I read here that they are expensive at the dealer. Can you purchase oil filters for the 2008 at your local auto repair stores? Also could they be expensive because they use synthetic oils? Or do they use regular oil?

LAST AND MOST IMPORTANT: Can you do the oil change yourself? Or is the filter in a place it can not be reached? How easy is it to get to the filter (2008 clubman s)?

Thanks

 

They use synthetic oil. I had my oil changed at a local Nissan dealer once... it was a big mistake. MINI covers the oil changes for the first 36,000 miles. After that, you only have to have the oil changed every 15k. My dealer charges $85, but we only go twice a year or so, and they clean it, so it's no big deal.

 

Synthetic, that would explain what I read elsewhere in the forum. No one mentioned it was synthetic. In my case I will probably do my own oil changes because of the distance to the dealer and my lack of time.

 

The recommended factory oil change intervals are 10K-15K miles between services. However, if that makes you uncomfortable, you can change the oil and filter yourself every 5K miles and let the dealer do the "free"one for you plus all the required inspections. It is to your advantage to make the trip back to the dealer to all "scheduled" maintenance intervals because MINI also replaces your brake rotors and pads by the 25K mile service pit stop, plus all filters, coolant, brake fluid, etc, etc. Also if you experience problems with the car, taking it back to the dealer for all its basic maintenance gives you strong leverage should the car develop serious problems down the road.

 

I didn't know they did pads and rotors, nor do I think they did that on our 04. I wonder if that's something they started after my model year.

 

Why do the rotors and pad need replaced at 25K?? What is the normal life? Replacing some of the stuff you list above seems a little overboard. I have owned other cars and driver them 75k and more and not had these things replaced.

 

BMW/MINI replaces anything that falls under regular maintenance for 3/36 ... its been like this for MINI from day one.

 

No. I have owned 4 MINIs and on the first three ('02, '04 and '05) pads and brake rotors were replaced as part of the scheduled maintenance. The condition for this to happen is for the pads to be below the specified thickness level as per MINI guidelines. This usually happens at the 25K mile service stop. All dealers are supposed to do this for you, because you paid for that maintenance when you first bought the car (It is bundled in the price). However, some dealers, for one reason or another, don't do it so you have to be on top of them to make sure they replace the brake pads and rotors if so required.

 

Seems to me if they replace them at 25k who pays for the replacements at 50k, 75k, 100k, and so on?

What is wrong with the brakes that they do not last beyond 25K?

 

Remember that you "Prepaid"for the 3 year/36K mile maintenance when you bought the car (It is bundled in the MSRP price of the vehicle). MINI replaces the brake pads if they are deemed to be worn at or beyond the specified limits. In my experience of owning 4 MINIs in the past 6 years (The Clubman is #4), the front brake pads were replaced by the dealer on the 25K mile interval. Did I complain? no! I paid for that so in my opinion, let them do whatever service they deem necessary, because then again, you paid for that maintenance when you bought the car.

 

Your experience may vary. The "basic" MINI maintenance expires either by mileage or time, whichever occurs first. After that all maintenance is on your dime. However, if you plan to keep the car for 5-10 years, MINI sells an extension of the 3/36 maintenance plan (Not an extended warranty contract, 2 different things... just to clarify) that "extends" the scheduled maintenance intervals to 6 years/100K miles, whichever occurs first. I paid $1400 for the extension, which I consider money well spent for many reasons that may or may not apply to you. I bought the MINI extended service contract for my 2005 R53 Cooper S, which is coincidentially 3 years old today and for which the basic maintenance plan has expired. I plan to keep the car for another 6-7 years, so $1,400 worth of maintenance for all that time and mileage, performed by the dealer, seems like a bargain to me. Also the plan covers the entire CLUTCH assembly (My '05 is manual). So if the clutch needs replacement in the next 6 years, the plan offered by MINI will automatically cover it. A clutch replacement in a MINI post-warranty can run you between $1,500-$2,000, so if the clutch disk, slave cylinder and flywheel needs replacement on my '05, at some point, the plan would paid itself over and over again. The extended 6/100 service contract is good at any MINI dealer in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico and it is fully transferable to a second owner at no extra charge.

 

Okay, I see. I guess our brakes must have been good, because we didn't have them replaced until 58,000 miles.

 

The 6 year/100K mile MINI schedule service extension can be purchased at anytime between 0-36K miles. It doesn't have to be purchased at the time the new car is delivered, unless you want to pay for it as part of the financing.

 

Perhaps. I honestly don't know if the brake pads in the second gen MINI are more durable as the Clubman is our first exposure to the new models. I have owned 2 R53 S manuals (04 & 05) and one R50 MC CVT. The manual transmission MINIs have had their brakes and pads replaced by the time the cars were 25K miles. I currently have 39K miles on my '05 S.

