2006 Cooper S
29,300 miles on the clock.

I was quoted $550 for:
-Oil change
-Transmission fluid flush and re-adaptation
-micro filter
-hook up to computer to check everything is ok
-check motor mounts

Or itemized:
$110 oil change
$250 Transmission fluid flush and re-adaptation

What do I need and what dont i need?

 

Automatic MINI? If so 250 aint all that bad for synthetic fluid, flush, and reprogram of ECU for transmission. Microfilter is a good idea..heck its been in there for three years!

 

How much of a DIY person are you?
You can do most of the above except for an auto trans fluid flush and reprogram.
Oil change is not hard and the micro filter replacement is a snap.
Hooking up to the computer is nothing unless you are throwing codes, which you can get checked at AutoZone.

I don't go in for these mileage based visits. I normally just stay up with my maint and oil changes.

 

Its an automatic. Not garage to do anything myself.

 

Where are you located? Maybe check around at other dealers?

 

Quote was princeton nj. I prefer not to go to morristown. And Prestige is kinda far away.

 

Car is eligable for an upgrade to the expired free maint. $1500 for extension up to 6 yrs/100k miles from 2006 purchase date. This might make a lot more sense. would pay for itself with service 1 + service 2 + brake rotors/pads

 

You can buy the maintenance package at any dealer and use it at any dealer. Shop around!! Might find one dealer sells it for a bit cheaper

 

Not sure why these costs surprise you as it would not be any different if you owned a Subaru......And these vital fluids are the life blood of your car. Besides maintenance is cheaper than a new tranny and engine. Sorta pay me now or REALY pay me later situation IMO.

 

I have a 04 MCS and have done all of the maintenance work myself out in the driveway. Just like thulchatt said, if you aint throwing out codes, you can skip that or have it checked for free at your local AutoZone. I do my own oil changes for around $50 with full synthetic and oil filter of my choice. A cabin filter can't cost too much either and is a snap to install. I too stay away from the "stealer" as much as i can. My Cooper has 85k and have seen the dealer only once since i've owned it. Just my 2 cents worth.

 

my two cents

it is a sick price for an oil change .. shop around, these cars are not special anymore and I'll bet you could find an independent garage or BMW shop to do oil for $50 to $75 . On the other hand you may feel not needing to look around mitigates the cost. I DIY and buy oil by the case when it is on sale, filters by the half dozen .... I do oil for a couple of other owners . . . I can change oil for a LOT less.

cabin filter is literally a 2 minute job requiring no tools. I posted a DIY here a couple of years ago (search), a filter is around $10 - $20 bucks from several sources; another place where the dealer charges a sick markup (but not alone, Honda charges similar and I can change a Honda cabin filter in under 3 minutes, the filter is around $10)

check motor mounts .... uh, check 'em your self, they are easy to find (only the top mounts on a few years have been an issue) .... are they leaking? No? You're done .... dealer want's how much????

Plug into computer to see if anything is wrong???? Hmmmm, do YOU think anything is wrong? This also means FLASH the ECU with the latest software usually, and you may find changes you don't like. Danger Will Robinson, Danger !

New Auto-tranny fluid at 30k . . . well, I have not owned a vehicle with an automatic tranny for better than 10 years .. that was a dodge van when the kiddies where small .. drove that for 90,000 plus and never changed the tranny fluid. Always had the dealer and oil change places trying to SELL me a change ... but can't say I know what MINI's recommended interval is.

If we knew where U were we might be able to point you to local MINI guru's . . if on the Space Coast I'd help you out . . .

I'f I'm entitled to change from the two . . . PM me

 

You can get the extended maint. for $1395 plus tax at any MINI dealer.

As for an oil change, my mechanic changed the oil in my 09 JCW at 3000 miles. I supplied the filter which I bought at the MINI dealer for $9. He charged me $50 for the oil, labor and to top off the fluids. Synthetic oil is very expensive these days.

I recently had him change the oil in my 08 Highlander for $45. I thought that was rather high. But I have been going to this guy for years. I trust him and he is honest. So I prefer to keep him in business as I have never met another honest auto mechanic before. Not trying to insult you if you are an auto mechanic... just saying.

 

Aside from the Auto tranny fluid change (I have a manual), everything they quoted are quite easy to do yourself...

- Motormounts: this is a visual check and a test drive while listening for irregular noise; usually the oil in the mounts leak first before you have noise problems.

- Oil/filter: $35... plus the socket $7
- Cabin filter with Activated Carbon: $25-$30
- Auto tranny fluid: on my '01 New Beetle, it costs me about $60 for a filter and 3 liters of synthetic fluid.

Extended service contract is good if you don't want to do the work and can time exactly what needs to be replace in the agreed time period. Say if items A, B, C and D will need replacing within this period and are quoted to cost $1700, then $1500 is a good deal.

Taking your car to an *honest and dependable* indy mechanic is also a good idea. Cheaper for you and good to help those guys to stay in business.

 

Most of the service is pretty basic, but beaing a gen1 car, it is getting old enough that having an experanced eye look at it is a great idea....especially since spending a few $ now might save $$$$$ later. The price does not appear to be too bad, but I think a full insp 2, break flush, and more than likely a radiator flush is due....or overdue.

 

I would reccomend a supercharger belt too....age is a factor as is miles.