MINI2

PigLick · Jan 24th, 2003, 07:35 PM

I've heard several people complain about the badly designed oil dipstick, that it is very hard to read. However, when I pulled mine out yesterday, it looked exactly like any other dipstick I'd ever seen. Made of dark grey metal, with a little "twist" at the bottom, and Min and Max marks, with a hatched region between. Mine was a 12/6/02 build. So, have they recently changed the dipstick, or what?

PigLick

GordonD · Jan 24th, 2003, 08:05 PM

My MCS has a yellow plastic end that doesn't show the level clearly unless the oil is dirty

PigLick · Jan 24th, 2003, 08:07 PM

Yah, I just saw a thread on MCO with someone complaining about the disptick on his S. So is it perhaps just the S that has the yellow one? Or have they in fact redesinged?

PigLick

Esser · Jan 24th, 2003, 08:16 PM

My S has the yellow plastic difficult to read dipstick, my oils clean after 5250 miles.

MiniMan7 · Jan 24th, 2003, 08:31 PM

My Mini is a July 2002 build and yes, it has that stupid yellow thing at the bottom which doesn't quite tell you what the hell is going on with your oil.

ezrally · Jan 24th, 2003, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by PigLick
I've heard several people complain about the badly designed oil dipstick, that it is very hard to read. However, when I pulled mine out yesterday, it looked exactly like any other dipstick I'd ever seen. Made of dark grey metal, with a little "twist" at the bottom, and Min and Max marks, with a hatched region between. Mine was a 12/6/02 build. So, have they recently changed the dipstick, or what?

PigLick

PigLick, do you have a Cooper or an S?
Our 03 (9-6-02) MCS has the crappy plastic stick w the yellow thing to read oil level @ the bottom.
Sounds like yours is the ticket!

PigLick · Jan 24th, 2003, 10:38 PM

No, I don't have an S, so I guess that's the explanation. It seems only the S has the stupid yellow hard-to-read dipstick. Seems kind of strange for the two to have different dipsticks, doesn't it?

PigLick

D.D. · Jan 24th, 2003, 11:40 PM

Perhaps one of the after market sticks are better. Anyone see/try the ones from Moss Mini?

ezrally · Jan 24th, 2003, 11:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by PigLick
No, I don't have an S, so I guess that's the explanation. It seems only the S has the stupid yellow hard-to-read dipstick. Seems kind of strange for the two to have different dipsticks, doesn't it?

PigLick

Must be a difference for the two cars.
Wonder if the Cooper stick would be correct for an S.
Doesn't an S hold more oil than a Cooper?

chiph · Jan 25th, 2003, 12:29 AM

Quote:

Doesn't an S hold more oil than a Cooper?

I honestly don't know why the dipstick is different for the two cars. I'm pretty sure both cars hold the same (or within a few tenths of a liter) amount of oil. The on-line owner's manual doesn't say, and it's too cold to go outside and check my paper manual.

I do know from the MTZ article about the MINIs Daimler-Chrysler engine that the S does have an up-rated gerotor oil pump (rated for 2.2 l/min at 2.5 bar), because it has the piston-cooling oil spray. This is 15% higher than the non-supercharged engines.

Chip H.

Casey · Jan 25th, 2003, 01:07 AM

someone mentioned the moss mini dipsticks - if you goto their site or in their new catalog you will notice it says Cooper Only.

chiph · Jan 25th, 2003, 01:28 AM

Just had a thought -

What's the construction of the dipstick on the Cooper?

The MCS has a flexible steel wire, with the gauge molded on the end. This is so it can snake it's way past the supercharger.

My guess is that the Cooper has a solid piece of spring steel, because it has a straighter shot to the oilpan.

Such a dipstick would be relatively easy for the aftermarket folks like Moss Mini to have made, as there's no high-temp plastics or complex molding involved.

Chip H.

