First of all I need to vent about this so called "service indicator" which is installed in my car. Which I've found out is a "this is probably the longest and most dangerous amount of time you should wait just so your dealer won't lose money on keeping your MINI running smoothly" indicator.

I had the initial service at around 10000 miles, and as I was leaving the MINI service tech told me he reset my counter for 15000. Now I realize that engines now-a-days are nothing like what they were in my previous car (1985 Cadillac Seville) but 15000 just seemed a bit excessive. But since this is my first new car, I figured that I should be able to trust a tech about something as little as an oil change.

Well, my counter has been putsy and it currently says 2750 before my next service. Which, as most of us know, the dealer won't even think of taking your car in under warrenty unless it is <500. I decided that it had just been way too long since I changed my oil so I decided that I was going to do it myself.

For one, the oil was SUPER black. More black then I had expected it to be. For two... I ONLY HAD 3.7 QUARTS DRAIN OUT! I was a quart low!

It just struck me as odd that an indicator, which was created to protect my car and keep her running at peak performance, was EXTREMELY off! Why put it in at all then? :impatient

Moral of that story: Don't trust your service indicator. Always check your oil. Never wait 15000 miles unless you drive like someone older then 80 with little to no sight.

Second, and I'm sure I will get a lot of, "Oh man... you didn't know that?"... but here it goes anyway.

I needed an oil filter, and instead of ordering from the inter-web, I decided that NAPA should be a pretty decent source for car parts, right?

Wrong.

They gave me an oil filter that was about 3/4 the size of the MINI filter. Mwah? Of course I made this discovery AFTER I had drained the oil and taken the old oil filter out.

It was 6pm and my dealer was closed, so I called the first Advanced Auto Parts and ask the guy if they had an oil filter for a 2005 MINI Cooper S. Our conversation went something like this:

Me: "Hi, I was wondering if you had an oil filter for a 2005 MINI Cooper S?"
Him: "Um... ok... hold on"
...
Him: "Huh... who makes it?'
Me: "MINI"
Him: "Yeah... but who makes it... Cooper?? Never heard of Cooper."
Me: "Erm... MINI makes... um... MINI"
Him: "Yeah, but like... you know.. GM?"
Me: "Well... no. BMW bought out MINI... but it's made by MINI"
Him: "Oh... BMW... ok (silence)... Nope I only have filters for a M3 and a Z4"
Me: "(Audible sigh)... ok... thanks" ((click))

Finally found a Purolator filter which fit perfectly (even came with the smaller o-ring that attaches to the filter so I didn't have to pull the old one out) at a different Advanced Auto.

... After all of this, I finally got my baby's oil changed and I've calmed down a bit. She purrs like a kitten again, and I'll NEVER wait past 7500 miles and NEVER buy another thing from NAPA.

I'm sorry if you read all of this. Just me babbling.

 

I love Advanced Auto! The service and knowledge of the employees are always the best! I remember going in to dispose of some used oil and had to empty it myself. Guess they were a little busy doing, well nothing really, I was the only customer there.
p.s. That conversation should go in this thread http://https://www.northamericanmoto...ad.php?t=58257

 

Nothing wrong with venting, but I do want to point something out.

The service count is only until next oil change, not an indicator of your oil level. It is still up to you to check your oil level and add if needed during your drive. 15000 miles is normal on todays engines as the oil (synthetic) does not break down as quickly. Even if the oil turns black it is still doing its job. Many people argue this point, but even the oil manufacturers are starting to say the same.

Even if you do want to change your oil early, you still have to check the level from time to time. Nothing has chaged about that.

 

I didn't believe the 10K and 15K oil change intervals were proper, either. So I had my oil tested 3 times by Blackstone Laboratories. Once with 5K on the oil, the next with about 8K and the next with more than 12K. Each time the oil tested satisfactorily and was still doing its job within the thresholds of what oil is supposed to test as when still "working" properly as an engine lubricant.

