I bought my car in june of 08. When I left the dealership it stated 21,000 miles till oil change. The as of August of 2010 I have 17,500 miles. My first oil change in 2009 was free. This did not reset my computer. I do not recall what it was at, but it was still counting down from 21,000. Every 1000 miles I put on the car removed 1000 from the counter. In july if 2010 I took it in for the anual oil change and my computer said 5000 miles to service. They told me I was close enough to have all the service that is include done. Like air filter change and brake fluid change. Now the computer reads 10000 miles till service. I don't know if it is true, but I was told that they changed the parameters of the computer since MINI felt it was too long for and oil change.

 

The wording in the maintenance manual is quite clear - to not follow it will void my warranty - if MINI won't do it, then I will. Maybe they should make the 3yr/36K service an option, so we can opt out and NOT pay for it in the price of the car. It is not FREE, it is included.


"Note: Change oil at least once a year."

 

I contacted MINIUSA via email last week and spoke with Bill at BMW North America today. He confirmed that MINI will no longer provide an initial oil service at 12 months unless the mileage on the car is less than 6,000 miles.

He said he understood the contradiction with the text on page 5 (Change oil at least once per year) and the wording on page 27 stating the warranty does not apply to parts which fail due to not performing service in accordance with the service section.

He's making a note in my file and passing the concern on.

 

Going in to the dealership Wednesday - will ask service in person if this urban legend has any validity.....

At any rate, already have Mobil 1 0W/40, MINI oil filter, 27mm socket and 8mm allen wrench all gathered for DYI MINI oil changes. Guess I do get more use out of my Rhino ramps with this rig too.

http://www.mobiloil.com/usa-english/...l_1_0w-40.aspx

 

StlBlubmw325,You must be from Mini Of Annapolis One of the nicest dealerships I've ever had the pleasure of dealing with.... .Ryan, the S.A. is top notch and your service department is a 5 star operation.Thanks for posting your input and knowledge for our Minis........Your right, the oil changes need to be done well before the year/15000 maintenance plan.I do mine between 4000-5000 mi.And another issue is the lifetime autotrans fluid change....who in their right mind would let a tranny go that long....Not I, I,m changing mine at 50,000.

 

I have the 6/100,000 oil change plan. Needed to drive my Cooper-S up from Tucson to Temp today to get a new battery (still under 4 year warranty). I called in advance and asked about an oil change and was told I had to be 1 year and over 6,000 miles, which made sense. But I called Scottsdale, and took the car into Tempe (same owner).

Upon arriving in Tempe they told me under 6,000 and showed me the bulletin. Sounds like some service advisers are still confused about this. The Scottsdale adviser even told me what mileage I had to be over to get the service - there was no question about how the conversation went.

Anyway, I left happy as for some reason my key read showed that I needed new front brakes - weird after 27.5k of highway miles, but whatever, it is 'free' sort of. They also said they would go ahead and do they oil change, even though after I saw the paper I said they didn't have to do it.

So oil change, plus battery, plus brakes should net an out of pocket $10 (for the loaner Clubman). I know I paid for the oil change and brakes in advance, but it is still nice it isn't out of pocket today. I found this thread as I wanted to see how much confusion was out there over the 6,000 mile warranty.

I also think I may have paid less than $1295 for the 6/100,000, but I'd have to dig up the papers. At the time I purchased the car I bought the 1 year extension, then they called and told me it was no longer offered and offered to upgrade to the 6/100,000 'at their cost'. I don't remember what the two together added up to but if I find it I will post as a data point (and whether I was screwed or not).

Incidentally the 6/100,000 was also presented to me as a 'covers everything' and I quickly noted it didn't cover anything when they mailed me the contract. Thought of canceling (planned on it), but ended up procrastinating too long and I'd already paid the balance over the phone by credit card.

 

awesome! another tucson motorer!
I don't suppose you're in the market for some OEM runflats with 3k miles on them...

 