Casey · Jan 25th, 2003, 01:47 AM

I just got another moss mini catalog in the mail today and noticed that the oil dipstick is now available for the S as well - so I take back my earlier post

CurtP · Jan 25th, 2003, 02:53 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by chiph
The MCS has a flexible steel wire, with the gauge molded on the end. This is so it can snake it's way past the supercharger.

I'm not sure it's steel -- mine looks like it's made from fiberglass (similar to a fiberglass pull snake I have). I'm not sure why they used this design, you should see how the dipstick on my Formula has to route around the headers down into the block, and it's made from flat spring steel.

However, I think it's easy to read, very intuitive -- even with clean oil. I kind of like the design

RickB · Jan 25th, 2003, 03:10 AM

The yellow plastic S dipstick looks like it was designed by a . . . dipstick. It's very hard to read, and harder to understand what is being read.

CurtP · Jan 25th, 2003, 03:17 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by RickB
The yellow plastic S dipstick looks like it was designed by a . . . dipstick. It's very hard to read, and harder to understand what is being read.

I dunno -- maybe it's easier for me to read since I'm colorblind. The oil on the yellow is a very noticable contrast for me.

friedduck · Jan 25th, 2003, 03:56 AM

In addition to being just plain hard to make out where the oil level comes to, if hold it at anything other than vertical the cross-hatch is deep enough that the oil will quickly fill in the entire area, making it look like it's full.

It's just a stupid design.

I saw the Moss one just now, and I'm buying one.

Jeff

ezrally · Jan 25th, 2003, 04:06 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by CurtP
I'm not sure it's steel -- mine looks like it's made from fiberglass (similar to a fiberglass pull snake I have). I'm not sure why they used this design, you should see how the dipstick on my Formula has to route around the headers down into the block, and it's made from flat spring steel.

However, I think it's easy to read, very intuitive -- even with clean oil. I kind of like the design

Seems to me the whole thing is plastic...

jnzmini · Jan 25th, 2003, 04:22 PM

I thought my MINI did't have any oil left when I first tried reading the 'S' yellow plastic dipstick thing - I had to wipe it several times and keep on looking intently before I could reassure myself that, yes, after 1100 miles there WAS some oil in there!
Could anyone who has bought the Moss dipstick post on here if it's any better, as if it is, I'll get one. Thanks!

CUTiger3 · Jan 25th, 2003, 05:54 PM

In my Moss catalog, the dipstick is designed for the Cooper...but not the S

Jan 24th, 2003, 07:35 PM	#1
PigLick MINI2 Senior Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: us Local Time: 05:48 PM Posts: 512 Offline	Oil dipstick redesign? I've heard several people complain about the badly designed oil dipstick, that it is very hard to read. However, when I pulled mine out yesterday, it looked exactly like any other dipstick I'd ever seen. Made of dark grey metal, with a little "twist" at the bottom, and Min and Max marks, with a hatched region between. Mine was a 12/6/02 build. So, have they recently changed the dipstick, or what? PigLick

Jan 24th, 2003, 08:05 PM	#2 (permalink)
GordonD MINI2 Master Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Mississauga, Ont, Ca Local Time: 09:48 PM Posts: 781 Offline	My MCS has a yellow plastic end that doesn't show the level clearly unless the oil is dirty aka KWKSLVR Member: Southern Ontario MINI Club BMW Club of Canada - Trillium Chapter

Jan 24th, 2003, 08:31 PM	#5 (permalink)
MiniMan7 Let's Motor. Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Hamilton, Ontario Local Time: 10:48 PM Posts: 2,891 Offline	My Mini is a July 2002 build and yes, it has that stupid yellow thing at the bottom which doesn't quite tell you what the hell is going on with your oil. http://www.mini2.com/gallery/personal/16791/32165.jpg

