Ok, so I took my 07 Mini Cooper with 600 miles to get my front window adjusted.

Started to talk to the service advisor about oil changes. He said the best thing to do was get the oil changed in the following intervals. Kilometers are rounded.

1,200 miles (2,000 km )to get rid of the possible metal shavings in the oil from the factory.

6,000 miles (10,000 km)

11,000 miles (17,600 km)

15,625 miles (25,000 km). This is the point where MINI recommends a service. He went on and said owners of R50 MINI's that waited until the recommended oil change were more likely to have the engine replaced. The oil would be black, dirty and at very low levels. In addition, if your leasing don't bother but if you want to take care of your car then do it at regular intervals. Yikes!

Instead of paying $103 CDN an oil change. I will just change the oil myself and get my service advisor to adjust the counter on the fourth change.

I guess the motto of the story is change it often.

Just some food for thought.

 

thats pretty much what i was expecting to do anyway. I already changed it at 1200 miles and intend on another change at 6-7k. Basically every 6k miles is what i was planning on.

Be aware, there will be people that will come in and argue that new oils last longer yadda yadda yadda... Personally i would rather err on the safe side, plus usually the filter needs to be changed more so than the oil itself.

 

I change my oil more frequently but your adviser is violating Mini protocol by telling you to do it. I'm sure that Mini/BMW would be unhappy with him; they're trying their hardest to suppress shadetree mechanics.

 

i do every 5k miles. the oil costs like nothing, what? $25 for some Mobil1. i changed at 1500, 5k,10k,15k etc. i'm hoping this thing lasts forever. they don't make the r53 anymore and i'm not ready to give her up. 58k

 

I agree too. Just had my MCS a couple of months but plan to change the oil myself. Has anyone found a good source for Mini filters at a good price?

 

Well he is not telling me to do it but I would follow advice from a technician any day. They work on MINI's all day long. I also used to work with the same technician before and know he is of high integrity.

The R50 vehicles that needed new engines were the ones that waited until the 1st factory recommended service. Personally, I won't take my changes.

 

Is my SA violating policy as well by talking to me about the Alta ECU and how he wants to drive the car once it is on and will install the parts for me. Probably yes, but do you think I'm going to sit here and ponder on what Mini/BMW happiness, highly doubt it.

The man just gave simple advise to a person that obviously wants to take care of his/her car a little better than the average owner.

But I agree with him. I did my first oil change at 2k, then 6k

 

He said the best thing to do was get the oil changed in the following intervals. Kilometers are rounded.

1,200 miles (2,000 km )to get rid of the possible metal shavings in the oil from the factory.

6,000 miles (10,000 km)

11,000 miles (17,600 km)

15,625 miles (25,000 km). This is the point where MINI recommends a service. He went on and said owners of R50 MINI's that waited until the recommended oil change were more likely to have the engine replaced. Instead of paying $103 CDN an oil change. I will just change the oil myself and get my service advisor to adjust the counter on the fourth change.


I just talked to my service manager today about an oil change. I'm at 25,000 km, have never had one and have been asking for months. Kept getting told not to worry about it, I'm likely not driving the car hard, yadda yadda Finally they have agreed to change it and reset the counter that is saying another 4,600 km to go!! I would be at 30,000 km if I waited for the car to ask. As far as price goes, I've been quoted $220 CDN yikes so $103 isn't bad. What's up with the hesitation to change the oil!!!

 

www.minimania.com has the OEMs at a fair price.

 

Yes, makes total sense to me...and I'm glad to hear that a MINI advisor had the '*****' to be honest (or at least sincerely helpful).

Someone else on here put it very well - MINI/BMW only has a vested interest in your car making it through the warranty period without failing. However, most MINI owners have a vested interest in their car lasting for WELL past that warranty period.

In my opinion, BMW isn't doing me any favors with their 'free 36k maintenance plan'. One oil change a year? Riiiight....same way the sticker on the tranny fluid pan says "Lifetime Fluid - Do Not Change"....lol

My boyfriend has a 99 C43 AMG and Mercedes was basically telling the owners of these vehicles (andsome S class sedans) that they had lifetime transmission fluid that never needed changing. Needless to say some owners were having to replace their trannies at 60-80k miles.

 

I still think people should change oil as recommended, in order to conserve resources and not waste oil un-necessarily.

Where is the proof that a modern engine, with modern oil will not last as long as one which has more frequent oil changes?

Perhaps the original poster's service advisor is on commission

 

Don't want to have to whine, beg and fight with MINI/BMW about oil changes? Don't want to deal with some of the outrageous prices for a dealer oil change? Do it yourself - there is plenty of info on here to assist even the least knowledgeable car person!

My boyfriend and I had to stifle our laughs and keep from rolling our eyes too noticeably when my MA said my new Mini's engine was basically "too complicated" for DIY oil changes! Who was she trying to kid...though I understand she was just doing her job.

(Just as I don't appreciate people assuming I don't care about (or plan on learning how to work on) my car because I am a girl...I can't stand car dealerships, service depts, shops, etc. that try to lump me into the category of about 95% of car owners - the ones who think their cars run on magic and refuse to take any responsibility for their cars or learn anything about them at all.)

 

I think the huge oil change interval is just a clever way for mini's full service warranty to cut corners.

I would change the oil more often, but I'm a bit stubborn. If the company says to not change the oil except once a year or a certain mileage I'm going to do that. If my engine blows up later they'll owe me a new one.

 

Oil is recycled anyway- so it's not wasted. I agree with changing it earlier...

 

I haven't searched this site but BMW, Audi, VW, Mazda and Porsche do NOT advise changing the oil at only 1200 miles. All have admitted they add a conditioner of some kind to the initial oil that needs to run at least 7500 miles in order to "do its thing". I'm a pretty aggressive driver and have followed the manufacturers' maint. schedules for 2 turbo Audis, 2 turbo VW's, a Turbo Mazdaspeed Miata and my current 3-series and have had no issues. What I WOULD suggest, however, is that you check your oil level regularly and top off if needed as new motors can burn some oil. Just my 2cents. Of course, on the turbos, I always moved to Mobil-1 at the first scheduled oil change. Again, just my 2-cents.

 

Problem is, if it smacks itself after the warr. is over, they owe you nothing. Any engine can get through the warranty period without any oil changes.

 

The it's time for a lawsuit, but honestly I don't usually keep cars that long. I guess it's more of a problem with someone who keeps the car for 4+ years and 50k+ miles.

 

It seems that everything you do, including sneezing the wrong way in the MINI, will void the warranty. That's also been my experience with other car companies.

I still haven't totally figured out all the 'reasoning' behind MINI/BMW's free maintenance program (I'm new to the BMW brand). I'm guessing it works just fine for people who just view the car as a tool to get from point A to B (albeit in a fun manner). And I bet it works just fine for people who don't plan on keeping the car for long periods of time. For me, oil changes at reasonable intervals is easier than a lawsuit or regret later on. This is also why I will probably never buy another used car. To me, the warranty is there for major defects with the car that are out of my control. With this car, I'm going to be 'personally responsible' for maintenance and everything else on it and that also means I'm not going to let the warranty keep me from changing a few things and enjoying it.

 

Can you take a mini to a Jiffy Lube instead of the dealer? They stock syn oils.

 

I'm sure if Mini charged for oil changes, they would have us do it every 5K miles.

 

I think you will find that many people would not recommend you take your MINI (or any car you care about) to the local Jiffy Lube or Quick Lube. First off, do they have the correct type of filter? Do they know how to actually correctly install your filter. Second, you will find much debate on here about the correct type of oil for your Mini. Does the local lube-it joint carry the correct type of oil for your Mini? Lastly, these quick lube places don't have the best reputations and don't always do a thorough or careful job. They surely don't care about your Mini. If you don't want to take it to the dealer, find a local trusted shop that specializes in MINIs or german cars.

 

You might want to check the various threads on changing oil. There's plenty of discussion on the proper oil for the MINI, and Mobil 1 isn't it...

 

Yes, and while your at it you may as well take it through the car wash.

I did my first at 1200 then at 5K and every 5k there after. I have an Alta CAI that I will clean every 5k as well. 5k changes makes for an easy maintence reminder, when my car reaches 10k it's time for another oil change. No big deal, I'm glad to do it.

Here is an idea. For those of you who don't want to do your own oil change or pay the dealer extortion rates, consider asking around your local mini club, perhaps you could find someone willing to do it cheaper, teach you how or even trade services.

 

theres no way you can sue MINI/BMW if your engine seizes after the warranty. Its cheap insurance to change the oil at 5-6k intervals.

also, do not take it to jiffy lube... go on ANY car forum and that will be the general consensus. I have read so many horror stories about stripped drain plugs, not enough oil/engine seize, incorrect filter, or sometimes not even replacing the filter.

 

Didn't say I didn't agree with the tech; just said that he's putting his job in jeopardy and inviting a liability issue for his company. The world is a litigious place these days.

Here's a place to get filters at a good price.
http://www.outmotoring.com/mini-coop...il_filter.html

And I'd vote for Amsoil for the best oil; might even suggest 0w-30 these days.