I have been changing my oil every $5k miles so have not paid much attention to the display telling me when the service was due. I reached 14,200 miles so was expecting to need the service soon and checked the display - it is telling me I don't need a service for 9,000 miles! That's nuts - I can't imagine going $23k miles on the original oil.

 

i do every 5000 too. its not the oil im worried about going 23000 its the oil filter.

 

I see it this way.... If you don't change oil/filter for 25K miles the car will survive. If you change oil/filter three times in 100K miles the car will survive. But the engine performance will have significantly decreased and the fuel efficiency will be suffering and the check engine light will come on every other week with a different problem. So for the first owner it won't matter much. But the car will not live very long after 100K miles or so.

 

Yeah I have like 12K on mine and it says 10k more until first oil change. I am going to change my own oil prob next week just to feel safe.

I know I should search but what does everyone recomend for oil between now and MINI's oil change. I heard someone reccomend Mobil 1 0W-40?

 

I am stuck with 5W30 for some reason. It floats my boat...whatever that means...I don't even have a boat.

 

You are making some definitive statements there

I am more inclined to believe what the engine designers and those who developed modern fully synthetic oils are saying, and follow the manufacturers recommendations.

The days of changing oil every 5k miles are (or should be) long gone.

 

Also the car will fail the emissions test and you won't be able to register it.

 

I change the oil every 7 or 8K miles and use 5w-30. 10w-40 will work in hot weather but you might lose a bit of fuel economy; thicker oil sometimes can back-up and cause oil starvation --- that was a big problem on my Crown Vics and I had one car that exploded its oil filter after a driver did his own oil change.
Read the manual. The viscosity is based upon flow dynamics within the car. It's not a '69 Chevelle --- it has much closer tolerances internally.

 

Has anyone attempted to change their own oil? Is the filter accessible?

 

Actually, on my GTI, recommended oil changes are at 5K miles and it not only uses synthetic, but also needs oil added between oil changes to keep oil levels normal.
To paraphrase your comment, you are making definitive statements, but keep a eye on the facts.

 

I'm going to change my oil at 5K too. I'm old school and think it can't hurt and will help the engine run better. Here is a link that shows how to change your on oil with pictures.
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ght=oil+change

 

My 2 cents. I have been in the dealership service dept. biz for 20yrs, I know engine and oil technoligy have come a long way, but from what I can tell factory maintenance intervals are set with 2 things in mind will it get out of warranty before breaking and how will JD Powers cost per mile of ownership rate. Synthetics are awesome, but most additives packages in the oils are not going to last as long as the oil itself.

 

Yes you can change your own oil; the filter is accessable if you remove the windshield washer bucket. You need a 27mm socket for the cover.


I don't think it has 5K intervals in Europe. Everything over there has gone to 12-15K.


If anybody ever has any questions about their oil quality, send samples to Blackstone Labs.

 

Thanks. I will now change my oil before it is due for service.

 

Strange how that is not the case on the GTI on sale in the UK!

It requires oil changes, the same as any other Golf on the long-life scheme, about 18k mile intervals. I had a mkV Golf before the R56.

 

the interval mileage doesn't really matter as MINI will do it once a year regarless of mileage.

 

They will do it but not for free, at least at my dealership. I had asked why it was so long...19K before the I decided to take it in. They only did it cause my service indicator said it was less than 200miles from the oil change.

I asked previously if they could change it at 15K, they asked what the indicator said, I responded 20K, they replied we'll do it, but you'll have to pay for it. You only get the freebie when the indicator says so. At least according to my dealier.

 

+++1 on previous comment. Mechanics I talk to have no problem with synthetic oils running at 10k oil charges. I drive 1k a month, so the annual is about 12k which is fine. After it is out of warranty, I will probably change at 10k intervals or annually, whichever comes first. However, If you drive a lot, I would do a DIY oil change every 10k or so.

 

Yes, you should. There are many oil threads here, the discussion about what oil and when to change are never-ending.I think you should actually conduct that search. A little reading will show you that the ACEA A3 rating is far more critical than the specific brand of oil chosen, and, that ACEA A3 oils are not as commonly available as other oils in North America.

 

I was not expecting such a short interval, but the manual clearly states that this is the VWoA suggestion and the dealer also seconded the mileage interval.
I have actually had to add oil to the crankcase on the GTi and on my wife's A4 2.0T as the oil idiot light comes on before the appointed change intervals!

 

Isn't it the coolant expansion tank that is in the way, and not the washer fluid tank?

 

Take into account that there are very significant marketing pressures on both oil companies and car makers to recommend longer intervals between oil changes.

The best way to make a determination is to have your oil analyzed. This will bypass the marketing hype, and be specific to your car, driving habits, and environmental influences.

There have been a few threads here where people have reported their oil analysis results.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=125914

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=127399

This second thread continues at a forum dedicated to motor oils. There is a lot of good info on that site.

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums...56#Post1076156

After reading a lot of threads, web pages, and tests, my take on this is that it is a very good idea to change one's oil around the end of the 1,200 mile break-in, and then 5,000 to 8,000 miles after that. One might extend it to 10,000 miles, but I wouldn't go 15,000 miles for an MCS. I'm not sure about an MC.

There is much more to it than how long the basic oil holds up. Oil gets contaminated with water, fuel, and various elements. Acids can also form from various contaminants. With direct injection, the MINI seems to prone to fuel dillution. So, even if the oil hasn't broken down, it can be carrying harmful chemicals.

 

Kudos Robin!!

 

Good post Robin, thanks for the info. Will have a look over those threads.

I understand that oil degrades over time, but I do not think any manufacturer would jeopardise their reputation for product longevity. I am therefore happy to go along with what the manufacturer recommends.

 

Yes - and you don't need to remove it. Just remove one bolt at the top lift it up and push it to one side. there is room to reach in past it and get to the filter. A torx 50 is needed to remove the drain plug. Everything you need to know is here:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ght=oil+change