I also bought a new 2009 Cooper hard top during August 2009. I just hit the one year period. My MINI has just clicked off 10,500 miles and the service indicator is telling me that the projected first oil change will be due sometime in July 2011 at somewhere around 20,000 miles. I normally change synthetic oil in my cars around 7k. With my MINI I figured something was not right so I opened up my MINI service and warranty information booklet, included at the time of purchase, and find that on page 5 it clearly states in bold letters " Note: Change oil at least once a year." There is no reference to mileage. So, I called my MINI dealership and they tell me that MINI changed its maintenance policy recently. They no longer will cover an oil change if you have over 6k miles and your service indicator light has not come on even if one year has passed since the last oil change. I pushed pretty hard and got nowhere! Next, I contacted MINI USA and they told me the same thing and I logged a complaint. The bottom line is we were all sold one thing, but we will all be getting something else! Changing the oil is no big deal or expense. It is the principal of the thing that really has me pissed off! I live in the S.F. bay area and we have this ABC consumer reporter (Michael Finney) that is looking for stories like this. I am really considering hitting his web site after I get done with this thread. MINI sells a lot of vehicles as a result of this 3yr/36,000 mile free maintenance program. It is becoming evident to me how they can afford it. The service indicator will stretch out the service as much as possible so they may only have to pull off one oil change in a 3 year period for the average owner based on this new policy. MINI is in the business of making and selling cars while protecting their bottom line. They know that 20,000 miles between oil changes is not good for any engine over the long haul. However, they are not in the long haul business. They need to get you through the warranty period just in time for you to hopefully sell your MINI and buy another. Maybe their next marketing ploy will be Free gas for the life of your MINI or 10 miles which ever comes first!

 

Really, you're working very hard to ignore what the maintenance plan terms actually say, and the only reason I can see for it is because many of you just want something to get upset about.

The simple facts are that the service and warranty booklet that your car came with states quite clearly that any recommendations presented in it were current at the time of its printing, but that they are subject to change and that your dealer or MINI USA will have the most current information.

It also states quite clearly (and repeatedly) that the service intervals that they follow are based on what your car's computer says.

So…
a) has your dealership or MINI USA (keepers of the most current information) told you that you are due for an oil change yet? No.
b) is your car's computer telling you that you are due for an oil change yet? No.

Guess what… you're not due for an oil change yet.

You want to call the local 'Action News / On Your Side / Fighting For The Little Guy' reporter? Go right ahead. Nothing will come of it (unless maybe it's just that slow of a news day), because you don't have a leg to stand on.

I honestly feel bad for the service department employees at dealerships across the country who get the flow-down from MINI USA that the service recommendations have changed, and who then have to turn around and deal with all of you folks who have entitlement issues and highly selective reading comprehension.

 

While you are right that what the contracts say is what they say... Bravo but you seem to ignore that people like me were told when buying the cars or the extended plans that it was OBC or a year... Now its OBC or a year IF you do LESS than 6k miles.

I am a believer in your word when you sell me something meaning something too. Its unethical/borderline fraud to misrepresent the plans as they do in sales.

 

If it's not in writing, it doesn't exist.
First rule of contractual obligations.

 

For all those who keep telling me that they were "told" this, told by whom?

When I bought my '09, they introduceed me to a SA, who walked me thru the service computer, and basically said, follow the computer - it will tell you when you need to do anything, till then drive it and enjoy it.

The salesman, OTOH, said nothing about service intervals and so on - referring me to the SA for any questions I might have had.

I'm not implying anything, but I wonder how many folks were told this by someone at MINI or by other owners - IOW, how much is truth and how much is folklore?

On a related note, on the R53, couldn't you set the service reminder to either 10K or 15K if you chose too? Seems I remember choosing one or the other interval when resetting the computer on my '03 JCW.

 

I already posted in this thread that I was told 12K or one year by my MA just before I signed the papers. He did not say "subject to change" nor had I yet gained access to the service and warranty booklet. Fishbert's set of whacked rules aside, a verbal promise is contractually binding. The only problem with them is that being undocumented allows the parties to deny making them.

In any event, I haven't seen anyone claim they were going to sue over an oil change. I'm beginning to think this isn't such a wonderful forum after all given the derogatory persumptions being directed at people who happen to disagree on BMW's approach to customer support. I had at least one BMW in my garage from 1970 until 1998. Having seen the changes that have occured since then, they no longer have any good will value in my assessment of the company. This policy change with no thought to the contradictory language in the s&w booklet or what dealers have been promising customers is just one more example of poor management.

 

I was told the one year or OBC by the people in finance when they tried to get me to buy the extended warranties. Which was backed up by people in the forums. Now months later that is all changing and in Texas a verbal agreement is contractually binding as well but as stated earlier its your word against theirs. I just think they make such a big deal about the 3 year free maintenance and then do all they can to not actually do any thing for free.

 

I'm with you on this 100 percent. I also owned a 740il flagship BMW that was awesome when it ran! The last time I paid to get it running I dumped it! I simply couldn't get rid of it fast enough. By the way, is Fishbert a MINI USA lawyer? He sure is critical of the rest of us for being concerned about factory recommendations of 20k oil change intervals and being paranoid about potential future damage to our vehicles. All the while, Fishbert states he changes his oil at 3k! Hey, we are not asking for MINI to cover 3k oil changes for free! We want what we were told we would receive at the time of purchase. And that is to have the oil changed (at least once a year) in our MINIs at MINI USA's expense for the first three years of ownership. Fishbert can resite the service booklet all he wants. In the meanwhile, I need to go and change the oil and filter in my MINI. I guess the next time I go and make an agreement with a car dealership, I'll get it branded into my hide. From the tone that Fishbert has set forth, even having it in writing is not enough.