Jan 24th, 2003, 08:34 PM	#6 (permalink)
ezrally MINI2 Senior Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Delavan, WI Local Time: 07:48 PM Posts: 663 Offline	Re: Oil dipstick redesign? Quote: Originally posted by PigLick I've heard several people complain about the badly designed oil dipstick, that it is very hard to read. However, when I pulled mine out yesterday, it looked exactly like any other dipstick I'd ever seen. Made of dark grey metal, with a little "twist" at the bottom, and Min and Max marks, with a hatched region between. Mine was a 12/6/02 build. So, have they recently changed the dipstick, or what? PigLick PigLick, do you have a Cooper or an S? Our 03 (9-6-02) MCS has the crappy plastic stick w the yellow thing to read oil level @ the bottom. Sounds like yours is the ticket! Jet Black MCS Lapis leather 17s or 15s (winter) no DSC

Jan 24th, 2003, 11:57 PM	#9 (permalink)
ezrally MINI2 Senior Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Delavan, WI Local Time: 07:48 PM Posts: 663 Offline	Quote: Originally posted by PigLick No, I don't have an S, so I guess that's the explanation. It seems only the S has the stupid yellow hard-to-read dipstick. Seems kind of strange for the two to have different dipsticks, doesn't it? PigLick Must be a difference for the two cars. Wonder if the Cooper stick would be correct for an S. Doesn't an S hold more oil than a Cooper? Jet Black MCS Lapis leather 17s or 15s (winter) no DSC

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Jan 24th, 2003, 08:07 PM	#3 (permalink)
PigLick MINI2 Senior Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: us Local Time: 05:48 PM Posts: 512 Offline	Yah, I just saw a thread on MCO with someone complaining about the disptick on his S. So is it perhaps just the S that has the yellow one? Or have they in fact redesinged? PigLick

Jan 24th, 2003, 08:16 PM	#4 (permalink)
Esser Kiteman Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Gloucester Local Time: 01:48 AM Posts: 101 Offline	My S has the yellow plastic difficult to read dipstick, my oils clean after 5250 miles.

Jan 24th, 2003, 10:38 PM	#7 (permalink)
PigLick MINI2 Senior Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: us Local Time: 05:48 PM Posts: 512 Offline	No, I don't have an S, so I guess that's the explanation. It seems only the S has the stupid yellow hard-to-read dipstick. Seems kind of strange for the two to have different dipsticks, doesn't it? PigLick

Jan 24th, 2003, 11:40 PM	#8 (permalink)
D.D. MINI2 Regular Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: New Jersey Local Time: 09:48 PM Posts: 137 Offline	Perhaps one of the after market sticks are better. Anyone see/try the ones from Moss Mini?

Jan 25th, 2003, 12:29 AM	#10 (permalink)
chiph Spectator Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Raleigh, NC Local Time: 09:48 PM Posts: 1,563 Offline	Quote: Doesn't an S hold more oil than a Cooper? I honestly don't know why the dipstick is different for the two cars. I'm pretty sure both cars hold the same (or within a few tenths of a liter) amount of oil. The on-line owner's manual doesn't say, and it's too cold to go outside and check my paper manual. I do know from the MTZ article about the MINIs Daimler-Chrysler engine that the S does have an up-rated gerotor oil pump (rated for 2.2 l/min at 2.5 bar), because it has the piston-cooling oil spray. This is 15% higher than the non-supercharged engines. Chip H. ex-MINI Cooper S owner and all around good-guy

Jan 25th, 2003, 01:07 AM	#11 (permalink)
Casey MINI2 co-founder Join Date: Jan 2001 Local Time: 08:48 PM Posts: 655 Offline	someone mentioned the moss mini dipsticks - if you goto their site or in their new catalog you will notice it says Cooper Only.

