Unless this is a feature that just came out this year for the MINI, there are no sensors that analyze viscosity, oil temperature, oil pressure, or any other physical characteristics of the oil in order to determine oil condition and change intervals. Heck, the MINI doesn't even have sensors for oil temperature or pressure, except for the low-pressure warning switch. (The first-gen cars did have an optional Chrono Kit that gave you oil temp/pressure gauges, but they were just conventional gauges - the information wasn't on the OBD bus and wasn't available to the car's computer for determining change intervals.)

The easiest way to confirm this is to change the oil without telling the onboard computer that you've changed it. Even with brand-new oil in the car, the oil service countdown won't be affected one little bit.

I'm not saying that there aren't cars out there that actually do some analysis of their oil, but the MINI isn't one of them. The oil service interval estimates on the MINI are likely based primarily on average engine RPM and fuel flow rate. Higher average engine speed and fuel flow indicate the car's being driven harder, so the oil interval will be shortened accordingly.

 

I agree. I do a six months oil change and get the yearly free one. The OBD never knows or acts like it knows that I've changed the oil. It keeps on counting down just where it left off, telling me it doesn't have a clue. I'm sure there is an algorithm taking into account how you drive, temperature, and a few other considerations, but its probably not much better than my 99 CR-V which has a mechanical device in the mechanical odometer which turns from green/yellow/red on a fixed mileage cycle. Its reset by inserting your key in a slot.

 

search the web and you'll find the statementfrom CEO of a 'quicky change' place that extended life oils present the greatest danger to their buisness line. They sold you on 3000 mile oil changes and fear you'll wise up.

My 02 gets changed at 12 months or as the computer suggests and uses no more oil, and no less MPG then the day it came home..... well actually a little better in the MPG col'.

Absolutely true you'll never to any damage....but pissing in the toi toi doesn't either.....

 

Just checked my OBC and I'm due for my first oil change at 15,000 or 01/2011! I dont drive much and I dont think I'll hit 15k by 2011... so, I got about 2yrs left before my first oil change?

 

You won't have to wait that long. If it's been more than 12 months since your last oil change, regardless of mileage, the dealer will change it for free during the 3yr/36k mile maintenance period.

 

On all of my cars I have always done the 3K on Dino oil and 5K with synthetic, but when I got my -07 MCS, I suspended disbelief and took the MINI in for service when the computer indicated. I can tell you that by last winter, that thing sounded like a diesel (I know about the cold start issue) and had burned two quarts in less than 6K miles. It was clear to me that the engine was getting worse and worse in terms of wear base on how it was using more and more oil.

With the new JCW, I just turned 1200 miles and will be changing it tonight and then every 5K afterwards. Changing oil is the cheapest thing that you can do to extend the life of your engine.

Talking with the MINI/BMW folks, they are actually thinking about going back to defined mileage intervals and getting away from the computer to manage service.

 

I had my break-in oil changed at 1200 miles (on my dime) when I had the Tune Kit installed, and will change it again in Nov for free (my annual freebie), about 7500-10K/year, which is perfectly fine for full synthetic under normal conditions (unless one races.)

And for 09 MINI expanded the recc oils: 0W-30 is now OK, it wasnt before.

 

I'm torn here....

In the past Ive ben the type to religiously change the oil on my vehicles every 3000 miles or so. I did this even when using full syn.

With the 3 year service warranty, I know oil changes are much farther spread out, should I truct the "engineers" and only change te oil when recommended or should I go along with past practices and change the oil myself.

Does anyone know if dealerships will change the oil earlier under the warranty? In other words at no charge?

 

Frequency of oil changes ultimately seem to be personal choice, you will see a lot of arguments here about how often but nothing really definite. One thing's for sure, though, pretty much no one is comfortable with the dealer recommended 15k mi. intervals, and are willing to pay out of pocket to do additional oil changes either as a DIY (there's a good sticky thread for this) or at the dealership. Personally I'm comfortable with changing my oil at about 5-7k mi intervals.

The only free oil changes the dealer will do are the manufacturer recommended intervals covered under the standard 3 year, 36k mile service. However, most dealers will give you a free oil change at least annually, which essentially means 3 free oil changes under the service contract.

 

well said. I will change mine at 1200, then at 5000, then every 5 to 7K after that.

The ONLY thing i am torn with, i plan to use Mobil 1 oil, should i use their filter or MINI's filter?

 

I did my first oil change somewhere around 1,600 miles. Then the next one 5,200 miles later. I had the oil analyzed on the second change. The results indicated that 8,000 miles was a safe interval for me. If I wanted to push it, I could probably go to 10,000. As a reference, my onboard computer recommeds 19,000 miles between oil changes, or about twice what the analysis suggested.

Different kinds of driving, environment, and driving style can affect the life of the oil. If you want to know how often you should change your oil, spend $35 on a standard oil analysis +TNB from Blackstone or other lab.

While 3,000 miles was right for natural oil, it is probably wasteful with synthetic. Now, it is probably the filter that has a shorter life than the oil.

