Ya know just about every engine failure I've seen on Nam is due to lack of oil. But it's the same for other brands too. If I drive my GTO hard it uses oil. If I keep my foot out of it it doesn't. Most people drive the Mini brand hard. The car just lends itself to be driven like that. It's fun. But the cost of the fun is that some oil use. Not all. My R56 rarely used oil even with my foot in it. I check the oil, tires and other fluids at least once per week. It sure saves engines and it only takes minutes.

 

[QUOTE=ran-o-matic;2932849]Informed of the need to periodically check the oil level? I bought mine used. The dealer showed me how to check the oil level.

Did the way to check the oil level the dealer showed you work? Could you clearly see the level on the dipstick? Most of us have learned special methods to get good readings with the stock dipstick, modified the stock dipstick, or replaced the stock dipstick. When my dealer showed me the level on the stock dipstick, it looked all covered with oil even over the maximum mark. When I showed the dealer the method I learned to read the dipstick, it indicated that the oil had been overfilled. I pumped out about a 1-1/2 cup of oil to bring down the oil level down to the maximum oil level. The dealers are apparently only worried about low oil levels and some dealers (mine included) are overfilling the oil. The following link shows why it is so difficult to get a good reading with the stock dipstick and methods for getting good readings.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...-dipstick.html

Morris, 2011 MC, PW/B