This isn't an ad for Blackstone Labs... there are a few other reputable engine oil testing laboratories to choose from. This is just to say that, as long as your engine is not leaking or using up quarts and quarts of oil over that 15,000-mile service interval (I check mine every 3K miles and top off when needed, which is rarely, but I probably should do it more often!), your oil is most likely still working just fine. Also, be sure to always have a very clean air filter in your MINI at all times...that helps keep the oil clean, too.

This also isn't to say you have to wait to change the oil until the service indicator says so. Some MINI owners change it every 3K, some every 5K, and some wait until the indicator says so. They are ALL correct. This argument is and always will be, a matter of personal preference. But to be sure, you can always opt to have your oil tested from time to time... can't hurt (except the wallet, it's about $30 per test.)

Best,

-boognish

 

Hey Shank! Good vent! Since this your first new car, I'm assuming that your fairly young. This worked out perfectly for you. You learned the lessons that this scenario had to offer without suffering some of the bad consequences that could have happened. I've learned that if you change your oil regularly your engine will last a lot longer and that's based on a lot of cars I've been through. Like the other poster said, how frequently is a matter of personal taste. I looked at the service indicator thing as advisory and with some skepticism. They said 10,000, I had MINI change it at just under 4,000 and paid for the piece of mind. At 10,000, the oil was a nice amber! You'll be fine since it looks like you learn from your experiences.
This is a great forum with many helpful members but as with anything, there are some grumps out there who will throw some fire at you. Hopefully, this post will act like a vaccine against the "crabs" out there.

 

IMHO, a pure synthetic oil should have no problem going 12-15,000 miles. It is not like regular oil that did break down after 3-5,000 miles. That said, if people still want to to change it every 3-5,000 miles, it's their car and their money. You absolutely do have to check the level of all car fluids on a regular basis - it is a car, not an appliance.

 

Shankrabbit:
Take the time to check out the following thread:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ight=Purolator
then get yourself a genuine MINI filter ASAP.
I wouldn't want you to experience the same thing.

OHR

 

Thanks for your comments, ideas, and encouragement everyone! I know I still have got tons to learn and I just thought I'd post my little learning experiences just in case there is another person out there who maybe could learn a lesson from me.

Eeep! How worried about this should I be? Should I get this changed today? Is there a way to change the filter without changing all the oil again?




As I didn't think I drove excessively hard, and as I don't really consider Wisconsin weather to be "harsh", I guess it just didn't strike me that I should be THAT worried about my oil levels.

Look, all I'm trying to say is that I openly admit this is my first new car. And I'm learning... and I WANT to learn... and try to learn as much as possible. So help me learn, Fred, help others learn... encourage those who want to learn. Isn't that what community is all about? Being condecending like you were wasn't cool.

 

My opinion is that if I monitor the levels, follow the service indicator and the car develops a problem then it's MINI's problem and they can fix it. I could change the oil myself and do all of that with minimal hassle but until the car is out of warranty I'm not going to bother.
The engineers set the limits and I'm going to go with that. Plus, doesn't the Service Indicator "adapt" to your driving style? I know mine will read 0000 before the car odometer reads 10000.

 

That's what I thought with the service indicator too! Since it seems people like to make sure we read the manual allow me to quote:
I figured that if my driving style was harder then most, the indicator would have made up for it, right?

I don't know if I can agree with the warranty thing, though. I just have this feeling that if I wait too long to change the oil or other fluids while it IS under warranty, I probably won't see the negative effects of it until it is out of warranty.

Good thoughts!

 

Stick with what you said.

I'm sure this doesn't apply to you because of the mileage you are putting on your MINI, but, if you don't reach the service indicator mileage you should get an oil change once a year anyway. I get my oil changed by MINI every 3500 miles because that's all I put on MINI in a year.

If I wasn't getting it free at 3,500 miles I'd change it about every 5,000 miles because that would make me feel better.

Do our MINI's come with a manual.

 

Ben,
You've got some good discussion going here


BTW all - with all the "sophistication" of the MINI, computers, etc, you know how it computes the time to next service?

