Hi Folks, just picked up my '07 Cooper S this week! Great car so far, but I found out the former owner only changed the oil once in its 24,000 miles.

I'm coming from a BMW where I used a Mityvac oil extractor. I couldn't find any conclusive evidence that it works with MINI, though. Has anyone used a Mityvac to avoid getting under the car?

I think I will try it this time and then take the drain plug out to see if it gets everything.

 

I saw a demo on a MINI using an extractor (not sure if it was a Mityvac) on YouTube (I'd do a search and see if it is still posted). Looked like changing the filter was more trouble than I want to deal with (had to remove some parts to get to it). I'm sticking with 5-6K intervals at the dealer/my independent for around $100.

 

ouch $100 for an oil change? i wouldve stuck with my BMW if i knew about bills like that.

 

$100 that is a bit expensive. But then again the quick lube places around me charge $79.99 for a mobil 1 oil change.

Filter is really not that difficult to get to one philips head screw and move the radiator expansion tank out of the way and there it is.

as for the extractor it should work just fine

 

I guess I didn't think that was that bad since I have a BMW also (LOL). I had the engine oil and gearbox oil changed at 1,200 miles and it was about $189 so my guess was about $100 for a normal oil change. Maybe the gearbox was a lot more than the engine oil to change? I was guessing they cost about equal to do. Going crazy overboard on maintenance, I know.

 

I just changed my oil this past weekend with the topside oil changer.
It works fine, but it's still not as easy as the Youtube video shows.

1. do not insert the drain tube in too far...just insert a little past dipstick length to start, and then insert deeper as the oil starts to drain. Please note that you may run out of vacuum before the oil is completely drain; so you'll have to pump up the can again to finish draining. (you may want to drain the oil with the filler cap off too!).

2. drain the oil completely before changing oil filter. This will minimize the amount of oil that will be dripping down your engine block. One thing you can do, though, is to place some towels under the oil filter enclosure before removing from engine block. This also minimize the oil to your engine block.

All said...it took me 30 minutes to change my oil, and it wasn't too messy too.

If I have to buy this vacuum equipment again, I'll spring extra money to buy the plug in, electrical vacuum type.

Hope this helps guys...

 

On youtube see "2008 R56 MINI Cooper S oil and filter change". I just recently changed mine this way and it was beyond easy. Changing the filter is simple and I didn't spill a drop of oil. Took me maybe 20 minutes and I wasn't rushing. Wish I had known about oil extractors years ago.

 

WOw, thanks Pez. That is exactly the straight forward tutorial I've been looking for!

 

All I ever use on the MINIs I service is my Mityvac. I still like to take a good look around under the cars anyway. I can extract the oil so completely that nothing comes out of the drain hole in the oil pan. The only vehicles I have encountered that it doesn't work on are vehicles with a Chrysler 3.7 V6. There is an extra tight bend in the dipstick tube of those engines that prevents the Mityvac extraction hoses from reaching the oil pan. The MINI is a 10 minute job with an extractor.

 

I don't think I've ever done an oil change in the last 3 years without my mityvac. I've used it on my MINI, my BMW and my Chevy truck without issue. I have the the one that hooks up the my air compressor so I just start it up and walk away, when I come back it's all done.