OK, so I took a look at the oil dipstick, expecting to find the usual LOW, HIGH markings.

What I see is a fiber(?!) dipstick with a 3/4" piece of yellow plastic with ribs (not for pleasure presumably!) on the end

No info in the manual, so how am I to read this? Is oil on the yellow part indicating sufficient oil?

Next obvious question, does anyone make a replacement Dipstick that is easy to read?

Cheers.

 

Hm, does anyone know if the S and Cooper have the same dipstick? I'd heard comments about how hard the dipstick was to read, but on my 12/6 build Cooper, the dipstick is exactly the same as any other car I've had. So either it's just the S that has the bad dipstick, or they've recently changed the design. If that's the case, I'd imagine you could have your dealer order you one of the new ones.

PigLick

 

my 5/02 build Cooper has a "normal" dipstick also. Seems like it might be an "S" thing?

 

Hi there Fraser, The little yellow thing reads as follows;
In the ribbed area, take a rag and dry completely, then replace dip stick and hold. Pull it out again if you have oil to the top of the ribbed area your OK, if not and down to about half put a half quart of synthetic oil in and re-check if down to the bottom of ribbed area, add 1 quart and re check.

Cheers from Northern California
Miles

 

Yes -- it's an S thing. What gets me is how difficult it is to get it reseated once you remove it. It's like it is catching on something and you have to jam it kind of hard to get it back in. I don't like that much, especially since it's fiber and can break.

-Mad

 

NO they do not fit. I tried a cooper dip stick no my "S", the lengths are way off.
If oil is on the hatched marks you are OK. Close your hood/bonnet and go pass something.

Motor on.

 

>>Close your hood/bonnet and go pass something.
>>

Do you mean, like a gall stone?

 

Someone?

 

Also be forewarned that that fiberglas will cut your hand and also could break off the bottom piece into your crankcase!!!!!
I don't like it at all.

 

So is there a replacement dipstick for the S available anywhere?

 

As advertised in the Moss MINI Motors cataloge, they have billet oil dipsticks with MINI logo on the end, for both models of the MINI for $39.95(U.S.). Not sure what the readings look like at the end of it though.
Kinda really threw me for a loop as well. I whipped it out, and wondered what to do with it. Uh.......the MCS dipstick that is.
Thanx Miles for that little lesson. I was stumped as well.
Cheers,

 

The ribbed marking or crosshatches as they are called are the safe area. As long as you have oil in that area you are good. General the bottom of the crosshatches is the one quart low mark. This is not true for all cars but for a car with an average sized crankcase it should be.

The new caddy dipstics are worse. The tip of the dipstick on the caddies are a tannish color which means that you can't see the oil because the dipstick and oil are about the same color.

 

>>As advertised in the Moss MINI Motors cataloge, they have billet oil dipsticks with MINI logo on the end, for both models of the MINI for $39.95(U.S.). Not sure what the readings look like at the end of it though.
>>Kinda really threw me for a loop as well. I whipped it out, and wondered what to do with it. Uh.......the MCS dipstick that is.
>>Thanx Miles for that little lesson. I was stumped as well.
>>Cheers,
>>
>>
As indicated above Moss Mini sells a dipstick for around $40.00 however my catalog indicates that this is an item for the Cooper and not the S. If there is an S version is it on their website? I am currently unaware of any replacement for the MCS.

 

>>The ribbed marking or crosshatches as they are called are the safe area. As long as you have oil in that area you are good. General the bottom of the crosshatches is the one quart low mark. This is not true for all cars but for a car with an average sized crankcase it should be.
>>
"the crosshatches is one quart low mark." Woulo dthis be a "quart" or a "liter" at the bottom of the crosshatches?

 

crashgearbox said:

I got a new Moss catalog in the mail today, and on page 9 there are replacement dip sticks available for both the MC and the MCS. They are also available here on their website.

:smile: :smile: :smile:

_________________
'03 MC: PS/B with red interior, premium and sport packages, chrome, xenons, CVT

 

I ordered and recieved the MOSSMINI dipstick. As I speak the wife is packing it to be returned. Good woman. Damn thing (dip stick not wife ) does not fit. Seems their vender screwed (no foreplay )them. They are working on a replacement. Call before ordering.

Motor on.

 

>>>>The ribbed marking or crosshatches as they are called are the safe area. As long as you have oil in that area you are good. General the bottom of the crosshatches is the one quart low mark. This is not true for all cars but for a car with an average sized crankcase it should be.
>>>>
>>"the crosshatches is one quart low mark." Woulo dthis be a "quart" or a "liter" at the bottom of the crosshatches?
>>

Should be quart but it does not really matter since a quart and liter are about the same size.

 

Thanks for the heads up on the dipstick. I'll call MossMini ASAP.

 

>>As indicated above Moss Mini sells a dipstick for around $40.00 however my catalog indicates that this is an item for the Cooper and not the S. If there is an S version is it on their website? I am currently unaware of any replacement for the MCS.


There's a new catalog that just came out not too long ago. If you're on their mailing list, you should get it soon. It's the Winter issue 1. There's a yellow Cooper will a new Ground FX package with a woodgrain pattern on the back side of the catalog. They have several new items inside as well.
Cheers,

 

>>crashgearbox said:
>>
>>>>
>>I got a new Moss catalog in the mail today, and on page 9 there are replacement dip sticks available for both the MC and the MCS. They are also available here on their website.
>>
>> :smile: :smile: :smile:
>>
I, alas, did not receive a new Moss Mini catalog today...thus was unaware there was an S dipstick available...thanks for the heads up!
>>_________________
>>'03 MC: PS/B with red interior, premium and sport packages, chrome, xenons, CVT
>>
>>
>>

 

Close your hood/bonnet and go pass something.
>>
>>Motor on.


:smile:

 

When reseating the dip stick and it it seems to catch on something, rather than force it, pull up on the stick slightly (about 1 inch) and rotate the stick 180 degrees. Push down with a little wiggle action. This seems to bypass the blockage and seats the stick properly.

 

Let us know if the MOSS Dipstick finally works on the MCS!!
THanks for all of your fustrations and patience!

 

We have an S. I ordered from Moss - the Red Winged dip stick - for Mike for Christmas. At that time, the catalog did not specify Cooper or S. Well - it definitely does not fit the S. :smile: