I have a 08 MCS nearing the 3,000 mile mark and I called my dealer to make an appointment for my first maintenance. They said oil & filter change should be done at 15,000 miles.
When do you guy's change your oil? At what mileage?
Thank's

 

There is a billion threads on this topic and a billion opinions as well. Do a search.

 

Actually there might be 2 billion!

 

To save a search I did my first change at 3,000 miles.

 

Mine at 1,800.

 

Did my first oil change at about 1,500 miles. Second at about 6,500. Oil analysis showed that somewhere between 5,000 to 8,000 miles would be about right for me. IMO, the factory intervals are too far apart. The MINI brand oil would be long dead by the 15,000-20,000 miles that the car's computer would call for.

I did my own oil and filter changes. It is pretty easy on the MINI. I used the MINI branded oil because it is one of the few 5W-30 oils available in the USA that meets the ACEA A3 rating. This is a European rating that the UK owner's manual calls for and is much stricter than USA standards. I figure it is what the engine was designed for, so best to stick with it.

 

I completly agree that the factory intervals are too far apart.
Thank's for the info Robin!

 

I own a BMW Motorcycle 2007 RT1200 and no turbo on it and
it requires a first oil change at 600 miles.
On my 2007 they also took out the plug and fill on rear diffenteral
and said it is a lifetime oil..
Well that was until problems started and now for 2008 they have
put the fill and drain plugs back on bikes.
And sure with my bike you now have to remove the wheel and use
a pump to remove oil.
I think after a few years of these turbos and they get mileage on
them and start having faliures they will rethink the oil change mileage.

I do think they plan these thoughts and hopefully if most do not buy
extra warranty they will make lots of money on turbo replacement..

It is crazy for one Division to change oil at 6oo miles and another
with more critical oil demand with turbo and heat to change at
15,000 ..
I do believe they know what they are doing in making money.
I would and will with my new PW change oil know later than 1200 miles.

 

You make complete sense to me, by the way I own a Harley V-Rod the manual says to change oil every 5,000 miles but I do it every 2,000.
Thank's "bmwrider" for the input.

 

My first one was at 12xx miles. Second one was at 5000 miles. 3rd one was at 10K. My OBC still says 10000 to next service due. My 1yr annv has passed already. I don't know when I will make the appt for the 1st service. I hate waiting at the dealership. The MA said I don't get a loaner for a scheduled maint. serv. I will get a loaner for warranty works only. Sucks.

 

I'm about to hit 1000 miles. I was thinking about this myself. I do a lot of city, stop and go driving, minimal highway driving at the current time. I am thinking of getting my oil changed at 1200 miles because city driving is harder on the car.
Thanks for the input.

 

it is obvious that the only harm you will do by changing the oil more often is the addition of waste oil to the environment / recycling systems.

I have followed the computer on my 02 since I bought it. It gets better MPG today then it did after month one...and nothing has eaten it self.

You MIGHT be right......

but if you dig DEEP on Internet searches on this topic you can find the statements from exec's of the oil companys and the quicky oil change companies that WARN of the DANGER of the new extended wear oils..... J L warns their dealers that every 1000 miles beyond the 3000 mile change they've convinced people is required, cost the company millions.....

I change the oil in the 79 at less than 3000 (It ain't drove much) ..... When I doo I usually find metal shavings stuck to the magnetic drain plug. I don't follow that schedule on the 02 or the 07 cuz the metals used and the quality of manufacturing has changed from then to now. B4 the 3000 mile change was the factory recommendation....it isn't now.

Change the oil every 3000 .... you think the guys who make filters or sell oil are gonna tell you it's a mistake! I've yet too see an oil ****' that says "you R golden....don't change a thing." Hmmmm, could that be a worry of liability? Maybe I should send 'em a sample of new oil.... You won't hurt anything that's for sure ..... 'cept the environment.

As a failing last gasp.....
The factory says change your brake pads at 30,000 .... do you doubt them and change at 10k

Factory says air filter at 30k ... did you change it at 10K

Factory says 'top tier gas' .... did you use the cheap stuff?

 

I don't get it...

 

it?

 

The post above mine.

 

I had Molly's done at 1750...'cause she had some other things that got done at the same time. She's getting close to her 2nd one...doing it at 7,500mi. Will also have the Tires Balanced and Rotated at the same time.

 

What I'm seeing so far is that nobody waits for 15,000 miles for a oil & filter change. I almost feel that at 2,800 miles that I'm kinda late already, so I will be changing mine right away.
Thank's guys for your opinions on this matter.............Steve!

 

I hope to receive my 2009 MCS this week and would like to know how the oil change thing works in conjunction with the warranty service.

If I pay to have an early oil change done at my dealer, say after 3 months or around 3,000 miles, does that delay my "freebie" oil change service? In other words, does the dealer reset the computer to show that a service has been done, thus starting the clock over again for the "when the car says it needs one" service? Or is the computer not updated, allowing the freebie service to come whenever it would have, without my early oil change?

If the dealer does update the computer, that would suggest that I should either do the early oil change myself, or take it to a reliable garage, rather than to the dealer.

 

If you pay the dealer to do an early oil change (or if you get a free oil change from the dealer because it's been 12+ months since your last scheduled service), the counter is not reset, so it won't delay subsequent services.

 

Thanks, Scott, that's what I'd have hoped.

 

I had mine changed at 5000 miles at the dealership (paid for myself) based on a prior oil and filter change thread here on NAM.

I pointed out to my SA that the service & warranty booklet states in bold to have the oil changed at least once a year but he said the booklet is incorrect and that MINI goes by the CBS if they are to pay for it.He then said that he never had a problem having MINI pay at the one year interval though.

 

I use to have a '99 BMW with the same recommendations ..... change the oil every 24K. I never had a problem with the car at all. If the dealer/manufacturer tells you that's all you need, I think you can go with it more or less. I doubt that they would recommend something that would damage your engine and their reputation. Nowadays, brake pads are at 25K .... tune-ups at 100K ...etc. If you change it more often, it just costs you more.
Just my 2 cents.

 

To be certain always ask if the counter will be reset or not after the early oil change.

If you do the early oil change yourself or at an independent garage then don't reset and keep the clock ticking so the dealership can do the next oil change.

IF the counter is reset then it will be closer to 12,000 more miles before the next oil change which creates the same concern about not changing oil soon enough.

Synthetic oil can remain in your car much longer than 3000 miles and function just fine. 8000 miles and it's starting to need the change as per data gleamed from oil analysis which has been posted in other threads.

If you do regular changes twice as often as MINI suggests then you'll likely be OK.

I know of many MINI owners that wait until the counter shows it is time to change or have the dealership change oil once each year due to low miles driven per year. Dealerships are used to doing that for MINIs.

 

is that a typo?

 

Simple. If you're not going to keep it past the warranty period, change it when the computer says to change it. If you are, find some easy to remember mileage mark (3k, 5k, etc.) that fits into your peace-of-mind zone and do it then. Oil never wears out, it is the additives that do and they are what determines how much crud the oil can carry until it can no longer do its job.

Most of my vehicles do not have a service computer and they are serviced according to the short trip recommendations with synthetics because I can afford it and it is what fits my peace of mind. I turn in my oil to the recycling center and keep receipts and notes on all services. Also, one is a Dodge with extended factory warranty and I won't do anything that they can come back and say voided my warranty. If anyone would do that, I expect they would (while they're still in business).