R56 Minis and oil consumption. What gives?
E9x M3s (current generation) will absolutely DEVOUR oil (which is ONLY available at dealers BTW) if you live in the high-HP upper RPMs. The cost and newness (is that a word) of the car has little to do with it. It's all about the way the engine was designed. Some cars use aluminum pistons which leak a bit until they heat up and expand. Cars with high cylinder pressures will have a lot of blow-by which doesn't help either.
Lots of experience with an E39 M5...that thing drank oil CONSTANTLY, had to keep oil in the trunk. The E60 M isn't much better either
5th Gear
Joined: Dec 2010
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From: Cannon AFB, Clovis, New Mexico
Stupid aluminum pistons and high pressure. lol Still LOVE the car though. If I could still order an E90 I'd probably do that instead of a JCW. Something about a modded JCW holding its own against a stock M3 is REALLY appealing though. 
Believe me, I know what you're sayin!
6th Gear
Joined: May 2010
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From: Pacific NW
Dave
1st Gear
Joined: Apr 2011
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From: Ummmerika, *hek* yeah!
FWIW: In our family we have a VW TDI as well as an MCS...
The TDI uses very little oil compared to the MINI. Our MCS uses ~0.5 quart of oil every one or two thousand miles. Recently had the chance to talk to a tech at our local dealer who shared that when she works on "S" models its unusual for her to encounter one that is at the full mark on the dipstick. Her theory is that the annual oil change MINI offers is a remedy for owner who don't or won't keep an eye on their oil consumption. She also shared that JCW tuned S's seemed unusually thirsty - her assessment was that the consumption was largely blow by with the rest being consumed by the turbo which tends to run hot on the N14 engine.
The TDI uses very little oil compared to the MINI. Our MCS uses ~0.5 quart of oil every one or two thousand miles. Recently had the chance to talk to a tech at our local dealer who shared that when she works on "S" models its unusual for her to encounter one that is at the full mark on the dipstick. Her theory is that the annual oil change MINI offers is a remedy for owner who don't or won't keep an eye on their oil consumption. She also shared that JCW tuned S's seemed unusually thirsty - her assessment was that the consumption was largely blow by with the rest being consumed by the turbo which tends to run hot on the N14 engine.
6th Gear
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 1,961
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From: Robertsdale, Alabama
FWIW: In our family we have a VW TDI as well as an MCS...
The TDI uses very little oil compared to the MINI. Our MCS uses ~0.5 quart of oil every one or two thousand miles. Recently had the chance to talk to a tech at our local dealer who shared that when she works on "S" models its unusual for her to encounter one that is at the full mark on the dipstick. Her theory is that the annual oil change MINI offers is a remedy for owner who don't or won't keep an eye on their oil consumption. She also shared that JCW tuned S's seemed unusually thirsty - her assessment was that the consumption was largely blow by with the rest being consumed by the turbo which tends to run hot on the N14 engine.
The TDI uses very little oil compared to the MINI. Our MCS uses ~0.5 quart of oil every one or two thousand miles. Recently had the chance to talk to a tech at our local dealer who shared that when she works on "S" models its unusual for her to encounter one that is at the full mark on the dipstick. Her theory is that the annual oil change MINI offers is a remedy for owner who don't or won't keep an eye on their oil consumption. She also shared that JCW tuned S's seemed unusually thirsty - her assessment was that the consumption was largely blow by with the rest being consumed by the turbo which tends to run hot on the N14 engine.
I had a brand new 1996 Vmax Yamaha that used oil , I was called a dumb **** for using Xbrand of oil and then the service manager called me a liar, stating "we sold millions of these and never had a problem" . Anyways after two years of bitching and stalling they found one cylinder head had a hairline crack that would open up when hot and pass oil into the combustion chamber.
The light is not a low oil sensor on the newer Minis. It is an oil pressure (lack of) light. When the pump fails or the pump has no oil in it the light comes on.
