I just couldn't take it any longer. All the posts on changing oil finally got to me. At 4100 miles I ordered a couple of filters from Classic Mini (great people to get your OEM parts from and a website sponsor, $5.92 per filter). I read the RSpeed How-to on oil changes (very helpful) and took my time and enjoyed the experience. After cleaning up I decided to cut the top and bottom off the old filter with a single edged razor blade and see what had been caught. I stretched the element out like an accordion. I could easily see metallic particals. I got out a magnet. Some were magnetic, some were not. All of these were very small. It was nice to see the filter had done its job. I remember asking the rep at the dealership about the lenght between oil changes (especially the first one). He laughed and told me the Mini wasn't like my dads old pick-up truck and said the engines were pre run at the factory and not to worry about it. I'm now glad I did the change ahead of schedule and would at least recommend changing the filter. I'll now let the dealer do the 10,000 oil change when its due and ask to see the filter. Has anyone else found this to be true?

 

Wow. I was wavering about whether to attempt an oil change or wait for the dealer to do it at 10K. I was raised on the 3 mos./3K miles routine, like most people, but the dealer gave me the "You don't have to do anything until 10K" spiel. I think you've convinced me to go ahead and do it myself after break-in. Thanks for the research!

Did you use the infamous 36mm socket, or remove the oil filter cap by hand?

 

I went to Home Depot and bought a 1/2" socket and had a friend cut off 3/4" with a plasma cutter and grind it smooth. I think you could take it off by hand but then I wanted to torque the cap to 18lbs. and needed the socket anyway. Make sure you loosen the cap on the filter when you are draining the oil. This will allow the oil in the canister to drain and you won't have any oil spillage to speak of when you remove the filter element. I let the oil drain for about half hour because I wasn't in any hurry.

 

Useful info and thanks for the post. Your filters are priced less than what I am used to seeing, aroung $7.50-$9.00 each

 

Wow! Very interesting. I didn't actually take a good look at my filter when I changed the oil around 2,100 miles, but now I wish I had!

I hope your story convinces more people to do an early oil change. It also gives you the added advantage of not overtaxing the pseudo-synthetic Castrol oil by stretching it to 10k.

 

I interpreted the story a little differently. If the filter trapped any potentially damaging metal shavings, then it was doing its job and these bits of metal were not cycling through your engine and causing any problems.

Nonetheless, who can argue about the benefits of fresh clean oil?

 

>>I interpreted the story a little differently. If the filter trapped any potentially damaging metal shavings, then it was doing its job and these bits of metal were not cycling through your engine and causing any problems.
>>
>>Nonetheless, who can argue about the benefits of fresh clean oil?


Agree, sounds like a testimonial about the filter doing its job. Now, had you had the used oil evaluated for any breakdown of its lubricating properties, and those results indicated that 4100 miles was an appropriate point to change the oil that would be a different story.

Let's hear it for the filter!

And no I'm not trying to argue about the benefits of fresh clean oil, because well, it's fresh clean oil

 

I changed the oil in my 04 mcs at 2210 miles. Also cut the filter open and spread it out. Didn't have any metal at all, I looked very close in bright sunlight. Is that good or bad? I'd say its good to know there wasn't any metal floating around in my engine.

 

>>I changed the oil in my 04 mcs at 2210 miles. Also cut the filter open and spread it out. Didn't have any metal at all, I looked very close in bright sunlight. Is that good or bad? I'd say its good to know there wasn't any metal floating around in my engine.

I remember when I was in the Army, we used to periodically have to send oil samples from our vehicles off for analysis. We would get recommendations back to change the maintenance intervals or do specific work and a general health report. Anyone know if such a thing exists for passenger vehicles and what it might cost?

 

>>Agree, sounds like a testimonial about the filter doing its job. Now, had you had the used oil evaluated for any breakdown of its lubricating properties, and those results indicated that 4100 miles was an appropriate point to change the oil that would be a different story.

Two things to think about with an early oil and filter change.
One-is the oil still doing it's job of lubricating the engine effectively-oil analysis is good measure.
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...amp;topic=5777
Two-is the filter doing it's job of filtering and catching microdebris effectively to protect the engine. At what point does it loose a reasonable amount of efficiency.

Even if you can see the metal or other particles in the filter doesn't mean that the filter was not working within limits and still capable of doing it's job for many more miles. It does show that it caught some nasties. Did you also check the sediment at the bottom of the drained old oil-that is full of little nasties.

Naturally for each of us the need for oil and filter change may vary. Upgrading your stock Castrol synthetic to Redline or Amsoil would allow a bit more protection so I would have no reservations about going longer between oil changes.