I just called the Mini dealer in Santa Ana. I was told expect to leave the car all day and pay $178 for oil change. Am I just being cheap, or is this poor service and an outrageous price? When pressed about the time involved, I was told that it would not take more than 4 hours. I have 5000 miles on the clock and would like to give it a fresh crankcase of oil, but not get greased myself during the process.

Any suggestions as to this matter would be appreciated. Is this normal treatment? Is this a normal time line? Is this a normal cost?


Thanks in advance


Paul

 

Get your hands dirty and do it yourself, or pay someone else to get their hands dirty. Simple solution.

 

I thought all scheduled maintenance for the first 3yrs/36K miles was covered under the warranty?

 

Sounds like Crevier to me. Keep in mind that they have to pay for their new multi-million dollar facility. I see that you have a 07MCS the oil change is included in the scheduled maintenance for that vehicle so why the dealer is charging you at all is a mystery. If they still insist on charging you for this I would not go there, instead jiffy lube or one of the other oil change specialists in OC. But keep in mind that they will likely not stock the oil filter or the oil specified for your vehicle. You will therefore have to purchase the filter from the dealer about $10.00. The oil you can get at pepboys or other autopart stores. I have on 05 MC and it uses castrol synthetic. Can find this for about $4.00/quart. Good luck.

 

Utterly normal behaviour

I tend to get mine changed at 5K intervals at Jiffy Lube in Laguna Niguel.

I always stick Mobil 1 in it too.

Mind you I have 68K on the clock now so i am out of warranty and tend to go for decent value - My last Mobil-1 change was about $55 I think.....

 

Definately sounds like crevier... And it sure is roughly $180! Although they say that all services are covered under the servicing warranty...they only cover the scheduled maint. at the given mileage intervals. I tried the same thing at the same place... and was told the same thing!... Pretty much everyone will say do it yourself... others will say to stay away from jiffy lube types.. So if you prefer.. there is a good mechanic in Laguna Niguel... DAI motorsports (daimotorsports.com) .. They only work on mini/BMW/Mercedes cars... A regular oil service shouldnt be more than like $90 i think..Hope this helps!

 

You are not yet at the recommended service interval. The "free" service under the 3/36 warranty only applies to their service intervals.

 

Make sure they're not quoting to an "Oil SERVICE" vs. and oil change. BMW dealers LOVE to pull this crap. The service is just a walk around and kicking the tires when it's a new car.

You should really consider a top side oil extractor to change you oil. It make is SO easy and clean.

If you want someone to do it, try Precision Motors in Costa Mesa. Their oil changes are pretty cheap. 949-650-9269

 

Can anyone enlighten me on what a "top side oil extractor to change you oil" is and what if any are the benefits/dangers of this method.

 

Here you go.

http://www.griotsgarage.com/catalog.jsp?&SKU=10122

 

Lol...thanks Aus...now if I could only get a plumber to my house as fast as you replied.

The extractor seems like a nice addition to the "tool" box....and $175 to change the oil....That's just plain wrong.

 

Same here in NY. I brought my MINI in for service to fix some issues, like lights not working right so I just wanted to get the engine break-in oil replaced. I was going to do it myself since I don't trust local mechanics but I figured as long as the car is at the dealership they'll probably do it right but they charged me $110.

 

I quit doing my oil changes because of the hassles involved. When you can get a $30 oil change, what the heck. As it goes over $30, the ratio of hassle:dollar starts favoring doing it myself.

I just checked the toolbox. Have the metric socket for my oil filter housing. Can't find the 1/2 to 3/8 adapter, but can use 1/2 inch for the whole thing topside. Have no torx or allen in the larger sizes that the drain plug needs... Can get that... Have ramps, funnels, I think I tossed my pan a while ago...

I have to sound like a piker, but the idea of 1) charging $175 for an oil change burns my a$$, 2) calling for service, I am confronted with appointment clerks who must have had their last employment with Beverly Hills plastic surgeons.

I found the thread on this website that describes the oil change on the R56. Other than the fact that the car is so low to the ground, it's a no-brainer.

Paul

 

I will NEVER use Jiffy Lube again. They did horrible things to my Acura.

 

Years ago I used a Jiffy Lube a few times. They striped the threads on my drain bolt. They left the filler cap off, and lost it. They spilled oil in th engine bay, which "stunk" the car out on a hot summer day. No Thanks .....

And this happened n different visits...I was young, poor and ill-informed then...

 

The DIY oil change is NOT hard. Don't allow the dealership to rob you for something you can do yourself in under 20 minutes! The first time I did it, it cost me $60 in oil/filter, an oil pan, and a lever-flip drain plug. After that, it costs me $35 in oil/filter and that's it!

 

I have one of these units. I THOUGHT, that with the Mini's filter accessed from the top, that I'd do the whole job from the top. Well, I discovered that it's easy to do it from the bottom. Here's what ya do...get a set of those little two step ramps from Protech (protechproducts.net), take your car out for a good drive, having positioned the ramps on the garage floor prior to leaving. Drive in, CAREFULLY drive up to the second level, put the Ebrake on, get out and slide the pan under, pull the plug. Wear a rubber glove...oil will run out a bit on your wrench and hand. You can find full instructions in another string OIL CHANGE. Don't be put off. It is NOT a difficult job at all. Just make sure you have the few correct tools it takes, and jam an old T-shirt in all around the filter cap before you spin it off. I also recommend letting the car sit on the ramps for a couple of hours...not for oil draining, but to let the engine COOL DOWN so you don't burn yourself.
Anyway, I have yet to use the Griot's unit. It looks real good. Another thing about using it...don't get the engine too hot. They say FIVE MINUTES RUN TIME MAX...you can MELT the tube that goes down the dipstick.
Next oil change at 7k (first was at 2k...doing 5k intervals DIY thank you) I'm going to use the Griot's unit, then pull the sump plug and see how much it missed. But I really recommend the Protech ramps. They clear the Mini easily, and they are swell for any undercar work. I also use them on one side front rear at a time to get under the car for cleaning rear side of wheels, etc. Hope this helps. And again, ALL YOU GUYS AND GIRLS...you should learn to do your own oil changes. Get someone who has done it properly to show you. Once you do it yourself, you'll never look back. I'll see the dealer at 12k, but I'll have done the change twice myself prior to that, at about $40 or less a pop for filter and oil.

 

I just called the Crevier dealership to see if the price I was quoted was indeed for just the oil change. Yes, it was. Unbelievable.

Paul

 

Give Irvine Mini a call see what they charge.

 

Welcome to MINI ownership! The cars themselves aren't terribly expensive... but everything else is.

That is a typical charge from a MINI dealer for an oil change. Many owners do it themselves, or find someone else with some MINI experience, to do it for much cheaper, around every 5000 miles.

 

if you want to make a trip to van nuys we at minicorsa do oil changes with factory oil for 80 while you wait

 

Just bought a 5 qt container of Castrol synthetic 5w30 for~$23 ,ordered two complete sets of OEM filters +orings + drainplug gaskets for ~$23. from www.minimania.com Do your own oil change . Come on guys get with it, its fun, its easy

 

Why don't you pull the plug next time, roll if off the ramps so the engine's level, and then see how much more you get with the Griot's unit? Otherwise, you'd have to drive it up the ramps with no oil in the engine.