Swore off my SUV, and took possession of an Indy Blue MINI (white roof and mirrors) with 0.06 miles on it November 1. My knowledgeable car buddies all suggest I get an oil change at 500 miles to ensure all metal chips and grindings from the engine are flushed out. I'm not concerned about the cost (after all, I'm keeping this thing for life!), but wanted advice from fellow MINI owners.
Thanks!!

 

Engines these days are run at the factory to flush out such things before you even get the car. I wouldn't worry about doing one at 500 miles.

I now have 15,000 miles on my MINI and did the recommended servicing at 10/11k and then supplemental oil changes at 5,000 and 15,000 miles (using Mobil 1 5W-30 now).

 

Dave in D:
Thanks, but I'm stunned! You drive your MINI an awful lot and you're strictly following the MINI recommended oil change scheduled?! Did I read that correctly?

I'd prefer to have this work done only at the dealer and included in my free maintenance. But from what I've read elsewhere on MCO, I was putting together a plan to have a local mechanic do a change for me with synth oil and tools and directions that I supplied at 5000 miles.

Did I read your post correctly, are you happy with such long intervals between oil changes?
Thanks!

 

no, I'm doing extra oil changes

5k - not recommended by MINI, so I paid for this myself
10/11k - this WAS recommended by MINI and paid for by MINI.
15k - not recommended by MINI, so I paid for this myself

NOTE: The only recommended oil services that are paid under warrenty by MINI are at 10/11k and again at 25/28k (depending on driving habits). The first service interval is 10k, the second sevice interval is 15k (so 25k total on the clock).

 

DaveinDenver,

When you get your 5k and 15k oil changes, do you get it done at local garage, Euro-only specialist, quickie joint, MINI dealer or do it yourself?? Just wondered what will work best for me (also concerned about doing something that may void the warranty, etc.)

Thanks!
DaveinDetroit

 

Both supplementals were done at the MINI dealer. I actually was planning on doing this most recent one myself, but I was taking the car in anyway so I just had them do the oil change at the same time. I purchased the Mobil 1 in advance and then they only charged me for the filter and the labor.

 

>>Both supplementals were done at the MINI dealer. I actually was planning on doing this most recent one myself, but I was taking the car in anyway so I just had them do the oil change at the same time. I purchased the Mobil 1 in advance and then they only charged me for the filter and the labor.

Did they give you any gruff about your skidplate?

Rocketboy_X

 

Nope none at all. I know the tech pretty well. He told me before I got the plate, he had done oil changes on other MINIs with the plate, and did not have problems with oil spilling onto the plate. This is on the lift of course, I wouldn't expect that the same would hold true at home where the angle of the car on ramps/jack stands would angle the flow differently. That being the case, if I were to do this at home, I would remove the plate first (it only takes abouve 5 minutes once you are familiar with it from the install).

 

I changed at 1200..next at 3000..again at 6000 with Mobil One. I
like regular motor oil(Castrol Syntec ) for breakin.

 

The old myths still exist about breaking in engines. In the olden days, engine cylinders were bored out using machinery that was nowhere near as precise as the computer controlled CNC style modern equipment. Because those old engines had parts that did not fit with laser guided precision, they did shave off a lot of metal bits into the oil initially.

The technology used to build modern engines today is so much better that this is not a major issue any longer. BMW is warrantying these engines, and if they thought that $5 worth of oil would save them from having to give you a new engine down the road, they would have made a 500 mile oil change a requirement.

So when it comes to questions about the most high-tech vehicle ever designed from the ground up according to a specific concept, you really should be a little hesitant to heed the warnings of a guy that is talking about how he broke in his 1967 Mustang way back then.

 

I love these "my buddy said' stories. I get them so much at the shop and they are almost alway wrong.

I change the oil in my 89 Bonneville with over 120,000 miles at about every 10,000 miles using 5W-30 Amsoil and that is very conservative.

You can go 10,000 miles just don't do it with the Castrol Syntec crap.

 

>>You can go 10,000 miles just don't do it with the Castrol Syntec crap.

Not really crap. Just not a true Synthetic. I think it is fine for
the first 6000 miles as long as you change it a couple of times.
Then Mobil One or Amsoil or any other synthetic is probably a
better choice. I tend to go with the Bimmer motorcycle
philosophy re. intial engine use and oil selection. Breakin
of engine is probably not as necessary as it used to be......
what you don't want to be doing is ruining your brakes and
rotors and driving off the road with tires that aren't
scuffed up a bit.
and 10,000 miles...I think it depends on how you drive....
temperature extremes and all that....turbo or supercharger
as well.
I'd change more often than that.

 

I just changed the oil in the Mini at 1400 miles. I can't imaging anyone going to the full 10K for the first change. The oil was full of little metal "sparklies" and was black as coal. I'm sure the oil lubrication properties were still there as it felt plenty slippery between the fingers but the filter was obviously not doing the job anymore as proven by what came out.

Fresh Mobil One 5W-30 and a new filter. 15 minutes in the garage and I feel much better now.

Randy

 

Even with modern manufacturing techniques, all the motorcycle manufacturers recommend an oil change right after break-in. The last car I bought also had an oil change right after break-in.

I'm changing at 3k just for peace of mind. Engines do break-in. Stuff is milled off (however microscopic.) The day the manufacturer says 'hey, cane the **** out of it, we've already broken it in for you' is when I'll stop following my regimen. :smile:

But like I said--it's as much just not having to worry about it as anything!

Jeff

 

is the filter and drain plug easily accessable?

 

I just changed mine with 2500km on the clock as it was at the dealers getting some things fixed under warranty :smile:

 

>>I just changed the oil in the Mini at 1400 miles. I can't imaging anyone going to the full 10K for the first change.


I did the same, and feel the same. After the 1400 (s)miles I felt much better really driving the car the say it was ment to.

 

>>The old myths still exist about breaking in engines. In the olden days, engine cylinders were bored out using machinery that was nowhere near as precise as the computer controlled CNC style modern equipment. Because those old engines had parts that did not fit with laser guided precision, they did shave off a lot of metal bits into the oil initially.
>>
>>The technology used to build modern engines today is so much better that this is not a major issue any longer. BMW is warrantying these engines, and if they thought that $5 worth of oil would save them from having to give you a new engine down the road, they would have made a 500 mile oil change a requirement.
>>
>>So when it comes to questions about the most high-tech vehicle ever designed from the ground up according to a specific concept, you really should be a little hesitant to heed the warnings of a guy that is talking about how he broke in his 1967 Mustang way back then.


Hear Hear! That's probably the best post I've seen from you Yucca! It's basically the same rhetoric I got from my Service Manager. When I brought this up to him, he almost was offended. He didn't understand why I would want one. When I mentioned that little metical particles may be in the oil, he laughed and said, These aren't your cars from the 70's. They are lightyears ahead of anything we have seen in the past, and to throw the new synthetic on top of it, an oil change isn't needed until 10K, but if someone wants to spend the money, I'm not going to try and stop them. To each their own, it keeps my job security.

I'll wait until the service reminder tells me it's time.

 

I agree. We have been taught to think 3K by Jiffy Lube. I have a94 Ford Ranger, I drove like hell before the min. 155K. I would look down and see I was 6K since my last oil change, frrequently. It still runs like a top. I guess the real test of this thread will be in about 3-5years.

 

I performing all my oil changes and other service/maintenance according to MINI recommendations... After all they designed the car and must know what is necessary to maintain the car in optimum running condition... In the end if the car fails they are the ones that suffer the loss... we do have a warranty...

 

>>Hear Hear! That's probably the best post I've seen from you Yucca! It's basically the same rhetoric I got from my Service Manager. When I brought this up to him, he almost was offended. He didn't understand why I would want one. When I mentioned that little metical particles may be in the oil, he laughed and said, These aren't your cars from the 70's. They are lightyears ahead of anything we have seen in the past, and to throw the new synthetic on top of it, an oil change isn't needed until 10K, but if someone wants to spend the money, I'm not going to try and stop them. To each their own, it keeps my job security.
>>
>>I'll wait until the service reminder tells me it's time.

I think oil changes depend on how you drive your car. I was doing 0-60 runs yesterday, shifting at redline so and I'll probably change the Mobil One that is in the car ~ 2500 miles.
If you drive your car hard even that little service reminder will pop up before 10,000. And Castrol Synthetic.....the company re-engineered their oil to make production cheaper. Don't forget BMW only has to warrant that engine for 50,000 miles. They would love to see you needing a rebuild at 60,000.

 

DaveinDenver:

I too use Mobil1 5-30

My valves have the tell tale BMW chatter when I use Mobil1. The dealer uses Castrol 5-30 and after a dealer oil change there's no chatter. Do you notice this chatter on your Cooper S ?

I figured with a hybrid block it wouldn't have that chatter like other BMW's. Is this the same with yours ? The chatter is only a sound, the car idles more smoothly w/ Mobil1 than when the dealer puts in Castrol but noisier.

14500mi.

Kesh

 

Can you hear it now?
I can hear it now.....

 

>>The technology used to build modern engines today is so much better that this is not a major issue any longer. BMW is warrantying these engines, and if they thought that $5 worth of oil would save them from having to give you a new engine down the road, they would have made a 500 mile oil change a requirement.

First I'm a fan of intermediate oil changes, just so you know I biased!

Well I did my own oil change at 5000 miles so I took the oportunity to examine the filter. Lots of silver glitter in there, maybe 100-200 pieces, (very rough guess). and three shavings, very thin but 5mm long by 1 to 2 mm wide.

Remeber the warrenty is only for a limeted time. You could probably do your oil changes at 25000 miles and your engine would still be running at the end of the warrenty period. But 6 or 10 years later?

It cost me $25 to do my own oil change, that's not much for peace of mind! I too intend to keep this car for a long time.

 

Dave (My dealer (Motor City MINI) is hedging on the 10 K mile oil change He says that until the service light goes to under a 1000 mile will not do it for free and right now I have 7000 miles on my car with a serv miles at 4900 so simple math says 11900 mile before I can get my "free" service,,When my car turns 10k i will "demand" a free oil change,,Any advice?