I thought I would give my take on changing the oil in the Mini Cooper S. I have done this on my sisters 2002. If you don't know already, the Mini Cooper uses a canister oil filter. This way what all cars had up until the 50's or 60's. I think maybe they are bringing it back in Europe for ecological reasons or something. Well first thing you need to do is get a filter. I got some at thepartsbin.com, but you can get them at your mini dealer. On the 2002's at least, the owners manual is no help in the process. They suggest you just get the oil changed at the dealer. Well this isn't that easy if your nearest dealer is 150 miles away. Don't worry though it is easy to change the oil. Draining the oil is easy enough and self-explanitory. To get the canister filter off, you need an extremely large socket, or a crescent wrench that will fit. I have a crescent that just works, barely. You have barely enough room to swing it around and get the canister off too. Patience is the key here. When you take the filter off, you will make a big mess, just try and be careful (there must be a better way, but I haven't figured it out). Take note as to how the old filter is installed. The filter is just a paper element with some plastic re-inforcement. To install the new filter, get the paper around the holes a little wet with oil. First take the filter, and jam it onto the engine block. The hole in the paper is smaller than the tube on the block. That is how it makes a seal. This will make it easier to install. Then take the filter off the block and force it into the canister. Replace the o-ring ont the canister with a nicely oiled new one supplied with the filter. Now all you have to do is replace the canister and filter onto the block. Easy enough, no? Then put the drain plug and re-fill with oil carefuly. I found a 5 quart jug of Mobil 1 is just perfect. It seems to take exactly 5 quarts. Only use synthetic, as suggested by Mini, especially if you have the cooper S. Well I am sure you have discussed this some, but thought I would share my experience.

 

where can you disguard the oil, and how do you reset the service indicator ?

 

I have no idea how to reset the service indicator. I would just keep track of oil changes in the service log book and take the Mini in for a checkup every 10,000 miles or so. The service indicator suggest way too long of an interval between oil changes. I would rather change it every 3000 miles or so, it is cheap insurance. To discard oil, your county should have a program for recycling oil. In my county, there are many used oil drop-off sites that are scattered around at service stations or parts stores. I store used oil in old 5 gallong oil buckets (that have tops) and take it to a friend who uses it in a special low-emmision waste oil stove. This is a unique situation.

 

Here's a excerpt from the MINI Guide: The "How To" Guide For MINI Owners on Resetting the MINI Oil Indicator :

You find this useful if you do your own oil changes. Keep in mind you should wait until your factory service expires, since resetting the indicator may lead the dealer to deny oil changes since the indicator does not indicate an oil change is due.

1. Press and hold the trip odometer button.
2. Insert car key and turn it to the first position.
3. Watch for the word "RESET" to appear on the Odometer indicator.
4. Release the trip odometer button, then press & hold it again.
5. Wait for the "RESET" message to flash.
6. Release the button, and then press & release (once only)
The Service interval is now reset to 10,000 miles

This should only be done at the recommended 10K oil change interval. If you reset it earlier you will loose the 10K interval. I.e. if changing at 3K don’t do the reset wait for the 10K interval to do the reset.

You can find out more how to tips at this site:

http://www.tech-esq.com/MINI/main.htm

Motor ON!

 

1. Changing oil on an MCS is easy enough... but it's also quite messy (unless someone knows something that I don't regarding the major oil spill that occurs once the filter housing is removed) and a relative pain in the butt if you're used to changing oil in oh, say, any other vehicle in the world. (spoken from an '86 Omni, '92 Saturn and mid 90's Blazer perspective)

2. Quite often -- though not always -- your local, Joe Schmo-owned service station will take your dirty oil for recycling. Of course, depending upon your local, Joe Schmo-owned service station, "recycled" could be the term they use for telling Tiny to dump the oil in the back alley...

 

The key to a mess-free oil change is to drain the oil with the engine warm. Loosen the canister only partially, you will 'feel' the seal on the canister open up and 'hear' the oil from the engine oil passages and filter canister dripping and draining into the engine. Stop removal of the canister at this point and let it sit on the engine for about 10 minutes while the canister drains and the filter itself drip-drains. After that time period, remove the canister completely. Presto! Not a drop spilled. Most cars with spin-on oil filters will drain messily no matter what you do, but ironically, the MINI with it's open cartridge can be changed without a single drop if this 'procedure' is followed.

An added bonus to the open filter element is the fact that it can be virtually free of 'loose' oil and able to be disposed of in normal trash almost immediately, unlike a spin-on filter which takes a long time to drain base down, and never be totally empty, or needing to be 'crushed' to force the oil out right away and the filter recycled (for the steel).

 

I have had great success following Greatbear's advice about loosening the canister. What I do with oil changes on any car is let the oil drain out of the engine overnight. All the oil drains out that way, and I have a cold engine to work on the next morning. The exhaust header on the MINI is right there next to the oil filter canister, let me tell you!

 

[QUOTE=OmToast]1. Changing oil on an MCS is easy enough... but it's also quite messy (unless someone knows something that I don't ...
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There's a $20 gizmo called the Fumoto oil drain valve which I installed in my car (www.fumotovalve.com) and is available from Y.M. International Co., Bellevue , WA. Model for the MINI is F-106.

Very neat. You flip a tiny switch on the valve, which replaces the oil drain plug, to open the very reliable ball-type valve. No mess.

GreatBear also has good advice about loosening the oil canister to break the seal, thus allowing the oil to drain freely. Others report this technique does not cause a messy spill.

das280ZX: You can make reading easier for forum members by breaking up your post into short paragraphs. Try it. You'll like it.

 

I can put the used oil in empty 1 gallon milk jugs and the recycling truck picks up the oil with the rest of the recycling. They will take up to 2 gallons a week and I have to label each gallon with my name and address. They just started doing this in our community a few months ago. Prior to this I recycled the used oil at Schuck's auto parts.

 

I changed the oil this weekend and did not spill a drop from the oil filter.
I think the secret is to jack up the car from the right side.
Remove the oil plug, start draing, then remove the filter.

The last time I changed the oil I jacked up the car from the left side and it was a mess from the oil filter.

I added oil to the dipstick mark. After driving a little I had to add another more. I guess the added oil was for the filter.

 

I also changed the oil in my S at 5,000 miles. I had oil dripping from the filter canister when I tried to remove it so I just pushed it back into the housing. I let it sit for a few minutes to drain back into the engine block. After that, there was only a couple of drops from the filter.

As for the Fumoto valve, I installed one during this oil change. The thing has dripped oil from the seal since then. I did NOT overtighten it or have it too loose. Now I have to leave a piece of cardboard under my car in the garage to absorb the oil drip. As soon as I reach 10,000 miles, I will be taking it off and installing a Fram Sure-Drain.

 

Did you use Teflon tape on the threads? Where do you get a Fram Sure-Drain?

 

If the valve called for teflon tape (I can't remember right now) then I did add it to the threads.
I am going to look for the Sure-Drain at my local Advanced Auto or NAPA.

 

If you reset the service indicator, you'll lose free services or extend your free intervals... IMHO, don't reset them because the dealer uses them to determine when you're due.