OK, once more from the top:

If BMW says it is OK to use the oil for 10K miles, believe me, they mean it. They have tested the performance pack and the full formulation to their heart's content.
If you want to ignore them, that is OK too. It is fine to change oil daily if you so wish.

A 10K mile interval is really the norm in Europe. Not just for MINIs and not just with synthetics.

Your friendly Yellow Truck rolling down the highway, more than likely changes its oil at about 50 or 60K miles.

And yes I know what I am saying.......I work in the industry and I deal with engine oil formulations EVERY SINGLE DAY of my working life. And yes, I work in Europe now.

 

But that's NOT what they say, is it!

The MINI ECU decides your oil change interval, and it's not a preset 10k interval is it.

So after an the 1st scheduled service change around 10k, I find that the ECU now says it's 15k until my next oil change.

Now, looking at the Paradise oil survey, leaving the oil (un topped-up) for more than 8k is pushing it.

Topping-up would extend it's life, but I have no idea if it'll need topping-up at this point, and my MCS ECU is saying 15k, which takes the oil well past it's best.

So it's not a clear-cut issue, and an owner initiated oil change at a shorter interval is perfectly justified.

Chris.

 

[QUOTE=pocketrocketowner]OK, once more from the top:

If BMW says it is OK to use the oil for 10K miles, believe me, they mean it. They have tested the performance pack and the full formulation to their heart's content.
If you want to ignore them, that is OK too. It is fine to change oil daily if you so wish.

[QUOTE]

I'm convinced you know a lot of stuff but the above quote still strikes me as pretty funny. Ya think BMW tested the MINI's windshield to make sure it wasn't crack prone? Did they test the engine to make SURE their was no stumble or yo-yo. Is it possible they sometimes do things based on saving money instead of whats best for the consumer? Nah, they wouldn't do that......would they?

Maybe their hearts become content when they maximize their profits?

Gotta go out and do one of my twice daily oil changes....later.


R.E.

 

Is it possible they sometimes do things based on saving money instead of whats best for the consumer? Nah, they wouldn't do that......would they?


Walmart would never do this so why would MINI/BMW?

 

I've owned several 911s. Not quite $100K but close enough... Yes, I trust Porsche's technology. They use synthetic oil and their recommended oil change interval is 15000 miles. One time I went in for an oil change at a 7500 mile interval and the dealer talked me out of it. And, with Porsches, you get to pay for every service!

I trust BMW's technology too. So the computed oil change intervals of 10-15K miles don't bother me.

The only benefit to more frequent oil changes is for people who aren't car-savvy -- those who don't know enough or care enough to regularly check the oil level between changes. I would bet that most Minis are more than a quart low when they show up for an oil change.

 

I'm not sure how to prove it but I am sure that the Premium crackers in the boxes, the Bic razor blades, the Cokes and Pepsi in the big bottles, (and the little ones), and the motor oil in the big jugs, (did I say big jugs?), are the same at Walmart as anywhere else. The reason it's cheaper is because they buy a whole lot of it and their markup is low. Of course they sell cheap stuff but the brand name stuff is no different. Just for your information, I don't even like Walmart.

There should be no confusion....trust me.

R.E.

 

Ho much oil did the 911 hold? Don't they have separate (not on engine) oil resevoir and filter?

Oil quantity would certain affect interval between changes.

 

911s hold several gallons of oil in order to fill the oil coolers and related plumbing. Most recent models don't have a textbook dry-sump system so there's no separate reservoir.

I don't know enough about lubricants to tell you whether the quantity per se should affect the oil change interval. I suspect it has more to do with the design of the engine and the type of oil. My earlier 911s held even more oil (in the air-cooled days) yet they had a much shorter oil change interval. Of course that was in an earlier time with different materials, manufacturing tolerances, and dino oil.

 

fascinating thread.

my 2 cents -not that anybody cares.

i have owned 4 saabs over the last 14 years. (the mini has broken the chain) i have used full synthetic (Mobil 1) in all of them. with changes at 5,000 miles. costs $25 and with the amount of driving i do i change it about every 6 weeks - yes lots of driving. i had accidents with two of them, (neither my fault incidentally, and i walked out unscathed) one with 240K miles and the other with 190K. my 88 SPG has 290K miles and runs like a top. burns less than 1/2 Qt. in 5000 miles. my 99 wagon has 105K.

i'm changing mine at 5K in the MINI. it's cheap insurance {$30}- and like others in this thread - i plan on keeping this car a long time. IF i was leasing i would probably think differently.

Maybe i'm OLD FASHIONED in my thinking, but i live on a dirt road, i drive my cars very hard and at high speeds, i do not drive like an old lady at 56MPH on the highway.

i think oil chg. intervals are dependant upon your driving style and environmental factors. use what you like. if you wanna save a few bucks, buy the Havoline super 12 pack with the Nascar on the front at WALmart for $10. i'm gonna keep using full synthetics for my own piece of mind.-yes i do sleep better with my 5 mobil-1 caps under my pillow.--good night all