My April 2007 MCS just went over 62K miles. I just want to note how pleasant life has been with this car. The complete inventory of problems I have has with this car since new includes:

- One microswitch for rear hatch replaced under warranty.
- One fuse for cigarette lighter socket replaced.
No other problems.

Maintenence:

Oil change every @5K miles ( Mobil 1 0-40). Oil filter change every second oil change.
Air filter change at 35K - new ITG foam filter on order from WMW
Microfilter change under warranty
Brake fluid change under warranty

Consumables:

-Brake rotors, Pads and wear sensors replaced at 61K (TSW rotors and EBC Green pads: OEM front pads were down to 10%, rotors were about at minimum thickness) Relatively simple at-home task.
-Windscreen wiper blades changed yearly
-General Exclaims for summer and Nokian Hakkapellittas for winter replaced OEM runflats

Still to do:

-Spark plugs will be changed soon
-New summer tires soon
-Extended length timing chain tensioner will soon relace OEM tensioner to cure occasional start-up chain rattle.

Misc.--Car generally gets about 36 mpg in conbined city/highway driving.

The MCS has been to date the most reliable car I have ever owned, and by far the most fun. Very happy and satisfied owner.

 

Nice post and good to hear, positives are in short supply at times around here

 

So nice to hear from happy MCS owners, especially 2007 as this is the year I have.

 

Now THIS is the kinda thing I like too read

 

I think you can attribute alot of your success to changing the oil every 5000 miles. I honestly think the initial 15K change interval Mini had is what has caused a majority of the issues found on the 07's-09's.
I bought mine used with 57K on it and it now just turned 67K. The only 2 issues I've had is the timing chain and a leaking thermostat. Nothing else shows on the work record.
Everything works great. Of course, I'm changing oil and filter every 5K since I've owned it but I'll bet the reason the timing chain failed was due to excessively long oil change intervals from previous owner.

 

Mine is at 62xxx too! August 07 build and I think I'm gonna keep it forever. Everyday the love gets stronger.

 

Great review

 

No intake valve gunk problems even? Good to hear. Our 08 justa is going strong at almost 80k with virtually no problems once the minor factory defects were taken care of.

 

Great post, Diploman. I feel like there's too many posts that imply that if you get an MCS, big problems are a given. I'm glad to see you've had a nice boring service history.

 

I always thought it might be okay to change the oil without changing the filter. I did my 2003MCS every 6000-7000 miles. I changed the filter every time but was wondering if it would be okay to do it without a filter change.

When I get my 2012 MCS I will want to change the oil before the dealer will. With it being its first oil change would you replace the filter?

 

I'd change the filter each oil change. Especially on an MCS due to the extreme heat generated by the engine.

 

BMW recommends a 15K miles change interval for both oil and filter for the second-generation engine introduced in 2007. Oil filters do not break down with use similarly to oil: rather, they just accumulate tiny particles of oil-borne debris. If BMW thinks the R56 cartridge filter is capable of going 15K miles, I think it should suffice for at least 10K - ie, two oil changes on my 5K change interval schedule. I am comfortable with this, although oil and filter change intervals are an intensely personal decision for Mini owners, and opinions vary greatly.

Oil changes, however, are a different matter from filters. After the introduction of the Prince engine in 2007 a number of concerned MCS owners submitted oil samples for laboratory analysis. Results showed with some consistency that approved synthetic oils begin to degrade in the hot-running MCS engine at around 6K miles. This led many MCS owners, myself included, to adopt a 5K oil change interval, despite BMW's 15K recommendation. I believe this is a prudent change interval and I stick to it, though some find such frequent oil changes overly conservative.

With regard to the question about changing the filter at first oil change on a future MCS, I would most definitely recommend changing the filter at the first oil change due to the significant quantity of microscopic metal filings resulting from the break-in process which are subsequently captured in the filter. For the same reason I would also recommend changing the filter at the second oil change, as break-in is a long, gradual process. After that, a more relaxed filter change interval can be estailshed if you are comfortable with it.

