Gotcha, GreyStreet. That is a good call. :) However, if you're buying high quality oil and taking the car to an expensive shop, you might end up spending close to that anyway. But at least it was for a job well done, with good oil. You might want to look into the 'pseudo-synthetic' nature of Castrol Syntec, which is what MINI recommends. I am avoiding this oil from here on out, because it's not actually 100% synthetic, like others (Mobil 1, Redline, Amsoil, ...). There are lots of threads over on NAM about this if you're interested. At my dealer services, I plan on bringing them Redline 5w30 and asking them to use that instead of the Castrol junk. :)

-mike

Gotcha, GreyStreet. That is a good call. :) However, if you're buying high quality oil and taking the car to an expensive shop, you might end up spending close to that anyway. But at least it was for a job well done, with good oil. You might want to look into the 'pseudo-synthetic' nature of Castrol Syntec, which is what MINI recommends. I am avoiding this oil from here on out, because it's not actually 100% synthetic, like others (Mobil 1, Redline, Amsoil, ...). There are lots of threads over on NAM about this if you're interested. At my dealer services, I plan on bringing them Redline 5w30 and asking them to use that instead of the Castrol junk. :)

-mike

How much for a bottle of Redline?

I paid $7.50/quart but probably could have found it somewhat cheaper if I had bothered to shop around, or had the time to order online.

-mike

I paid $7.50/quart but probably could have found it somewhat cheaper if I had bothered to shop around, or had the time to order online.

-mike

So it's still an $80 job.

Yep, like I just said, the price gets up there if you want a quality job, with quality oil, but the good news is you're not paying that same high price for a crappy job, with crappy oil, for which you usually have to make an appointment a good deal in advance, and the results of which you can't be too confident about. YMMV. :)

-mike

Just to chime in, if you plan on being cost sensitive, your scheduled maintence free oil changes will only get done with the MINI Castrol, or your own oil (if your dealer allows you to bring it).

So if you want to move to the Mobil 1/Redline/Amsoil/whatever you should continue to use that, since switching types of oil every change isn't good for anyone - Therefore, you're 'wasting' the 2 free oil changes you get with scheduled maitence, because at best they're paying for labor, but have to provide them with whatever oil you want.

Just some thoughts to ponder if the $80-$100 changes make you cringe.

As people tend to have issues pop up anyway, it seems you usually want to get to your dealer for fixing other warranty issues by the time your oil changes are due anyway, so its easy to just schedule everything to get done at once.

Of course the 3 dealers I've had service at weren't too bad, at least on oil changes - getting them to admit there was a problem that should be fixed under warranty was a different discussion. If your dealer is different, then I'd understand.

you're 'wasting' the 2 free oil changes you get with scheduled maitence, because at best they're paying for labor, but have to provide them with whatever oil you want.

Yeah it's a good point. If you're comfortable using the Castrol "Syn"tec, then it's probably best to stick with that, that way you can take advantage of the free oil at the dealer. But if you're going to change, definitely stick with the same brand of oil. I knew for sure I wanted to be changing my oil every 5k instead of every 10k, and when I decided I had issues with using Castrol, I figured it won't cost me much extra to buy the type of oil I want for the non-dealer changes, and for the dealer changes, it's about an extra $30/trip, now that I'll be getting my Redline oil for cheaper online, etc. For me, it was worth the peace of mind, but YMMV.

-mike

My dealer seems to use a BMW oil.... is that actually Castrol with a BMW label??

haven't done the oil change yet, but they gave me a quart for break-in....

I've been in the shop at the dealer here, and was very impressed... I think that I would trust them more than some little shop that says "imports"...

but then, this is Phoenix... and what imports do you really see anyway when 9 out of 10 cars is an expedition, excursion, or escalade!!!

>originally posted in NAM<

Well U guys'll love this one: according to the service manager at Schomp MINI in Denver, the boot goo is a remnant of the transoceanic shipping process, specifically, Cosmaline (sp)?, the paraffin wax coating all european BMW products are coated with before they're shipped, to prevent salt damage. The entire car, minus interior, is covered with this stuff (yes the engine too!) The VDC is supposed to get of it through agressive power washes but sometimes not all of it is eradicated (look under the bonnet, say on the strut towers next to the engine and you'll might see the same dried-on stuff)


Well, the weird boot goo is leftover Cosmaline that VDC missed that's trapped inbetween the rubber trim and the glass--and the rear wiper blade assembly as well--that's worked it's way out, with weather, heat, boot usage, rear wiper fluid mixing in, etc. According to the SM, once it's all out, it should not return. Nope it's not anything to do with defective rear wipers or spray jets, thank goodness. :cool: I love solving a good mystery :D Jimbo

speed_racer, I don't think I got an 'ejector' sticker.. Was your package the same as the one in the picture gallery on my site? Sounds like you may have gotten something different. -mike

You have to actually open the unauthorized users manual. ;) I was too curious to just leave it in the cellophane wrapping. Tucked inside is a sheet of stickers for the toggle switches that are just hilarious.

