[Janoose]

Hi im new to this.

I brought my gunmetal grey mini cooper s last year and im due a oil service and my tlc pack has just ended - the joys!!!! I just wanted to ask if anyone knows how to turn off the oil service light after having it done if i dont get it done by someone other than mini.

Thank you

Janoose

[minicabrio]

Just above this thread is a box that says "search forums:"

Type into it, 'service indicator reset' and click on Go.

Welcome to MINI2

[Janoose]

Thank you minicabrio, thats really helpfull. I think mini service prices are so expensive and was thinking about getting the oil service done somewhere else and needed the help of mini2. Thank u for your help.

[M.O.S]

Chris at Derek Woodman has posted the prices that they charge - and they're not too bad. Although you may think that they are expensive, but its rare to find a mini without full mini history. If you think about it, if you were to sell it, you would be up against the majority which have full mini service history so yours will be worth less.

[DaFlake]

Quote: Originally Posted by M.O.S (original)

Chris at Derek Woodman has posted the prices that they charge - and they're not too bad. Although you may think that they are expensive, but its rare to find a mini without full mini history. If you think about it, if you were to sell it, you would be up against the majority which have full mini service history so yours will be worth less.

And you are basing this on what statistical information? I can't see a car being worth less because someone changed the oil themselves or took the vehicle to an independent mechanic. I keep a log of all my maintenance to include what type of oil I am using and when it gets changed.

[MINIMANIAUK]

Once upon a time it was always recommended to buy a used car with a full service history (fsh) or full main dealer service history(fmdsh) and with good reason............ ,carbs ,timing belts,valve adjustments,plugs,leads,distributor caps,rotor arms,and a whole host of things could go wrong and were serviced as part of the service schedule ,indeed they did go wrong!
Those days the guy working on your car had to know his stuff and usually had years of experience balancing carbs or setting timing etc

Roll forward 25 years........The service requirements on a modern car are at an absolute minimum -could be simply an oil change +filter , this is due the steady improvements in car technology ignition systems,plugs,sealed for life components ,electronics and materials like silicon and also the selling and marketing of cars which seek to minimise the service schedule as a sales point -apparently we are all to busy to take our car in for service more than once a year! -thats progress for you

The mechanic at the garage is now a technician ? what does this mean ? ....... he probably has far less knowledge than his predecessor and instead of diagnosing through experience/knowledge they follow the written procedure from the manufacturer and seldom open up anything ,just simply replace units based on the results of what the unit that is plugged in the car tells them.
Modern qualifications are now modular and involve a whole host of courses and rows of certificates and yet ask for a gearbox to be stripped and rebuilt and you would be met by an odd look -this is not the guys fault but the system that dictates
Career changes are common nowadays and this years "technician " could well be selling insurance next year or indeed vice versa ! and yet the fmdsh is still used and recommended by magazines and the industry - most enthusiasts seem to know more about their cars than the dealers and would do as good a job of servicing given the facilities
The knowledgeable guys also tend to end up as advisors or moving paperwork around not actually working on your car
I view an advert with fmdsh as;....... the owner has spent a lot out on servicing and would like some back thank you!

[minicabrio]

My last MINI was sold with a full array of dealer stamps in the service book - as with TLC, that is what you get. However it was accompanied by a wadge of maintenance receipts including interim oil changes, brakes, tyres, even bulbs and accessories - so the new owner could see what had been done, and when

All these extra receipts weren't MINI main dealer either, they were from the likes of MINImania (above) and other specialists

[M.O.S]

Quote: Originally Posted by DaFlake (original)

And you are basing this on what statistical information? I can't see a car being worth less because someone changed the oil themselves or took the vehicle to an independent mechanic. I keep a log of all my maintenance to include what type of oil I am using and when it gets changed.

Glass' guide. If your car doesn't have full service history, it is worth less. Its a fact. People don't want cars without full service history. Of course the car will be worth less, anyone with even the most basic level of car knowledge would be able to tell you that a car without full service history is worth less. When you trade your car in, why do you think that they ask whether the service history has been carried out at a dealer or an independent garage. The fact is, a car with fmdsh is worth more, and people will pay more money for them. If you can't understand that, how can you drive a car?

[DaFlake]

Quote: Originally Posted by M.O.S (original)

Glass' guide. If your car doesn't have full service history, it is worth less. Its a fact. People don't want cars without full service history. Of course the car will be worth less, anyone with even the most basic level of car knowledge would be able to tell you that a car without full service history is worth less. When you trade your car in, why do you think that they ask whether the service history has been carried out at a dealer or an independent garage. The fact is, a car with fmdsh is worth more, and people will pay more money for them. If you can't understand that, how can you drive a car?

You really need to read the above posts as this is simply not true nowadays. Maybe it is where you live, but not here in Germany nor in the USA. Frankly, you are the first person that has even mentioned it as I never recommend going to a dealer for an oil change out of warranty. I like my wallet a little too much for that.

[M.O.S]

Quote: Originally Posted by DaFlake (original)

You really need to read the above posts as this is simply not true nowadays. Maybe it is where you live, but not here in Germany nor in the USA. Frankly, you are the first person that has even mentioned it as I never recommend going to a dealer for an oil change out of warranty. I like my wallet a little too much for that.

What in America, Germany etc it doesn't matter - you can service your car yourself and not loose a single $/€??? You are honestly the first person ever to say that - it sounds stupid to me. Still, thats the way that it works here in the UK, and I like that system!