Last edited by OceanMini2; Jan 29, 2012 at 09:57 AM.
this is what I would do
pull the plugs and inspect them they all should be the same
install new plugs drive a few miles and inspect them they should be the same
try to isolate the cylinder that is using oil
do a pressure test on all the cylinders hot they should all be the same
if you find one cylinder to be oiling its plug and not holding pressure it has a defect like a crack
if all the cylinders are the same and all the plugs are the same it could be the turbo seal
pull the plugs and inspect them they all should be the same
install new plugs drive a few miles and inspect them they should be the same
try to isolate the cylinder that is using oil
do a pressure test on all the cylinders hot they should all be the same
if you find one cylinder to be oiling its plug and not holding pressure it has a defect like a crack
if all the cylinders are the same and all the plugs are the same it could be the turbo seal
3rd Gear
Joined: Apr 2011
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If you look at the 2011 Manual (2010 printing) it looks different than the one you posted from the 2006 printing.
The light is not a low oil sensor on the newer Minis. It is an oil pressure (lack of) light. When the pump fails or the pump has no oil in it the light comes on.
The light is not a low oil sensor on the newer Minis. It is an oil pressure (lack of) light. When the pump fails or the pump has no oil in it the light comes on.
Ive seen the light on mine
4th Gear
Joined: Aug 2010
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From: DFW, Texas
Same here. Not burning any in mine; every time it's at the top. It kind of concerns me that I'm not reading the stick right, but I've used every checking method proposed on these forums.
6th Gear
Joined: Sep 2011
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From: Robertsdale, Alabama
I think after all the horror stories we're all just getting paronoid about this oil thing. I still check it at least twice a week.
I think in about another 1K miles, I'm going to change my oil again and actually measure just how much I remove. I'll check it first though.
Maybe that'll give me a warm fuzzy feeling. LOL
4th Gear
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 308
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From: Los Angeles, CA
My 2007 MCS didn't burn any oil until some time after 70,000 miles. In 2011, I have to add 1 quart of oil every 1000 miles or so. And one time while I was at the Mini independent shop changing oil, another MCS owner was complaining about his MCS burning oil. The shop owner told me that Mini said it is acceptable to burn 1 quart of oil every 750 miles. He said he doesn't think so either, but there is nothing he could do. There is nothing wrong with the car and he is starting see many high mileage MCS doing the same thing.
He used to tell his customers to change oil every 5000 miles, now he recommends every 3500 miles just in case they don't check their oil. BTW, my parents has a 2005 Audi A4 Turbo and it doesn't burn oil at all. I traded in my Mini in December because I got sick of adding oil every 2 weeks. Yes I drive about 1000 miles every 2 weeks.
He used to tell his customers to change oil every 5000 miles, now he recommends every 3500 miles just in case they don't check their oil. BTW, my parents has a 2005 Audi A4 Turbo and it doesn't burn oil at all. I traded in my Mini in December because I got sick of adding oil every 2 weeks. Yes I drive about 1000 miles every 2 weeks.
for high oil consumption Minis another angle for repair?
If your car is burning as much oil as mentioned here I would think your emissions would not be in compliance and would need to be fixed whether or not mini wants to. Get Uncle Sam behind you
Also IMHO all the problems with R56 turbo models seem to stem from the lofty goal of better fuel economy.
High fuel pressures & direct fuel injection causes carbon build up
and diesel like clattering
lower friction( lower pressure) piston rings,thinner weight oils,stupid long oil change intervals and large clearances causes blowby ,wear
and oil burning consumption
Also IMHO all the problems with R56 turbo models seem to stem from the lofty goal of better fuel economy.
High fuel pressures & direct fuel injection causes carbon build up
and diesel like clattering
lower friction( lower pressure) piston rings,thinner weight oils,stupid long oil change intervals and large clearances causes blowby ,wear
and oil burning consumption
It is a good looking car, if it just was a fun and fast as it looked it would be a consideration...and swallowing the base price of $30k.