My 2015 S-Coupe is just getting ready to leave the free maintenance period, so now i will be doing the maintenance myself. I went looking through the literature for a maintenance schedule, and all I can find if repetitive references to the CBS system, which is supposed to tell me what is due and when.

Well that's nice, but there must be some kind of schedule that indicates when to change the timing belt, flush the coolant, etc. Isn't there? Can someone point me to the recommended maintenance intervals. Thanks!

 

I stumbled upon this a few weeks ago, offers some help.

http://www.miniofstevenscreek.com/MINI-Service-Menu

 

[QUOTE=Minnie.the.Moocher;4280505]I stumbled upon this a few weeks ago, offers some help.

Thank you for the link, but it doesn't really offer much guidance, beyond indicating that everything should be checked and is optional at every service interval.

 

Strictly a starting point, filling in the time frames and mileage is the hard part. For example I'm 5-6K oil changes, 2 year brake fluid flush, etc. Maybe post up that list and seek other input on the time frames.

 

Well if that's got a N18 engine then get ready to break open the piggy bank soon. How many miles you got?

 

I asked the same question on this board several times again and again,

Nobody has an answer. Owning a Mini seems you are at the mercy of the dealer that will read your key or the independent shop that will just guess what you need to be done and be ready to build up a steep maintenance bill.

I will be at the end of the maintenance program in July and this is becoming a serious issue in my decision if I will keep my Mini or even considering to buy another one in the future.

At the worst, I will ask for a complete inspection and maintenance at 35K and see what will be done.

 

You mean those who got the N14 engine. The N18 seems fine.

 

Here's my schedule. Completely arbitrary to my own design but easily modified to suit anyone's purposes.

oil/lube/filter and rotate tires every 5K
brake fluid every 20K
coolant every 30K
PCV vent valve every 30K
PS fluid flush every 30K
serpentine belt every 30K
plugs every 40K
fuel filter Change every 50K
BG-44K every 6 mo.

 

So I just had mine in for its last "free" service (warranty up in April). I only have 23k miles. I don't think they ever did the brake fluid. They did do the plugs. They didn't do coolant or PCV valve. I got some wiper blades and cabin filter. That's about it for 3 yrs. And 4 oil changes.

 

One great incentive for regular service around here is that there is an outstanding donut shop within walking distance one way from the shop and after that for lunch an amazing brew pub a few blocks the other direction. Who wouldn't wait impatiently for the next service interval?

 

I've posted these before, I follow the R58 guide... 3rd link searching google for "R58 maintenance schedule". Took me 5 minutes of searching 4 years ago...

http://blog.bavauto.com/9906/bavarian-ottos-ultimate-maintenance-schedules/

http://www.bavauto.com/Assets/inst_pages/r58mc.pdf

This should be exactly what you're looking for. I keep mine in a ziploc bag in my glove box with the UPCs from filters/list of brands of parts I used.

 

With all respect, everybody is guessing again.

I want to see a detailed and official OEM chart. This seems to be taboo info and I don't understand why.

The dealer cannot even tell you what is coming next because they only read the key and say they don't know.

My previous car was an Infiniti and the dealer was always able to anticipate the next service and even explain what would be done.

 

The suggested maintenance table is located in the Bentley service manual starting on page 020-6, under Maintenance. I think that's the closest you're going to get. I strongly recommend this book if you are at all serious about maintaining your Mini. Otherwise, consider going back to an Infiniti . I make no bones about the utter lack of information available from BMW/MINI in regards to maintenance - seems to me that it's been this way for the duration of MINI's existence.
However, even with the information provided by the tables, you will have to judge for yourself whether a table is even useful for you or not - MINIs are highly strung machines and everyone drives them differently (some much harder than others) so condition based service is one way to account for that.
In particular, do you really plan on driving 15k miles on an oil change? That's what MINI would have you do based solely on a table...
Me, I got Blackstone oil reports based on my actual usage and they suggest based on wear levels to limit my changes to no more than 7500 miles. Were you to do the same, you'd almost certainly have a different result!

 

Not in my experience. 2012 S hardtop 36k miles. N18. Changed thermostat, was throwing sensor code, did water pipe and pump since I was in there and they are both plastic and will leak, just a matter of when. Changed front brake pads/discs, spark plugs, coil packs and the $1k high pressure fuel pump. At least the N18 doesn't seem to have the timing chain rattle of death. Yay.

The reason there is no maintenance schedule except change oil every 15k miles, which is absurd, and auto trans fluid never, which is insane, is because you will have problems long before an "interval" is due. You cant predict a thermostat sensor failing, no sense changing it if its still working. If you can DIY then you will save money. If you take it to a shop or dealer you pay the premium. In the meantime try to have as much fun as possible without wrapping a tree or going off a cliff.

 

If the dealer anticipated whats going to break next, and told you the cost you'd sell your car immediately while it still ran haha. There is no maintenance schedule for the high pressure fuel pump, when you get symptoms it doesn't even always throw a code, you just get terrible drivability till it fails and leaves you stranded. Dealers only do work based on codes scanned. They replace parts when they throw codes/fail, not troubleshoot/test to prevent the total failure in the first place. Maybe a shop will test fuel pressure or you can DIY, but no maintenance chart will have that on it as some last 36k miles like mine, some last 1.5k. Just hope you're more towards the former end of the spectrum.

 

This is not the point. I am talking about what need to be serviced.

What breaks in between or is unreliable and/or predictable in regards of the reputation of Mini is another matter.

 

the only things that "need" to be serviced: whatever the condition based service computer tells the dealer to do (when they scan your key). this includes: oil, brake pads, brake fluid, vehicle check (which includes: all lights, horns, Instrument cluster function, seat belts, wiper blades, washer nozzles, body of vehicle, tires and rotate if needed, battery, airbag system, Mirrors, drive belt, replace if needed, engine coolant, replace if needed, brake system including hoses and fluid, exhaust and driveline, convertible top). ignoring the identified unreliable parts of the engine (diverter valve, thermostat, water pump, water pipe, hpfp, coil packs, carbon buildup on valves,auto tranny if you never change fluid per dealer), it is otherwise relatively adjustment and maintenance free.