[DaFlake]

Quote: Originally Posted by M.O.S (original)

What in America, Germany etc it doesn't matter - you can service your car yourself and not loose a single $/€??? You are honestly the first person ever to say that - it sounds stupid to me. Still, thats the way that it works here in the UK, and I like that system!

Sorry, but I don't buy it. Most of the people above that have stated the same as me have sold and bought cars (including myself) and I know that they had other maintenance done outside of MINI. I'm pretty sure that they didn't loose money unless they tried to sell to you. There are plenty of people that would buy a car without the "full service" at full price. And yes, you can service a car yourself and not lose a dime especially if you keep good records. In fact, I probably have a better maintenance background than most dealer mechanics anyway. Changing oil is not rocket science. In my 40 years I have never lost money. My last vehicle (Dodge RAM 1500) was actually sold back to the dealership a year after purchase (with my own maintenance done to it) for 3K under purchase price. If you ask me, I made money as 3K for a year is not bad at all. That means the truck cost me 250 a month.

Do as you please, but I will never recommend a 210 Euro oil change here in Germany to a MINI owner when you can get it done for less than 100 at a normal mechanic. Heck, he will even stamp your maintenance log for you.

Either way, the choice is yours.

[Janoose]

Thanks for all the posts on this guys. Its hard to decide what to do im desperate to get it done at mini but worried about the cost does anyone know the rough guide price for a oil service at mini. I just need to decide whats best to do x

[M.O.S]

Quote: Originally Posted by DaFlake (original)

Sorry, but I don't buy it. Most of the people above that have stated the same as me have sold and bought cars (including myself) and I know that they had other maintenance done outside of MINI. I'm pretty sure that they didn't loose money unless they tried to sell to you. There are plenty of people that would buy a car without the "full service" at full price. And yes, you can service a car yourself and not lose a dime especially if you keep good records. In fact, I probably have a better maintenance background than most dealer mechanics anyway. Changing oil is not rocket science. In my 40 years I have never lost money. My last vehicle (Dodge RAM 1500) was actually sold back to the dealership a year after purchase (with my own maintenance done to it) for 3K under purchase price. If you ask me, I made money as 3K for a year is not bad at all. That means the truck cost me 250 a month.

Do as you please, but I will never recommend a 210 Euro oil change here in Germany to a MINI owner when you can get it done for less than 100 at a normal mechanic. Heck, he will even stamp your maintenance log for you.

Either way, the choice is yours.

Well, whether you buy it or not, that is the case. Firstly, a car will be worth slightly less if it is serviced outside of the Mini dealer network, however, it will be worth even less should it have no service history at all. In America, things may be different. However, I don't believe that spending £200 every other year is bad.

Here is a question for you - can you maintain your car (service) for £30 a year. I can my mini in the dealer network.

[M.O.S]

Quote: Originally Posted by Janoose (original)

Thanks for all the posts on this guys. Its hard to decide what to do im desperate to get it done at mini but worried about the cost does anyone know the rough guide price for a oil service at mini. I just need to decide whats best to do x

Not very much at all. Chris at Derek Woodman Mini offers an oil service for £96. All other maintenance costs can be found here:
http://www.mini2.com/forum/derek-woo...ice-packs.html

As you can see, its well worth going to mini for the service (to get a stamp), and then, get the brakes etc done at an independant (well get a quote anyway).

Hope this helps.

[DaFlake]

Quote: Originally Posted by Janoose (original)

Thanks for all the posts on this guys. Its hard to decide what to do im desperate to get it done at mini but worried about the cost does anyone know the rough guide price for a oil service at mini. I just need to decide whats best to do x

Why don't you just call a dealer and ask? The service department can tell you what it will cost. Then call one of our vendors and see what they will charge.

[Janoose]

Wow they are fabulous prices. My problem is that im from crawley and thats very far to go.It would be great if there was somewhere near here that did those prices. This is all new to me its my first service and im blonde just trying to work out whats best to do!!! Ur all being very helpful thanks guys x

[Janoose]

I did phone they said roughly £200 but gave me a load a garble about other things that could be wrong with it. Think im just scaring myself into not putting it into mini incase it comes back with so many expensive things wrong!!!!

[M.O.S]

Quote: Originally Posted by Janoose (original)

Wow they are fabulous prices. My problem is that im from crawley and thats very far to go.It would be great if there was somewhere near here that did those prices. This is all new to me its my first service and im blonde just trying to work out whats best to do!!! Ur all being very helpful thanks guys x

Ask - tell them Chris' price and see if they can get close. After all, it costs nothing to ask! Im sure that you could get something done - maybe there are Derek Woodman dealers near you. Still, ring around your local dealers - one is sure to help you!

[Snowie]

I see that you are in Crawley

Give Tony franks at MINI Motorsport Centre a call. he is based in Shoreham and ex JCW chief Engineer.
01273 446666

He will be cheaper than a dealer and will ceratinlky do a good job

[M.O.S]

Quote: Originally Posted by Janoose (original)

I did phone they said roughly £200 but gave me a load a garble about other things that could be wrong with it. Think im just scaring myself into not putting it into mini incase it comes back with so many expensive things wrong!!!!

Just tell them that all they are to do is the oil serivce, and any faults you must agree for them to proceed. That way, if they say there is anything wrong, you can tell them not to fix it and take it to an independent. That way you preserve your mini service history and save on repairs! Wins all round. Try a different dealer - sounds like that one is ripping you off. Anyway, ask what the price is for just an oil service - say you are not interested in anything else and threaten to walk out.

Still, if you try other dealers, and they say the same, mention what Chris said - they are a mini dealer, and make up a story - you are visiting your mum / on holiday etc. They usually fall for it.