It has a target distance (the discussed 10K or 15K) and a target MPG, and it basically does service = (target*realMPG/targetMPG)-distancedriven

So if your MPG is better than the average (like I do), the time to next service goes even longer - my first change was at 12K, and the second will probably come at about 29K ... I do in-between oil changes!

 

Your post did what it was supposed to do...you shared an experience not only to vent but maybe, just maybe, someone will learn from what happened to you and not have to go through the same thing.

That is the great thing about NAM - other Mini enthusiasts can share little (or widely known) knowledge about the cars they love. I don't even have one, but I've learned so much since I've joined...and my future Mini will love me for it.

As for the oil...can you change mine too? I mean, it's an '88 Honda Civic...I'm sure the guy at Napa can find the parts for that one, right?

So there you have it...keep up the posts!

* * *
I bet you fred3 is a non-waver.

 

Everyone talks about milage when changing there oil. What about years? <grin>

I don't drive a lot. Should I change my oil every so many years. It will take me 3 years to put on 10-15,000 miles.

 

I think the MINI service interval will cover you for an annual change if you don't make the mileage requirement ... it probably says so in the manual, but I can't be bothered to read it

 

[quote=shankrabbit]

For one, the oil was SUPER black. More black then I had expected it to be. For two... I ONLY HAD 3.7 QUARTS DRAIN OUT! I was a quart low!
quote]

Oil's color is not necessarily related to it's ability to protect the engine. Darker oil does not mean that its viscosity has been reduced. As a matter of fact, you'll find that some oils change color when they experience certain temps.

Check your oil every week if you're going to run the castrol (like I do) from the factory. Lots of people have reported that they burn the castrol, but they don't burn other oils like redline or mobil 1. Keep an extra bottle in your boot just incase. Scratch what I said before; check your oil every week no matter which oil you choose.

mb

 

Moral of Vent:

1) Check your oil level weekly.

2) Change your oil every 5,000 miles.

3) Stock up on OEM filters from your dealer.

4) Trust not in Idiot Lights.

 

I've heard, probably incorrectly , that the service indicator is based on how much fuel the fuel pump pumps. Basically the same thing Ian said above... it's displayed in miles, but actually computed in gallons of gas used.

 

Your warranty covers your oil changes at the said time of the service indicator, or once a year. You want to change it once a year regardless of the mileage!!

And don't forget to check the levels!!

 

So this becomes my question, because every car is different, what is "normal" in terms of oil level for the Mini?. I checked last night and I'm halfway between the Min and the Max line, which I think is fine and it hasn't changed in 2 months.

 

Not to hijack the thread, but I love your stripes Jayde

Oh an on topic, man I hate the dipstick on the Mini, doesn't make it easy to check the oil level and I feel like it is gonna break off :P

 

If your read your maintenaince manual you will find that MINI WILL change your oil for free after ONE year. Don't go in before the year. It doesnt matter if you have 9,999 miles or 3 miles. They WILL change it and call it a low-mileage change (or whatever). They will NOT reset the counter.

I know this for a fact because we just did that.

Also, don't forget that MINI will bleed and change your brake fluid after two years regardless of how many miles are on the car.

For the originator of the thread, like everyone else said ... "black" oil means nothing.

Also, FYI, the recommended oil change intervals for new Porsches is 20,000 miles. 10K miles aint nothing

 

Ahh... see... you learn even more everyday! I always thought that pitch black oil was the result of it being burned from the heat of the engine which would cause its viscosity to drop. Am I completely wrong on that?

 

As the oil does it job, it picks up whatever ... turning it in color. It just means its doing its job (which is good!)

See what Boognish wrote. He got it right.

Changing the oil every 3K miles is a thing of the past that Jiffy Lube wants you to believe so they can make money. If you want to "feel" safe, change it every 5K but your probably throwing your money away. But, piece of mind can be priceless.

Be thankful your oil was black. If it were GREEN, then I would worry

The viscousity of synthetic oil should never change. Regular oil, I guess it could. Nah, all is OK

Now on the other hand, DO check the level. All engines use up some oil and is normal.

 

Thanks for giving me a little peace of mind just by writing that! Good thing it wasn't green... or chunky...