What is the optimum interval for oil changes? Where would you recommend we go for oil changes? Dealership for $80 or any mechanic for cheaper. Do you also pay extra for the scope to remove the alert that computer on board provides?

Mini recommends every 15K miles. I have 70K miles and so far have been following dealer recommendations. But I have a feeling this is not the best thing to do. I plan on keeping my car until 150K+ and want to take the best care of it. Reading on NAM it seems some are saying 10K, others 7.5K and some even sooner.

Do you think oil changes should be sooner? I hope I haven't caused any issues to the engine yet!

 

interested in this as well. I have heard 7500k is a sweet spot for the change. Will the dealer cover the change at that interval?

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEpxN9qhFFo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ea5nk-AI6t0

Found 2 videos on how to do oil changes and it looks pretty straightforward. Do you guys think this is accurate and they are not missing anything. The first video even tells you how to reset the oil change alert. But my dealer said they have to pass some scope to reset it and they charge $50 extra for that!!!

 

I have a mechanic who is a mini specialist and he says to do it every 6 thousand miles. it seems like the dealer has long intervals for all the maintenance on the r56 coopers. i have a 2007 cooper s

 

resetting the light is supper easy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REyymJALb5A

 

I recommend doing it every 5k miles.

We have a kit to help you do it the first time
http://www.waymotorworks.com/oil-cha...5-r56-r57.html

 

How much does the synthetic oil cost. I may actually start doing this on my own. It looks pretty simple and dealer charges $80.

 

Some give me a lot of flack for my interval of 4K miles, but I've seen the nastiness that comes out of oil pans during my time as lube tech.
Plus, doing it at home with nothing more than paying for parts is my preferred method.

Synthetic oil in 1 quart bottle run between $5.50 - $8.00 each.

- Erik

 

how much would you say the parts cost?

 

For the OEM filter and the 5 quarts (using only 4.4 in crankcase), about ~$40 +/-.

- Erik

 

what brand synthetic oil do you use?

 

Mobil 1 Synthetic, 0w-40 (European Car Formula).
Have run it in my euro-fleet for over a decade...

- Erik

 

I like the OEM oil filter and they go for about $12-13 if you get them from a good source.

 

I just run to the dealer for oil and filter, then change it myself at home. I figure this is a safe approach should I have engine trouble in the future... They won't be able to blame non-spec oil or filter.

I did my first change at 5,000, and then it got changed again when I took the car in for its 12-month service... That was at around 6,200. I recently changed it again at 13,000; around a 7K interval. I'll probably aim for 7K from here on out.

Spridget

 

No, I do not think you need to do your oil changes any sooner (subject to driving style) than the computer recommended 15k +/- intervals.

 

Very contraversal subject. Personally, I change mine at 6K for piece of mind. I defineitly don't agree with the 15K interval especially if you have the S model. Too much heat generated. If you change it yourself it only costs about $45 for oil and filter vs $75 and up for dealership change.
Like I said, it's a very contraveral subject and you have to do what makes you feel comfortable but you should notice most owner use between 5-7500 mile intervals.

 

The 15K mile oil change interval is basically what MINI is willing to pay for, more or less. IMO there is no oil filter in the world that will effectively last 15K miles. Sluge will develope close to that mark. And I would say that an oil change at least in between that service interval is cruicial for the turbo MINI.

Also, how often do you drive the MINI ? A "garage queen" or even a convertible driven only 6 months out of the year needs to have it done more often than you think. Moisture build up in that oil will require at least two oil changes a year no matter what.

I change mine every 5k miles.

 

changed my first one at 2,500k and ive changed it every 5,000 miles relgiously ... but i also push my car and drive aggressively and a lot.

 

15K is a long distance on a small direct injected motor that revs and makes heat IMO.

I wonder if manufactures extending the intervals has something to do environmental impact. Less oil to use, less oil to deal with? One more thought..... If my car lasts 30 years and runs great (because I change the oil more often) I wont need a new one.... but I will need to replace many of the parts (most are not Mini or BMW parts).

 

I religiously change the engine oil every 5K. I do not believe in the 15K manufacturer recommends. I see what a 70 to 100K engine looks like when the oil is changed at that.

This is what my last BMW engine looked like when I first bought it when it had the 15K oil change.

 

A picture may be worth a thousand words, but not if the people looking at it don't know what they're seeing....

For the uninitiated, what he's trying to show (I believe) is sludge under the valve cover of a BMW engine that had 15K oil changes.

I recently had the pan off of a 170K mile 2003 Cooper S and I was amazed at how clean it was inside, no sludge in the pan at all and none anywhere in the engine that I could see. This car is on the 7500 mile interval route, and I think the evidence is very easy to see - a spotlessly clean engine!





I've used twice a year/every 7,500 on synthetic oil for all of my cars and mine also look like new if you peek inside the valve cover.

Works for me.

I also just use the factory filter and MINI oil, the filter is $9 and the oil about $5/quart from my dealer. For about $35, it seems like good insurance, and forces me to look at my car a couple times a year if nothing else.

One last point, DO NOT TAKE YOUR CAR TO ONE OF THE FAST LUBE PLACES! Too many heartbreaks and heartaches from folks who have, stay away. Spend the extra money and let your dealer do it if you love your car and can't do it yourself.

 

Ours is a grocery getter, short trips are hard on any car - so 6 month oil changes here too. Changed ours first at 5,000 miles / 6 months using Mobil 1. At 10,200 miles / 1 year the stealership did the 1 year "free" oil change. Interestingly they do not reset the CBS at the 1 year mark, so the next oil change comes quickly:

Then only 3,700 miles / 8 months later - at 13,900 on the odometer - last week since our MINI was in for the aux H20 pump recall - they did the 2 year "free" service 900 miles / 3 months sooner than CBS was indicating. Which includes oil change - brake fluid change - engine air filter - cabin micro filter etc.

I wish we did more highway miles, because I would like to see if the MPG is better with the 0W/30 the dealer uses, or the 0W/40 we use.

But really, with the special tools you need to buy, the funky canister oil filter, cost of filter and synthetic oil…... Paying the stealership to change the oil might be wiser for many. Our dealer charges $95 last I asked.

 

Very nice example. I'd love to have a lift to take mine off and see what it looks like. No issues and oil/filter every 6-7K.

 

I have a 2007 R56 with no problems and I change the oil (Mobil 1 Synthetic, 0w-40 European Car Formula or dealer provided) every 7k. I believe the oil could last 15k but not the filter. I plan on getting a Fumoto valve to make draining the oil even easier.

 

Since our MINI seems to be settling into the same 6,000 miles a year the car it replaced saw (2004 PT Cruiser HO Turbo with 36,000 miles on it in 2010).

At 6 months after the stealership service, I may just change the oil, leaving in the filter. Even that would be way over kill as far as oil life goes.

Then have the stealership do their services at 12 months. Even after the 3 year "free" maintenance expires.

Talk about an easy car to change the oil - both the oil filter and the drain plug are located next to each other on the PT Cruiser. I really don't like that funky MINI canister filter, afraid I will not get it all back together and sealed correctly. Heck even the battery should be replaced at the dealer to insure nothing gets fried and everything gets reset correctly. First car I ever had that has brake fluid changes in the maintenance schedule, even my 2007 GMC diesel truck rated to pull 13,000 pounds doesn't recommend that. Another thing I would not attempt myself on a new car.