I know this is kind of silly but I keep getting the run around from the dealer about this, does doing your own oil change void the warranty? Thanks.

 

No, but you need to follow the MINI recommendation to use fully synthetic motor oil of the correct weight 5W-30 and change the oil filter while you are at it. The Oil filter and O ring you can get for cheap from the MINI parts dept. MINI uses Castrol full synthetic, most of us don't, we are using other brands because we feel that other oils are better quality but they are also more expensive. Redline, Amsoil, Royal Purple, Mobil 1 are all possible. Oil additives are not necessary.

Use your MINI club discount if you have one established. If you are in the BMW club you might also be eligible for a parts discount.

Most of us will change oil about twice as often as the manufacturer recommends which ends up being about every 6 months or sooner.

MINI usually will do oil change once yearly if you have low miles and don't make the normal oil change mileage of about 12,000 for the first change.

Oil change you can do yourself (search for the guide on how to do it) or you can buy the oil yourself along with the filter and O ring and take it to any Goodyear garage or similar and tell them you want to change oil and filter and they will do it for you. Usually there are coupons they offer in the local newspaper or by mailers for about $19.95 and they will discount your parts and oil and charge a disposal fee of $3. I get charged about $14.95 for labor and $3 disposal plus tax.
I oil is the expensive part and even more expensive if they supply it. Costco, Checkers, and walmart have fully synthetic oil on special or at decent prices. About $5-7 per quart is OK.

Some owners will do oil change after about 1000 miles. Others will wait to 3000. Some to 5000 before the first change. It's not really that critical for a street only driven MINI. Some of us do track our cars and do performance driving so early oil changes are usually good. Keeps the oil fresher and helps the engine life. Over time and mileage oil does breakdown and get contaminated and doesn't provide as much lubrication against wear and tear as could be seen more if you do high speed driving or towing/heavy duty or drive in dirty areas.

 

That's right. If you do your own oil change and make an error it will void the warranty. For example, if you fill the engine with the wrong type of oil, wrong amount of oil, ruin the thread of the drain plug or filter housing cap, or damage any other part of the car while performing the procedure, then MINIUSA won't be responsible for the malfunction and/or damages on the car.

 

Thanks, looks like I'm ago. My bf is a mechanic so I'm not worried about anything getting messed up and I bought Mobil 1 fully synthetic 5w-30 which the book recommends.

 

ps. how do I set up a mini club account?

 

You get with your local Mini club, for example, mine is Seven Cities Mini. Now granted, I'm not a member yet, but, I still looked into it. My dealership offers 10% off when you present them with your membership card. It's pretty easy Now all clubs/dealerships might not offer this, but it's worth a try.

 

While you're still within the "free maintenance" period, I would suggest changing the oil as frequently as you want to, but don't reset the on-board computer. Then, when the computer says you're due for an oil change, take it to the dealer and have them do that oil change and reset the computer.

The reason is, a manufacturer can legally make it a requirement to use *their* parts and personnel for routine maintenance, *as long as they provide the parts and service for free*.

If you were to present an engine-related warranty claim at 35,000 miles, for instance, and they had no record that they'd ever changed your oil, they could get a little snippy about covering the claim, even though you've been frequently changing the oil yourself.

Depending on how you drive your car, you may only get two free oil changes during the 3yr/36,000 mile free service period anyway, so you may as well take advantage of them.

 

Several approaches-

Call the MINI parts dept and ask them if they offer ANY discounts on purchases for car clubs. Usually there will be an active BMW club that has made this arrangement and if your area has a MINI club they could do the same.

Your MINI dealership may also know if there is a local MINI club that already exists. If one doesn't you can form one but it's better to join something that is already in your area.

Yes, if you change your own oil you don't want to wipe out the dash reading for miles to go before next oil change- that is what the dealer uses to determine if it is time for a change under warranty or you can go by time. One oil change per year if you don't reach 12,000 miles.

Don't worry if you are using Mobil 1 and the dealership uses a different oil like Castro. It's fine. Later when you are out of warranty you can use any oil you want.

Wow, you have someone to do your oil changes for you! You can watch and see how it is done. Then you might get inspired to do more of your own maintenance stuff. Or maybe you might want to do some modding like change the air intake or get a cat back exhaust!

