[JamesK1975]

Hi All,

The first service was carried out on my 04 Mini Cooper at 9,000 miles when the car was 18 months old. When it came back from service the next inspection was due at 25,000 miles.

The amount of mileage I do in the Mini has reduced over the last year and I'm still over 5,000 miles, and it's now over 2 years since the last service. I contacted Mini to ask if they'd service it early - and unsurprisingly they refused.

I'm getting concerned that the oil has been in the car for some time now. Would it be worth me getting an interim oil and filter change done now, as it's going to be some time before we hit the 25,000 mile mark.

[Tigger, Eeyore & Roo]

It all really depends on how long and for how many miles you intend to keep the car.

If you aren't planning on keeping the car for too long and your mileage is going to be low, then it's unlikely that the wear and tear caused by the overly long oil change intervals will ever affect you.

However, I'd guess that with the low mileage that you do, you may be doing a lot of short journeys on a cold engine and this really abuses the engine oil. So, if you are doing a lot of short journeys (and you are planning on keeping the MINI long term), I'd get it changed NOW and run interim oil changes half way between regular services in future.

Tigger.

[JamesK1975]

Many Thanks for the info. Can you tell me what the recommended grade of oil is for use in the Mini? The owners manual doesn't say.

[DaFlake]

You should change the oil at mileage or once a year, whatever comes first. Not sure on MINI UK, but they should honor this.

[Tigger, Eeyore & Roo]

Quote: Originally Posted by JamesK1975 (original)

Many Thanks for the info. Can you tell me what the recommended grade of oil is for use in the Mini? The owners manual doesn't say.

0/30 grade fully synthetic oil. Sit down before you read the price label though Just short of 5 litres as well!

[steve cooper s]

my manual says you should change the oil at mileage or after two years , whatever comes first,
i have been looking in to this, as i do less than 5000 miles a year.

[DaFlake]

Hmmm... I don't have a new MINI so it is possible that they upped the time.

[SteveM3]

As far as I am aware it has always been that you service the car when the Mini's
software tells you it is due or every 2 years if you don't do the mileage. My dealers
took my service voucher for a 2 year service. When you spoke to your dealer did
you make it clear the car hadn't been serviced in 2 years? Try again if not. If they
stick to their guns try another dealer if practical. Best of luck .

[JAMIE1131]

Quote: Originally Posted by SteveM3 (original)

As far as I am aware it has always been that you service the car when the Mini's
software tells you it is due or every 2 years if you don't do the mileage. My dealers
took my service voucher for a 2 year service. When you spoke to your dealer did
you make it clear the car hadn't been serviced in 2 years? Try again if not. If they
stick to their guns try another dealer if practical. Best of luck .

My thoughts exactly!

[DaFlake]

I stand corrected, it does state 2 years.

[dedgley]

Maybe I'm just old school but it doesn't seem reasonable to change oil only every 2 years. Particularly with very low miles driven. Seems to me it should be changed at least annually and maybe even every 6 months. For 2008, Subaru mandates every 3750 miles for all turbocharged engines.

[Tigger, Eeyore & Roo]

Quote: Originally Posted by dedgley (original)

For 2008, Subaru mandates every 3750 miles for all turbocharged engines.

Wow, that's one honest manufacturer All credit to them for it! Somehow, I don't imagine they will be offering a 50,000 miles TLC pack for £150 anytime soon then

As a matter of interest, do they still recommend allowing a few moments for the turbo to cool before switching the engine off?

[DaFlake]

Quote: Originally Posted by dedgley (original)

Maybe I'm just old school but it doesn't seem reasonable to change oil only every 2 years. Particularly with very low miles driven. Seems to me it should be changed at least annually and maybe even every 6 months. For 2008, Subaru mandates every 3750 miles for all turbocharged engines.

You are old school. Subaru engines are not the same as the MINI engines. The mileage is very low for the Subaru's for some reason (we have a Forester 2004 Turbo) and I did a check on the oil at 5000 just to see what was reported back. The synthetic oil I used was Royal Purple and I was told that it was fine but they didn't recommend going much longer. So, I change at 5000 mile intervals for that car. On the MINI, the oil was fine at 10000 miles and still had life.

In the USA, we toss money away on things like this because we get our oil so cheap. However, if you live here in Europe, that would end quickly where motor oil begins at about 20 Euro a liter. (25 dollars for little more than a quart). Big hit to the pockets for sure so, people here demand better and longer lasting oil. We Americans are enculturated with the 3000 mile oil change that our pop put in our heads but this was with old mineral based oils. With Synthetic we can go a lot longer and further without the worry.

[DaFlake]

Quote: Originally Posted by Tigger, Eeyore & Roo (original)

As a matter of interest, do they still recommend allowing a few moments for the turbo to cool before switching the engine off?

Nope, not at all...

[dedgley]

Are all service items scheduled by the onboard computer? Is there a maintenance schedule based on time intervals? Reading through the owners manual, I don't see it. My Subaru has clearly defined service intervals and what is performed when. My wife's MCS seems to want to do everything by the computer. Is there a link to maintenance procedures / items that need to be replaced based on miles or time?

[DaFlake]

Quote: Originally Posted by dedgley (original)

Are all service items scheduled by the onboard computer? Is there a maintenance schedule based on time intervals? Reading through the owners manual, I don't see it. My Subaru has clearly defined service intervals and what is performed when. My wife's MCS seems to want to do everything by the computer. Is there a link to maintenance procedures / items that need to be replaced based on miles or time?

For you folks in the USA, the service interval is covered by the warranty and is controlled by the computer. When it typically gets to 100 miles or less MINI will perform the required service for that set milage. There is no layout of what it is in the book. However, if you search on-line, you can find a few sites that outline teh BMW schedual which is what is followed. IF you change the oil outside of the change, don't let them reset the milage so that you can still get the MINI change.

Here in Germany we don't ge the free service and must pay for everything. The warranty is also shorter.

BMW Service Intervals

Above are the service intervals.