I'm getting ready to change my oil for the first time at about 4500 miles. This is my first turbo so I;m just curious if there are any precautions that need to be taken relative to the turbo. By that I mean, should you wait until the oil pump has timed off before draining the oil? Thanks... I searched the various threads and didn't see this.

 

First mistake: Too long of an oil change interval, especially for a new car (no matter what Mini or BMW recommends).
1. The first oil change should occur after 1000 - 1200 miles. You have a pile of metal shavings still (engine breaking in - no matter what they say. I can post links that will scare you)
2. Not sure what the oil change interval is, but BMW group tried to play catch up with the Japanese and lengthened the oil change interval. Big mistake. You guys have only 4.4 l of oil for a supercharged engine. Not sure what the recommended oil change interval is for these cars, but I would not go past 5000 miles (cheap insurance).
3. Has Mini a "lifetime" ATF by chance? I know the automatic BMW's have that. Lots of trouble. People started to realize (for lots of them too late), and so did BMW. Now they backed off to 100k miles for an ATF change. I still do mine every 60k miles. Again, I can post links (unfortunately not related to Mini, but nontheless, it's the same group - builder).

Don't get duped by lifetime fills, long oil change intervals and the-like. If you lease the vehicle and then get rid of it, it's OK. As a second owner, though if I buy a vehicle that has been serviced by dealer intervals (BMW group) I'd pass. Those are scary cars.
If you want to keep it, take care of it. A Mini has only 4.4 quarts of oil - very cheap insurance (sighs and thinks: I wish my oil change was only 4.4 qts)

 

Hi - There is a thread at the bottom of this page that will walk you through the process, complete with photos too! I'm getting ready to do my first oil change also as I didn't want to wait until the scheduled dealer change. Good luck!

Peter

 

Thanks Peter, I saw that posting but was just curious about the turbo thing... It's logical that one would want to wait until the turbo pump timed off but I wanted to make sure...

Cheers,

 

Just going to post the link to the Thread mentioned above (with pictures):

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...with-pics.html

For future easy location, there are several "Oil Change" Threads on here, but that was one of the best.

 

I did my first oil change today at 7k miles. I used the MINI oil and filter and will continue to do so while under warranty.
It's pretty straight forward, remove the drain plug, using an allen socket (forgot ths size). Remove the coolant tank and lay it aside (do not remove the rubber hoses). I used a 1 1/16" socket to remove the filter cap and the filter comes out with the cap, replace the large o ring on the cap and installation is the reverse.

sorry no pic's

dont forget the oil...............

 

No No

change oil every 200 miles....

Jiffy Lube and the rest of the oil companies will LOVE you

The pres' of Juffy Lube was noted as saying extended life oils are the greatest threat our business has ever seen.....

brushing your teeth 6 times a day is better than twice too....

 

I never change the oil right after I shut off the engine, mainly because I don't appreciate 200-degree oil running down my hand! A warm engine is all that's needed to properly drain oil, so I would let your MINI sit for at least a half-hour before making the change. Your oil will still be very warm and free-flowing, and it wont take the skin off your fingers!

 

...and here I've been changing my oil twice a day, and brushing every 5,000 miles! Thanks for the tip!

 

Just don't drain the transmission fluid instead of the oil. For some reason, folks have mistaken the tranny drain plug for the oil drain plug. I changed mine last week and it was very easy.

 

Here is another good link with pics.

http://www.waymotorworks.com/files/p...oil_change.pdf

 

On my 2008 Cooper, the oil drain plug is an 8mm and the filter cap is a 27mm. I had the 27mm in my tool box from my days working on a '69 Datsun 510. I did my first drain at 5K.

 

Also, a 27mm socket is the same size as a 1-1/16th socket, give or take a few thousandths of a millimeter. Either one will work on the MINI filter cap.