Cool! Thanks. I have been pretty busy with midterms and haven't bothered to open it all up yet. :)

-mike

BMW has MINI brand and BMW brands oil, its made by Castrol, but is specific for either BMW or MINI (not sure if there are separate versions for different BMW or even if BMW and MINI are different)

Suposedly, its not your normal Castrol, its a bit different.

I am currently experiencing an extreme MINI-endorphin rush. Just got back from toying around up in the mountains on Skyline Blvd, etc, for about 2 hours. Over 1500 miles now. This car is SO MUCH FREAKING FUN!

-mike

Cool! Thanks. I have been pretty busy with midterms and haven't bothered to open it all up yet. :)

-mike


MIDTERMS????!!! You just went back to school a month ago!!!!

Just got back from my first MINI rally - boy is THAT a rush!! I've always thought that I was a somewhat zippy driver.... NOT!!!
Its a MINI thing for sure!!
I have some practicing to do......

MIDTERMS????!!! You just went back to school a month ago!!!!

Just got back from my first MINI rally - boy is THAT a rush!! I've always thought that I was a somewhat zippy driver.... NOT!!!
Its a MINI thing for sure!!
I have some practicing to do......

Hehe, that's Stanford for you. It's also just a fact of life with the quarter system, where quarters are only 10 weeks long, so they pack a ton in to a very small space. But I prefer it that way - feels like I'm really getting my money's worth. :)

That's awesome about the MINI rally! I'm dying to get to some event like that - I'm sure I will soon. :)

-mike

Here's a funny story: we had an extra sail boat (don't ask), and were trying to sell it through the paper. Last night I got a call from a German gentleman who wanted to come by to take a look. I was pulling out of the garage as he pulled in, and as soon as he got out of his car, he said in his broad German accent "that's the best car in the world!!".

We got to chatting and he told me that he had bought a MC, traded it in for MCS, traded it in for MCSC - now with 2000 miles. He lives outside of Munich and does the drive on the autobahn. He said that his only concern was that at high speeds, the MINI goes through a lot of gas!!! I guess you have to live in Germany to truly appreciate that one! and I was VERY jealous... 'cause I'd love to open mine up like that on the highway... I completely forgot to ask him what his top speed is!! and now I wish I had.

Anyway, that was just an interesting MINI experience.

I am currently experiencing an extreme MINI-endorphin rush. Just got back from toying around up in the mountains on Skyline Blvd, etc, for about 2 hours. Over 1500 miles now. This car is SO MUCH FREAKING FUN!

-mike

Get some driving lights so it'll help with the dense fog during your drive on Skyline Blvd. There's also a real cheap sushi place on Skyline, dirt cheap that makes me sick.

Cadbury: awesome story!

GreyStreet: lol! I didn't know there was a sushi place up there...scary. Only place I knew about was Alice's, which ain't bad but way too expensive, and relatively foofy, which I don't understand given that it's a biker hangout. But yeah, I actually had the same thought about driving lights. :) I was searching for pictures of them on a HB car, with no racing stripes, because I'm not entirely sure how it would look. I always thought the stripes complemented the driving lights nicely, but I haven't really seen any in person that had lights and no stripes.

-mike

Finally!!!
I hit 1250 miles today!! Finally got around to selling my truck as well, so the miles should roll up now!!

Cadbury, now that the extra sailboat is gone, that is room for more MINIs!

Cadbury: awesome story!

GreyStreet: lol! I didn't know there was a sushi place up there...scary. Only place I knew about was Alice's, which ain't bad but way too expensive, and relatively foofy, which I don't understand given that it's a biker hangout. But yeah, I actually had the same thought about driving lights. :) I was searching for pictures of them on a HB car, with no racing stripes, because I'm not entirely sure how it would look. I always thought the stripes complemented the driving lights nicely, but I haven't really seen any in person that had lights and no stripes.

-mike

Actually, this place is in Pacifica so it might be far off from where you live? $10 for one will get you a cheap, good meal.

Finally!!!
I hit 1250 miles today!! Finally got around to selling my truck as well, so the miles should roll up now!!

Cadbury, now that the extra sailboat is gone, that is room for more MINIs!

no kidding!! Greg drools over the MC40 in the showroom everytime we go over....
I learned that the MNS waiting list for MCSC is 2 years... said we should put our names down now !!! but just bought a new house, so expenditures are reserved for furniture! and gas - of course.... ;)

no kidding!! Greg drools over the MC40 in the showroom everytime we go over....
I learned that the MNS waiting list for MCSC is 2 years... said we should put our names down now !!! but just bought a new house, so expenditures are reserved for furniture! and gas - of course.... ;)

Hmmm, are they still doing the "You can't pick what you want, here's your car. Take it or leave it" deal?