 

From someone still shopping for their Mini, that's great to hear. But even your car sounds like it's having the timing chain tensioner issue. That's the major thing keeping me from buying an S. Almost seems like no matter how well cared for the car is, the tensioner issue is inevitable. That's an expensive repair bill. So when I come across an S, I don't even want to consider it unless the repair has already been done (or they drop the price a ton).

 

(Sorry - I don't want to threadjack, but to address one of Klayfish's concerns... Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't the chain tensioner issue addressed with the N18 engine update in the 2011+ models?)

 

YEA YEA YEA! Another happy motorer here at 53K miles

 

You'll regret not buying the 'S'. Almost everyone does that could have bought it. The extra torque is just fantastic

 

"-Extended length timing chain tensioner will soon relace OEM tensioner to cure occasional start-up chain rattle."

I believe the OP , was talking about just replacing the tensioner , not changing the chain, guides and sprockets.
This is a $35 part over at ecstuning.com , and can be done by yourself in about an hour .

 

Considering oil starts degrading the very second it is poured into the engine, this is just more FUD about extended oil change intervals.

 

Not true. See the "Wish you'd bought an S?" thread elsewhere on this BBS.

 

Over the years, I've been fortunate enough to own some seriously fast cars. So sure, I like hp and torque like the next guy (or gal). But I can honestly say that I'd be perfectly happy without the S. I've had a ton of "momentum" cars too...current weekend car is a '90 Miata. I've had several Miatas, several first generation MR2s. They've been some of my favorite cars to drive.

If all things, namely reliability, were equal I'd go with the S. But with the knowledge of the impending issues I'm likely to face, the non-S looks very appealing. Keeping my options open for either, but I'm actually leaning away from the S.

 

HUBS is correct: I am intending to install the replacement tensioner, a part which cost about $19, if I recall. I am not worried about the condition of the chain, guides, sprockets, etc, because start-up chain rattle has only been an occasional, intermittent phenomenon with my car. When it does happen, 30 seconds to a minute of idling is sufficient for the tensioner to pump up and tighten out the slack. I am installing the new tensioner just as a precaution, not because there is any emergency.

Just as n aside, I believe the angst over the timing chain issue has been somewhat overblown. Certainly there are owners of early production second generation MCS's who have had serious problems. But many more, I am convinced, have had either minor problems like me, or no problems at all. The former group are vocal, indignant and omnipresent on boards such as this. The latter group is happily motoring, rather than posting complaints. So reading a board such as this gives a significantly distorted image of the prevalence and severity of the problem. In any case, BMW has addressed the timing chain issue and it should no longer affect current production cars. Owners of early-production MCS's need to be vigilant, but not hysterical.

 

I'm at about 51K on my 07 MCS, bought last summer with 36K on it. Yes, I'm putting some miles on it!

I was still under warranty at the time, and the dealer did the whole timing chain shebang, a carbon build up clean out, and fixed some door panel mood lighting that was messed up in a door replacement the previous owner did. The only thing that's come up since it's been out of warranty is the thermostat. But, I did buy a nice MBI policy that covered it. So, my total out-of-pocket repair since owning it is $250. I did rear brakes recently, and will need fronts in about 10K miles. I'll need tires before that, and will be happy to lose the run flats. All in all, VERY happy with my MCS. Fun factor is off the chart.

 

Klayfish, check to see if it has the extended warranty. I believe it covers that doesn't it? I bought an 07 MCS this past Thursday with some trepidation about the chain as well, but after doing research found out that I am covered up to 100k miles (currently have 55k on) or to the end of next year. The place I got it from is a non-Mini dealer and didn't know to run the vin number.

Also, the chain rattle doesn't seem to bad of a fix if you catch it soon enough. I think most of the horror stories came from driving it regularly with the rattle and not getting it fixed asap. I feel comfortable with my car and love it so far. I know it hasn't even been a week yet but still. I can see us going places

 

So if I understand correctly, if I bought an MCS I could be proactive and put on a replacement tensioner very cheaply which would eliminate the likelyhood of having the dreaded rattle? Is it an easy swap (I have basic skills, nothing crazy)?

 

It looks easy but don't do it unless you hear the rattle, otherwise I think you could actually cause damage to the chain. If the chain is already tensioned correctly, over tension could do a lot of damage....Might be good to get the part ahead of time though if it becomes an issue