Ok here are the facts. Please let me know what you would do from here.

Took my 06 MCS to the Local Tire store that I have been using for all the services on my cars for over 10years.

This is the first time they have worked on my Mini. But they told me they have done many of them.

I was told they use only MINI o-rings for the filter because they have had problems in the past.

Ok so today we take off for a long drive over the hills and through the woods. Driving the car hard! after about 65 total miles since oil change I stopped to take some pictures and OH ****! Found oil dripping from bottom of car and all over the rear window.

Got it towed back to shop and the first thing I did was make them drain what was left in the oil pan.
About 2qts was all that was left!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So what would you do from here?? The closest MINI dealer is 4 hours away.

The shop wanted to just dump oil in it and call it good.
ADVISE PLEASE.

 

What else can you do?

Except NOT take it there again once they get it sorted out......

 

I will check the O ring first !

 

Good news - It didn't run dry.
Bad news - They were not able to install the filter without pinching the O-ring.
New O-ring, New Filter, Add oil, BYE.

 

My next door neighbor had the same thing happen, it was the O-ring. Shop finally made it right.

 

As far as I know the o-ring is not sold without the filter. Make sure they use an OEM (Hengst or Mann are OK too but nothing else) filter and o-ring and make them show you the box.

///Rich

 

OK I know they are going to use the right O-Ring and make all that right.

I guess my real question is? What about engine damage? Should I have it looked at but MINI? The guy at the Local shop says he will do what ever we want. Including having MINI inspect the engine if needed.

But everyone says it should be ok then I will just fill it and call it good.

 

I broke an o-ring and had a filter sitting around w/out a ring....(I usually buy 'em by the half dozen and do oil for other folks)

last time by the dealer I asked if I could buy just the o-ring. No problem-o ... now I'm not saying this was a cost efficient transaction. But, YES you can buy just the o-ring.

 

If the car did not run dry, it is likely no dammage was done...
It is possible to tear a gasket if it is inserted dry...so it might have been a oem part, that was simply installed wrong.
Fix the leak, and get motoring!!

 

Ok so I am going have them just replace the o-ring and fill the car with new oil.
I am also going ask them to have it detailed because it is covered in OIL. Is that fair to ask?

 

If they are ok with paying to have it inspected why not do that and then you will both know.
If it is running fine with the correct level of oil I would guess there is no certain prognosis an inspection can give you. But it may make you feel better that no major harm was done.

 

Sounds good, and VERY fair. Have them wash the underside as well, it's likely a mess. Given it's a haul to the MINI dealer, call them and talk to the Service Manager, ask him what the MINI dealer would inspect and what it'd cost to do. Get a check from the oil change place for that amount. Have a good independent foreign car guy or local BMW shop take a look at the car, using the dealer's list.

 

Do you trust them to wash your MINI? I could envision them assigning that task to their most inexperienced employee.

 

No I dont. that is why we are having them take it to the local Detail shop.

 

Insist on:

-They pay for the tow.

-They thoroughly wash or steam-clean the undercarriage, at very least (if you don't trust them not to scratch the rest of the car), at their expense.

-I can't imagine any reason the remaining 2 quarts would be bad in any way, still fresh as it is, so (assuming they successfully straighten out the O-ring issue), I would insist on either they change the oil again for free, or just top it off and REFUND you the original price of the oil change (still a fair request under the logic that they're lucky you caught it in time, to spare them from owing you a new engine). (If they balk at this, make sure you point that out!)

As a repeat/loyal customer, they should be more than willing to accomodate you. If not, then you should outwardly question why they would jeopadize this loyalty (and potentially many others'...making it clear that you're an internet-forum kind of guy), for such a relatively low-cost (on their part) resolution.

Remember, in business we are expected to pay for our mistakes.

 

When I did mine the first time I broke a new O-ring and pumped one quart right out on the floor. IT HAPPENS. You have to oil the crap out of that new O-ring and carefully check for leaks when finished. WHY MINI did not put a simpler oil filter system on the engine is beyond me!!

As a MINI owner you really have to check the work of any non-MINI service.