Hope everyone is thoroughly enjoying their MINIs. I've done just a few shy of 3000 miles so far. Wonderful acceleration, however I wonder how much better it'd feel if the air were cooler.

Hmmm, are they still doing the "You can't pick what you want, here's your car. Take it or leave it" deal?

They have stopped doing that! I believe that so many people complained that they went back to the "traditional" way of doing MINI business....

they were going to do 1/2 and 1/2, but I hear they stopped that too....

however, the wait list continues to grow!! I heard 2 years for a MCSC........
put my name down now?? ;)

...

however, the wait list continues to grow!! I heard 2 years for a MCSC........
put my name down now?? ;)

I think you should, it'll look cute with you driving it!

I wonder if I should put my name down now for a JCW MCS. I don't want a Turbo engine though.

They have stopped doing that! I believe that so many people complained that they went back to the "traditional" way of doing MINI business....

they were going to do 1/2 and 1/2, but I hear they stopped that too....

however, the wait list continues to grow!! I heard 2 years for a MCSC........
put my name down now?? ;)

By the way, how is your bonnet and bumper coming along with these bad AZ freeways? I just had my clear bra installed and I am more confident to take on big SUVs on the 101 and big trucks on the I-10.

I am happy with the install being that it is much lower cost than what the dealer and other clear bra installer charges.

By the way, how is your bonnet and bumper coming along with these bad AZ freeways? I just had my clear bra installed and I am more confident to take on big SUVs on the 101 and big trucks on the I-10.

I am happy with the install being that it is much lower cost than what the dealer and other clear bra installer charges.

I'm ok so far... the clear bra freaks me out... - I just feel weird about having a plastic coat stuck to my car.... I'll have to check yours out sometime.... do you belong to the DMC?

I only have a little chip in my windshield - probably from riding the back road to Prescott!!
It looks like a bit of dirt, so its not bugging me yet...

I've been trying to stay away from I-17 through downtown... I think that's the worst stretch of freeway for trucks dispelling missiles !!!

Here's something irritating though... They are putting in these new buildings on Southern and Rural, and the concrete trucks are NOT being careful about spilling their loads. I was going west on Southern in traffic and drove through what looked like mud! Well, its taken 3 going on 4 washes to get the streaks off - I think it was concrete! the bits on the paint are easy to get off - but the plastic around the wheel well is turning out to be a pain - I'm going to try a nail brush today!!!!! I feel like those louts should be sued!

I'm ok so far... the clear bra freaks me out... - I just feel weird about having a plastic coat stuck to my car.... I'll have to check yours out sometime.... do you belong to the DMC?

I only have a little chip in my windshield - probably from riding the back road to Prescott!!
It looks like a bit of dirt, so its not bugging me yet...


I'm not a member of Dynamic Mini Collective, not yet. Are you?

If you knew that the clear bra was on the bonnet, then you will see it. You can hardly tell it's there! And the bumper part is quite invisible. I had the 3M Xpel installed on my bonnet 2 weeks ago and it didn't work out so we peeled it off. The paint was left untouch. If you ever decide to get one installed, don't use the 3M because the MINI has too many curvatures. My bonnet has the Venture film and it's clearer and thinner than the 3M.

My windshield has been taking a beating. There's suppose to be a new clear bra for the windshield to protect from rock chips. The windshield has to be brand new and they'll bake the product on the windshield before installing it on the car. I might try that when it's time to replace my windshield.

I'm not a member of Dynamic Mini Collective, not yet. Are you?



I get the feeling you are in AZ.... or are you in CA.... ??? can't find a post that makes it clear, although I know that there is one somewhere from the foggy bottom of my memory.....

DNC is the AZ club.... they seem to all get along pretty well... I haven't been to any meetings or rallies yet... but looking forward to motoring in a pack.

I would def go for a clear bra for the windshield...

I've been thinking that Phx is a pretty good place to motor since most of the freeways have been repaved with rubberized asphalt... the only problem is that there are very few times of day when you are not playing "sedan slalom" with the SUVs....

I get the feeling you are in AZ.... or are you in CA.... ??? can't find a post that makes it clear, although I know that there is one somewhere from the foggy bottom of my memory.....

DNC is the AZ club.... they seem to all get along pretty well... I haven't been to any meetings or rallies yet... but looking forward to motoring in a pack.

I would def go for a clear bra for the windshield...

I've been thinking that Phx is a pretty good place to motor since most of the freeways have been repaved with rubberized asphalt... the only problem is that there are very few times of day when you are not playing "sedan slalom" with the SUVs....

I used to live in SF but now in Snottsdale. Hopefully, I'll be back living in SF next year.

You mean Dynamic Mini Collective right? http://dynamicminicollective.com/board/