So I did my first oil change on my 2007 cabrio with 26K. I had been paying the dealer for the "in between" routine maintenance oil changes $75 but my daughter told me that she wanted to learn how to change the oil on the car she will be driving (the family 2000 Subie Legacy) so I figured I might as do the Mini as well.
$25 for five quarts Mobile 1 (I know, not Mini Castrol), $12 for the filter (look for sales at your dealer and mini mania for better prices), $8 for the 36mm socket (a one time investment) and an hour of time (most of it to get the car jacked up and the oil pan nut and filter housing off. The dealer really torques those things on). A great feeling of satisfaction and I might even do it again.
BTW, without the advice from this site, it probably would have taken 3 times as long and we would still be cleaning up the spilled blood and oil.

 

hahha. Way to go, and props for teaching your daughter how to do it too!

 

Congratulations on your journey to being self sufficient!!

Just a word of caution though. Be very careful about the black plastic valve in the bottom of the filter housing that mounts to the block. Since it is made of plastic it seems to get fragile with time. Mine disintegrated and I found out it is not available as a separate part from MINI. You have to buy the entire filter bracket assembly.

I was lucky enough to find a used bracket with the valve intact. I'm planning to Auto CAD all the parts and make an all metal valve to take its place.

 

No free maintenance 3 years 36k miles???????????

 

Yes there's free "maintenance" for 36k miles. Some do not want to do their first oil change at 20 or so thousand miles after they purchased their car..

 

They will change your oil yearly..........regardless of miles driven.

 

Oh great thanks! If you wanna wait a year for an oil change, don't let me stop you.

 

That what Mobil 1 is for. Change around 10k to 12k miles or yearly. Well nothing is too good for your MINI.

 

There is probably enough data to support a synthetic 12,000+/1 year oil change interval being adequately protective but I am not comfortable with it . So I am changing my oil every 6000 to 7000 miles for peace of mind. Considering all the other costs associated with keeping a car, it is relatively cheap piece of mind . I want to keep my mini for at least 200,000 miles.

 

There is probably enough data to support a synthetic 12,000+/1 year oil change interval being adequately protective but I am not comfortable with it . So I am changing my oil every 6000 to 7000 miles for peace of mind. Considering all the other costs associated with keeping a car, it is relatively cheap piece of mind . I want to keep my mini for at least 200,000 miles.

 

Repost after 1 hour and 26 minutes later, wtf?