R56 2008 Mini S Oil Change Mandated By My Wife!

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Jul 30, 2011 | 01:10 PM

#26

MCS Fever

6th Gear

Joined: Jun 2010

Posts: 1,129

Likes: 4

Quote:

Originally Posted by Redbob

It's interesting to see all the differences of opinions about oil change intervals.

I have two thoughts on this:
First: Oil is cheap, engines are expensive.
Second: When you offer to pay for my engine repairs, THEN you get the right to tell me what my oil change interval ought to be.

Having owned a lot of cars over the past 45 years, being an automotive engineer, having been an engine development engineer, and having used synthetic oils since before they were even on the market, I know what intervals to use.
And what I use is significantly shorter oil change intervals than Mini recommends.

Oil analysis reports are fact, not opinion. Fact is, these 250,000+ and 400,000+ mile MINI's are following the CBS and doing just fine:

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...-analysis.html

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...le-mini-3.html

Jul 30, 2011 | 03:52 PM

#27

Robin Casady

6th Gear

Joined: Mar 2007

Posts: 7,578

Likes: 4

From: Paradise

Quote:

Originally Posted by MCS Fever

Yes, oil analysis reports are facts, but facts for a 1st Gen MINI are not applicable to 2nd Gen MINIs. The engine is entirely different.

I had an oil analysis done on my 2007 MCS and it indicated that 8,000 miles between changes was about the limit. Someone else had an oil analysis done after the first oil change at 15,000 miles and the report said the metal content of the oil was so high it had become an abrasive rather than a lubricant.

Use oils that meet BMW LL-01, ACEA A3/B3 ratings.
MINIUSA approved oils:
Castrol Syntec European Formula 0W-30
Mobil 1 0W-40
Pennzoil Platinum European Formula Ultra 5W-30
Valvoline SynPower 5W-30

Last edited by Robin Casady; Jul 30, 2011 at 04:04 PM.

Jul 30, 2011 | 04:13 PM

#28

minimize07

4th Gear

Joined: Aug 2010

Posts: 314

Likes: 0

From: Annapolis Md

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robin Casady

Could'nt agree more,and my '07 has been running smoothly because of the 3-5000 changes I do.I certainly agree that shorter oil change intervals, especially those of us that do daily city driving (stop and go)will benefit from these changes.I also run it on the hywy to burn off the junk that can accumulate on the "vitals".One of the major problems that can occur is making sure you use the right filter as a few on here are using aftermarket and the seals leak causing oil consumption problems.Why not spend a few extra dollars and use the MINI filter and do it right the first time,nuf said.....

Jul 30, 2011 | 05:17 PM

#29

Rhetor

Thread Starter

1st Gear

Joined: Nov 2010

Posts: 23

Likes: 0

Wow!

I was kist ho[oing to find out if I had identified the right filter for my Mini S and the right socket to change it . . .

Sure, you can just go by the dealer and buy . . . but I am 90 minutes of heavy traffic away from the nearest Mini dealer . . . thought I could just buy the right stuff on Amazon . . .

Especially not sure if I have identified the right oil filter and socket for an 08 Mini S oil change.

Thanks all for the oustanding interval education . . . for me it is simple . . . changing out at 7,500 miles has got to get rid of a lot of environmental crud that would build up and keep grinding around waiting for 15K . . .

Jul 30, 2011 | 08:08 PM

#30

highlander709

4th Gear

Joined: Jul 2009

Posts: 453

Likes: 0

From: The Ville

Sorry I kinda hijacked your thread with my comments on change iinterval - I'd have never guessed this was such a controversial topic with such diverse and passionate opinions. As I mentioned in my first post, if you want to purchase the parts online check out the companies I mentioned. I have had good success with both of them and the parts are OEM genuine MINI/BMW parts. I am sure aftermarket is available but is the few dollars saved worth the worry of purchasing something that may not fit or isn't up to the OEM standard?

Best of luck!