Have fun.

 

I started with an oil change. bought a service manual. got some tools. flushed brakes. changed tranny oil and diff oil. changed brakes. changed shocks and struts. changed water pump and thermostat..... on my previous cars. All I have done on my new MCS is just an oil change. I only have about 2500 miles.

 

I think the "free oil change after 12 months, regardless of mileage" is only for the *first* oil change. In other words, if you bought the car new, and 12 months later, you've only put 8,000 miles on the car, the dealer will change your oil, regardless of how many more miles the computer says you've got left. But if 12 months later, you've only put another 8,000 miles on the car, the dealer won't change the oil until the onboard computer says you're due.

The reason is, the computer-calculated oil change intervals for the second and subsequent oil changes are generally a *lot* higher than 12,000 miles, so if MINI gave free oil changes every year, regardless of elapsed mileage, they'd be doing more oil changes than if they went by the OBC-determined intervals.

To use my car as an example, the first oil change came due (according to the OBC) at 11,500 miles. I've gone 9,000 miles since then, and according to the OBC, I've got another 9,500 miles until the next oil change. If I go into the dealer at the 12-month anniversary of my last oil change, I likely won't be anywhere near needing an oil change, at least according to the OBC, and I don't think they'd change the oil for free.

 

You get a free oil change at 10,000 and 25,000 miles (R50/52/53) or15,000/30,000 miles (R56 seems longer) or every 12 months which ever comes first and you get this for 3 years/36,000 miles.

 

Well we got the oil changed and it went smoothly. My car is at 807 miles but my bf trakcs his rx7s so he recommended we do it now. Good thing too, the filter was black and so was the oil. We are set to do it again at 2000 miles, then 5000 then every 5000 after that. He insists on every 3000 but I had to put my foot down somewhere! Haha. As far as watching and do it myself I will only ever be a 'helper' I am extremely good at breaking things so attempting to do anything to a car is not my thing. Especially when i have someone to do it for me for free!!

 

Also thanks for the help on the mini club, I think I will actually be joining 7 cities also. I'm in richmond but work in hampton roads a lot. I tried to join the richmond club, but its been 2 months and no one has accepted my forum membership so I don't think they are really active. It looks like 7 cities is though.

 

I would have waited until after break in was completed, makes more sense to me.
3K changes is excessive for a fully synthetic oil in my book. I'll likely go 5-7k post the break in change.

 

I was wondering about the OBC oil change clock. I've had my mini for 1200 miles, and the readout still says "12000".
I haven't been driving it crazy during the break-in period, so am I just seeing the results of that unspirited driving?

 

Well I was going to wait until break in but after looking at the oil it was so dark, it didn't make sense to wait another 400 miles. I won't be doing oil changes every 3k miles, I'm planning on every 5k.

 

Mobil 1 may not be better than the MINI branded Castrol. Mobil 1 isn't what it used to be. It is no longer rated for 15,000 miles. You have to get Mobil 1 Extended for that.

It may not even be the right weight. There is a rumor that the MINI 5-30 is a European rating that is actually heavier than USA 5-30. If anyone has confirmation of this, or evidence of its falsehood, I'd be interested in hearing it.

The MINI branded castrol is rated for 15,000 miles and is supposedly the European 5-30w. I also found that it is less expensive than the standard Mobil 1.

 

Well upon looking yesterday I found out that the Owner's Manual recommends Castrol, but the warranty manual recommends Mobil 1. Confusing? Since I don't plan on going 15000 miles I think the M1 should be fine.

 

How black the oil is has nothing to do with its life. Check out some threads at bitog - http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/ to understand more than you ever wanted to know about motor oil.

 

I think it's really odd that I have almost 5000 miles, and the OBC still, and has always said, "next service 21,000 miles" ......it hasn't ever changed

 

My dealer (NC) told me they want to change the oil
once per year regardless of milage.

I guess we wait and see......

 

Where did you find an R56 service manual?

 

Since I purchased my MINI I converted to Castrol. I had been Mobil 1 fan for years.

 

For those who drive less than 10,000 miles per year, changing oil once each year is fine due to using synthetic oil, that would not be recommended if you have regular oil- then change it every 6 months is better.