 

I agree 100%. Dave, your comment was rude and completely uncalled for.

If MINI ADVERTISED that maintenance was free and then tells the customer they won't do it, that's a LIE. They can't twist their words around and weasel into another definition.

 

Your pointing out that Fishbert does it every 3,000 miles makes me doubt his "expertise" too.
I'm also wondering this: if MINI owners start having engine trouble a few years down the road because of premature wear/tear, I'd be VERY interested to know if it's caused by failure to change the oil frequently enough to offset the potential for damage to the engine. I dunno, but from the way MINI is handling things, I fear this might become reality a few years down the road. After all, quite a few cars have been plagued with cold start, air scoop and window problems. Oil problems might pop up too. I wouldn't be surprised.

 

I don't have this problem since I do 20,000 miles a year, but if I was in the position that some of you are in I would be pissed and would sure as hell be biatching.

I wish you all the best in getting your "not so free" oil change.

 

If I drive just over 6000 miles per year as I have for the past four years, how many months will it be before I should change the oil under the new policy? Some say they have gone 22,000 miles before a change was indicated by the on-board computer. That would be almost four years with the original oil in it.

 

Wow… I mention reading comprehension issues being apparent with some in here, and you all have to go prove me right. Thanks!
First, I don't claim to be an expert at anything. Well, except maybe reading words printed on a sheet of paper (like, say, the terms of a maintenance plan)… I can do that fairly well.

Funny… I don't recall saying anything about how often I change my oil. But since you bring it up, I payed for an out-of-cycle oil change around 4k miles because I agreed with most others in here who said it was probably a good idea with a brand new engine. Since that time, I had my oil changed on August 14th of 2009 (at 15,594 miles) and again on March 20th of 2010 (at around 31,000 miles). And the computer in my 2009 MCS tells me my oil is due for a change again in another 4000 miles or so (which would be around 48,000 miles on the odometer).

So, I'm not sure where you got this "fishbert states he changes his oil at 3k!" bit. I'm nearly out of warranty and have had my oil changed only 3 times -- one of which I paid for because it was due to my concern, rather than a recommendation from MINI.

Reading comprehension, people. Work on it.

MINI USA doesn't determine their oil change interval recommendations based on driver paranoia, they use actual data to determine what is and is not harmful to the engine. And I can assure you they don't design their cars so that they die just outside of the warranty period. Dependability is a huge issue in the industry, and everyone has made huge strides in this area year after year. Also, not to sound a bigot, but BMW is German… they have something of a reputation for being thorough, detail-oriented, and particular about what is correct.

And all I've done in here is go by what's in writing (and suggest that others do the same). Not sure why that makes you think I would find what's in writing "not enough".

Anyway, I'm out.
Y'all seem to just want to get upset, come hell or high water (or logic or reason), so who am I to stand in your way. Knock yourself out with that crazy rage you seem so fond of.

 

I am in the same situation as many of you are. I purchased my Mini last July and just hit 10,000 miles today. Having been instructed at purchase of my vehicle that oil changes are covered every 1 year or 15k miles, I called Global Imports Mini Atlanta to schedule my annual maintenance.

I attempted to schedule for the weekend of August 28th, but was told that I couldn't get in until September 4th. Now here I am a day before my scheduled maintenance and I get a call telling me that my car isn't covered effective September 1st, and that I will have to pay for the service. I got rather angry, and told the girl how ridiculous this was and that I would have to check out the paperwork.

After reviewing everything, it appears that everyone in this situation is just plain **** out of luck. From a legal standpoint they reserved the right to change the rules as they see fit. This still doesn't mean that what they are doing is morally correct and it sure leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Here I am having owned my car for 14 months and if I left it up to them it would still contain the oil that it had at purchase!

They can definitely kiss my *** in regards to me paying them to change the oil though. I changed it myself at 6k miles and will change it again until their computer tells me that I am entitled to my free service.

To everyone else out there in this situation, I feel your pain.

Thanks.

 

Forgot to ask the SA to confirm or deny this........ So just called NW MINI in Tacoma and asked when to bring it in for the first service.......

They said at 15,500 miles or the service indicator. Or if under 7,000 in a year. So I said what if I have 10,000 miles in a year....... "Wait until your service indicator says too".......

So there you have it, I will do my own in 6 month intervals. Should not be more that 5K in 6 months. (The 2005 PT Cruiser it replaced only saw 6K a year on the average). Although we just hit 2,500 miles today and only had it since July 26th... At that rate we would have 24K in a year! Darn the MINI - It's too fun to drive!