 

ZEUS - To answer your oil change question. The filter is easily accessible on the base Clubman, and just a little more difficult to get to on the Clubman "S". Always use a genuine MINI filter, they're only about $10 at most dealers.
If you do a forum search you'll find a do-it-yourself (DIY) thread for an oil change on a MINI Cooper S, the Clubman S would be very similar.
As for oil change interval, I do a lot of local driving, short trips, cold weather. I'll be changing my oil at around 1,000 miles, and then every 5K after that, with the dealer doing annual changes as part of the dealer maintenance. I'll probably use the MINI synthetic oil, but Mobil1 5w30 and Mobil1 5w40 are both approved alternatives, according to the Clubman owner's manual. You'll find lots of additional threads on all of this if you do a forum search, including many opinions on which is the "best" oil, and when it's best to change it.

 

Here is a thread on how to change the oil.
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...DIY+oil+change

I found the oil change to be pretty easy. I changed mine shortly after the 1,200 mile break-in period. Now, at 6,500 I'm debating whether to change it again, or wait until the anniversary of delivery, May 10. The dealer will change the oil once a year, even if you don't reach the mileage indicated for your next service. My tach says 10,000 miles to go.

Some MINIs seem to need a torx wrench for the drain plug and some a hex wrench. The oil filter is accessed by removing one screw from the coolant overflow tank and moving it to one side (hoses still attached). Use factory filters. There is a trick to minimize the spillage when removing the filter.

First open the oil filler cap. Then drain the oil. Loosen the filter housing just enough so air can get in, but not let oil spill out. Give the filter housing time to drain into the engine. Then, when you remove it, there should be very little spilled. Otherwise, the contents of the filter housing empty onto the engine and floor.

One of the catch-cans that is both a catch tray and a container is very nice for catching the oil while it drains.

Oil must be fully synthetic (no blends). According to the USA version of the manual, API SH oils are OK. However, this is a much broader standard than is listed in the UK version of the manual. It requires ACEA A3/B3. Most of the 5W-30 synthetic oils available in the USA only meet ACEA A1/A5 which has a lower viscosity at operating temp than A3/B3. IIRC, API SH encompasses both A1/A5 and A3/B3. Stay far away from any oil that is only ACEA A1. A1 is an economy rating. Without the A5 it is not designed for high performance engines, such as the MINI's.

My preference is to stay with the tighter European spec that the engine was designed for. So, I'll only use an A3/B3 oil. I found the most economical oil that is 5W-30 and A3/B3 is the MINI branded oil from the dealer. My dealer only charges $5.40 qt. Some dealers charge $1 more. IIRC, Mobil 1 0W-40 meets the spec, but Mobil 1 5W-30 does not.

 

Yes, only the Mobil1 0w40 mets the stricter Euro spec. With only about four quarts needed per change, I'm going to stick with the MINI dealer for oil, as well. Figure about $25.00 for four quarts, and about $10 for the filter. It's not worth it to me to save $1 per quart with an aftermarket oil.

 

I think it is about 4.5 qts. if you change the filter -- which is highly recommended. The oil probably lasts longer than the filter.

 

I don't mean to hijack this thread, but what is the difference between an extended warranty and an extended maintenance plan?

 

Basically, the extended warranty covers most major mechanical and electronic components. For example, engine, transmission, A/C, NAV, etc, etc. If you experience a major breakdown or need parts replacement, the warranty pays for the parts and labor. Often there is a deductible $0, $100, $200, etc per visit. MINI does not offer an extended warranty at present time. If you want one, you need to get it from the aftermarket.

The extended scheduled service contract, as the word implies, extends your basic 3 year/36K mile schedule maintenance to 6 years/100K miles. In other words, all your oil changes, filters, brake pads/rotors, clutch assembly, bulbs, and other consumables will be covered.

 

What is the cost to extend the scheduled service to 6 yrs?

 

I heard it was between $1800 and $2000. I'm sure I'll find out when I get my Clubman next week.

 

I paid $1350 plus tax. That is the base price. Some dealers like to mark it up. Not mine fortunately. Also, you need to buy it at your local dealer. You can not purchase it over the internet. Why? Because the dealer needs to insert your car key in the key reader, verify VIN and mileage and then you have to sign a copy of the contract in person. The contract can be purchased at any time during the first 3 years or 36K miles of the vehicle, whichever comes first.

 

OK gang,

Just got my Clubbie and since I'm from the "old school" of automotive maintenance, I was disappointed to find no maintenance schedule listed in the manuals I received. And the computer says the next (first) maintenance is set at 15,000 or 3/2010? Can that be right?

I have always done a change at around 1,500 and the second at 5,000, then every 5K after that. How do I find out what the factory schedule is?

 

It all depends on your driving habits and mileage. The computer determines your service intervals. If you are "old school"my recommendation then is to perform your own oil changes in between the computer generated intervals, in other words, every 5K miles or so. Since MINI includes 3 oil changes as part of the 3 year or 36K mile maintenance schdule, you should take advantage of those. For the ïn-between"oil changes I highly recommend keeping copies of receipts for future proof.