I was just wondering does everyone take their mini to the dealer for the first 4 years?

If not what site do you get filters and dare I ask what oil do you use?

 

Castrol oil & get the filter from the stealers

 

Yes, I do take my car to the dealer. No, DIY does not void the warranty. Of course, if you do it wrong any damage you cause is not covered by the warranty. Since I let the dealer do it, I can't answer your last question.

 

I doubt seriously it voids your warranty and yes, I will be hauling Maddy to the dealers for 4 years because its right down the street.

 

Did a quick search for "2007 Mini Cooper Oil filter" on google and this popped up
http://new.minimania.com/web/Item/G2.../InvDetail.cfm

please note the sockets in the bottom right corner.

 

You can use Purolator filters, Part # L15465 . make sure to use synthetic oil and DON'T overtighten your drain plug or oil filter housing cap.

 

Nice to know that we can get the correct oil filter for our (in between) oil changes on the R56. THANKS

 

another trick for ease in future dis-assembly is to use a bit of wheel bearing grease on the o-ring (oil filter housing cap) ....

 

Did I read somewhere that the mini will tell you when to change to the oil around 7,000 kms.

I don't think I can let it go that long. I will change at 1,000 km, and then every 5,000km.

 

Just thinking out loud here -

If you use Castrol Syntec, and you use MINI OEM filters - how would the dealer even KNOW that you did a DIY oil change??

 

Hey the dealer just phoned. She said the order was placed etc.

She said no oil change until 16,000 km then every 24.000!

I can't wait that long. No way. I have an internal clock that at 5,000 km, I must change oil.

I know it's synthetic oil. But it still gets dirty.

So I will do one early, another at 6k, 11k, the dealer change, 21, 26, 31, 36, the dealer change.

Someone is crazy? Me or the dealer.

 

5000 km? I'm pretty **** about oil changes (well, all things maintenance), but going 5000 miles on a synthetic is nothing.

The 3000 mile oil change was when engines were cast iron with (relatively) poor manufacturing tolerances, and oil had few additives.

Today's manufacturing is vastly improved, as is oil technology.

 

So is the first 4 year oil and filter = Free? huh? and after that is 100USD a pop?

 

That's what I heard in the past, the MINI ain't cheap on upkeep. =P

 

I do a change in between the scheduled free changes, and when the free oil changes are no more, I'll continue to do it myself. I ain't paying them those big bucks to do something that's so easy that I can do myself. =op

Zip

 

When I change my oil between the service visits, the oil is relatively clean (ie. you can see light through it) but it's not pristine by any stretch of the imagination.

You have to think about this from the company perspective........ Long periods of time between oil changes are a selling point of the vehicle. I haven't seen it for MINI, but other car manufacturers actively advertise this as a "feature".

Now to balance that out, they have to look at what is the longest period of time that you can go between oil changes, and still keep the engine running well through the warranty period.? After that point, the company does not have any motivation to care.

The owner however, has a vested interest in keeping the engine runing for far longer than that (at least if you are keeping your car for a while). Changing your oil is a cheap investment....... especially done DIY on your own.

 

I'll do my first change at 2000 miles after break-in, then follow the recommended service intervals (service minder), but won't go more than 5k miles between oil changes even with synthetic. Just a personal preference.