Jan 25th, 2003, 01:28 AM	#12 (permalink)
chiph Spectator Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Raleigh, NC Local Time: 09:48 PM Posts: 1,563 Offline	Just had a thought - What's the construction of the dipstick on the Cooper? The MCS has a flexible steel wire, with the gauge molded on the end. This is so it can snake it's way past the supercharger. My guess is that the Cooper has a solid piece of spring steel, because it has a straighter shot to the oilpan. Such a dipstick would be relatively easy for the aftermarket folks like Moss Mini to have made, as there's no high-temp plastics or complex molding involved. Chip H. ex-MINI Cooper S owner and all around good-guy

Jan 25th, 2003, 01:47 AM	#13 (permalink)
Casey MINI2 co-founder Join Date: Jan 2001 Local Time: 08:48 PM Posts: 655 Offline	I just got another moss mini catalog in the mail today and noticed that the oil dipstick is now available for the S as well - so I take back my earlier post

Jan 25th, 2003, 02:53 AM	#14 (permalink)
CurtP MINI2 Master Join Date: Oct 2002 Local Time: 09:48 PM Posts: 951 Offline	Quote: Originally posted by chiph The MCS has a flexible steel wire, with the gauge molded on the end. This is so it can snake it's way past the supercharger. I'm not sure it's steel -- mine looks like it's made from fiberglass (similar to a fiberglass pull snake I have). I'm not sure why they used this design, you should see how the dipstick on my Formula has to route around the headers down into the block, and it's made from flat spring steel. However, I think it's easy to read, very intuitive -- even with clean oil. I kind of like the design

Jan 25th, 2003, 03:10 AM	#15 (permalink)
RickB MINI2 Master Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Seattle, WA Local Time: 01:48 AM Posts: 775 Offline	The yellow plastic S dipstick looks like it was designed by a . . . dipstick. It's very hard to read, and harder to understand what is being read.

Jan 25th, 2003, 03:17 AM	#16 (permalink)
CurtP MINI2 Master Join Date: Oct 2002 Local Time: 09:48 PM Posts: 951 Offline	Quote: Originally posted by RickB The yellow plastic S dipstick looks like it was designed by a . . . dipstick. It's very hard to read, and harder to understand what is being read. I dunno -- maybe it's easier for me to read since I'm colorblind. The oil on the yellow is a very noticable contrast for me.

Jan 25th, 2003, 03:56 AM	#17 (permalink)
friedduck MINI2 Regular Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: USA Local Time: 09:48 PM Posts: 248 Offline	In addition to being just plain hard to make out where the oil level comes to, if hold it at anything other than vertical the cross-hatch is deep enough that the oil will quickly fill in the entire area, making it look like it's full. It's just a stupid design. I saw the Moss one just now, and I'm buying one. Jeff

Jan 25th, 2003, 04:06 AM	#18 (permalink)
ezrally MINI2 Senior Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Delavan, WI Local Time: 07:48 PM Posts: 663 Offline	Quote: Originally posted by CurtP I'm not sure it's steel -- mine looks like it's made from fiberglass (similar to a fiberglass pull snake I have). I'm not sure why they used this design, you should see how the dipstick on my Formula has to route around the headers down into the block, and it's made from flat spring steel. However, I think it's easy to read, very intuitive -- even with clean oil. I kind of like the design Seems to me the whole thing is plastic... Jet Black MCS Lapis leather 17s or 15s (winter) no DSC

Jan 25th, 2003, 04:22 PM	#19 (permalink)
jnzmini MINI2 Newbie Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Cornwall Local Time: 02:48 AM Posts: 43 Offline	I thought my MINI did't have any oil left when I first tried reading the 'S' yellow plastic dipstick thing - I had to wipe it several times and keep on looking intently before I could reassure myself that, yes, after 1100 miles there WAS some oil in there! Could anyone who has bought the Moss dipstick post on here if it's any better, as if it is, I'll get one. Thanks!

Jan 25th, 2003, 05:54 PM	#20 (permalink)
CUTiger3 MINI2 Regular Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Upstate South Caroli Local Time: 09:48 PM Posts: 345 Offline	In my Moss catalog, the dipstick is designed for the Cooper...but not the S Coop 2 (Speedy) - '07 DS/DS MCS

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