I’m trying to change the oil for the first time.

1. Can I change the oil without jacking up the car?

2. If I do need to jack it up, can I jack it up just from the front?

3. Do I need to jack it up from the front and back?

 

Yes, Jack it up.

You should jack it from the side, there is a jack pad about under the mirror. The car is so stiff that the whole side will want to lift up.

I do both sides a little at a time each. Eventually the rear wheels go back down.

Use good jack stands with the car's weight on it before climbing underneath.

Be safe & have fun.

 

I can do mine on ramps, and I’m lowered

 

Just front ramps? Will all the oil come out? I was watching some YouTube videos and people just lift the font.

 

What is he difference between only jacking the front and driving up on ramps? Enough of the oil comes out on ramps.

 

Not much difference, if at all.

Make your own ramps. I used 2x10s. The black stuff on the side is rubber tool drawer liner etc. One ramp got oil on the bottom and started to slide.

Yes they are heavy. I have some casters at the end and just drag them across the floor and store them upright.

 

No disrespect, but the cost of the wood you got in those ramps; I'd think you'd be able to purchase a inexpensive set of production ramps.
Trust me; I use a set of wood ramps myself to get the front end of my corvette up high enough so I can get a low profile jack under it. But mine are half the size of yours and only two steps.

 

No MINI experience but I doubt you can change the oil with the car on the ground. The car is just too low.

I could do this with my 2006 GTO there was just enough clearance to get far enough under the car to unscrew and remove the oil drain and unscrew the filter. And of course install the oil drain and the new filter.

But only did this once or twice. Then I used Rhino Ramps and drove the front of the car up on the ramps. For my other cars I backed the car up on the ramps: My Boxster, Cayman S, and Turbo, all with the engine located behind the cabin or in the case of the Turbo behind the rear axle. There was no problem with the oil not draining out. Engines are designed to avoid "trapping" any oil when the engine is running on an incline. Once the engine is shut off the oil drains out.

The engine should be up to temperature and the drain interval (probably) at least 20 minutes. But in some cases the factory can call for a longer drain interval. My 2018 MINI JCW when in for an oil/filter service is in and out of the service bay in an hour and the oil drain interval is probably on the order of 20 to possibly 30 minutes.

 

Not to derail the thread, but I'll never use Rhino ramps ever again. I drove my Miata onto mine and one shattered. I was happy it happened as I drove on to it and not while I was under it. All that happened is my front fender got a minor scratch as far as damage. My guess is I wasn't perfectly centered, but the ramps were the heavy duty ones that were for trucks. I've since decided I will either jack the car and place on stands, or maybe build some like Performance Angst.

 

I change oil in GEN2 without lifting anything. A low profile drain catcher pan slides under just fine and I can easily reach the bung ..... no mess and takes just a few minutes. Been doing this since 2007 . . .

now, getting the filter off IS a PITA with the way you must move the overflow tank but that's a different story.

 

If you want to top side change the oil i use this: https://www.ecstuning.com/b-schwaben.../011885sch01a/

Then just change the oil filter https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...il-change.html