Hi Guys,

I have a few questions regarding the oil change indicator on the R56. I have a 2009 S (34000 miles) and the GF has a 2013 Countryman All 4S.

My oil change indicator starts at 14k, however hers starts at 9k.

Is there a firmware upgrade that needs to be done to the 2009S?

What does your oil change indicator start at once its been reset? ( regardless of how often you actually change the oil)?

I asked the service rider at the dealership today and they said that mini reduced the oil change interval on the new vehicles, but eluded the question of why that wasn't applied to older vehicles.

Thanks.

 

On your car MINI recommended a 15k mile oil change interval so it is programmed for that.

On her car the new standard is 10K.

I don't know if dealer will modify your interval. It is possible with the correct computer tool.

Neither one of which is often enough.

 

My '12 started with an OCI of about 15K miles. After the first service (at 1 year, not miles) the OCI showed up as 8K-9K.

I'd say yes, there is an update that changes the interval--on at least some cars.

 

the mechanics at the dealership have a handtool that looks like a code scanner that is used to reset the various service intervals

any year, any model mini can be set to any mileage the mechanic wishes

my dealer is now setting all minis to 8,000 miles for oil changes

scott

 

I believe you will need MINI to do the software upgrade to get the shorter interval. I had mine in for some repairs last summer and as part of that work they did the upgrade. You would have to get some work done that would call for the software upgrade to be performed though. Possibly you could request it standalone, though I'm not sure what they would charge for it.

 

not so

my dad's 09/2011 build date cms all4 originally had 15k interval

after it's first oil change at the dealer at 1 year, the dealer set the next change to 8k miles ... no software update was performed

my 03/2012 build cms all4 originally was set for 9k change, after the first change it was set to 8k interval, again, no software update performed

the dealer has a tool to set the interval to whatever they want

scott

 

You are the only person I've seen post indicating that their dealer has a dedicated tool for adjusting the interval sans flashing the ECU with upgraded software. I suspect some NCSExpert folks or others who know their way around the MINI's software (e.g. someone like Way) can do the same thing.

Overwhelmingly, the only way the shorter interval is accomplished is a result of software flashes. As we can see from the OP's dilemma, even some dealers have staff who are not aware the intervals can be adjusted on older MINIs, much less via something as simple as a handheld device.

 

my dealer has a glass wall separating the waiting area from the workshop ... you can watch the mechanics work on your car

i saw the mechanic take what i thought was a code scanner into the car and plug into the diag port

i asked if there were any codes ... that's when he told me about the reset tool ... it is only used to set/reset the miles / date of the next services

he also said it is a bmw/mini tool that all the dealers have or have access to

the other item of info i got was that there was a bulletin to the service depts to use the 8k interval

i posted this info in another thread (in the countryman section) and someone else that works at a dealer confirmed it

scott

 

Our Mini has 3K miles on it, how about break-in oil? Shouldn't it be changed at around 3K instead of the normal interval?

 

my opinion is that even 8k is too long for a turbo engine

i changed my oil/filter at ~1300 miles
again at ~2500 miles
again at ~4500 miles
dealer changed at ~8000 miles (counter hit zero from the original 9000 and was then set to 8000 miles)
my counter just hit 4000 to go this am and i will be changing oil/filter tomorrow at ~12,000 miles

from now on, i will alternate oil/filter changes with the dealer every 4000 miles, unless they change the interval again

i plan on keeping my cms all4 a LONG time ... my last vehicle purchase was a 1997 gmc sonoma v6 5 speed 4x4 p/u in 12/96 ... it has had 5000 mile oil changes (with mobil1) for the last 290,000 miles and is still running strong and uses no oil

scott

 

I have a 07 MCS and my indicator resets to 2 years or 20,000 miles.

 

+1
All my vehicles oil and filters are chaged every 5K and Mobile one is my choice also.

 

It's cheap insurance... even if just for peace of mind.

 

Full synthetic should be good for 10,000 to 12,000 miles. With the 15,000 interval & the fact that most of us add a quart every 1,000 miles the oil has been changed 3 times...between oil changes, uh, with a filter.

 

when the oil burns that quart every 1000 miles its leaving behind deposits and the oil filter is still getting dirty. so even though were putting new oil in its just getting dirty.

 

and if the filter gets completely full, there is a bypass that opens and no more filtering happens ....

the filter on my gmc sonoma p/u truck is many times larger than the mini filter and it is rated for only 7,500 miles by the manufacterer

scott

 

i believe your statement should include the phrase "on a non turbo charged engine"

also, i run my oil level at 1/2 down on the dipstick and burn no oil at all between changes ... same with my dad's cms all4

scott

 

The change interval is just a parameter setting. You don't code the car. You just change the setting.

Dealer uses a BMW product. You can also use a Autologic device to do the same. There are others as well.

Miles between changes are a un-resolvable discussion. Some have no problem ever stretching it to 15k between changes. Others get new motors........OR different cars.

Yes, synthetic oils are good. No argument. But did Mobil 1 create their 0w40 for MINI knowing it would be on a 15k interval. Nope. That oil is sold to more than just MINI owners.

For about $45 every 5000 miles I can change my oil. It's a lot cheaper than a new car or a new motor.

But everyone can decide for themselves.

 

Poor filter has to filter 20 guarts of oil!

 

A very interesting thread.

New to the world of Mini so trying to get informed as much as possible.

 

Some people on here will suggest changing the oil the first time at 1,000 to 3,000 miles, but I would wait until at least 5,000 miles or 1 year (whichever comes first). The dealer will do it at 1 year for free. My first oil change was at 5,500 miles and mine still doesn't use any oil. Be sure to check the oil and top it up to full if it is down any. I also believe in slowly taking it up to redline in 3rd gear within the first 1,000 miles.

 

Believe you are right on the mark at 5K changes. I also believe you are right about occasionaly taking it up to the red line to break in the top end for best all around performance.
When picking up our car I spoke with the manager of the service department about changing the oil myself between Mimi's service interval and using Mobile One. He told me that would be fine as Mobile One was a good oil, but that I shoulkd use Mini Coopers filters with the change.
I bought a good supply of their filters before leaving the dealership.

 

See I was told by a local shop that works on a lot of mini that we should be doing our oil changes no more than 7k. He said that the oil change indictor was just a sell tactic. He said that why many people have oil leaks because they wait to long to change the oil, I've never heard that before knowing the fact I ran amsoil in my other cars up to 20k or one year and never had a oil leak I think he just lying.

Think im going to switch to amsoil in my mini.

 

My 2008 R56 S is going to Motorwerks MINI in Bloomington, MN for the timing tensioner recall, and I thought it would be nice to have them shorten the indicated oil service interval for me while they have the car. I was told it's not possible, and that they can only set them to the parameters BMW specifies. Sounds like the system uses more than mileage to determine when a service is due. Oh well...I'll just have to continue to ignore it.

 

It's your car; do what you think is best. My fiance and I each drive an R56 S, and we change our oil at 3-4k. I don't believe in the extended intervals, and I tend to agree with what your guy told you.

I talked to my FIL's buddy, a lifelong GM technician, who told me that certain GM engines developed oil consumption and timing component issues when they switched to extended, indicator based service intervals. Sound familiar?

I love Amsoil products, but I don't think that using them allows you to extend your intervals at all.