Hi guys:

After owning the MINI for 3 years, I finally did my first oil change. It was alot easier than I thought, except the taking the filter cover out of the engine compartment part. Little did I know that there's no way to get the oil filter cover from the top of the engine. I wasted 45 minutes trying to figure that out, until I decided to try getting it from under the engine. It was stuck by the heat shield, plastic firewall and the engine mount from the top side.

Is that the case for everybody? Because I did not read anywhere here and in the Bently manaul saying the filter cover can only be removed from the underside unless I missed it somehow.

All in all, it was a pleasant experience. The loosen and wait tip worked, so there's no oil spill. It only spilled some while I was fiddling with the cover. The only stupid mistake I made was spilling new oil during refilling. After changing oil for over 12 years without funnel, I managed to spill a small amount of oil.

Thanks for everybody who has posted tips and instructions. There's what I liked about this site.

 

Hm, what year is your MINI? It should be able to be removed from the top, if it's a 1st gen.

 

Mine is a 2006 MCSa. I wonder if that's because mine is an automatic. Also, am I supposed to tighten the oil filler lid until clicks, sort of like the fuel tank lid?

 

Your filter should come right out the top. You can bent the corner of the exhaust heat shield a bit to gain a little clearance. Although I haven't done that on my car.

The oil cap has a torque limiting feature just like the gas cap. It's there to prevent over tightening it.

Congrats on your first oil change.

 

You are correct, it's because you have an Automatic. The MCS with the AT has the engine sitting about 1/4 inch to the right. When you pull the filter out it will sometimes get caught against the plastic firewall. No problem just pull on it firmly the plastic has some give and you can pull it out. It does come out the top. I've never pulled the filter out the bottom. Hope that helps.

 

Thank you for the confirmation. I was hoping I had neither fat hands or slow brain.