I assume I have the stock dipstick, the one that looks like a long spring, and I find the opposite to be true for me about viewing it in the light. In full sunlight I have never had a problem reading mine even right after changing the oil but in the garage...forget it.

 

TWICE, the motor oil dip stick in my '07 R52, spontaneously came up broken.
Fortunately, the fiberglass (I believe) innerds, held it from dropping into the motor. YIKES

I"m surprised I haven't read about this, here. Maybe being a JCW, has some bearing. No clue.

MINI Annap said they've heard of this, but no fix available.
Is Cravenspeed the answer?
It's quite apparent that it wasn't engineered for smooth action , and it's not a big surprise the stick takes some abuse. Now, I'm super careful inserting it and removing it.

 

Been over 8 years now, and I've never thought of this as a problem. I check my oil, in the garage (level surface) on Saturday mornings when the car is cold. Visibility is a total non-issue and I'm old enough to use reading glasses.

 

I have found that the most important aspect of reading the stock dipstick is to have dim light,then you can see the color difference on the dip stick. Once you find the right angle and light is is very easy to read every time after. i tried the paper towel , but there is always residual oil higher up the dip stick.

 

I have both the R56 stick and the Cravenspeed. I use the towel method on both, but depending on the situation sometimes it is not so easy to read.

Here is what the MINI tech at the dealership showed me to do. With the OEM dipstick (brownish plumb bob on the end);

• Pull the dipstick and wipe the entire thing from the pull **** to the tip
• Insert the stick back in but stop when the pull **** reaches the edge of the dip tube. Don't insert it all the way
• pull and wipe and repeat the second step 3 times
• Insert the stick all the way pull and check the oil level on a paper towel

The explanation is that the design of the stick and the tube allows for oil to be pulled up the tube by the dipstick which then leaves oil on the dipstick. By pulling and wiping, you don't dip the stick back down into the oil pan and then you are scraping the tube clean.

 

Cravenspeed. Paper towel.

 

If you're having problems reading the Craven dipstick then God help you, or go get some prescription glasses. It's easy to read my Craven dipstick, you can easily see where it is wet on the Craven dipstick.

 

The following post gives the four best methods to read the dipstick I have found.


https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...32-post1.html?


2011 MC PW/B

 

Tried following all the suggestions in previous posts, I give up. Finally bit the $75 bullet and bought the Craven dipstick. Am pleased to report, it works just fine. I guess there is a reason they get away with selling a very expensive dipstick..

 

They get away with it because it's worth it, the blame should be with Mini or else we wouldn't have to spend $75 on an aftermarket dipstick! There are a lot of dipsticks working for Mini.

 

I hope that the fellow in France that designed that has been long fired,


have you ever heard anywhere all the talk about just being able to check


the oil level. MINI should be ashamed.

 

Je vais montrer aux Allemands, les baiser pour envahir Paris!

 

First, I apologize if it has been addressed already, but 4 pages is alot to read through...that said, what dipstick do you currently have? My OEM stick looks like a long tightly coiled spring, and I was told not many Minis had this. I actually took my car to the dealer to ask how to check my oil and with a techs help, I am now fully confident when I check.

 

I have been there! If you'd like I can post a pic of my dipstick to show you how to check?

 

The later cars have a crummy plastic end on the stick that makes it unreadable most of the time.

The early coiled metal units are fine and easy to read.

 

Yeah that's what I heard. Sorry about that. I'd still go to the dealer and have them show you. Are California based? Mini of Ontario has the nicest techs.

 

PERFECTLY sums up this situation

 

I have never had a problem reading my OEM dipstick. I really don't understand what the problem is.

Dave

 

What year is your Mini?

 

I'm in NJ. I'm an auto tech instructor, so I modified mine (I did the post on filing it flat). It's easier to read that way.

I say "easier" it's still a pain. I may cave in and buy the craven speed one. I need to check my oil fast.. Not waste an hour doing a dance to read it.

 

I think only the French know how to read it per post #36

 

I had one of those on my car, but find the Craven much easier to read.

 

And just how the heck did the French get to design MINI stuff?
Me thought this was a british thing.
Now I have to rethink selling Le' Car du MINI Coop

 

Prince is the codename for a family of modern automobile straight-4 engines developed jointly by BMW and PSA Peugeot Citroën.

 

imagine my horror when i picked up my new all4 and saw "engine assembled in france" on the window sticker!