My wife's 07 Cabrio dipstick is the flat panel metal stick. Super easy to read but goes straight in and out. The n12 in my 08 hatch hits a curve going in and I don't think a a flat will make the bend. I bought a craven but oil gets up in the spring and its not a solution. I filed the oem and works pretty good now.

 

Joanie, I would love an old-school flat metal dipstick!

 

It will probably be a moot point in the next generation MINI. Dipsticks have already been eliminated at BMW (and other brands): http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/22/t...n-dilatory-dr/

 

That's what makes me wonder... Is it the channel itself that dictates needing something on the bottom of the stick so that it doesn't get caught up in the channel? Otherwise, it's only a matter of getting the right length. :-) who is going to go out and tinker with a fix?

 

((((sigh)))) So instead of trying to teach the drivers, they take away the tool.

 

I personally have no issues with the stock dipstick, there is a line where your oil is, and it is in between two humps, if you are in that area you are set. Also the amount of space in between the humps its 1qt of oil. Oil line is in the middle of the humps add .5 qt. That simple.

 

It isn't just about reading it, but whatever. Getting tired of explaining the issue of the accuracy of the dipstick and the issues involved. Well, glad that everyone who can read the stock 2011+ dipstick is happy with it. Plenty of us are not.

 

Sorry, but it is not that simple. Joanie said she was tired of explaining this so I will do it. If you don't take care you will get false readings from the current dipstick since the design causes oil to be left in the tube when you pull it out the first time to wipe it clean. If all you do is put it back in then pull it out for your reading the oil in the tube smears on the dipstick between the two humps and makes it either extremely difficult to read or gives false "level is okay" readings. If you haven't modified your dipstick or are not using a multi wipe approach, it's likely you are getting false readings from it.

 

Yes, but those car have somewhere between 9 and 13 quarts of oil. They can lose a couple of quarts with basically no effect on the engine.

I had to buy a much larger drain pan the second time I changed the oil on my wife's car... ...And I've also spent the better part of an hour, with a half-dozen other people, dumping and sweeping kitty litter on a race track after a 911 popped an oil hose off. They oiled down a very long section of the track...

 

The posts in the following link illustrate and explain why there is a problem reading the 2011+ dipstick. This thread goes into great detail to explain what the problem is and methods to overcome it.

Morris, 2011 MC, PW/B, 14,000 trouble fee miles

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

 

I'll be the first to admit, I check my oil but have no idea if I'm reading the darn thing correctly.. lol I hope I am!

 

"Hope isn't a strategy"

Check that thread, it might save you a lot of money later!

Thank you, jhull413, that was an excellent explanation.

 

I understand now, I always pull wipe, then check 3 times. It was a habit before mini so i guess i just never noticed.

 

Byron H, thank you for the link to that post, you did a fantastic job in clarifying the problem and giving solutions!!

 

Thanks JoanieB. I hope at least some follow the link and take the time to read the posts. Many people spent quite a bit of time to help with this issue.

Morris, 2011 MC, PW/B, 14,000 trouble free miles

 

I was one of those people who bought an '07 MCS without one iota of an idea how important it was to watch the oil consumption. The spring version of the dipstick for that N14 engine was even worse than what now comes in the newer N18 that everyone is still complaining about. I plunked down the $75 for the Cravenspeed dipstick, albeit a bit late, after already experiencing a blown turbo and valve issues I'm convinced because of early issues with oil. I was glad to transfer that dipstick into my newer Mini.

 

If the salesperson stressed that you need to keep an eye on your oil, would the average consumer be turned off by that information and go instead to a car brand whose manufacturer downplays preventive maintenance? Probably. So the manufacturers play a game.. put it in the owners manual, to CYA, but don't make a big deal of it. Stress the reliability, downplay the buyer's responsibilities. Until something goes boom. Then point out the fine print. With NA Hondas, Toyotas, etc, it might not matter, at least the car will last far longer without maintenance. So we can all make a point of mentioning the oil level/oil change situation to new owners we meet. Will they do it? Maybe, maybe not... but at least they have the information.

Information is power.

 

I can tell you I just bought the '12 JCW Coupe and not one word from the salesperson on oil vigilance. But I did notice that separate from the owners manual they now include a four panel primer (written in obtuse Mini cutesy) about some of the more unexpected operating features, and one of the panels does cover the oil issue with an honest warning. They also gave me a flash drive with video files, one of which was about the importance of checking the oil. So at least that is better than the walk through I got from my '07 purchase (it took me almost a year to accidently discover there was the second, secret glove box in the dash).

I will add, however, that the manufacturer prescribed oil change interval contributes to the problem. They sell you on how maintenance is covered, but they don't tell you if you wait the full 15,000 miles for your first oil change, as the manual suggests, you're an idiot. I was that idiot.

 

"Obtuse Mini cutsey"... you put it very well, that's exactly what it is. And while they are great at maintaining that 'fun factor', it isn't fun to be stuck on the side of the road! Glad to hear that they are making the oil information more available, that's a step in the right direction!

I was never aware of car maintenance until I bought Winnie. Our old beater cars went forever and we only worked on them when they broke down. But our MINIs are getting 5,000 mile oil changes, tire rotation, full check ups, tire pressure checks, and all the rest, because they mean a lot more to us. We all learn.... :-) And our culture, these days, stresses the mindset of 'use it up and throw it away'. We aren't taught simple maintenance, and most people don't think about it.


As a little sidebar, somewhat pertinent... how many people buy bonsai trees, and then the tree dies and they blame themselves? Guess what... bonsai can't live in the house. Very, very rare for someone to be able to keep a bonsai alive in the house. Even in winter, they need to be outside. But if the seller told you that, you wouldn't buy it, would you? If you knew that it can't sit on the TV for you to look at. So they don't tell you. And you kill it, slowly, but as surely as if you put it in the closet (because houses don't have enough light or humidity for most trees) Because it takes so long, you blame yourself, you don't blame the seller who knew that the tree was doomed. Same kind of thing. But MINIs cost tens of thousands of dollars, so it's a big deal when you lack the information to keep it going.

 

BMW's without a dipstick are actually pretty awesome. You can still check the oil level by clicking through your OBC, and it is one of the graphical displays. If you have navigation, it shows the level on your screen along with all the tire pressures. (You can see the method with nav in this video: )

In fact, I much prefer that method - very simple, and reliable too. It also means one less point of entry for dirt or anything else to enter the crankcase. It's not just an idiot light that tells you when you're screwed, it's an actual sensor that measures the level and will tell you as you're getting low. It is still something I check each time I fill the gas tank.

 

Doesn't the car know when the oil is low? Why do I need to check the dipstick?

 

Bahahahaha !

 

That was a joke right....

 

Sorry stevenratner! I shouldn't have said that. You must be passionate about your MINI's well being . Learn to check all fluids and do it often. I check mine weekly. There are many, many posts about the problems of low oil and the problems people have in something so basic as checking oil level.owning and driving these cars has changed me. I enjoy maintenance for the first time in 40 years simply because the driving experience is so awesome. Again, sorry hope I can be of help sometime with my limited knowledge.

 

Funny you mention that. My wife and I test drove a Mini today. The salesperson pointed out that it's important to check the oil regularly as the turbo can cause consumption. He also mentioned the prepaid service but that many opted to change their oil more frequently.