"I would argue the CBS should be programmed to take into account it has been a year and indicate it is time for an oil change, but apparently it does not."

My CBS says 14,000 or 5/2012. That is two years from production.

The issue here as I see it is that annual oil changes are required to maintain the warranty and MINI is now falsely advertising free maintenance for three years. They could resolve this immediately by mailing a statement to all owners within the warranty period that annual oil changes are no longer required for any purpose including maintenance of the warranty. But they want to play it both ways as they always do: They say see the dealer for details, but the dealer's statements don't obligate MINI to anything.

 

It is back again so still we can have our FREE Annual Maintenance. I called at Irvine MINI service because of wife's MINI S and they said that it's back a month ago

 

 

My friend just made an appointment for an annual oil change at MINI of Ontario. They told her she would have to pay for the oil change. Her mileage will be around 8,500 miles. Her last oil change, which she paid for, was about six months ago at the same dealer.

 

I got my first service in October 2010. My cars one year birthday. It had 8,079 miles on it. They changed the oil & oil filter and replaced the wiper blades. The guy checked everything on the top and bottom of my car.

My service engine light came on in August and they serviced it again at 14,347 miles. Oil & filter plus removed the brake fluid and replaced it along with all other filters. (extremely thouugh service)

The way the service works is if I do not put enough miles on the car between the 2nd. service done in August 2010 I need to call and set up for a service in August 2011."one year from the last service"

The manual says once a year or when the DIS tells you it is service time.

It is one year from the last service, not every year you owned your car.
This is a very good plan if you can get your dealer to understand how it is supposed to function.

 

Two comments - one on topic, one not quite.

1) We bought our used, 2009 MC on 9/4 this year and the dealer was very clear about them doing a free oil change within a year if the computer wasn't yet calling for one.

We didn't have to ask about this. They volunteered the information when they were reviewing what was included with the car. Should I have brought a notary public along to record their statement? (Maybe showing up with a lawyer when you buy a car these days is a good idea on general principle.)

2) I asked them to check the OBC to see when it was calling for the next change. It said in another 18K miles. I assumed from this the oil had just been changed. I figured I'd do an oil change in another 7K miles no matter what the OBC said.

I checked the oil when I got home and it was very dirty. So, I went to an independent BMW/MINI shop and paid to have the oil changed, without having the OBC oil change countdown reset. (Does anyone actually pay dealers $125 - $200 for oil changes?).

 

When I purchased my mini two months ago, the dealer was very clear..."either 1 year or 15,000 miles which ever comes first." It was also repeated several times that it was "free". It was then explained to me that I get the "free" service "3" times "only" within 3 years or 36,000 miles. Thus their once a year or 15,000 miles.

 

Wow. Is this how much your MINI dealers are charging for an oil change?


My only concern, is that the attorneys will get millions, and we might just get a B&W picture of an oil filter.

I was part of a Class Action against AT&T (payments were due by 12:01AM on the due date). The attorneys got like $6M, and I got like $0.03 credit in my next bill.

 

If not enough miles the first year anniversary they do the service.

If you do enough miles in the next five or six months after that service the computer will tell you to get it serviced. If not it will be done at the two year ownership of your car.

If it does you will get the next service after one year from that service.

********** This is so easy a caveman can understand it.*********

The service is done at one year """OR"" when you get the computer to tell you to get it done.

If the computer does not tell you to come in after the second year of ownership because you do not drive far you need to make your appointment and they will do the service.

*** it is to be done once a year even if you do not drive the car at all***
That means one year from the previous service unless you put a lot of miles on the car and the computer tells you to bring it in. Then it is one year from ""THAT"" date.

If anything wears out like brake pads or you live up a dirt road they will change items like cabin filter,wiper blades Etc. as needed without servicing the engine.

 

The owner's manual says 1 year or per CBS whichever comes first, period.

MINI's failure to live up to 1 year - per the manual regardless of miles driven - to keep our warranty valid - is what NAM peeps have a problemo with.

 

MINI has removed the requirement for less than 6,000 miles per year for an annual oil change. However, you must be 366 days or more since your last oil change or your original purchase date to receive. This applies to low mileage drivers. Otherwise just wait for the computer to tell you when to come in based on your driving - city vs highway.

This is a recent modification to the bulletin original dated early September.
Please check with your MINI Service Advisor for further details.

 

Yes, and even tho it's been posted repeatedly that the manual does not say that, people insist that it does. So, RTFM!

It does say that the oil should be changed once a year. It does not say they'll pay for it, unless the CBS says it's time.

The thing I don't understand is how people can get so upset over a fricking oil change they think they're due - change your own oil fer chrisakes!

$30K car and you can't afford an oil change????

 

"Free" (Included in the purchase price) maintenance for 3 years should include ALL maintenance required.

Including the annual oil change required per the manual.

Does that matter to most here, no since most are changing it way sooner.

It's a contradiction that the manual requires the maintenance, and MINI refuses to do it. DOH!

Still would love to see an oil analysis on 20K+ oil........ Anyone up to it?

 

I got 2 free oil changes in the first 3 years. One at a year (about 15k miles), then the indicator lit up, but they just did the brake fluid, and I badgered them to do the cabin filter and wiper blades (and they did the exhaust tip to make it shorter). Then at 2 years they did the oil again, lost my stubby antenna at the car wash, and that was it for me. It's like $40 for an oil/filter change, and I live 100 miles from the dealer. Big whoop.

 

MINIUSA.COM:

Buy a MINI now and pay no maintenance costs for 3 years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first.

We cover all factory-recommended maintenance* at no charge, as wall as specific items that need replacement due to regular wear and tear.

*Certain limitations and exclusions apply to this program: please refer to your Service and Warranty Information Booklet for coverage, terms, and conditions.

And the Booklet on page five in bold font says: Note: Change oil at least once a year.

 

Thank goodness this is behind us now. I went in today, and while I was six days too early for the service (must be 366 days), the annual oil change is definitely covered (again). I'm glad BMW came to their senses on this one and decided to do the right thing by giving folks what they had agreed to. I'm hoping the issue is dead though because if they changed the rules once they might just as easily stop again.

 

Was that at Passport? Mind telling us your mileage and purchase date?

My car got to Passport in Feb 2010 but I purchased it in May 2010. When I start my car it says service due Feb 2011. And car was built in Nov 2009! My oil will be almost two years old by the time it's changed (under the maintenance plan). I'll probably go to JLube with my own filter around 7500 miles.