Hi all,

Just bought a 2008 Clubman today. First MINI I have owned.

Was wondering what tips you guys have to keep it running smooth for a long time?

 

Check oil often. If you got an S, more often. Watch coolant level too.

 

Yeah it is an S. Any recommendation on miles? Like check every 2,000 miles or something?

 

Especially since it is new to you, make it a weekend habit to check fluids. Use the proper fluids at all times. Oil to antifreeze, there is a MINI spec mostly Euro. There are other brand names that some use other than MINI over the counter, but I personally just use the dealer sold stuff with the MINI name on it. Since the oil capacity is so small, a little low is a lot of oil and these engines don't like to be low. From what I read, the S may consume oil faster than the non-S, so until you get a base line on your new funmobile, check it often and have a couple qts. in reserve.

 

Awesome, thanks for the tip.

 

The dipsticks on these are a pain to read. I believe that many people don't really know how to read them and let the oil level get low thinking they are fine after pulling the stick to get a reading.


I popped the $75 for the Cravenspeed dipstick and have absolutely no trouble getting an accurate reading. Well worth it IMO.


If you have your oil changed at the dealer, watch for overfill as some dealers put more in to compensate for the amount that may be burning up. There are some on this forum who believe the overfill may lead to more carbon build up as the higher level gets frothed up by the moving bits in the crankcase and gets pulled into the intake through the PCV.


My dealer said that 1 qt in 1K was normal. Mine has not burned a drop in the 16K that I've had it, and it is an S too. I started out checking it every week, but now that I know it doesn't burn anything, I check it every few weeks.