricants are designed to lubricate and stick to metal parts. They have low volatility because they are not petroleum and therefore do not burn off or coagulate into sludge.

Now, would I put the factory lubricant to the test? No, I drained mine at 4500 miles and went to Amsoil. Way better! Loads of discussion out here about it so I won't repeat it. Do yourselves a favor and forget the 3 "free oil changes" not worth the headache and you can protect your engine better. Just my 2c.

j

 

At 4000 miles I told my dealer I wanted a complete oil change, I didn't care what the odometer said. Guess I have owned too many MGB's and Austin Healey's.

Just look at this way, its like chicken soup, it can't hurt!

 

I got a warranty on the car, if waiting until 10K to change the oil becuase that's what the computer tells me causes damage to the car I chalk it up as MINI's responsibility to fix. Not mine. Auto manufacturers have refused warranty repairs becuase recommended oil change scheds were not followed (to long between changes) but if I follow MINI's recommendations and damage still occurs, its their problem not mine.

However I also know several non-MINI owners who have put the synthetic oil in their cars. It does infact have a recommended lifespan of 10k miles... Ever seen a Castol Syntec commercial?

 

>>but if I follow MINI's recommendations and damage still occurs, its their problem not mine.<<

......it is, if it lasts more than 50,000 miles! Oil related engine damage normally won't begin to plague you until your car is a bit older. Sure Mini's responsible for the first 50k, but after that it's on you. The early upkeep will let you drive the car longer without problems. Of course, if you're planning an ditching the car at 50K, no problem.

As far as a dealer voiding a warranty over extra oil changes goes....if you use their oil and filters whose to know how many times you've changed it?