If you use Mobil 1, I'd suggest using their 0W-40 because it meets the European ACEA A3 standard that the MINI engine was designed for. MINI seems to have relaxed the requirements in the USA. That may be because A3 oils are hard to find here. Most USA synthetic oils only meet the less stringent A1 and A5 ratings.

 

The dealerships won't change your oil until the obc says its time, or until you've had your car a full year. My OBC was telling me that I needed an oil change at 15K, but at 9K I couldn't stand it any longer and changed it using synthetic and a Mini oil filter. Then my obc was telling me that I needed to go to 21K miles before the next oil change. I just changed it again after driving 7K miles. It was really dirty too. I will continue to change it every 7K miles. It's easy to do. Good luck!

 

Many of the Castrol Syntec's now exceed European ACEA

http://www.castrol.com/castrol/gener...tentId=6006933

 

ACEA is an organization (Euorpean Automobile Manufacturers Association), not a standard. They have several standards. The one you want is A3. The A1 standard is simply an economy (increased mpg) standard. A5 is similar to A3, but with a lower viscosity at engine operating temps. The only oils in your link that meets A3 and have a weight close to the 5W-30 recommended for MINIs are:

Castrol SYNTEC 0W–30 European Formula is engineered to meet the Mercedes Benz 229.5 specification. ...BMW LL–01

Castrol SYNTEC 5W-40 Meets the engine protection requirements of Volvo, BMW, Mercedes Benz ...BMW LL–98

 

I did mine myself at 6 months along with a tire rotation (about 6200 miles). After another 6 months which is up at the end of this month, the dealer will do the annual oil change under the maintenance agreement (its around 13,250 now). So following that routine oil changes will be around 6-7K miles every 6 months, one that I do and one that the dealership does.

If you change your oil at these intervals, any of the BMW LL-01 oils would be fine.

 

Okay, so whats the answer..

Can I use Mobil 1 full syn, 5W-30 with a mobil one filter without concern if I change the oil every 3500-4500 miles?

Also, on the run flats, I rotate back to front only, is every 6000 to 7000 miles reasonable?

 

>sigh< old habits are hard to break, eh?

First thing: PLEASE try break the dino oil habit of changing every 3K. To do this with full synth is a waste of a perfectly good product. Unless U race or track yr car, every 7500 to 10K is fine when using full synthetic. Mobil1 should be fine, but I prefer Castrol Syntec for my MCS, and Castrol High Mileage dino for my Toyota P.U. Some use Royal Purple Synthetic, esp if they race or track.

(alternative-- change the filter every 5K and both every 10K)

second, yr oil filter is canister, not screw-in. I would stick with the MINI oil filter element so just in case something goes wrong with yr car's engine, the dealer wont point to a second-party filter as the possible culprit--then stick U with the repair costs. You can get MINI filter elements them from yours, or any other MINI dealer.

Third, I rotate my rfs front to back every 5K, but others do it earlier while others dont do it at all. good luck.

 

No kidding, me included. there's no F-ing way I will go 15K until an oil change, I dont care how good the oil is.

 

I would not use Mobil 1 5W-30. As far as I can tell, it doesn't even meet the API SH requirement from the USA manual.

In the UK manual, ACEA A3 oils are specified. This is a much more stringent spec than API SH. I would use Mobil 1 0W-30 instead. It is an A3 oil.

Are all runflats directional?

 

I went for my first oil change 6500 miles and paid around $75 or so for it. Got my second oil change at 12,386 miles and the dealer covered it because it was around my 1 year anniversary. My next oil change is due in about 4k miles when my computer will notify me of service. At this time, I will get another free oil change and a filter change. I'm guessing by the timing of all of this, I shouldn't have to pay for another change and I'll be getting one every 6 months/5k miles or so.

My first tire rotation was at around 8500 miles- just brought it to a tire place and paid $25 for a balance and rotation instead of the $150 or whatever that the dealer was going to charge me.

 

I know its a beaten horse.

But old habits die hard.

I bought a couple of filters and some Castrol full syn 5/30. My plan is to do an initial oil change (break-in, if there is such a thing) between the 1500 and 2000 mile mark then every 4000-5000 afterwards.

This is an extreme change from my usually compulsive oil changing every 3000 miles or less.

I think this oil change issues/debate deserves a t-shirt of some sort...

 

https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/coupe-talk-2007/128096-approved-oils-for-r56-mcs.html?highlight=oil

Personally, I wouldn't use Castrol Syntec 5W-30 in a MINI. I'd go with 0W-30. Or better yet, MINI (or BMW) braded 5W-30 which was formulated by Castrol specifically for BMW.

 

The additional oil changes are a good thing ...but during the warranty period I would only use the MINI brand products.

I just recently had the first service on my 08 MCS and if I had not done an oil change at 7k miles it would have been 18k for the first change and thats way to long. I had taken it in at 15k and they would not change the oil because the maint. indicator was not showing that it needed service.


So yes change the oil......but use the MINI stuff, dont give them a reason to void your warranty.

 

Larry, what size t-shirt do you need?

 

I'll take the t-shirt in a Large