major oil service vs. minor oil service - Is my dealer smoking weed?

[jim]

I need to know if my dealer is a lying sack of poo.
The dealer claims that there are two levels of service for mini oil changes.. a MINOR oil change and a MAJOR oil change. The MAJOR oil change should be performed every two years and involves changing TWO filters... I've never heard of this before... My dealer is mini of Towson in Maryland USA. Also, just so everyone knows, the MINOR, normal oil change price has gone up from about $60 to $100. I won't be taking the mini to the dealer for oil changes any more. Thanks for your feedback.
Jim

[beken]

Quote: Originally Posted by jim

I need to know if my dealer is a lying sack of poo.
The dealer claims that there are two levels of service for mini oil changes.. a MINOR oil change and a MAJOR oil change. The MAJOR oil change should be performed every two years and involves changing TWO filters... I've never heard of this before... My dealer is mini of Towson in Maryland USA. Also, just so everyone knows, the MINOR, normal oil change price has gone up from about $60 to $100. I won't be taking the mini to the dealer for oil changes any more. Thanks for your feedback.
Jim

Actually, in Canada, I paid $270 for my first oil service (minor oil change). That includes an oil change with synthetic oil and oil filter, changing the air cabin filter, top up all fluids, a wheel off brake check (as opposed to a visual inspection), tire tread measurements and basically anything else that needed looking into as far as wear and tear goes. Also, dealer included a touch-up paint kit (because I asked for it). I think if I had bought all the parts, at $270, it would have meant they charged me about $70 for labor. In Canada, that's around 45 minutes.
So expensive, yes. But about that price from any car dealer. If you are doing strictly an oil change (as opposed to an oil service), it would be less. I expect to not have to bring my car back to my dealer for at least a year (next oil service).

When the warranty expires, you might consider going to a break/fix scenario where you only fix things that are broken as opposed to maintain things before they break. For any car, I would normally budget between $200 and 500 a year for routine maintenance so our MINIs appear to be in the lower part of that range. But then, I haven't had to replace brakes, fuel pumps, electrical parts etc on my MINI yet.

[faster,Tobias!]

$95 in Calgary, and that includes filter, oil and cabin (pollen) filters. Damn, I hate dodgy dealers...

[retired00]

JIM: Are you certain the dealer is not referring to the Inspection I or II service versus the Engine Oil Service on the computer? In the US both they free in the warranty period, but they are different. Check your service booklet.

[gmb126]

MINI of Towson? That's the same place I adopted my ride, about a month ago (1,200 miles ago, really).

I'm not concerned just yet, as I'll be under the warranty for the next few years/miles, but it's something that I've wondered about. Being the type that always did almost all of the maintenance on every vehicle I've owned, after the warranty is up it might pay off to pick up a Chilton's or other manual and roll up the sleeves.

Doesn't surprise me - the cost, that is - of garage/dealer work on the car. It's a high-tech, complicated, foreign machine, so the three year/36K warranty is a good way to avoid scaring off new buyers.

Fluids, brakes, and some valves (do these even use PCV and EGR valves?) and filters are easy enough, typically... Besides, it's fun!

[HELLOSOCK]

I went to Mini of Towson to check out some stuff (like the rattle at idol that other '03 MCS seem to have) and they denied it existed. Yeah, they quoted me $90 for the oil change... thats not with an air filter, just oil and filter. The only redeeming factor is that Mini of Towson recomends an oil change every 15,000 miles. Thats the extreme limit for synthetic, personally I am going to change the oil every 7.500 miles. Anyhow, I looked into it and the car only takes about 5 quarts (although sythetic is really expensive) so I don't see why it is so expensive at the dealership.

Anyone have anything to say about non-mini brand oil filters? I am looking into FRAMs...

[TrufflePig]

yeah i'll be diong my own oil changes here in Canada, every 5000kms with my girl's dad who builds and races MINI's so i'm set.

but the major oil change, is the two year service they do.

but where i live the regular 15,000 oil change (minor) is $200 but they change wipers, rotate tires and clean the car up for you and bunch other little things.

but i'll change oil every 5000 and have them do it every 15,000.

cheers

and oh yeah i'd stick with MINI BRAND OIL at least till warranty wears off just to be safe.

but ifyou looking NON MINI BRAND, REDLINE is good. just make sure its sythenic my friend.

[insane*mini]

The MINI runs pure synthetic right? I'm planning on changing mine every 5,000 miles with Pure Synthetic Amsoil (I think that's what my dad said. They came out with a new one not to long ago).

Oh, and btw: is this the same on the MCS?
http://store.webbmotorsports.com/for...topic.php?t=10

Edit* That is the instruction manual for an oil change (WMS)

[TrufflePig]

link doesn't work.