I've owned this car since late 2013 and purchased with about 22k miles on the clock. Today i replaced the engine and cabin filters. Take a look at these before and after.

 

It seems that the filters did the job properly!

 

THAT'S NUTHIN'

Here's what I found first time I pulled my cabin filter when pre-paid maintenance had run out (and the dealer had been checking and replacing as needed . . . )



GEN1 cabin filter from my 2002 S, 2005

 

Holy smokes....where do you live? Do you smoke?

PS
Capt BJ, do you use the same handle over at MiniMania?

 

When I bought my '08 used the PO gave me receipts that showed the cabin air & engine air filters replaced 1k mi ago. Cabin air was filthy and cloged with leaves and the engine filter was literally black. I gained 5mpg on the next tank of mid grade.

 

Wow. My airbox had some debris in there too, but did a quick hit with the shop vac.

I just re-checked my records and the cabin filter was replaced around 26k miles.

 

 

My 2012 Cooper Hardtop has 26K miles and just did the engine filter and found the cabin filter still like new.

I pulled the cabin filter to check it, but then learnt that you can view it from the battery compartment.

 

don't smoke - no one ever smoked in the car .... and the area wasn't 'heavy' industrial but Norfolk being a port city there were a lot of trucks on the roads . . . I changed once a year from then on and never saw another like this . . .

I use the same name on most boards I frequent .... I'm not sure I've ever made a post over on MiniMania altho I buy from them, mostly for my 79.

 

Thanks Capt.! Let us know if we can be of further help!

 

Brought my 2008 S in for service today,
I almost always do everything myself, yet I hadn't taken it in for at least 3 or 4 years and the service light was on ...so figured id just bring it in and have Mini check it out.

All is well,
BUT They wanted $697 to change oil, replace air filter, rotate tires, flush brake fluid and replace cabin filter. I was like $700!!!! are they insane!! (granted I do live in SF, CA ..everything is ridiculously expensive here ...but still).
So I told him to forget it i'll do it all myself for a fraction of the cost. But looking at what they spec'd out , the in cabin filter was $150 for the part and $50 for labor!!! I have changed my in cabin filter myself many times, ..it takes 4 minutes and cost about $35 for the part. They wanted $200 for that!!!!!

all maintenance will continue to be done myself!

 

$ 700 ???
Maybe there is a clutch replacement included : /

 

And that may be your last trip to the dealer.

Their bill should have included a jar of Vaseline.

 

The cabin filter only filters air coming from outside the Mini...

 

Not exactly.
Cabin filter filters air recirculating inside the cabin too (when you are using it in recirculation mode).

 

Mine was pretty dirty :


R56 cabin filter : https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...bad-smell.html

Have you seen a cabin filter like this ? Gen 1

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ter-gross.html



or


Gen 1

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...c-problem.html